Is Sardinia safe?
Very safe. Crime is low, and the main risks are hot-sun exposure, rip currents and driving on winding rural roads.
Key facts
- SoloSquare safety rating: 5/5, very safe.
- 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 Sardinia at a glance
| What to expect | |
|---|---|
| Overall | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Crime | Occasional theft from beach bags and parked cars in summer; violent crime against visitors is rare. |
| At night | Quiet and safe. Outside Cagliari and Alghero most places close early; a car or booked taxi is needed late. |
| Solo women | Very comfortable for solo women. Public transport is limited, so plan how to get home at night. |
| Other risks | Summer wildfires and heatwaves; Rip currents on exposed beaches; Wandering livestock on rural roads |
Scams, areas and local laws
Common scams
- Beach clubs or tour boats with unclear, high prices
- Taking sand, shells or pebbles from beaches, which carries large fines
Take care
- Rural roads at night: wandering animals and tight bends
- Beaches with strong swell or no lifeguard
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 Sardinia 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 Sardinia safe for solo female travelers?
Very comfortable for solo women. Public transport is limited, so plan how to get home at night.
Is Sardinia safe at night?
Quiet and safe. Outside Cagliari and Alghero most places close early; a car or booked taxi is needed late.
What is the crime rate in Sardinia?
Occasional theft from beach bags and parked cars in summer; violent crime against visitors is rare. Nationally, Italy records 0.6 homicides per 100,000 people a year (2023).
What number do I call in an emergency in Sardinia?
Police 113 · Ambulance 118 · Fire 115 · All emergencies 112.
More about Sardinia
Going to Sardinia solo?
SoloSquare is where travelers, nomads and locals in Sardinia 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
- Cagliari Elmas Airport
- Olbia Costa Smeralda Airport
- ARST Sardegna
- Sardegna Turismo
- 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.