The Rome Golf Cart TourIs Rome Safe?
What works
- Police presence in the historic centre is obvious and reassuring
- Most tourists visit the same sights without incident
- Local Italians navigate the city normally after dark; it’s safe for them
Worth knowing
- Pickpocketing on the 64 bus is so common it’s a cliché for a reason
- The metro at peak hours (7–9 a.m., 5–7 p.m.) is crowded and a pickpocket’s heaven
- Around Termini station (the main train station), blocks immediately south and east warrant caution
The pickpocket reality
Rome’s crime stats are lower than major US cities. Violent crime is rare. What’s common is pickpocketing on crowded public transport. The 64 bus—the number most tourists use—is so notorious that Romans call it the "64 pickpocket express." Don’t use it, or if you do, keep your hand on your bag. The metro at 8 a.m. (commute time) is packed, and pickpockets work in groups. Your phone in an inside pocket, your bag zipped, your wallet not in a back pocket. Do that and you’re fine. Most tourists ride the metro without incident because they’re alert. It’s the distracted or drunk traveller who gets targeted.
Safe neighbourhoods after dark
The centro storico (historic centre, Colosseum to Spanish Steps to Piazza Navona) is safe and full of tourists and locals at all hours. Monti (the neighbourhood north of the Forum) is local and gentrified; safe. Trastevere is lively, full of restaurants and Romans after dark. Prati (near the Vatican) is residential and safe. The blocks immediately around Termini station (south and east of the station itself) are not dangerous in the mugging sense, but are less pleasant—fewer tourists, more street activity, some sex work, drug dealing on the edges. A lost traveller asking for directions at 11 p.m. near Termini might encounter hassle; don’t linger. Use a taxi or the metro instead of walking alone.
Common sense
Don’t carry all your cash and passport in one pocket. Don’t flash an expensive camera or phone. Don’t accept drinks from strangers. Don’t get drunk and wander alone. Use a taxi or metro to get home after 11 p.m., don’t wander. These are big-city rules, not Rome-specific. Rome’s centro storico is safer than downtown Philadelphia or downtown Los Angeles. Do the 2–3 hour golf cart tour in daylight, walk Monti or Trastevere by evening, eat dinner late. That’s the working plan.
Frequently asked questions
Is it safe to walk around Rome at night?
Yes, in the right areas. The centro storico (Colosseum, Trevi, Piazza Navona), Monti, Trastevere and Prati are full of people at night and safe. The blocks immediately around Termini station warrant caution. Violent crime against tourists is rare. Pickpocketing on the 64 bus and crowded metro is the real risk. Keep your bag zipped, your phone in an inside pocket. See safety in Rome.
Should I use the 64 bus?
It’s the most direct route to the Colosseum and Trevi, but it’s notoriously crowded and crawling with pickpockets. Romans joke that the 64 is a moving crime scene. If you use it, keep your hand on your bag at all times. Better option: metro or a cart tour, which avoids the bus altogether.
Is Rome safer than (my home city)?
Probably yes. Rome’s violent crime rate is lower than major US cities. Pickpocketing is higher than suburban America, but lower than many European capitals. The biggest risk is carelessness on crowded transport, not violent crime. Use common sense and you’re fine. Millions of tourists visit Rome safely every year.