Broadly safe for most visitors, with only routine travel precautions needed. Public health and infrastructure are well developed.
Regional breakdown
Italy is a long, varied country, and travel conditions shift from one region to the next. Rome, Florence and Venice draw the largest crowds and the highest rates of pickpocketing. Thieves work the metro lines around Roma Termini, the area near the Trevi Fountain, and the bridges and vaporetto stops in Venice. Bag-snatching from scooters has been reported in central Naples, particularly around the railway station and the Spanish Quarter. Milan and the northern industrial cities see similar street crime, often clustered around Duomo, Centrale station and tram stops. Train travellers using overnight services between Milan, Rome and the south should keep luggage in sight. The Amalfi Coast, Cinque Terre and the Dolomites are mainly low-crime, but mountain rescue callouts spike in summer when walkers underestimate the terrain. Southern regions including Sicily, Calabria and Puglia are popular with international holidaymakers and report fewer tourist-targeted incidents than the big cities. Drivers should watch out for narrow coast roads, aggressive overtaking and unmarked speed cameras. The volcanic zones around Etna, Stromboli and the Phlegraean Fields near Naples are monitored by Italian civil protection. And access can be restricted at short notice when activity rises.
Recent advisory changes
The official advisory guidance last updated its Italy guidance on 18 February 2026. The change covered new information on the European Entry-Exit System, which affects how UK passport holders are processed at Italian borders. The official advisory guidance does not place Italy under any 'advise against travel' wording, and the same guidance covers Vatican City. The official advisory guidance keeps Italy at Level 2, 'Exercise Increased Caution', last reissued on 23 May 2025. The reason given is terrorism. The official advisory guidance lists tourist attractions, transport hubs, shopping areas, hotels, religious sites and public events as possible targets. The same Level 2 covers San Marino and Vatican City. No ordered departure is in place, and no specific Italian region is singled out for higher caution by either government right now.
What travellers should know
Petty theft is the most common problem reported by visitors. Carry a slim wallet, keep phones off cafe tables, and use a cross-body bag with the zip facing forward on busy metros. Distraction scams around ticket machines at Roma Termini and Milano Centrale are well documented, so buy tickets from staffed counters or official apps when possible. The European Entry-Exit System changes how UK passports are checked at Italian airports and land borders. Allow extra time on arrival, especially during summer peaks. Carry proof of onward travel and travel insurance. Driving in historic city centres is restricted by ZTL zones, and fines reach UK drivers months later through hire car companies. In an emergency, dial 112 for the unified European number. Register with the Italian civil protection app if you are travelling in volcanic or earthquake-prone areas. And check ferry operators directly during winter storms in the Adriatic and Tyrrhenian seas.