Rome

Italy’s capital and most famous city, Rome is the famous center of the Roman Empire, home of the catholic church (with the Vatican) and the historical center of Italy. With its seven hills upon which many old churches, roman ruins and baroque fountains can be found, Rome is a truly magical city with a growing nightlife and food scene. Although the city is very safe even for women travelling alone,  some areas attracts a lot of pickpockets and crooks who take advantage of the crowds on the city’s streets.

SafeAround will allow you to see on a map the city’s safest and most dangerous neighborhoods and areas, details on scams and other risks, as well as some useful travel advice.

SAFETY INDEX

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Warnings & Dangers

Mid Priority-96 OVERALL RISK : LOW

Rome is a very safe city, but has some pickpocket issues. With a rating of 78% Italy,  is ranked 34th out of 162 on the ranking of the safest and most dangerous countries.

Mid Priority-96 PICKPOCKETS RISK : HIGH

As a top touristic destination, there is a high pickpocket risk in Rome. A few simple precautions will minimize your chances of being pickpocketed.

Mid Priority-96 MUGGING RISK : MEDIUM

Rome is an averagely safe city regarding the chances of being mugged or kidnapped. Be aware of dangerous zones by asking local advice.

Mid Priority-96 SCAMS RISK : HIGH

There are a lot of scammers and con-artists trying to take advantage of tourists, particularly in large cities and around major landmarks in Rome. Be aware of “gold ring” tricks, fake petitions, groups of teenagers acting strangely or trying to distract you; and people offering help with your luggage.

Mid Priority-96 TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK : MEDIUM

There might be some risk while taking public transport in Rome, and fake taxis can  be an issue sometimes.

Mid Priority-96 NATURAL DISASTERS RISK : LOW

There can be some rare natural hazards (earthquakes) in Italy.

Mid Priority-96 TERRORISM RISK : MEDIUM

Rome has not recently been targeted by terrorist attacks, but it is best to stay alert.

Mid Priority-96 WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK : LOW

Rome is generally very safe for women travelers.

Carte

WHAT TO DO?

Historical Center

The historical centre of Rome is full of beautiful squares, old churches, the Pantheon, and a lot of restaurants, ice-cream and pizza parlors around the Tiber river. The Isola Tiberina is a small island which can be visited through a stone bridge. There are some pickpockets near the Pantheon area, and sometimes people will stand outside churches asking for an entrance fee : don’t fall for this, as all churches in Rome are free of charge.

Ancient Rome & Colosseum

South of the historical center can be found the heart of ancient Rome, with the Colosseum, the Palatine Hill, the forums.. The whole area is like an open-air museum. A lot of pickpockets and bag snatchers operate in the area, which is the most touristic of the city. There is a great police presence, but pickpockets often outsmart them. Consider wearing a money belt. There is also some street performers -often dressed up as roman fighters- around the Colosseum, which will ask you for money if you take a picture of them; and fake plainclothes policemen asking for money have been spotted too.

Tridente & Trevi

Tridente is Rome’s most famous upscale shopping neighborhood. The Spanish Steps and Piazza di Spagna are very famous among tourists, and are very near to the illustrious Trevi Fountain. The Spanish Steps and Trevi fountains are notorious pickpocket hotspots, so keep all your valuables with you. There are scammers trying to tie bracelets around your hand and then asking for money (up to 20€) to take it off.

Vatican

The center of the Catholic Church and the smallest country in the world is only a few streets away from the center of Rome. Around St. Peter’s square is one of Rome’s finest museum, the Vatican Museum. Although very safe, pickpockets often enter the Vatican in order to take advantage of tourists. Also, organised “Scam” tours organizers are known to wait tourists outside the metro station and offer “line-cutting” tickets while no such thing exists.

Useful Information

Visas are not usually required for stays under 90 days, and EU nationals (Schengen) can stay in the country as long as they want. Make sure your passport has at least six months’ validity from your planned date of return to the country you’re visiting. www.doyouneedvisa.com is a useful website that can help you know if you need a visa or not based on your nationality and the country you’re visiting.
The currency in Italy and most of Europe is the Euro. Italy is cheaper than other European countries, but the costs can add up in the main cities. Allow a budget of at least 70€ per day including accommodation.
The weather in Italy is hot and dry, the best time to visit is around summer (June-September), although major cities can be visited year-long. If you want to avoid the masses, travel in Spring or Autumn.
The main international airports are in Rome, Milan, Bologna, Turin, Naples, Pisa and Venice If you’re looking fore cheap flight deals, you can find some on JetRadar
As in any country, we advise travelers to get a travel insurance that covers not only medical problems but also theft and loss of personal items. Learn more on our travel insurance page