Italy : Safety by City
- Bari
- Bologna
- Cagliari
- Catania
- Florence
- Genoa
- Milan
- Naples
- Palermo
- Perugia
- Pisa
- Rimini
- Rome
- Sorrento
- Turin
- Vatican City
- Venice
- Verona
Rome, also known as the Eternal City, is the capital and largest city of Italy and the center of power, culture, and religion.
Rome is full of wonderful palaces, churches, ruins, and fountains, which makes it one of the world’s most visited and beautiful capitals.
It attracts those interested in the vibrant nightlife, shopping, and fashion, as well as those who seek mythology, religion, architecture and culture.
Warnings & Dangers in Rome
OVERALL RISK: LOW
Rome, like many cities in Italy, is overall safe, except for some petty crime, such as bag snatching, pick-pocketing and theft from cars. Thieves often work in groups to distract victims, pretending to ask for directions or dropping attractive items on the floor of the train. While you are trying to help him/her m, the other one will take your valuables.
TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: MEDIUM
The official taxis in Rome are white, and it is advisable not to negotiate the price for the city center. However, make sure your driver activates the meter. Numerous unlicensed "taxi" drivers will try their best to attract you to enter his/her car. Just ignore them. Driving to Rome is quite easy. However, a GPS or a good map is essential. Bear in mind that car theft is very common in Italy. There might be some risk while taking public transport and there are reports of thieves slashing tires at the red light to persuade drivers to pull over and get out of their cars after which they will take their valuables or purses from the car. Strikes occur frequently in the Italian capital, which can result in delays in public transport services.
PICKPOCKETS RISK: HIGH
Summer and autumn are periods when it is a peak tourist season in Rome, which increases the theft. Theft is particularly common on trains in Italy, including to and from Fiumicino Airport, near Rome. Thieves use many approaches to distract their victims.
NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: LOW
When natural hazards are in question, earthquakes, volcanoes and forest fires might happen, but they do not represent a serious threat. Sometimes, heavy rains might bring storms and flooding.
MUGGING RISK: MEDIUM
There is a medium risk that the person can be mugged or kidnapped in Rome, so you need to pay attention to your surroundings. Public transport, buses, trains, and metro, can be dangerous places, especially at night.
TERRORISM RISK: MEDIUM
Even though Rome was not attacked by terrorists recently, the Italian Government has reported that Italy is a potential target, so some security measures are in place in and around major tourist attractions. Targets of the terrorist might include public transport and public places frequented by foreigners.
SCAMS RISK: HIGH
Numerous scam risks exist in Rome, from “gold ring” tricks, fake petitions, credit cards, and ATM fraud. There have been reports that many tourists were deceived by the counterfeit European currency, so pay attention to the notes you receive in change. Spiked food or drink is a frequent scam in Rome, particularly around Termini station, tourist areas such as the Colosseum, and in bars and cafes near Campo Dei Fiori and Piazza Navona. This scam aims to steal money from the victim. In some cases, victims have even been sexually assaulted.
WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW
Rome is heaven for solo female travelers since there have not been incidents of serious assault against foreign women.
So... How Safe Is Rome Really?
All in all, Rome is generally a safe place.
Travelers need to be watchful as in any other capital city since there is very little violent crime, but plenty of scams and pickpocketing.
To make the city as safe as possible, there are Carabinieri, the military police, and the Polizia, who can be found in the most visited tourist areas.
They are very friendly and helpful.
As a rule, you should never carry anything very valuable with you and keep an eye on your belongings all the time.
What is very important is that not even hotel rooms are safe places for valuables unless they have a safe.
How Does Rome Compare?
| City | Safety Index |
|---|---|
| Rome | 64 |
| Milan | 66 |
| Florence | 70 |
| Venice | 74 |
| Naples | 66 |
| Bologna | 56 |
| Genoa | 54 |
| Cordoba (Argentina) | 61 |
| Toronto (Canada) | 81 |
| Melbourne (Australia) | 80 |
| Montreal (Canada) | 81 |
| Sydney (Australia) | 80 |
| Santiago de Chile (Chile) | 71 |
Useful Information
Visas
Italy is a party to the Schengen Convention, which means that people from many European countries can enter Italy without a visa if they stay less than 90 days. For visa and other entry requirements, you can contact the nearest Embassy of Italy or visit their website.
