Carry a Purse in Rome?

I believe Barcelona is thought to have a bigger problem with pickpockets than Rome. I've been to both recently and not been pickpocketed in either place (that happened in Bulgaria, of all places), so I can only say that I never felt uncomfortable. I am accustomed to keeping my hand on my crossbody bag all the time, having been targeted multiple times in my home city of Washington DC back in the 1980s.

I'm also an older female solo traveler; I think that's what made me a taget in Bulgaria on a street with few people out and about. But I was very careless there; it shouldn't have happened. I've switched where I carry my sunglasses--now in an outer pocket of the bag so I don't have to unzip it to switch glasses. My sunglasses and regular glasses are the most expensive thing I carry around with me (expensive prescription lenses), but no one wants them in Europe (it might be more of an issue in a Third World country), so I don't worry about having them in an open pocket.

I only carry with me things I'll need during the day. Back-up credit cards, back-up ATM card and sometimes extra cash stay back in my hotel room, locked inside my suitcase along with my tablet computer. I use a money belt on the days I'm shifting hotels because I don't want all my financial resources in one place. I'm not thrilled about carrying my passport around with me, but it seems to be a requirement in most if not all countries, and some museums want to hold onto it if I rent an audio guide.

If you consider Barcelona with a reputation for pickpockets to be safe, then I wouldn't worry about Rome either. If your bag is small and you are tall, then you can keep it across your body and on your lap while eating. If taking the metro or crowded buses, then see if you can add a safety pin or small lockable S caribiner to the zipper to slow down any sneaky fingers.

Just make sure you have a backup pair of glasses. That is a travel recommendation anyway.

I think acraven's advice is excellent. I'd say a small cross body purse is perfectly reasonable for carrying items you need/want quick access to that are not extremely valuable or irreplaceable. One of those small flat undergarment pouches that can hang from your belt inside your trousers, or from a bra strap inside your blouse, is good for the things you can't afford to lose.

Definitely a crossbody is fine. Make sure it sits on your front as your walk though, not bouncing around your back as I have seen done.

We were pickpocketed in Barcelona. We were sitting on some crowded steps on New Years Eve and some guy sat next to my 20 year old daughter and some time latter she realized that her phone which was in a coat pocket was gone. We learned to be on alert. I've been in all the more common cities for pickpocketing and Barcelona was the only place we had an issue. My daughter was lucky. Her old phone was garbage, had a cracked screen and not a lot of storage. Verizon felt bad for her and cut her a deal.

We never had any issue in Rome. I carried a cross body purse. We did have an attempt in Milano, and from then on, I buried my wallet in the bottom of my purse and because the purse didn't have a lock zipper, I used a safety pin to secure the zipper. We also leave most of our cash and credit cards in our room. My husband puts his wallet in a zipper pocket usually on the leg of his pants.

I think the key is to just pay attention. If you see something that appears to be a distraction, watch your belongings. As we were boarding a train in Milan, two women approached me and started to argue about where I was putting my suitcase. I immediately realized it was a distraction, and looked down to my purse in front of me where one of the women had dropped a scarf, had her arm underneath and was about to work her way into my purse. I told her to move her hand, or I'd break it, and they ran off pretty quickly. My husband thought it was funny. I'm not very tough or strong, but at that moment, he thought I was actually going to break her hand.

The thing is, you want to make sure that you always have some kind of back up ID, and funds. Beyond that, I feel safer in Europe than I feel in many cities in the U.S. I am more likely to walk the streets of Rome, Paris or Barcelona alone than I would in U.S. cities.

EDITED TO ADD: Absolutely agree with acraven. When we are "in transit", meaning moving to a new city/hotel we use a money belt. Otherwise, honestly we don't. When we pull a suitcase, it's obvious that we have "everything" with us, therefore, I believe we become more of a target.

When in Rome…..
Roman women carry purses.

The three times I was in Rome I carried a cross body Fossil bag and was fine. I don’t carry valuables but do carry a credit card and no more than $100.

The purpose of the money belt is completely different from your purse. Sounds like carrying your crossbody purse will be convenient for your glasses, etc. so I would definitely wear it.

We learned during our first RS trip in 2003 that the money belt is the safety net of the trip. If you won’t be losing your passport, credit & ATM cards and large bills, you can concentrate on just enjoying your trip. Rick said other than health issues, you could almost recover from any other situation with what’s secure in your money belt. If your husband is taking care of that, you can just carry the normal “1-day money” or your personal items in your purse.

There are some buses in Rome that are known for pickpockets. I think they’re mentioned in the guidebook. Our guide pointed out a few who were trying to work our group at one of the monuments.

Jules m you are my favorite poster today, threatening pick pocketers and declaring yr daughters phone is garbage....

I've worn cross bags in all major European cities and have no problems. Just remember never leave purse on a table, on the floor or on the back of chair. I always put it in my lap when eating. You will be fine otherwise.

I’d say take the purse. I had no problems in Rome walking around by myself with a cross body purse. This includes walking alone at night, though in places with a lot of other people. As others have said, I keep it in front of me and keep a hand on it in crowds. I like a Travelon cross body purse that has a little latch to secure the zipper just as a little extra measure of security. I keep my money for the day and card I plan to use in the purse, but my extra cash and passport stay in a money belt.

I always use a cross body purse. I never ever have felt unsafe in Rome but did in Barcelona. Each time we left our hotel the front desk there issued a safety warning. Be alert as you should be in any city.

Aussie made a very good and valid point. You may stand out more without a bag of some sort.

