Italy travel scams to avoid — this is one of the most important things to read before your trip. Italy is an extraordinary country and the vast majority of Italians are warm, generous and genuinely welcoming to visitors. But like any country that attracts millions of tourists every year, Italy has its share of scammers who know exactly how to target distracted, jet-lagged or simply unaware visitors.
Knowing Italy travel scams to avoid will make your trip much more enjoyable. The good news is that knowing about Italy travel scams to avoid means you’re already halfway protected. None of these scams are particularly sophisticated — they all rely on tourists not knowing what to expect. Read this guide, keep it in mind when you’re there, and you’ll have a completely trouble-free trip.
1. The Friendship Bracelet Scam
This is one of the most common Italy travel scams to avoid, especially around major tourist attractions like the Trevi Fountain in Rome, the Duomo in Milan, and Piazza San Marco in Venice.
Someone approaches you smiling, ties a colourful bracelet around your wrist and says it’s a “gift.” The moment the bracelet is on, they demand payment — often aggressively — and claim you accepted a purchase. If you refuse they may create a scene.
How to avoid it:Don’t let strangers put anything on your wrist or hand you anything. Keep walking and say “no grazie” firmly without stopping. If someone has already tied something on you, you are not legally obligated to pay — just remove it and walk away calmly.
2. Fake or Overcharging Taxi Drivers
Taxis in Italy are regulated and metered — but unlicensed taxi drivers operating illegally near airports and train stations are a real problem. They target tired tourists arriving with luggage and charge wildly inflated fares.
Even licensed drivers sometimes use tricks — not turning on the meter, taking unnecessarily long routes, or claiming the card machine is broken to force a cash payment.
How to avoid it:
- ✅ Only use official white taxis with a TAXI sign and license number.
- ✅ Use apps like FREE NOW or itTaxi to book and confirm the fare in advance.
- ✅ Always insist the meter is running.
- ✅ Know the fixed fare from Rome Fiumicino to the city centre is €50 — refuse anything higher.
- ✅ Use trains and buses from airports whenever possible — it’s cheaper anyway.
For the cheapest way to get from Italian airports to city centres, check ourcheap train tickets page.
3. Tourist Trap Restaurants
This is technically legal — but it’s one of the most frustrating Italy travel scams to avoid because it catches so many visitors. Restaurants near major tourist attractions often charge two or three times the going rate for mediocre food, relying on foot traffic rather than quality or value.
Signs you’re in a tourist trap:
- ❌ Photos of food on the menu.
- ❌ Staff standing outside calling you in.
- ❌ English-only menu.
- ❌ Located directly next to the Colosseum, Duomo or Trevi Fountain.
- ❌ Coperto (cover charge) of more than €4 per person.
How to avoid it:Walk at least two streets away from the main tourist attractions before choosing a restaurant. Look for handwritten menus that change daily, local customers eating inside, and no one standing at the door trying to get you in. Read ourItalian food guide for budget travellersfor tips on eating well and cheaply throughout Italy.
4. Pickpockets on Public Transport
Pickpocketing is the most common crime affecting tourists in Italy — particularly on crowded buses, metro lines, and at major train stations. Rome’s Line 64 bus (connecting Termini station to the Vatican) is notorious, as is the Rome and Milan metro during rush hour.
Pickpockets typically work in pairs or groups — one distracts you while the other takes your valuables. Distraction techniques include “accidentally” dropping something, asking for directions, or creating a commotion near the doors.
How to avoid it:
- ✅ Keep your phone and wallet in a front pocket or money belt.
- ✅ Wear your backpack on your front in crowded areas.
- ✅ Never put your phone on a table or café counter near a busy street.
- ✅ Be extra alert when boarding and exiting trains and metros.
- ✅ Avoid placing anything valuable in outer backpack pockets.
5. Fake Police Officers
This is one of the more alarming Italy travel scams to avoid. Scammers dress in police-style uniforms and approach tourists claiming to carry out a “security check.” They ask to see your wallet or passport — supposedly to check for counterfeit money — and help themselves to your cash in the process.
