Scams in Rome: How to Avoid Pickpockets and Tourist Traps

Serious crime against tourists in Italy is rare, and Rome is no exception. What catches visitors instead is a small, well-rehearsed set of street scams and pickpocket routines, and a handful of places where they happen again and again.

The hotspots you should know about

A few spots generate most of the reports. Termini station and the buses and metro lines that leave from it, the Vatican and the queues outside St. Peter's, the Colosseum and Roman Forum entrances, Trevi Fountain, the Spanish Steps, metro Line A between Termini and Ottaviano, and bus 64 from Termini to the Vatican are the places to be most alert.

• Termini station concourse and ticket machines.
• Metro Line A (Termini, Barberini, Spagna, Ottaviano).
• Bus 64 and bus 40 between Termini and the Vatican.
• The queue areas at the Colosseum and St. Peter's.
• The crowd around Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps at sunset.

The scams that repeat every season

The "gladiator photo" shakedown is one of the oldest. Costumed men near the Colosseum invite you to pose, then demand 20 or 50 euros per person afterwards. The friendship-bracelet trick works the same way: someone ties a string around your wrist "as a gift" and then asks for money once it is on.

Fake petitions usually appear around the Pantheon or Piazza Navona, where a group of young people asks you to sign in support of a charity and then surrounds you for a "donation". A variation around Trevi and the Spanish Steps is someone handing you a "free" rose, then insisting on payment.

Around St. Peter's Square, people sometimes offer handfuls of bird seed to feed the pigeons and then charge for the seed. Near the big queues, there are also unofficial "skip the line" touts selling overpriced or fake timed-entry slots. Buy tickets only from the official Vatican Museums and Colosseum websites or well-reviewed tour operators.

Restaurant and taxi traps

The most common restaurant trap is a no-menu place near a big sight where the waiter "recommends" dishes and the bill arrives inflated with 15 euro cover charges, mystery "service" lines and mark-ups on bottled water. Always ask for a menu with prices before ordering and check your bill line by line.

Taxis should use the meter from the moment you start. Fixed fares are legal for a handful of airport routes (such as Fiumicino to the central ZTL zone), but anything else should be metered. Unmetered cars at Termini or outside tourist restaurants are best avoided; use the official taxi rank or an app like FreeNow or itTaxi.

Carrying your belongings without stress

Pickpockets in Rome rely on distraction and crowding rather than grabbing things. A cross-body bag with the zip facing your body, your wallet in a front pocket, and your phone off the table at cafés are enough to stop most attempts. Backpacks are fine between sights, but bring them to your front in packed metro carriages.

• Use a zipped cross-body bag worn to the front in crowds.
• Keep your passport in the hotel safe and carry a photo instead.
• Split cards between two locations in case one is stolen.
• Never leave a phone on a restaurant table near the pavement.
• Board metro carriages near the doors and watch for "accidental" shoves.

If something does get stolen

If you lose a wallet, phone or bag, report it in person at a Polizia di Stato or Carabinieri station and ask for a copy of the denuncia (police report). You will need this for any insurance claim and, if your passport is gone, for an emergency travel document from your consulate.

Cancel your cards immediately using the numbers in your banking app, and if your phone is stolen use a friend's device to sign in and mark it as lost. Most hotels will help you contact the nearest station and can print the report you need for insurance. For additional context on how to handle theft across Europe, our Italy guide and our notes on France and Spain cover similar steps.

Best habits for first-time visitors

If you treat the main sights as crowded European train stations for the duration of your visit, you will avoid almost everything. Say no firmly to anyone trying to put something in your hand, walk past petitions without slowing down, and book big-ticket sights online so you never have to queue next to a tout.

• Pre-book Colosseum, Forum and Vatican Museums online.
• Decline bracelets, flowers and bird seed without breaking stride.
• Sit inside, not on the pavement, at busy central cafés.
• Use official taxi ranks or apps rather than street taxis.
• Keep your guard up specifically on metro Line A and bus 64.