Is Syracuse safe?
Safe and relaxed. Petty theft and bag snatching happen occasionally; Ortigia at night is lively and fine, while parts of the mainland are best avoided late.
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 Syracuse at a glance
| What to expect | |
|---|---|
| Overall | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Crime | Pickpocketing in crowded Ortigia summer evenings, car break-ins near the archaeological park, and rare scooter bag snatching. |
| At night | Ortigia is busy and safe in summer evenings; in winter the lanes empty out early. Use a taxi to the mainland late. |
| Solo women | Comfortable for solo women in Ortigia, including at night. Normal care on quiet mainland streets and rocky swimming spots. |
| Other risks | Summer heat above 38°C; Slippery rocks at swimming spots; Strong winds on the seafront in winter |
Scams, areas and local laws
Common scams
- Unofficial parking attendants demanding money near Ortigia and the park
- Restaurants adding unexplained cover charges
- Boat tour touts quoting inflated prices on the Ortigia quay
Take care
- Leaving valuables in a parked car near the archaeological park
- Walking dark mainland streets late at night
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 Syracuse 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 |
| 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 |
| Syracuse | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Naples | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
Quick answers
Is Syracuse safe for solo female travelers?
Comfortable for solo women in Ortigia, including at night. Normal care on quiet mainland streets and rocky swimming spots.
Is Syracuse safe at night?
Ortigia is busy and safe in summer evenings; in winter the lanes empty out early. Use a taxi to the mainland late.
What is the crime rate in Syracuse?
Pickpocketing in crowded Ortigia summer evenings, car break-ins near the archaeological park, and rare scooter bag snatching. Nationally, Italy records 0.6 homicides per 100,000 people a year (2023).
What number do I call in an emergency in Syracuse?
Police 113 · Ambulance 118 · Fire 115 · All emergencies 112.
More about Syracuse
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Sources
- US State Department travel advisory
- Trenitalia
- Catania Airport (SAC)
- Comune di Siracusa
- ARNAS Garibaldi
- 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.