Is Venice safe?
Very safe, including at night. Pickpocketing on crowded vaporetti and overpriced restaurants are the main problems.
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 Venice at a glance
| What to expect | |
|---|---|
| Overall | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Crime | Pickpockets on vaporetto line 1 and around the Rialto and San Marco; rare bag theft. |
| At night | The islands are very quiet after 10 pm and feel safe; the main risk is getting lost in dark alleys. Vaporetti run late but less often. |
| Solo women | Very safe for solo women. The streets empty out early at night, so keep to lit routes and check the last vaporetto. |
| Other risks | Acqua alta flooding, mostly Oct–Jan; Slippery bridge steps and canal edges; Summer heat and humidity |
Scams, areas and local laws
Common scams
- Restaurants near San Marco adding large cover and service charges
- Unofficial water taxis or gondoliers quoting very high fares
- Street vendors pressing roses or bracelets for money
Take care
- Vaporetto line 1 at rush hour: pickpockets
- Canal edges with no railings after drinking
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 Venice 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 Venice safe for solo female travelers?
Very safe for solo women. The streets empty out early at night, so keep to lit routes and check the last vaporetto.
Is Venice safe at night?
The islands are very quiet after 10 pm and feel safe; the main risk is getting lost in dark alleys. Vaporetti run late but less often.
What is the crime rate in Venice?
Pickpockets on vaporetto line 1 and around the Rialto and San Marco; rare bag theft. Nationally, Italy records 0.6 homicides per 100,000 people a year (2023).
What number do I call in an emergency in Venice?
Police 113 · Ambulance 118 · Fire 115 · All emergencies 112.
More about Venice
Going to Venice solo?
SoloSquare is where travelers, nomads and locals in Venice 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
- ACTV / AVM Venezia
- Venice Marco Polo Airport
- Comune di Venezia visitor information
- ULSS 3 Serenissima
- 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.