Is Rome Safe to Visit? Honest 2026 Answer + Common Scams

That does not mean you can switch off. Rome is a big, crowded capital that welcomes millions of visitors a year, and professional pickpockets know exactly where to find them. Below you will find what the official travel advisories say in 2026, where thieves work, the scams to recognise, how to take a safe taxi and what to do if something goes wrong.

The US travel advisory for Italy, last updated on 10 September 2026, is Level 2, "Exercise Increased Caution". The main reason is the risk of terrorism, which applies across much of Europe, while Portugal, Greece and Austria, for example, are at Level 1. The State Department also notes that petty crime such as purse snatching and pickpocketing is common at tourist sites and on public transport, while violent crime is rare.

The British government gives similar advice. Its Italy travel advice calls crime levels "generally low", but warns that bag-snatching and pickpocketing are more common in city centres and at major attractions.

Italian figures tell the same story. In the 2026 crime index of the newspaper Il Sole 24 Ore, the province of Rome ranks third in Italy for reported crimes per 100,000 residents, but reports fell by 5.3% in 2025. Part of the high rate comes from the millions of visitors who are counted as victims but not as residents.

Rome safety at a glance: travel advisory level, emergency number, official taxi number and fixed airport taxi fares

Yes. American visitors face the same small risks as everyone else. A few extra steps make sense:

Pickpockets in Rome are quick and often hard to spot. Police operations in 2024–2026 caught thieves at Termini station, at the Colosseo metro stop and along Via dei Fori Imperiali, on Via Cavour, on buses heading to St Peter's, on metro line A (including Barberini station, near the Trevi Fountain) and around the Trevi Fountain itself.

A metro train arriving at a station in Rome, where pickpockets often work in the rush-hour crowds

Most thefts happen in a crush: as metro doors open, on a packed bus or in the crowd around a fountain. To stay safe:

• Wear your bag across your body and in front of you, zipped.
• Keep your phone and wallet out of back pockets.
• Be extra alert when someone bumps into you, asks for directions or "helps" you with a ticket machine.
• On the metro, step back from the doors and let the first crush pass.

The places in Rome where pickpockets work most often, from Termini station to the Trevi Fountain

Most scams in Rome rely on surprise and politeness. If someone approaches you uninvited with a gift, a favour or an offer, a firm "no, grazie" and walking on is almost always the right answer.

1. "Free" bracelets and gifts. A friendly stranger ties a bracelet on your wrist or hands you a "gift", then asks for money. In 2022 two tourists at the Spanish Steps were robbed after exactly this kind of approach.
2. Street sellers and fake goods. Buying from unlicensed street traders, including counterfeit designer goods, can get you fined in Italy, as both the US and UK governments warn.
3. Costumed centurions. Men dressed as Roman soldiers offer a photo near the Colosseum, then demand money. Rome's 2019 urban police regulations stopped them from working in its heritage areas, but some still try; in 2022 three were arrested for asking up to €500 for selfies.
4. Unlicensed taxis. At the airports, drivers may approach you inside the terminal and offer a ride. Rome's airport operator warns against them: walk to the official taxi rank instead.
5. Ticket touts. Near the Colosseum and the Vatican, touts sell "skip-the-line" or resold tickets. Colosseum tickets carry the visitor's name, resellers have charged €33 or more for an €18 ticket, and touts who are caught face a fine. Buy only from the official sites or a reputable tour company.
6. Restaurant extras. According to the Italian consumer association Altroconsumo, a coperto (cover charge per person) is not allowed in Lazio, the region that includes Rome. Other service charges are legal only if they are shown on the menu, so read it before you order. Our guide to tipping in Rome explains what is normal.

Six common tourist scams in Rome and how to avoid them

One more tip from the US State Department: use ATMs inside banks, cover the keypad, and avoid any machine with a card slot that looks loose.

Official Rome taxis are white, with a "TAXI" sign on the roof and the Roma Capitale emblem and licence number on the front doors; the number is repeated inside the car. Make sure the meter is running and ask for a receipt. According to Roma Mobilità, the city's mobility agency, these fixed fares apply per car, including luggage and extras:

The fixed fares apply only to direct trips. You can book an official taxi through the city's ChiamaTaxi service on 060609 or its app. Women travelling alone at night get a 15% discount on metered fares between 22:00 and 06:00, though not on the fixed airport fares. More details are in our guides on how to get a taxi in Rome and whether there is Uber in Rome.

On foot, the biggest everyday danger is traffic. Scooters can appear from nowhere, so look both ways even when the pedestrian light is green. If you rent an e-scooter, a helmet is compulsory and riders must be at least 14.

The historic centre stays lively late into the evening, and areas like Trastevere, Campo de' Fiori and the streets around the Pantheon stay busy until late. Use the same common sense you would in any big city: stick to busy, well-lit streets, keep an eye on your drink and take an official taxi home if you are tired. We cover evenings in detail in is Rome safe at night.

A quiet lamp-lit street in the historic centre of Rome at dusk

If you would like to see the monuments after dark without worrying about getting around, a guided Colosseum night tour is one of the most relaxed ways to do it.

Choosing a well-located hotel also helps; our guide on where to stay in Rome compares the best neighbourhoods.