Italy - Security

Overall Crime and Safety:

Street crime is rare, but you should take sensible precautions to safeguard your passport and valuables.

For travel advisories see the following websites:

UK - www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/italy
USA -travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/italy-travel-advisory.html
Canada - travel.gc.ca/destinations/italy
New Zealand - www.safetravel.govt.nz/italy
Australia - smartraveller.gov.au/Countries/europe/southern/Pages/italy.aspx

Specific Areas of Concern:

Take care on public transport and in crowded areas in city centres, particularly in and around Termini station in Rome, where incidents of street muggings have been reported, and at other main stations.

Maritime Issues:

Yachts have in the past been either attacked or threatened in the port of Saline Ioniche in the Strait of Messina, and so are advised to take care when in this port.

The usual safety and security precautions should be taken to protect equipment and dinghies and prevent access to the boat when absent.

If cruising the waters bordered by southern Sicily, Malta, Tunisia and Libya, be aware that because of an influx of migrants attempting to leave from Northern Africa (and get to Europe) there is an increase in Navy patrols in this area and the danger of small unlit craft carrying passengers. See this news item, August 2023: On Patrol with Tunisia's Coastguard, to get an idea of the migrant problem here. Italy passed a law June 2019, to fine people who rescue refugees at sea. See news item here.

Further useful reading can be found at Mediterranean Cruising Update regarding the migrant crisis.

General Emergency Numbers:

For more details see General Info.