Italy is one of the most visited countries in the world, but not every experience is picture-perfect.
From our own travels, we witnessed situations that were far more serious than the usual tourist troubles. This guide shares what most people overlook until it's too late.
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Catcalling and Harassments
Unfortunately, catcalling, sexual harassment, and harassment in general are still the norm in many places across Italy.
The situation improved over the years. However, the further south one travels, the more frequently these uncomfortable situations arise.
Young women are usually the victims of catcalling and sexual misconduct, especially if they are alone or in a group of women.
These incidents are less frequent when there are male companions, but it's not an assurance because they might catcall just to upset the men. The aim is to start an argument or scuffle to attack the tourists.
How to Stay Safe? The problem is mostly prevalent in cities. Avoid dangerous areas; don't walk around at night alone in dark alleyways. Don't react to the catcalling and sexist remarks. If there are police nearby, let them know about the sexual harassment. Keep a ring on your finger (keeps away some crazy people).
Pickpockets
Certain areas in Europe are known for their summer peak tourism pickpocketing problem, and the Italian cities are at the top of this list.
Pickpockets will target your wallet, your bag, your expensive devices, your passports, and your gold chains. They will lock on their targets, and get it in a split second without you noticing.
These are trained individuals, criminals, that work in a gang, and they look like tourists. Some are elderly people, others appear to be families with strollers and small kids, and then you have 13-year-old teenager groups.
How to Stay Safe? Keep your valuables safe, especially your backpack. Get a hidden fanny pack to store money and cards. Be extra vigilant in crowded places in Rome, Milan, Florence, Venice, and Naples. The subway is the pickpocketing playground of these organized criminals.
Car Break-Ins
When we travel by car to any of the cities in Italy, we double-check the parking situation. That could be for a day trip or if we plan to stay overnight.
We were walking down the road at 10 pm after a dinner in Bologna, which was just a 5-minute walk home, when we saw a young guy in a hoodie on the other side of the road pushing down a car window. The car was parked facing a shop, which was still open.
The man saw us and started to abuse us to walk on, and we really didn't know if he had a knife in his hand; it was too dark.
We saw broken car windows in random parking lots all over Italy, and that included garages that were supposedly under surveillance.
How to Stay Safe? Go on maps and search for parking lots, and go through the reviews to find people posting pictures of break-ins. Avoid these parking lots, especially with a foreign car number plate (e.g., Swiss, German, or Austrian), and if you are driving a more expensive car.
Don't leave valuables in the car, such as laptops, and don't keep anything visible. Old car door windows are easy to push down, just something to keep in mind.
When you book a room, get a gated and monitored parking spot. These can cost $20 per night extra. Just because Holiday Inn or Ibis says that their open and accessible camera surveillance parking lot is safe, it doesn't mean that your car will not get robbed.
Road Safety
Italians are bad drivers. In fact, they are probably the worst drivers in Europe, and we traveled to Eastern Europe, where traffic laws were still holy.
The problem starts with the crosswalks in the cities. The drivers just won't stop, and you have to basically make them stop by taking a step forward, which can be dangerous at times.
Italians driving on the highway, the Autostrada, follow impulsive, no-signal, concepts that seem to be driven by pride and probably testosterone.
They don't move from the left lane, and if they do, you have to come full speed towards their rear. When there is a traffic jam, they take over from the shoulder (until a cop catches them), and they just cruise around from one lane to another without using the side signal once.
How to Stay Safe? At a crosswalk, try to signal the driver to halt, but there is no guarantee that this works. Be extra vigilant and only drive in Italy if you are a confident driver (My Tips to driving in Italy). The roads are also much narrower in Italy, and the road conditions in rural areas are rather bad.
Public Transport Issues
Public transport is probably still the safest mode of transportation when getting from A to B, but in rare cases you can get into unexpected situations in Italy.
Riots, protests, and unrest can be a major reason why trains are delayed or flights are canceled. Occasionally, it's just an unexplained sudden service issue.
We were traveling on the green metro line from the outskirts of Rome to downtown Rome when they made us leave the subway.
The problem was, we were stranded in some random unknown area in Rome without a replacement service. The other passengers were as confused and lost as we were, and none spoke a word of English.