Currency
The greater the city, the major costs are the normal situation around the world, as well as in Italy. Rome is not too expensive, but you will need at least 70 Euros daily.
Weather
Summer, which lasts from June to August, is hot and sunny and this is the peak season when the tourists are in question. The temperature is 34 °C and sometimes it reaches even 38 °C. Autumn is mild and humid, with cloudy skies and rain. Winter lasts from December to February and it is quite mild, with the average temperature in January of 7.5 °C.
Airports
Rome is served by two main international airports and those are Leonardo da Vinci/Fiumicino International Airport which is modern, large and well connected to the city center by public transport. Another one is G.B. Pastine/Ciampino International Airport, located to the southeast of the city.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance that covers any overseas medical costs, including medical evacuation, is necessary when traveling abroad. When Italy is concerned, mosquito-borne illnesses are present, and if it happens that you become infected, your travel insurance might save you money.
Rome Weather Averages (Temperatures)
Average High/Low Temperature
| Temperature / Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °C | 12 | 14 | 16 | 19 | 24 | 28 | 31 | 32 | 27 | 22 | 17 | 13 |
| Low °C | 3 | 3 | 6 | 8 | 13 | 17 | 19 | 19 | 16 | 12 | 8 | 4 |
| High °F | 54 | 57 | 61 | 66 | 75 | 82 | 88 | 90 | 81 | 72 | 63 | 55 |
| Low °F | 37 | 37 | 43 | 46 | 55 | 63 | 66 | 66 | 61 | 54 | 46 | 39 |
Italy - Safety by City
| City | Safety Index |
|---|---|
| Bari | 74 |
| Bologna | 56 |
| Cagliari | 64 |
| Catania | 71 |
| Florence | 70 |
| Genoa | 54 |
| Milan | 66 |
| Naples | 66 |
| Palermo | 58 |
| Perugia | 60 |
| Pisa | 61 |
| Rimini | 62 |
| Rome | 64 |
| Sorrento | 60 |
| Turin | 42 |
| Vatican City | 72 |
| Venice | 74 |
| Verona | 65 |
Mmm. Gelato!
You have all the right to refuse a ride to those unscrupulous drivers offering you a ride, true enough always go with the official taxis with a meter. Never believe that you are getting a good deal out of a ride with a stranger you do not know just because they (say) they offer a lower price! And if anything goes wrong, there’s always gelato! Lots and lots of them 🙂
Not very safe if...
Not very safe if you compare it to other western European countries.
There is a lot of crime, especially in Rome, targeting tourists like pickpockets and mainly, scammers. be on your guard and don’t “give to charity”, it’s not really charity, 90% it’s a scam, so be cautious.
When in Rome
Having spent a great deal of time in Rome, I have never felt threatened except when I was a younger lady. The men were quite flirtatious and were quite bothersome. Now as a mature woman, I feel safe walking around my favorite city. Just be careful of scammers. Do not accept a rose from anyone. Don’t accept a bracelet either. Be very careful on busses. Keep your purse or anything of value in the front of you. Do not engage with the fake gladiator’s. They will shake you down for a lot of money. I’m sorry to say but stay away from the gypsies. Don’t talk to them. Avoid eye contact with them. On trains, handle your own luggage. People will try to help you snd then demand a lot of money from you. Just say no. If there is a person outside of a restaurant trying to lure you in, don’t go. Walk to a different place. There are many to choose from. I love Rome. I do know how to handle myself when visiting but you must be careful. Enjoy!
Rome Is Safe
We felt completely safe in Rome, even late at night.
If I am to give my opinion I wouldn’t say that Rome is a safe city if you’re a tourist. We kept being bothered all the time by strangers while sightseeing and we couldn’t always tell the difference if someone was being polite or doing their job or was just trying to scam us. It’s hard to enjoy the city when you constantly need to watch out for pickpocketers, scammers etc.