Relatively pick-pocket-free destinations in Europe?

Jim, Jim, you don't want to let a few pick pockets stop you from going to Paris! I've had more trouble with pick pockets in NYC and Chicago than Paris. What are your concerns? You don't want to do a Money Belt? Are you one of those guys that puts his wallet in his pants back pocket? Then you need to worry. Just get one of the neck wallets. You can do it. ; ) In my opinion pick pockets are world phenomena and you need to accept that they can appear anywhere. Pam

My daughter and I were in Paris for a week, two weeks ago. We wandered all over day and night, rode the metro and buses, took a night time boat cruise and never had a bit of trouble. Only saw the people with the petitions once and got to watch the ring scam another time tried on a man who took the ring and kept on walking. If Paris is what you want to see, then don't let stories of gypsies and pick pockets stop you. No matter where you choose to go, someone will have a horror story. A couple simple precautions will not ruin the experience you will have there.

Jim, the thousands and thousands of people who go to Paris every day and don't have a problem never bother to post and say so. You only hear from a relatively few people who did.

You are kidding, right? We have been to Paris several times and no one looked even the least bit shady. Just keep your things secure and walk with confidence. I was fraid to go to Florence after reading here on. Rick Steves about gypsy women throwing babies at you so the kids could rob you while your hands were busses with the baby. I did not want to face that. Went anyway and NEVER saw a thing that looked like this scam. Don't worry, go and enjoy, as long as your valuables are se ure.

Jim when you travel pretty well anywhere you have to be aware of your belongings, goodness, I live in a small city on an island off the west coast of Canada and even here we have issues. Ok not pickpockets, but crimes of opportunity for sure, like the silly women who leave their purses in their grocery carts then step away and return to missing wallets! Point is, your destination choice should not be based on avoiding pickpockets, especially in Europe where you are going to limit your choices a tad,, and end up missing many cities with incredible history and breathtaking sites. I suppose you may avoid big cities altogether to reduce encountering some crime, but thats like me going to the States but avoiding places like LA, New York, Boston, Miami, San Francisco, and only choosing to visit small town Idaho, lol ( which may be nice, but.. ) I have visited places like Paris and Rome solo and with my kids, its not that hard to be aware of your belongings AND have a great time. Millions of tourists do..

As everyone else has said- pickpockets are the exception, not the rule. Negative press always seems to outweigh positive. Go to Paris, it's a beautiful place. I've been there many times. There are NOT pick-pockets and gypsies on every corner, I promise!
Just be as sensible as you are at home when you go out and you'll be fine.

I agree with everyone else. Wear a moneybelt properly and only access it in private, be aware of your surroundings, watch your belongings and have fun. I've been all over Europe and never had a problem.

The best way not to be bothered by taking precautions is to carry very little of value on your person. Use a money belt for your passport and credit cards and a bit of cash for the day goes in your pocket. We went to Paris and had absolutely no problems. Later that same year we drove to the Florida Keys with our kids over spring break and had every electronic device stolen from our locked van while we were at a fruit stand. Go figure.

Jim, I agree with all the previous posters. Pick pockets and petty crime are everywhere these days but using common sense and taking some basic precautions that are not personally intrusive, you can enjoy your travels with peace of mind. Don't fear what MIGHT happen...just be sensible, go and enjoy the world. Paris is no riskier than NYC and probably less so!

Come on Jim, the sky isn't falling. Paris is one of the most intriguing cities on the planet. Not going because you fear gypsies and pick pockets is like me saying I wouldn't visit New Jersey because of The Mob. Completely inane. Go. It's Paris.
Been many times. Approached ONLY once by a gypsy in front of Notre Dame. Said, "no" and kept on walking. Just like we all do outside supermarkets when asked to sign a petition.

I appreciate everyone's response, and feel much better about booking my trip to Paris now. Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts, experiences, and perspective!

Jim... Good choice...just go... you will not regret it and once you go you will realize how all of those scare stories make a lot of people really fearful of traveling to wonderful cities. There is a way to tell people to be aware and careful without all the scary nonsense. If you feel the need, get a neck wallet...once there, you can decide whether or not it is a precaution you want to take.

Jim, I've been to France 6 times. Never got pickpocketed. But I did have a black man and his wife walk me and my daughter a mile out of their way to help me find our hotel at midnight:)

GO!!! I got pickpocketed in Paris, all he got was a used tissue because I had on moneybelt. Were we confronted by gypsies or street people looking for handouts, yes. Just like we have been in Philadelphia, Newark, New York, etc. Some of the most helpful people we met were in Paris and the one who was most memorable did not speak English but with sign language helped us find our hotel. It is a lovely city and would not miss it because of what might happen.

Yes Jim, Please go to Paris, you will not regret it.

I had my wife so nervous about theft that she didn't even carry a purse and had me carry all the money in my money belt. She said it was the most relaxing thing she could have done and since I had the money belt I wasn't worried either. Read all the horror stories so you don't get taken. Take the minimal precautions. Then relax and don't focus on the small chance of becoming a victim. Be aware of your surroundings and you'll be fine. There are enough clueless tourists to keep the thieves busy enough to ignore the folks who are aware.

