Do I need a money belt in Italy? Traveling to Posillipo, outside Naples then down to Amalfi Coast

Short answer: Yes! Money belt or neck wallet for deep storage of things you don't need everyday but will make your trip miserable if you lose them or you are pickpocketed, ie passport, extra cash, non-daily credit card, ATM card. And make sure you fanny pack zipper has a security snap to keep prying fingers out.

Edit: a small crossbody purse may be safer than a Fanny pack. I added additional security snaps to mine, inside and out. And keep my daily cash and credit card in an inside zipped pockets Be sure your phone is in your purse or securely attached to you. Keep your purse in front of your hip. Don’t set anything on a table that isn’t attached to you.
I just changed my original post to move the vax card from money belt to purse. My trip is in a couple months so I wasn’t thinking that through.

Have a great trip. Be aware but don’t stress. Enjoy!

Yikes. A "fanny pack" is probably one of the absolute worst choices you could possibly make, insofar as keeping your stuff from being stolen. In fact, if you were thinking a fanny pack would keep your stuff safe, then that clinches it IMHO: YES I would recommend a money belt for you.

You do not absolutely need a money belt per se. If your "head is in the game" -- at ALL times -- then you don't need a money belt (or anything else). But if you get distracted for a moment...then yeah, I would suggest you probably could use a money belt.

I'd keep your original CDC vaccine cards with you. Take photos (back up that photo on your phone and someplace else, too -- in case your phone gets stolen). Most places will accept a photo of your CDC card, but some will insist on the original (as cheesy as it is).

Fanny pack, nooooooo -- that is a bright red screaming loud irresistible magnet for pickpockets.

Do I need a money belt in Italy?

Only if you want to keep all your important/valuable stuff from walking away.

David beat me to the 'fanny pack' being a bright neon sign saying 'steal me; best stuff here'

Goodness yes! We've visited about 15 countries in Europe and the Middle East (Israel & Jordan) and felt the most vulnerable in Italy. Lost a good bit when I wasn't wearing my money belt like I should have been. But there were several instances in our two weeks there. Better to be protected!

I don’t use a money belt but they can definitely be helpful. If you are good with situational awareness and generally cautious you are likely to be fine. But it’s certainly safest to wear one.
Note that they are only for things you don’t need to access often, just to keep safe. So extra cash, emergency credit card things like that. If you need to show your vaccine card often to go into places, it should not be in a money belt. Money belts go under your clothes so you can’t just dig into them at the entrance to a restaurant or whatever! I have not been to Italy since covid started so I don’t know how often you need to show these or if copies suffice.

You need a safe but accessible place for your daily cash and credit card so you can make purchases without going into the money belt. A wallet in a front pocket, with caution, or a zippered cross body bag would work. If you want a camera or phone and other useful items like sunglasses and personal items (tissues, hand sanitizer, medicines, whatever you might reasonably want while out and about), a purse or bag makes the most sense. I suppose a Fanny pack could work for this purpose. Only if you wear it in front and are cautious. I’m not a fan for aesthetic reasons, but thats not really relevant to the practical considerations.

What I do - I don’t wear a money belt. I safety pin my wallet (it has a little strap) to the lining of my purse, inside a zipper pocket, to keep it reasonably safe. I wear the purse in front and keep my hand on it in crowds and generally pay attention. Has worked so far but I make no promises that I won’t be on here with a story of being pickpocketed someday.
If I’m in town, not a day trip, I leave my passport in the room. If I’m going farther afield, it’s in the purse. Also in the room is a backup credit card and some extra cash. I’ll carry one credit card and a reasonable amount of cash in my purse. My husband does the same, with a different credit card. We bring 3 cards to 3 accounts- one he keeps on him, one I keep on me, and one that stays in the room in case both other cards are lost.
On the one trip I took since the vaccine, it was Portugal and the vaccine card wasn’t required anywhere so I left that in the room. Obviously if I were in a place where it was checked I would have kept it in my purse.

YES!!!

I don't wear a money belt, but my passport stays in a neck pouch under my shirt.

Other than passport, and maybe the CDC card now, and perhaps an emergency extra credit card, I do wear a fanny pack for my wallet, car keys. But a purse or fanny bag is a risk if you use crowded buses or subway trains, especially in Naples. I don't see a big risk for just walking around. Just take taxis when you have a lot of luggage to carry around (basically when you arrive and when you depart), as it is hard to keep an eye on everything when you also have to roll suitcases around.

The Italian law requires that you exhibit your passport (or other identification document) when requested by authorities, but I don't carry it if I'm just walking around town. I have a photocopy with me. I keep my passport in the hotel safe or at my mother's house, unless I'm driving.

Roberto -- You are a very experienced traveler. I am quite confident that if a pickpocket was targeting you, you would probably notice that right away, and move to avoid being a victim. OP will be making their first visit to Europe. Big difference.

With experience (unfortunately, experience often means you've been ripped off previously...) you learn how to be keenly aware of your surroundings, and what to watch out for around you. First-time travelers are often caught up in the thrill of being there, and may lose their vigilance. So for someone like the OP, yeah, that's why RS has harped on and on about money belts. For those new to the game, a money belt can be a life-saver. After years of traveling, after seeing and experiencing many pickpocket attempts, then lots of us adjust to something other than a "money belt" (I no longer use one, but I absolutely do still keep my major valuables secured in a discreet way, any time I'm out and about when overseas).

