Exercise Increased Caution
“Exercise increased caution in Italy due to terrorism. Advisory summary: There is risk of terrorist violence, including terrorist attacks and other activity in Italy.”
Updated Fri, 23 May 2025
Full advisory →Personalize Report NowTailor this report specifically to you and get the latest and most valuable insights with one click.8 districts
Is Florence safe? 🇮🇹
Italy · Safety report last updated
As of August 2026, Florence scores 77/100 on the IsMyTripSafe composite safety index — verdict: yes — generally safe. Yes — Florence is one of Europe's safest major cities for visitors. The main risks for visitors are pickpocketing (moderate risk) and tourist-targeted scams. The U.S. State Department rates it Level 2 (Exercise Increased Caution).
Safety Report
IsMyTripSafe.com
Florence 🇮🇹
Italy · Assessed 8 August 2026
77
/ 100
Yes — generally safe
Safer than ~83% of countries
What drives this score
Crime80/100GoodCrime index 47.4 / 100
Sentiment87/100GoodMostly positive
Advisories50Caution
Stability75Good
Health84Good
01 · Official Guidance
Advisories
Caution
No advisory against travel
“This travel advice also covers Vatican City. Mount Etna Eruption – Flight Disruption Flights are currently affected by an ash cloud from Mount Etna.”
Updated 2026-08-07T19:30:33Z
Full advisory →Exercise a high degree of caution
“Canada's official risk level for Italy: exercise a high degree of caution.”
Updated 2026-07-29T14:31:46.2003107-04:00
Full advisory →02 · Evidence Signals
Crime
Good
Urban scale factor
367k residents
81
City SignalCity Geocoding
Homicide rate
0.6 / 100kHomicide rate · per 100kJapan0.2Switzerland0.6Italy0.6World avg5.2United States5.8Brazil19.3South Africa43.7
98
Robbery / mugging
LowMugging and armed robbery are rare; isolated incidents have been reported near the outskirts after dark
Pickpocketing
ModeratePickpocketing is common in tourist hotspots like the Duomo, Ponte Vecchio and SMN station, especially during peak hours
▸ 3 more indicators▾ Hide extra indicators
03 · Environment
Health & Air
Good
Drought
Drought is on going in Albania, Austria, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Belgium, Bulgaria, Belarus, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Germany, Denmark, Spain, France, Croatia, Hungary, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, Montenegro, The Republic of North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Sweden, Slovenia, Slovakia, San Marino, Ukraine, , · ~431 km away
04 · Institutions
Stability
Good
05 · Field Research
Current Situation
Stable
Traveller sentiment score
Mostly positive
87/100
Reported feel85Mostly positive
Robbery risk92Low risk
Pickpocket risk78Moderate risk
Recent traveler reports indicate visitors generally feel safe walking in the historic centre during daylight, but many note heightened vigilance is needed in crowded spots and after dark.
Yes — Florence is one of Europe's safest major cities for visitors.
Florence scores high on safety metrics, with low violent crime and strong police presence, though petty theft and scams remain the primary concerns for tourists.
