Is Rome safe?
Safe with normal care. Violent crime against visitors is rare; pickpockets and tourist-trap restaurants are the everyday problems.
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 Rome at a glance
| What to expect | |
|---|---|
| Overall | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Crime | Pickpocketing on buses 64 and 40, metro line A, and around the Colosseum, Vatican and Termini; occasional bag snatching from scooters. |
| At night | Central areas stay busy and feel fine. Trains and buses thin out after midnight; use a licensed taxi or FREENOW late. |
| Solo women | Generally comfortable for solo women. Expect catcalling and persistent chat-ups; avoid Termini's surroundings and empty side streets late at night. |
| Other risks | Summer heatwaves above 35°C in July–August; Fast scooter traffic and unmarked crossings; Transport strikes (sciopero), announced days ahead |
Scams, areas and local laws
Common scams
- Costumed 'gladiators' demanding fees for photos near the Colosseum
- Friendship bracelets or roses pressed into your hand, then payment demanded
- Unlicensed taxi touts at Termini and Fiumicino; use white taxis from the rank
- Restaurants near big sights with no printed prices
Take care
- Termini station area at night: drunks, pickpockets and hassle
- Crowded buses and metro line A at rush hour: pickpockets
- Cobbled streets and drivers ignoring crossings
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 Rome 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 Rome safe for solo female travelers?
Generally comfortable for solo women. Expect catcalling and persistent chat-ups; avoid Termini's surroundings and empty side streets late at night.
Is Rome safe at night?
Central areas stay busy and feel fine. Trains and buses thin out after midnight; use a licensed taxi or FREENOW late.
What is the crime rate in Rome?
Pickpocketing on buses 64 and 40, metro line A, and around the Colosseum, Vatican and Termini; occasional bag snatching from scooters. Nationally, Italy records 0.6 homicides per 100,000 people a year (2023).
What number do I call in an emergency in Rome?
Police 113 · Ambulance 118 · Fire 115 · All emergencies 112.
More about Rome
Going to Rome solo?
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Sources
- US State Department travel advisory
- ATAC Roma
- Aeroporti di Roma
- Roma Capitale tourism
- 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.