Is it safe to travel to Italy? | Intrepid Travel AU

Italy is a hugely popular holiday destination, with nearly 60 million tourists travelling within its borders each year. In terms of safety, Italy is a mostly safe place to travel, with tourist infrastructure and essential services readily available if anything goes wrong. There are, however, a few things to keep an eye out for when visiting.

Safety in public places

The main thing to be aware of in Italy is petty theft. These small-scale crimes, including pickpocketing and bag snatching, mainly occur in crowded tourist hotspots in Rome, Florence and Venice. Be vigilant about your belongings and leave expensive watches or jewellery at home.

If you happen to travel on the Circumvesuviana train network between Naples and Sorrento, be vigilant. Beggars and pickpockets regularly frequent this route, and often the trains are standing room only, making it easy for petty theft to occur.

There are also quite a few scams that tourists may find themselves caught in. Some locals in high-touristed areas sell counterfeit leather goods and ‘designer’ products, so be wary of what you are buying – if you are found purchasing counterfeit items, you could be fined thousands of euros!

Beggars are a widespread problem throughout Italy, notably older Romani women who may be carrying young children. In the vast majority of cases, they are part of a large syndicated network of beggars and are being exploited – hardly any money is going to the beggars themselves. Babies are often sedated to prey on tourists’ guilt, and if you do begin to interact and don't give money, beggars may become aggressive. If you wish to give to charitable causes in Italy, do your research before you arrive and only donate to reputable organisations.

Many travellers who haven’t been to Italy think the Mafia is a huge problem in the region. This is largely incorrect – although there is Mafia activity in Naples and Sicily, in particular, it almost never involves travellers.

Natural disasters in Italy are irregular but do occur and can be dangerous. There are three main active volcanoes around the country – Mt Etna in Sicily, Mt Stromboli on the island of Stromboli, and Mt Vesuvius near Naples – and if eruptions occur, they can disrupt travel plans. Venice is prone to flooding, especially in early winter (November-December), when rainfall is high and the lagoon swells at high tide. Low-lying areas in Venice, such as Piazza San Marco, often flood at high tide, so follow local warnings when travelling during this time.

Safety as a solo or female traveller

Normal safety precautions exist for travellers who are visiting Italy by themselves. When walking at night, keep to well-lit, high-traffic areas. Be wary of non-legitimate taxis and take normal safety precautions if using ridesharing services in Rome and Milan.

Women may attract unwanted attention and catcalling from local men, especially at night in Bologna, Florence and Milan, yelling out ‘ciao bella’ ('hello beautiful') to receive a response. Ignoring the situation and walking away will almost always stop the catcalling.

Tips for staying safe in Italy

Don’t advertise wealth with excessive jewellery when in public
Be aware in busy markets, piazzas and on public transport
Watch your belongings in busy tourist areas
Beware of beggars

Is Italy LGBTQIA+ friendly?

Is water safe to drink in Italy?

Find out more about current travel alerts

Click here to return to Italy FAQs

Our tours in Italy

Rome to Amalfi

8 Days From 3249

Travel to Italy on a tour from Rome to Amalfi and explore the best of the region....

Safety in public places

Safety as a solo or female traveller

Tips for staying safe in Italy

Our tours in Italy

Rome to Amalfi

8 Days From 3249

Best of Italy

14 Days From 5122

Highlights of Italy in Winter

8 Days From 2890

Highlights of Italy

8 Days From 2193

Premium Sicily

10 Days From 8438

Tailor-Made trips

Italy Experience

10 Days From 4922

Amalfi Coast: Hike & Kayak

8 Days From 3087

Hiking in the Dolomites

8 Days From 4275

Premium Venice to Split

9 Days From 6537

Hike the Tour du Mont Blanc

8 Days From 4779

Italy Real Food Adventure

8 Days From 3783

Essential Italy

10 Days From 2799

Cycle Tuscany

8 Days From 3069

Italy: Highlights of Sicily

8 Days From 3596

Cinque Terre: Hike, Bike & Kayak

8 Days From 3155

Explore Southern Italy

10 Days From 3456

Barcelona to Rome

15 Days From 5976

Premium Puglia

8 Days From 6380

Berlin to Venice

15 Days From 3672

Sardinia & Corsica Sailing Adventure

8 Days From 2861

Real Central Europe

15 Days From 2736

Sail Italy: Amalfi to Procida

5 Days From 1762

Discover Central Europe

8 Days From 1785

Sail Italy: Procida to Amalfi

4 Days From 1422

Amalfi Coast Sailing Adventure

7 Days From 3282

Italy: Highlights of Calabria

9 Days From 3753

Italy Family Holiday

8 Days From 3524

Dubrovnik to Venice

10 Days From 2132

Premium Tuscany

8 Days From 6830

Premium Italy in Depth

15 Days From 13838

Premium Venice to Dubrovnik

16 Days From 11970

Berlin to Rome

22 Days From 5449

Rome to Sicily

23 Days From 11101

Rome to Southern Italy

17 Days From 7087

Northern Italy Family Holiday

8 Days From 3706

Europe Explorer

36 Days From 10523

Best of Italy Family Holiday

15 Days From 6826

Classic Italy