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 →Is Messina safe? 🇮🇹
Italy · Safety report last updated
As of August 2026, Messina scores 83/100 on the IsMyTripSafe composite safety index — verdict: yes — generally safe. Yes — Messina is generally safe for travelers, with low rates of violent crime and petty theft. 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
Messina 🇮🇹
Italy · Assessed 6 August 2026
83
/ 100
Yes — generally safe
Safer than ~90% of countries
What drives this score
Crime79/100GoodCrime index 47.4 / 100
Sentiment83/100GoodMostly positive
Advisories72Good
Stability75Good
Health87Good
01 · Official Guidance
Advisories
Good
No advisory against travel
“This travel advice also covers Vatican City. Wildfires in Italy There is a high risk of wildfires during the summer in Italy as temperatures continue to soar.”
Updated 2026-07-14T09:26:30Z
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
Mugging & robbery risk
Low risk
92
City SignalCity Web Research
Pickpocketing & theft risk
Moderate risk
70
City SignalCity Web Research
Visitor safety sentiment
75 / 100 (Mostly positive)
75
City SignalCity Web Research
Urban scale factor
220k residents
84
City SignalCity Geocoding
Robbery / mugging
LowViolent crime, including robbery, is rare in Messina and not typically directed at tourists.
Pickpocketing
ModeratePickpocketing and bag-snatching are the most common risks, particularly in busy areas like markets and public transport.
▸ 3 more indicators▾ Hide extra indicators
03 · Environment
Health & Air
Good
04 · Institutions
Stability
Good
05 · Field Research
Current Situation
Stable
Traveller sentiment score
Mostly positive
83/100
Reported feel75Mostly positive
Robbery risk92Low risk
Pickpocket risk78Moderate risk
Travelers and residents generally report feeling safe in Messina, with some noting that it's less of a target for petty crime than larger Italian cities.
Yes — Messina is generally safe for travelers, with low rates of violent crime and petty theft.
While official advisories recommend increased caution for Italy due to terrorism, Messina itself has a low crime index and residents report feeling safe. Petty crime like pickpocketing is the primary concern for visitors.
Recent developments
- Jan 2026Bad weather caused significant damage across Southern Italy, leading to a state of emergency.— Il Sole 24 ORE
- May 2026Police seized assets worth $232 million tied to the Mafia (Cosa Nostra) in Italy.— Al Jazeera
- Sep 2023Notorious Italian Mafia boss Matteo Messina Denaro died in custody.— BBC
Common scams
- The 'free gift' scam where someone offers a bracelet or rose and then demands payment.
- Pickpocketing, often done by teams in crowded areas.
Full briefing
Messina, Italy, presents a generally safe environment for travelers. The city benefits from a low crime index and a high percentage of residents who report feeling safe walking alone after dark. While national advisories for Italy recommend increased caution due to terrorism risks, these are broad concerns and do not specifically target Messina with heightened threats.
On the ground, the primary safety concern for visitors is petty crime, particularly pickpocketing and bag-snatching. These incidents are more likely to occur in crowded tourist spots, markets, and on public transportation. Violent crime, including robbery, is rare in Messina and rarely directed at tourists. The dossier indicates that Messina has a lower pickpocketing rate than other Sicilian cities like Palermo.
Recent news highlights some broader issues affecting Southern Italy, including significant weather-related damage in January 2026 and ongoing efforts to combat organized crime, with substantial Mafia assets seized in May 2026. The death of notorious Mafia boss Matteo Messina Denaro in September 2023 is also noted. However, these events are not reported as directly impacting tourist safety in Messina.
To ensure a safe trip, travelers should exercise common sense precautions. Be vigilant in crowded areas, keep valuables secure, and avoid displaying them ostentatiously. Be wary of unsolicited offers of 'free' items, as these can be a precursor to a scam. For any emergency, the universal European number 112 can be used to contact the relevant authorities.
06 · Neighbourhoods
Safest areas and areas to avoid
Our field research rated 6 Messina districts for visitors: 2 safer, 2 needing caution and 2 best avoided. See them plotted on the Messina safety map.
Zona GiostraavoidReported as an area to avoid, particularly at night.
Rione FerroviaavoidArea surrounding the train station, advised to avoid.
Nord (Northern Districts)cautionSome areas may have higher petty crime rates; exercise standard precautions.
Sud (Southern Districts)cautionExercise caution, especially in less tourist-frequented areas.
Centro Storico (Historic Center)saferGenerally safe with good tourist infrastructure.
Zona FalcatasaferLively waterfront area, remains secure into the evening.
07 · After Dark
Is Messina safe at night?
76% of people in Italy say they feel safe walking alone at night in their area (UN SDG survey, 2023).
Violent crime, including robbery, is rare in Messina and not typically directed at tourists.
After dark, be most careful around Zona Giostra, Rione Ferrovia, Nord (Northern Districts), Sud (Southern Districts). Stick to busy, well-lit streets and licensed taxis or ride-hail late at night.
08 · Trip Profiles
Score by traveller type
Who's travelling changes which risks matter. These re-weight Messina's category data for common trip types — same data, different emphasis. Run your own profile from the interactive checker.
Solo female travellerCrime +35% weight82
Solo travellerCrime +23% weight82
Family with kidsCrime +19% weight · Health & Air +12% weight83
Nightlife-focused tripCrime +28% weight82
Travellers 65+Crime +13% weight · Health & Air +16% weight · Stability +4% weight83
Business tripCrime +14% weight · Stability +6% weight82
09 · Questions
Messina safety FAQ
Is Messina safe for tourists right now?
Yes — Messina is generally safe for travelers, with low rates of violent crime and petty theft. While official advisories recommend increased caution for Italy due to terrorism, Messina itself has a low crime index and residents report feeling safe. Petty crime like pickpocketing is the primary concern for visitors. (Assessed 6 August 2026.)
Which areas of Messina should tourists avoid?
Field research flags Zona Giostra, Rione Ferrovia as best avoided. See the district-by-district safety map.
What are the most common scams in Messina?
- The 'free gift' scam where someone offers a bracelet or rose and then demands payment.
- Pickpocketing, often done by teams in crowded areas.
How does Messina compare with other places in Italy?
Messina ranks #8 of 9 Italy destinations we've assessed, scoring 83/100. See the Italy safety overview for the full list.
How is this Messina safety score calculated?
The score blends 14+ public data sources — government advisories, UNODC/World Bank crime statistics, WHO health data, live air quality and disaster alerts — with AI field research over current local reporting. The databases carry 82% of the weight; the traveller-sentiment score from field research carries 18%. Full methodology.
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