Situations like that can be very scary because you didn't intend to be left hanging in the middle of nowhere.
How to Stay Safe? Save some taxi numbers in the city or area where you are planning to travel. Use DeepL and Google Translate to scan or record new announcements in Italian so you can translate them into your language. Approach info desks if possible. In some cases, you can try to follow the herd mentality, but be cautious with that strategy. Pray that you have a clear internet signal to look up things online. If you are stranded at night, look for safe accommodation and don't take unnecessary risks.
Scammers
Scammers are very common in all tourist hubs in Italy, and that's usually cities. The most widespread scams in Europe are also common in Italy.
Here are some of the most common scams:
- Cup and Ball Game — A group of people guessing the ball under a cup, but the winning folks are part of the gang. You can never win and if you do once, they will make you play again. Some of them can get physically aggressive.
- Bracelet Scam — They will throw a souvenir bracelet thing at you with the hope to engage. Then they will “gift” the bracelet, and ask for money. Just ignore, they target people who don't know to say no.
- Rose Scam — Dude walking around with a bouquet of red roses targeting couples. The men will be coerced to buy a rose for the lady.
- Petition Scam — People pretending to be disabled collecting cash for fake NGOs. (Also, don't ever swipe your card on a random POS on the street.)
- Painting on the Floor Scam — They get aggressive, claiming that you walked over the painting, and ask for compensation, even if you are just standing next to the painting.
- Gladiator Picture Taking Scam — Dressed as gladiators, they will ask for payment after you have taken a picture.
How to Stay Safe? Nothing is free in this world, and no, people don't just stand in the sun to be your friends and to give you “gifts.” Learn to ignore, to not engage, to give them empty stares, and they won't even approach you. If you see scammers and police somewhere nearby, approach the police.
Natural Hazards
Natural hazards can be very unpredictable, but try to avoid traveling to certain areas during a natural catastrophe.
Potential hazards include:
- Earthquakes, which affect mainly central and southern Italy.
- Volcano Eruptions (Mount Etna and Mount Vesuvius).
- Floodings, especially in the north and in Venice.
- Wildfires in central and southern Italy.
How to Stay Safe? Learn about safety precautions in case of a natural disaster before your trip. Save the 112 European Emergency Hotline for all emergencies; the operators speak English. Keep multiple modes of payment ready because money can help you in difficult situations.
Extreme Weather Conditions
Heatstrokes in Italy are very common in the summer months. Temperatures can regularly get to 100 degrees Fahrenheit (ca. 38 degrees Celsius) in the day, and the more south you go, the hotter it gets.
Simultaneously, keep in mind that winter temperatures in the Alps can drop to -5 Fahrenheit (ca. -20 degrees Celsius) in winter. Drunk Après Ski cases that die in the cold overnight outdoors are not unheard of.
How to Stay Safe? Avoid visiting in the hottest months if possible; air conditioning is also not always the norm. Stay hydrated and keep electrolytes on hand. Look up heatstroke symptoms. If you visit the Alps in the winter, stay in the warm and don't get drunk outdoors alone or with unreliable friends.
Slow Emergency Support in Rural Zones
If you find yourself wandering the Italian countryside, which, in my opinion, is definitely a must to experience the country thoroughly, keep in mind that the rural areas can be rather far off from major health care centers.
Health care is great in Italy, but the emergency support can be slow in rural areas.
Things are far away, and the roads that lead to them are full of potholes. Waiting times can be long, and please keep in mind the eternal language barrier. People do not speak an international language in rural Italy.
How to Stay Safe? If you have health concerns and you need regular treatment, stay in areas that are not too far away from health care centers in case of an emergency.
Adventure Accidents
Sports- or adventure-related accidents are often totally overlooked by rookies, amateurs, and professionals alike.
Don't avoid the red flag at the beach, even if you are a good swimmer. Good swimmers can drown as well in strong currents.
Stay on well-known trails when you go on a hike. Keep the possibility of a sudden change of weather in mind if you are hiking or climbing in the Alps.
Don't do cliff jumping, and don't hire a boat if you are not experienced.
How to Stay Safe? These are some accident scenarios, but definitely not the only ones. Just avoid situations that you wouldn't try back at home.
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