We have been in Rome a half dozen times or more, ridden the famous pickpocket bus, and never had a problem. My wife doesn't carry any bag. Took a number of years to break that habit. I do have a pretty tattered, worn, day bag that holds the guidebooks, maps, sun glasses, water bottle and anything else critical for that day. To the best of our knowledge we have never been close to pickpocket or an attempt. At 6-2" I tend to "overlook" the crowd and like to think I project a good sense of awareness -- maybe not. Of course, there is always the next trip. Even Steves was hit in Paris so I don't think we are above having a problem. And there is nothing in the bag worth fighting for except the blue and gold guide book. Make sure your husband using the money belt properly and not as an easily accessed billfold.

I always wear a crossbody bag, containing a minimum amount of cash, and 1 credit card along with various items I might need during the day.
I also nearly always use a money belt to carry my passport and other cards. It gives me the freedom to enjoy my surroundings.

"because the purse didn't have a lock zipper, I used a safety pin to secure the zipper."

A carabiner works well for this too. I had to add some split rings to my purse so that I could fasten the carabiner but they work fine. You just want something to slow someone down or to make them move on to another target.

After I got hit in Paris (probably on the Metro but not sure and they only got my pouch with chapstick, nail clippers, tissues, etc) I took the advice from Lynn in Boise and sewed a split ring to the inside bottom of my purse as well as my pouch with daily toiletry items. I link them using a Dry-dock coil so I can pull it out if I want to.

I travel solo and the only time I've been able to go without a purse was in pouring rain when I could put "stuff" in my jacket pockets.

More similar to Barcelona than Bogota. Actually, as many have said, I believe Barcelona has a worse pickpocket problem than Rome. So what worked in Barcelona should also apply to Rome. I have never felt unsafe in Rome, but your main concern around this will be pickpockets - so wear it crossbody, keep it zipped, keep a hand on it on the bus or metro, the usual basic awareness things.

How about an inexpensive canvas tote bag (for a different approach)? You can buy one from a local store or institution that might even make you look like a local.

This would be for the non-valuables that you mentioned (glasses, lipgloss, sunscreen) and could also hold any souvenirs or edible treasures. Since many women/people don't have cars in the city, it looks to me they use use tote/shopping bags.

Since many women/people don't have cars in the city

Are you serious? In Rome there are 71 cars every 100 inhabitants! It's 45 in Paris and 41 in Barcellona.

@cyndimarieziegler

Carry the purse that best suits your needs, just like millions of Roman women do any given day.

You really think the type of purse would make any difference for a 16 years old pregnant girl from Bosnia who must make her day to avoid being beaten? If one of those girls will try to enter your personal space just move. If you can't move because of crowds put an hand on your purse. If, no matter what, she'll be able to steal something... comfort yourself in thinking that at least she won't be beaten by her owners on that day.

Leave the passport in the hotel and carry only one chip&pin credit card with a reasonable daily limit. Same for your husband.

Barcelona, Rome, Paris, the three worst pickpocket cities in the World.
I love all three, but wear a money belt when I go there. My wife has a pack safe purse.

Cross body purse that zips and has zipper pockets inside. In 2012 my wife had an old (original iPod) pickpocketed right at the entrance to St. Peter’s. It was in the only pocket that didn’t zip. Fortunately that’s all that was taken and it only had music and movies on it. Heck, it didn’t even have WiFi. The pickpocket probably thought it was a wallet since the iPod had a leather case.

A former coworker’s wife almost had her purse taken in Barcelona. Not being cautious, she set it down by the bench they sat on. They caught the thief in the act.

We never had an issue in S. America (Lima, Santiago, Valparaiso, Quito) although we tried to be much more cautious down there. I do use split rings on my backpack zippers when walking around and have a carabiner sewn inside to attach my camera strap. I’ve also sewn 4 smaller zippered, wallet sized pouches in different spots in the backpack. I use them when I know we’ll be in very crowded locations.

I do carry a lightweight shoulder bag in Rome (and Paris and other cities) but the only thing of any value in it is my Canon. The DH carries a med-sized Pacsafe cross-body bag with our cards/passports/bulk of cash/ipad or phone & some of his personal items when we change cities, and sometimes for general sightseeing, although most of the valuables stay in the room safe. I pin a small cloth bag under my waistband just big enough for a card and daily cash.

Between us, we've yet to have had a problem, and some precautions just allow us to have fun without concern for the 'stuff.'

I always carry a crossbody purse, at home and abroad. If I started using pockets, a travel vest, etc. I would surely lose something or forget where I put something. I think it is important to continue doing what you always do, unless you are someone who leaves their purse unzipped or on the back of their Chair. That being said, I do separate items if they are all in my purse. In transit is the only time I might wear a leg wallet or a smaller cross body with everything but my day items…I have a tiny pacsafe crossbody for travel days. Once at my location, all my back up is in my hotel in my suitcase.

All I have with me, separated in my purse is passport, credit card and maybe a little cash. Not that big a deal to lose, IMO.

So yes, use your purse. With a little planning there are no worries. I have been to Rome twice and many major European cities. It is fine.

What I wouldn’t do is rely on my husband or anyone else to protect my items. If I lose something, I need it to be my fault, and I (used to) travel alone a lot…and will again. So yes, use your purse if you use it at home. And enjoy engaging anyone, rather than fearing them.

Whatever you ending up using, make sure to "practice" with it at home. That way you don't have to fumble around with zippers, or try to remember which pocket has your phone in it, etc. My favorite travel purse is a cross body small hobo style from Baggallini. But I also carry it as my normal bag at home in the summer (I use leather ones during the winter). So it is always easy to use and my hand just intuitively goes exactly where I need it to go without thinking about it when I need to get something out.
Also, the only places in Rome that I worried about pickpockets was while walking through crowds around the big tourist sites. So I made sure to carry the bag tucked under my arm a bit and made sure all the zippers were closed.