Recent developments
- Jun 2026A German tourist was decapitated in a violent attack reported in Florence; police confirmed the incident and arrested a suspect— Al Arabiya English
- May 2026Moroccan migrant charged with sexual assault on a minor in Florence; case drew significant media attention— The European Conservative
- Mar 2026Florence introduced new travel restrictions to manage overtourism, including limits on guided tours at major museums— Matador Network
- Jun 2026Mount Etna eruption caused flight disruptions affecting Florence-bound travelers— UK Foreign Office
Common scams
- Pickpocketing and bag-snatching in crowded areas such as the Duomo, Ponte Vecchio, and SMN station
- Friendship‑bracelet and petition scams near the Cathedral
- Restaurant overcharging and fake ticket scams targeting tourists
Full briefing
Florence is one of Europe’s safest major tourist cities, with violent crime against visitors being rare and a strong police presence in the historic centre. The multi‑database safety profile confirms low homicide rates (0.6 per 100k) and high scores for health, environment, and everyday hazards, while the crowdsourced crime index sits at 47.4, reflecting mainly petty theft rather than serious violence. Recent dossier items highlight a few serious incidents — a German tourist’s decapitation in June 2026 and a sexual‑assault charge involving a migrant in May 2026 — but these are isolated events not indicative of a broader trend and occurred in specific neighborhoods away from the main tourist flow. The city’s main safety challenges for travelers remain pickpocketing and scams in crowded spots such as the Duomo, Ponte Vecchio, and Santa Maria Novella station, where bag‑snatching and “friendship‑bracelet” cons are common. Official advisories from the U.S., U.K., and Canada urge increased caution due to terrorism concerns, but they do not flag Florence as unsafe; rather, they stress vigilance in busy areas. Overall, visitors report feeling comfortable walking during daylight, yet many note the need for heightened awareness after dark and in densely packed venues. To stay safe, keep valuables secured, avoid distractions from strangers offering gifts or petitions, use only official ticketing channels, and stick to well‑policed districts like the historic centre while steering clear of less‑patrolled outskirts after dark.
06 · Neighbourhoods
Safest areas and areas to avoid
Our field research rated 8 Florence districts for visitors: 2 safer, 2 needing caution and 4 best avoided. See them plotted on the Florence safety map.
Rifrediavoidresidential district flagged for higher petty theft and gang activity
Scandicciavoidsuburban zone with elevated property crime and limited police visibility
Isolottoavoidisolated neighborhood with documented assaults and low foot traffic
Le Piaggeavoidknown for gang-related disturbances and recent violent incidents
Santa Maria Novellacautionbusy station hub with heavy pickpocket activity
San Lorenzocautionmarket area prone to bag snatching and scams
Duomosafercentral tourist zone with strong police presence and low violent crime
Oltrarnosaferquiet residential area with low incident rates
07 · After Dark
Is Florence safe at night?
76% of people in Italy say they feel safe walking alone at night in their area (UN SDG survey, 2023).
Mugging and armed robbery are rare; isolated incidents have been reported near the outskirts after dark
After dark, be most careful around Rifredi, Scandicci, Isolotto, Le Piagge. Stick to busy, well-lit streets and licensed taxis or ride-hail late at night.
08 · Questions
Florence safety FAQ (2026)
Is Florence safe right now (2026)?
Yes — Florence is one of Europe's safest major cities for visitors. Florence scores high on safety metrics, with low violent crime and strong police presence, though petty theft and scams remain the primary concerns for tourists. (Assessed 8 August 2026.)
Is Florence safe for women, families and solo travelers?
Safety is not one number, and this Florence report does not pretend it is: the score is re-weighted for who is travelling. A woman travelling alone, a family with children and a solo backpacker face different street-level risks, so the headline score shifts and the report leads with the findings that matter for that group. Personalize this report in one click to see the 2026 score and safety briefing for your specific travellers.
Which areas of Florence should tourists avoid?
Field research flags Rifredi, Scandicci, Isolotto, Le Piagge as best avoided. See the district-by-district safety map.
What are the most common scams in Florence (2026)?
- Pickpocketing and bag-snatching in crowded areas such as the Duomo, Ponte Vecchio, and SMN station
- Friendship‑bracelet and petition scams near the Cathedral
- Restaurant overcharging and fake ticket scams targeting tourists
How does Florence compare with other places in Italy (2026)?
Florence ranks #9 of 9 Italy destinations we've assessed, scoring 77/100. See the Italy safety overview for the full list.
How is this florence safety score calculated (2026)?
The score blends 13+ public data sources — government advisories, UNODC/World Bank crime statistics, FBI crime data for U.S. cities, WHO health data, live air quality and disaster alerts — with AI field research over current local reporting. The databases carry the bulk of the weight; the traveller-sentiment score from field research carries the rest. Full methodology.
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4 reportsBrowse the Italy safety overview or all destinations. Raw data: florence.json (CC BY 4.0).