How to avoid it:Real Italian police will never stop you on the street and ask to inspect your wallet or count your cash. If this happens, ask them to accompany you to the nearest police station. This request will almost always make fake officers leave immediately.
6. The Oil Painting Scam
This scam is particularly common in Florence. Street artists lay large printed images or canvases on the footpath near busy tourist areas. When an unsuspecting tourist accidentally steps on one, the “artist” appears and demands money for the damaged “original” work.In reality, these are mass-produced prints worth almost nothing.
How to avoid it:Watch where you’re walking near tourist areas. If this happens to you, don’t pay — you have no legal obligation to compensate anyone for stepping on something left in a public walkway. Stay calm and walk away.
7. Fake Ticket Sellers and Unofficial Guides
Outside the Colosseum in Rome, the Vatican Museums, and other major attractions, you’ll often find people offering skip-the-line tickets or guided tours at “discounted” prices. Some tickets are fake. Some guides take your money and disappear.
How to avoid it:
- ✅ Always book tickets directly from official websites.
- ✅ Never buy tickets from someone on the street.
- ✅ Official guides carry their licence badge at all times — ask to see it.
- ✅ Book tours through reputable platforms.
Booking in advance also means you’ll pay less and avoid the queues entirely. Check our guide toItaly travel tips for first timersfor more advice on booking attractions smartly.
8. The ATM Helper Scam
Someone approaches you at an ATM, claiming to notice a problem with the machine or offering to “help” you use it. Their real intention is to use a card skimmer device to steal your card details — or simply to distract you and watch you enter your PIN.
How to avoid it:Never accept help from strangers at ATMs. Cover the keypad when entering your PIN. Use ATMs inside banks rather than standalone machines on busy tourist streets. If anyone approaches you while using an ATM, stop the transaction immediately.
9. The Corn and Pigeon Scam
Common near the Pantheon in Rome and Piazza San Marco in Venice — someone hands you a bag of corn or seeds to feed the pigeons. The moment you take it, they demand payment, often aggressively.
How to avoid it:Never accept anything from a stranger on the street — food, flowers, bracelets or gifts. If someone tries to put something in your hands, keep your hands in your pockets and keep walking.
10. Overpriced or Invalid Train Tickets
At major train stations, unofficial “ticket helpers” offer to help you use the ticket machines, then charge you a fee for their assistance — or worse, sell you invalid tickets at inflated prices. In some cases, travellers have been sold tickets for the wrong train or wrong date.
How to avoid it:
- ✅ Always buy train tickets directly from official Trenitalia or Italo websites.
- ✅ Or book through ourcheap train tickets page.
- ✅ Use the ticket machines independently — they have an English option.
- ✅ Never pay anyone a fee for “helping” you at a ticket machine.
- ✅ Always validate regional train tickets before boarding.
General Rules for Avoiding Italy Travel Scams
Here’s a quick summary of the most important rules to remember:
- 🚶Walk with purpose.Scammers target people who look lost, confused or distracted. Moving confidently makes you a much less attractive target.
- 🙅Say no firmly.“No grazie” said clearly while continuing to walk is enough. Don’t stop, don’t engage.
- 👜Secure your valuables.Money belt, front pockets, zipped bags — keep everything secure in crowded areas.
- 📱Book everything in advance.Tickets, tours, transport and hotels booked online before you arrive eliminate most of the situations where scammers can target you.
- 🏨Stay in trusted accommodation.Always book hotels through reputable platforms. Check ourcheap hotels in Italy pagefor the best verified options across Italy.
Plan Your Trip Safely and Cheaply
Knowing Italy travel scams to avoid is the first step to a trouble-free Italian holiday. The second step is planning your trip smartly — booking transport, accommodation and attractions in advance so you’re never in a situation where a scammer can take advantage of you. Share this guide to Italy travel scams to avoid with your travel companions.
Use our tools below to plan your Italy trip safely and affordably:
Compare Cheap Flights to Italy
Find Cheap Train Tickets in Italy
Find Budget Hotels in Italy
For more useful travel advice, read our completeItaly travel tips for first timersand our guide tohow to get around Italy cheaply.Italy is magnificent. Go prepared, stay aware, and enjoy every single moment of it. 🇮🇹
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