Rome has 2,000 years of history, the best carbonara of your life, and a pickpocket scene that’s been perfecting its craft for almost as long. They don’t wear masks. They look like commuters, students and very friendly locals. The good news: they want easy targets, and a few small habits make you a very boring one.
The short version
- Hotspots: Termini station, Metro line A, bus 64 to the Vatican, the Colosseum, the Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps.
- Backpack in front, phone in a front pocket, wallet never in a back pocket.
- A free bracelet, a rose or a petition is rarely free. Smile, say no, grazie and keep walking.
- Got robbed? Block your cards, then file a police report (denuncia) before you leave Italy. Emergencies: 112.
The 6 places to keep your hand on your bag
1. Roma Termini station
#1THE TRICK
Someone 'helps' with your suitcase or ticket machine while a partner helps himself to your bag.
YOUR MOVE
Use the machines yourself, keep your bag zipped and in front, and say no to unofficial helpers.
Photo: Thomas Dahlstrøm Nielsen, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Busy, chaotic and full of tired travellers with luggage. That's exactly why pickpockets love it.
2. Metro line A
#2THE TRICK
A group pushes in as the doors close, someone 'stumbles', and they all step off at the next stop with your wallet.
YOUR MOVE
Backpack in front, stand away from the doors, and if a group crowds you, step off and wait for the next train.
Photo: Mint0ri, Wikimedia Commons, CC0.
Line A links the station, the Spanish Steps and the Vatican, so it's packed with tourists all day.
3. Bus 64 and St Peter's Square
#3THE TRICK
On the packed bus from Termini to the Vatican, a bump on a corner is the perfect cover for a hand in your pocket.
YOUR MOVE
Stand near the driver, keep a hand on your bag, or take the metro to Ottaviano and walk.
Photo: Diliff, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0.
Bus 64 is so famous for pickpockets that locals call it the pickpocket express. The queues outside St Peter's are the second act.
4. The Colosseum
#4THE TRICK
A 'gladiator' poses for a photo, then wants money. While you argue, someone else checks your bag.
YOUR MOVE
Skip the costumed photo, book tickets online, and keep your bag in front in the queue.
Photo: Wilfredor, Wikimedia Commons, CC0.
Everyone's busy looking up at the arches or arguing about the price of a selfie. Pickpockets aren't.
5. The Trevi Fountain
#5THE TRICK
You turn your back to throw a coin. Someone in the crowd behind you collects their own.
YOUR MOVE
Go early in the morning, phone on a wrist strap, bag zipped and in front before the coin toss.
Photo: Wilfredor, Wikimedia Commons, CC0.
The square is small and always packed, which makes it one of the easiest places in Rome to lose a phone.
6. The Spanish Steps
#6THE TRICK
A rose or a bracelet is pushed into your hand as a 'gift', then comes the demand for money.
YOUR MOVE
Keep your hands to yourself, say 'no, grazie' and walk on. You don't owe anyone for a gift you didn't ask for.
Photo: Ank Kumar, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Beautiful steps, busy piazza, and a lot of 'free' things that end up costing you.
Meet the squad that never gets pickpocketed (copy them)
The tricks to know
- The friendship bracelet: someone ties a bracelet on your wrist, then wants paying. Keep your hands in your pockets and keep walking.
- The rose: a flower is ‘given’ to you, then the price arrives. Hand it back and walk on.
- The petition: a clipboard makes you lean in while a partner leans into your bag.
- The fake cop: a ‘plain-clothes officer’ asks to check your wallet for fake money. Say no and head for a busy place.
Before you go: the 5-minute checklist
- ☐ Write down your phone’s IMEI and serial number (dial *#06#). The police and your insurer will ask for it.
- ☐ Leave your passport in the hotel safe and carry a photo of it.
- ☐ Take one card out with you and leave a backup card at the hotel.
- ☐ Turn on Find My / Find My Device and a screen lock.
- ☐ Get an eSIM before you fly, so you have data and maps from the moment you land. Saily lists code Indoleads for 5% off (get Saily).
If it happens anyway
- Block your cards in your banking app first. Then log out of your accounts from another device.
- File a denuncia (police report) with the Carabinieri or the Polizia di Stato before you leave Italy. Your insurer will want it.
- Emergencies: 112.
- Lost your passport? Contact your embassy in Rome for an emergency travel document.
Trip.com codes for your Rome trip
Trip.com codes for Rome
| Code | What you get | |
|---|---|---|
TRIPFLIGHT26 | Up to US$15 off your first flight booking. New Trip.com users · listed until 31 Dec 2026 | Open Trip.com → |
triptrain5p | 5% off trains, Eurostar and UK coaches (max €20). New Trip.com users · ends 1 Jan 2027 | Open Trip.com → |
TRIPFLIGHT26 is listed on Trip.com’s own promo-code page; the other codes come from Trip.com’s affiliate feed. We haven’t tested them at checkout, and Trip.com can change or pull a code at any time. Paste the code on the payment page and check that the total drops before you pay.
Tip: when you book your hotel, filter for one with an in-room safe. Your passport will thank you. More offers are on our Trip.com page.
Frequently asked questions
Where are pickpockets most common in Rome?
Roma Termini station, Metro line A (Termini, Barberini, Spagna and Ottaviano), bus 64 between Termini and the Vatican, around the Colosseum, the Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps.
What should I do if I'm pickpocketed in Rome?
Block your cards first, then file a police report (denuncia) with the Carabinieri or the Polizia di Stato before you leave Italy, since insurers ask for it. For emergencies call 112.
Is bus 64 in Rome safe?
It's a normal city bus, but it's so crowded with tourists that it's known as the pickpocket express. Keep your bag in front and a hand on it, or take Metro line A to Ottaviano instead.
Sources: Rome pickpocket and scam guides from travel outlets and Trip.com’s promo-code page. Photos from Wikimedia Commons (authors and licences under each photo). Illustrations by Spicy Coupons. Last checked: 13 October 2026. We may earn a commission from links on this page.
