Is Umbria safe?
Safe overall; Perugia's centre feels calm by day. Late-night petty crime near Perugia's Fontivegge station and drunken fights on student nights are the main issues.
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 Umbria at a glance
| What to expect | |
|---|---|
| Overall | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Crime | Pickpocketing at festivals and tourist spots, car break-ins in rural parking, and drug dealing around Perugia's Fontivegge station. |
| At night | Perugia is lively until 2 am near the university; elsewhere towns quiet down by 11 pm. Take taxis or walk with friends after bars. |
| Solo women | Comfortable for solo women. Expect friendly interest in student bars; avoid dark stairs and empty lanes near the station late at night. |
| Other risks | Earthquakes; the Norcia area was hit in 2016; Summer heat above 35°C inland; Steep cobbled lanes in hill towns |
Scams, areas and local laws
Common scams
- Rental car damage claims; photograph every scratch on pickup
- Restaurants adding tourist surcharges or unlisted coperto
- Fake charity collectors approaching in Assisi and Perugia
Take care
- Fontivegge station area in Perugia at night: drug dealing and fights
- ZTL zones in hill towns: automatic camera fines
- Country roads after dark: wild boar and sharp bends
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 Umbria 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 |
| Umbria | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Naples | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
Quick answers
Is Umbria safe for solo female travelers?
Comfortable for solo women. Expect friendly interest in student bars; avoid dark stairs and empty lanes near the station late at night.
Is Umbria safe at night?
Perugia is lively until 2 am near the university; elsewhere towns quiet down by 11 pm. Take taxis or walk with friends after bars.
What is the crime rate in Umbria?
Pickpocketing at festivals and tourist spots, car break-ins in rural parking, and drug dealing around Perugia's Fontivegge station. Nationally, Italy records 0.6 homicides per 100,000 people a year (2023).
What number do I call in an emergency in Umbria?
Police 113 · Ambulance 118 · Fire 115 · All emergencies 112.
More about Umbria
Going to Umbria solo?
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Sources
- US State Department travel advisory
- Umbria Tourism
- Trenitalia
- Perugia Hospital
- Azienda Ospedaliera Santa Maria, Terni
- 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.