Is Pisa safe?
Safe for a small city. Petty theft near the station and crowded Tower area, and drunk students at weekends, are the main concerns.
Key facts
- SoloSquare safety rating: 4/5, safe with normal care.
- US travel advisory: Level 2: Exercise increased caution, updated 2025-05-22.
- Homicide rate in Italy: 0.6 per 100,000 people (2023, UNODC via World Bank).
- Road deaths in Italy: 5.3 per 100,000 people a year (2019, WHO).
- Emergency numbers: Police 113 · Ambulance 118 · Fire 115 · All emergencies 112.
Safety in Pisa at a glance
| What to expect | |
|---|---|
| Overall | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Crime | Pickpocketing around Piazza dei Miracoli and on buses; bike theft and occasional drug dealing near the station. |
| At night | Student bars keep the center lively until late; most of the city is quiet and feels safe, but avoid the station area after midnight. |
| Solo women | Comfortable for solo women. Occasional catcalling; keep to lit central streets after dark. |
| Other risks | Summer heat and humidity; Cyclists on narrow streets; Rare winter river flooding |
Scams, areas and local laws
Common scams
- Hawkers pushing selfie-stick or 'push the Tower' photo services
- Unlicensed taxis offering rides at the station
- Overpriced tourist menus around Piazza dei Miracoli
Take care
- Pisa Centrale and nearby streets late at night
- Crowded Piazza dei Miracoli in summer: pickpockets
Calmer areas to stay
Laws visitors break by accident
- Validate paper bus and regional train tickets before travelling or face on-the-spot fines.
- Driving into a ZTL limited-traffic zone triggers camera fines, often billed later through your rental company.
- Sitting on monuments, wading in fountains or eating on landmark steps can bring fines in Rome, Venice and Florence.
How Pisa compares in Italy
| Place | Safety |
|---|---|
| Venice | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Amalfi Coast | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Lake Como | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Cinque Terre | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Positano | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Sardinia | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Capri | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Siena | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Matera | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Lecce | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Lucca | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Rome | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Florence | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Milan | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Sicily | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Tuscany | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Bologna | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Verona | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Pisa | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Sorrento | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Lake Garda | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Turin | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Puglia | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Dolomites | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Taormina | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Palermo | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Catania | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Bari | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Genoa | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Naples | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
Quick answers
Is Pisa safe for solo female travelers?
Comfortable for solo women. Occasional catcalling; keep to lit central streets after dark.
Is Pisa safe at night?
Student bars keep the center lively until late; most of the city is quiet and feels safe, but avoid the station area after midnight.
What is the crime rate in Pisa?
Pickpocketing around Piazza dei Miracoli and on buses; bike theft and occasional drug dealing near the station. Nationally, Italy records 0.6 homicides per 100,000 people a year (2023).
What number do I call in an emergency in Pisa?
Police 113 · Ambulance 118 · Fire 115 · All emergencies 112.
More about Pisa
Going to Pisa solo?
SoloSquare is where travelers, nomads and locals in Pisa meet up for small plans: coffee, dinners, walks and day trips. Join one, or start your own in a minute.
Sources
- US State Department travel advisory
- Pisa Airport
- Opera della Primaziale Pisana (Tower tickets)
- Trenitalia
- World Bank: intentional homicides (UNODC)
- World Bank: road traffic deaths (WHO)
Safety ratings are SoloSquare's editorial judgment from official advisories, crime data and local reporting. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.