THE 7 ULTIMATE SAFETY TIPS TO EXPLORE ITALY
All The Tips You Need To Know, From A Local!Italy has everything a traveller could ever want: stunning sights, incredible history, dreamy beaches, unique art and delicious food.
However, when planning a trip to Italy, many people ask themselves whether Italy is safe. Despite its reputation for organized crime, the short answer is: Yes, Italy is a safe place to visit.
Besides this, it’s important to think about essential safety tips when planning a trip.
I have listed below some super helpful recommendations you should know before arriving in Italy!
1) Don’t expose your wealth
This might sound obvious, but it’s easy to make mistakes and be distracted when admiring the beauties of a country. Make sure you don’t leave your purse open or expose your expensive camera, phone or watch.
Also, avoid wearing super expensive accessories that will make you seem like a good target to thieves!
As I always suggest, just use your common sense; if you find yourself in a very big city or in a crowded place, it’s not uncommon to find people who are just choosing their next target to steal from.
Pay particular attention when on public transports and in queues, markets and other crowded places. Unfortunately, pickpockets are common in these areas!
2) Make your belongings hard to grab
Don’t expose your wealth is not the only thing you should worry about. Be careful to store your belongings where people can’t reach them easily!
I’ve seen so many times people putting their expensive phones in the external pocket of their backpack and then walking in very crowded markets. It’s so easy for thieves to open the pocket and steal without you even recognising it (it happened to me!).
Since then, I usually avoid bringing more money than what I actually need, and I store what I have in a zip-closed pocket on the front of my trousers/coat.
I found this money belt VERY useful, especially when travelling during summer. It’s easy and comfortable to wear and gives you peace of mind when visiting busy places. Moreover, it can be worn under any shirt without being seen!
3) Be always aware of your surroundings
Before visiting a place, it’s always good to get informed on the areas to avoid. You should always be aware of your surroundings, and this rule applies especially if you are visiting a foreign country.
There are some places (in Italy as in any place) that are better to avoid, especially if visiting without a guide.
If you see a dodgy place of you feel uncomfortable and get bad vibes from a neighbourhood, don’t think twice and leave!
4) Mind tourist scams
Just as in many touristic places, mind tourists scams! The basic rule is: “don’t trust offers that seem too good to be true“.
Popular in Italy are designer brand vendors selling items (often positioned on cardboard or sheets for quick runnings when they see the police). Although you might be okay with buying these things, it’s illegal in Italy to sell and to buy them, and you could get fined!
Another very popular scam is the taxi scam! Before getting in the cab, always make sure the meter works, the taxi is marked (fake taxis are not uncommon) and maybe get informed on fixed tariffs.
5) Consider getting an insurance
It’s always a good idea to consider getting insurance before travelling to a foreign country.
Some insurances, like the ones listed below, cover cancellations (useful especially post-pandemic), medical expenses, baggage claims and cash lost or stolen to allow you to travel with some peace of mind.
6) What to do if something is stolen
Even if you’re super cautious, you can never know what will happen, and it’s good to be prepared if something goes wrong. These rules obviously apply to any country you visit, not just Italy!
Make photocopies of your passports/documents and keep them in a different place from where you usually keep the original ones. This will be very useful if you need to replace them.
Keep credit cards/cash in different places so that if your bag is stolen, for example, you still have other things in your money belt.
If your cards are stolen, the first thing to do is call your bank and stop any payment/withdrawal. This is really the first action to take! After, call the police and file a report. Be persistent! It’s essential to report that your documents/cards have been stolen, even if they say there is nothing they can do. You still have the report to help you with the process of getting new ones!
6) Emergency numbers to keep in mind
Country code: +39
International country code: 0039
Ambulance: 118
Police: 112 / 113
Fire: 115
Kikka
EDITOR IN CHIEF