Gypsies are easy to avoid in Paris if you are aware of them and what the latest scams are in advance. For instance, if anyone who seems deaf tries to get you to sign something, run away! One women even tried to grab my husband, but we got away from her easily enough. They are a nuisance but the joys of Paris more than compensate. I would deal with a thousand gypsies just to be able to eat those baguettes every day!

I am not trying to start a flame war, but I do think it's a good idea to not use "Gypsy" as a synonym for "thief". And to know that the word "gypsy" is considered offensive, the correct terms for those ethnic groups being "Romani" (collective term) or "Sinti" and/or "Roma" (two different ethnicities). It differs depending on who you ask. Rick Steves himself has written about the issues of Sinti and Roma in Europe, and there are many resources on the internet one can read to educate yourself more about these groups. Here's a good start: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modern_Antiziganism#Contemporary_antiziganism I hope you enjoy your trip to Paris, it will be wonderful!

Sarah is correct (I used gypsy for convenience but should not have). We met some would-be non-Romani thieves in Paris as well -- the ones trying to give us friendship bracelets on the war up to Sacre Coeur. I am sure there were others whom we didn't notice so much. The Romani near Notre Dame and the Louvre were the most persistent, though.

Thank you, Christina.

I would say probably anywhere in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Norway, Iceland, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, or Malta are basically pick-pocket free zones. EDIT: crossed England off the list due to good advice from those that live there and know more about the country. sorry about that!

If you don't keep anything in your pocket it can not be picked! Use a money belt.

I would say probably anywhere in ... England ... are basically pick-pocket free zones. Jo, I disagree. I often use my moneybelt if I have to be in or near Oxford Street - there are so many cameras all along Oxford Street and it is still a den of thieves and pickpockets between Tottenham Court Road and Marble Arch. Also on the Underground and on buses. Sorry to disagree.

Virtually all of Europe is pickpocket free. The pickpockets congregate only at the major tourist sights and/or public transportation frequented by tourists. Any small town and any non-tourist attraction in any big city won't be a problem. The reason the pickpockets congregate in those places is it's the best place to make a living stealing from people. If you take basic precautions, as too many tourists fail to do, you can travel - even in the tourist hotspots - worry-free.

Been to Europe 9 out of the last 11 summers (London, Paris, Madrid, Lisbon, Cophenhagen, Stockholm, Oslo, Barcelona, Rome, Milan, Naples, Pisa, Sienna, Sorrento, Venice, Florence, Bologna, Geneva, Swiss Alps, Amsterdam plus many other smaller places) and have never once had anything even remotely considered an issue. My wife and I travel on our own and do all our own planning. Maybe it is because I was born and grew up in NYC and have eyes in the back of my head. Both potential thieves and potential victims seem obvious to my eyes. Just use common sense and you will be fine (by the way, I was on the "dreaded Circumvesuviana train in Italy at least a dozen times this summer). One thing I do: I carry my Rick Steves book (and other small guidebooks) in a book pouch on my belt (same one I use when I am out birding here at home to carry my bird guides). The book pouch sits over my front pants pocket essentially protecting that pocket with its weight. Anyone who wants to get to my wallet is going to have to lift that pouch first and work very hard to bet to my wallet. Not going to happen. Again, the key is common sense. Think about what you want to do and have a plan. Be alert if you are in a high tourist area. Situational awareness is the key. Can you imagine what they tell European tourists about NYC and other cities in the US? Relax, you'll be fine.

I have to agree with Nigel. My wallet was taken out of my purse while I was in the London Underground. I didn't feel a thing. Didn't ruin my trip tho, as all my important items were in my moneybelt. Jim, wear a moneybelt to safeguard anything you don't want to have to replace & have a good time. I love Paris & am leaving tomorrow for my 14th stay.

I've never even been close to being pickpocketed in Paris or anywhere else in Europe on dozens of trips. I know there are those who say that just because it hasn't happened to you yet doesn't mean it can't. And I know that. But I've never used a money belt or any such thing. I know there are incredibly talented pickpockets, but I can't believe one would be good enough to get my wallet out of my back jeans pocket w/o me realizing it instantly. Plus, all he/she'd get would be a bunch of credit cards that I'd cancel minutes later, and a few dozen Euros. And my wife would have backups. So don't worry as long as you have some reasonable backup or protection. And really don't worry anyway. On our last trip to Paris in April we stayed in what turned out to be a pretty seedy area late at night with lots of homeless people, but nobody ever bothered us. Most US cities are far worse.

Thanks for the heads-up about England. I was under the false impression that it was pretty pick-pocket free other than the usual amount that one gets in any big city. Thought it was a bit like Frankfurt or Berlin, with the occasional occurrence, but not something to worry about as it didn't happen that much.

I really think that many posters on this site are overly anxious about pickpocketing. Of course it happens, and there are ways of making yourself less vulnerable, and ensuring that the consequences of any loss are minimised, but you shouldn't exaggerate the threat. I have lived in Britain for well over 60 years, and have travelled to Paris, Rome, Florence, Barcelona and many other places, but have never been the victim of pickpocketing. I have never worn a money belt, and am unaware that any of my friends or family would consider one. It is certainly not something that they ever talk about, and I have close family who work in central London. I have been the victim of other sorts of rime, but never pickpocketing, and never violence. Take reasonable care of your valuables, be alert in crowded situations, but don't allow fear to spoil your holiday.