Listen to “243. Staying Safe in Italy: Tips and Tricks for Avoiding Scams and Theft” on Spreaker.
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Planning a trip to Italy but worried about staying safe? With its stunning sights, unforgettable food, and warm, welcoming atmosphere, Italy is generally safe, but it’s important to stay alert to common tourist pitfalls like pickpockets and scams. Follow a few simple tips, and you can explore confidently, soak in the beauty, and fully enjoy your trip!
Summary
In this episode, Untold Italy founder Katy is addressing a topic that comes up frequently in our Italy Travel Planning Facebook Community – the safety of you and your belongings. With tips and insights on how to keep your belongings safe, avoid common tourist traps, and how to navigate the beautiful streets of Italy with confidence.
What you’ll learn in this episode
- Italy is generally a safe country – coming up 33rd out of 163 countries in the Global Peace Index (Australia and Canada ranked higher at 19 and 11 respectively, whilst the UK is 34 and the United States is at 132)
- Like any other country – you should avoid poorly lit areas at night and take simple steps to reduce the risk of becoming a target. Common locations for pickpocketing and theft are the main sights – so Trevi Fountain, Colosseum, Vatican Museums in Rome, Saint Mark’s Square in Venice for instance – as well as train stations in all the major cities
- Stay vigilant. Opportunist crime can happen to anyone – sometimes you just get unlucky, but often it is when someone is distracted. In 25 years of traveling to Italy regularly, Katy has only fallen foul once – on an incredibly crowded train platform in Cinque Terre when she had her very small children with her. So she was majorly distracted trying to keep them safe in the crowd
- Keep your bag visible and secure when walking around, dining and on trains. Consider using a crossbody bag and a Bandolier style phone pouch for phone security if you’re using it a lot on the go – photos, maps etc. If you do have any items stolen, report it as soon as possible so it is registered for your insurance. The emergency number in Italy is 112 or for 113 for the police
- If you are not from the EU, you are legally obliged to carry your passport with you when out and about in Italy. So do need to take steps to keep it safe, like keep on your person or in a zipped-up pocket in your bag. Although stats on passports being lost or stolen are low, if it does happen you will need to contact your embassy in Rome
- Book your tours in advance – avoid the unverified local guides that hang around outside the major sights
- If approached by someone you think may be aiming to scam you or distract you, respond politely but firmly. Don’t assume everyone out there is trying to do you wrong and don’t be rude. “No Grazie” usually does the job – but “Basta!” (enough) adds a little emphasis
- Stay aware, protect your belongings and you can concentrate on simply enjoying your trip to Italy
Timeline Overview
- 01:55 Italy is generally a safe country – coming up very high in safety stats compared to some of the countries of the most worried visitors
- 06:08 Stay vigilant. Things happen most often when someone is distracted
- 08:20 Keep your bag visible and secure when walking around, dining and on trains. Consider using a Bandolier case for your phone and make sure you know what to do if you are a victim of crime
- 15:24 You must carry your passport with you if you are not from the EU, so keep it safe, but passports being lost or stolen is rare
- 20:12 Book tours in advance to avoid unverified local guides and respond politely but firmly to avoid scams
- 25:03 Stay aware, protect your belongings and you can concentrate on simply enjoying your trip to Italy.
Italian places, foods and concepts mentioned
Places
- Trevi Fountain, outside the Colosseum and the Vatican Museums – crowded areas in Rome where pick pockets target
- Ponte Vecchio, the Duomo, outside the market and the Uffizi Gallery – areas for caution in Florenc
- Piazza San Marco and the Rialto Bridge – Venice tourist hotspots where you should remain most aware
Words / Concepts
- Global Peace Index – covering most countries in the world it analyses stats reflecting various factors including the level of societal safety and security
- Bandolier – brand that makes cases for phones that can be worn around the neck for security
- Carabinieri – the national police of Italy who primarily carries out domestic and foreign policing duties
- Basta! – means ‘enough’. Useful if No, Grazie is not working
- Oliver Twist – book written by Charles Dickens, published in 1838. The most famous film adaptation was a musical made in 1968
Related content on Untold Italy
Podcasts
- Ep 240 – Money Matters – Italy travel tips on cards, cash and more
- Ep 159 – Popular tourist scams in Italy and how to avoid them
- Ep 080 – Packing for Italy
- Ep 015 – Italy travel fails
Articles
- How to avoid pickpockets in Italy
- Best crossbody bags for travel
- How to pack for Italy
- Best luggage for Italy travel
- How to travel by train in Italy
- How much does a trip to Italy cost?
- Best travel apps for Italy
- Travel Insurance for Italy: Why You Need It, Travel Tips & FAQs
- Tipping in Italy: Everything you need to know
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