For first-timers, I think Rick's original advice is still spot-on: Fanny pack, no. Money belt, yeah.

I use a cross body bag. Have traveled the world independently and this works well. Always have my hand on it.

Gosh, Suki, to me a “body bag” is used for another purpose.

I would try one out at home before traveling with it, to check out the comfort and possible sweatiness of it. Wear it all day. Last of May it is going to start heating up and could prove to be really yucky wearing one.
I do not wear a money belt, I have no need to carry around all my credit cards, passport and other valuables with me all day. Are you really going to be reaching into it during the day for any reason (which requires complete privacy, like ducking into a bathroom) ? I can't think of any.
I just use a normal cross body bag. My passport stays with my suitcase, as does my backup Cash and backup credit cards (usually under the inner sole of a shoe). Daily I take 100€ in cash, one debit card, one credit card, copy of my passport and my original drivers license, and now my original CDC card.
A really cute trend is to use a cross body fanny pack, it goes across your chest, similar to this:
https://athleta.gap.com/browse/product.do?pid=799026012&vid=1&tid=atpl000023&kwid=1&ap=7&gclid=CjwKCAjwve2TBhByEiwAaktM1Kt2gzRwrI-Uw42AGP0uGmJBFFZ6yrVLer57BeeBgupTV09LDsrZcxoCwAEQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds#pdp-page-content

Thank you to everyone, especially Mira for the levelheaded response and super helpful info.

I guess the neon yellow fanny back will have to stay home in Seattle.
I purchased a neck wallet/passport thingy and will carry my Bagalini crossbody purse, with my wallet on a small chain attached to a zippered pocket.

This forum has been great--much appreciated.

I use a cross-body purse for my valuables and I keep my hand on it while walking around, I keep nothing in my pockets other than a spare mask. My husband wears a fanny-pack but not on his fanny. He wears it across his chest like my cross-body bag. We leave extra cash in the room. About CDC cards. We have been in Italy since May 4th and have never been asked to show it.

My vote is for a money belt or neck wallet tucked inside my shirt. When we were in Palermo a few years back, I watched as two guys on a motor scooter came up behind a woman on the sidewalk and the guy on the back reached out and scooped the pocketbook right off her shoulder. She was devastated. It had her passport, cards and cash.

Good that you have decided to leave the fanny pack at home. Think of any other things that would make you advertise as a tourist.

Go and have a good time. Try to be situationally aware, but not apprehensive. Common sense goes a long way.

Italy is a magical place. I'm so glad you and your sister are getting to go!

What do you think about backpacks? I am going to Germany and ending up in Rome in August. I tend to carry everything in a secure backpack. It has hooks that the zipper attaches to so it is hard to get into it. Would that be ok to use in Europe?

I keep my credit card, ID and some cash in a little "money belt" that hooks to my bra strap. I put my CDC card and water bottle in my backpack.

Yes, definitely wear a money belt.
I have had over a dozen trips to Italy and still wear one.
It just removes the anxiety of worrying that you might be pickpocketed or robbed.
Then you can walk about confident that even if you somehow lose the crossbody bag you will be taking,( NO to the fanny pack!) ...you will only lose a few Euro (your "walking-around" money for that day) , tissues, a map etc.
If you need to use your cards, take a few minutes to find a place first that you will be unobserved while digging them out.
I wear my money belt so that the pouch part sits in the small of my back curving down to my posterior...it's more comfy.
Do not access it unless you are in a shop dressing room, or a washroom stall, or somewhere with no people watching, otherwise the world will know you have it on.
Have a wonderful first trip to Italy!

Stormy, the problem with a backpack is that even a small one may not be allowed in a museum or tourist attraction. You cannot assume that you will be able to check it at a secure cloak room or locker, either. I switched over to a crossbody purse that is actually slightly bigger than the small Knomo backpack I carry at home. Not as convenient but museums are a big part of all of my trips.

Several years ago two elderly women on our tour had purses stolen in Florence by young men on scooters. We couldn't find these two women after 2 hours of searching and contacted police giving the police info on the women and our next destination. We had to move on. A day later the women caught up with the tour. Lessons learned:

1. Use a money belt or cross body bag
2. Have a cellphone
3. Call police
4. Have info on tour guide cell number
5. Have a hotel list especially if your tour is moving on to a new destination
6. Keep various amounts of cash in different places

Hopefully this helps.

I am very, very fond of my extra-small Pacsafe purse, but I just looked for it online and it's not readily available. There's a black one on eBay: PacSafe SlingSafe LX50 Anti-Theft Mini Crossbody Bag. It's the same size as the purse I use at home (which I always wear cross-body, too) so it feels very familiar, not an odd new thing to manage while traveling. I swear I would mess up if I tried a money belt or bra wallet, although both are good ideas. My husband carries a regular big cross-body shoulder bag which I am pretty sure I could pickpocket if I tried. Maybe he's just lucky. But, so far, so good after almost 50 years of traveling together.

Here's my €0.02.

Just say no to fanny packs. Say yes to a small cross-body purse with the strap permanently attached (not with rings and lobster clasps that are easy to open) for things you need handy but can afford to lose.

Wear it like others have said, with your non-dominant hand resting on it. It may not be as pretty, but it's also recommended to wear it with the back out so that the typical zipper pockets are next to your body.

Do not whip it around to the side or to your back to keep it out of the way when you bend over to get a closer look at that perfect tomato in the market. If you feel the need for a small daypack, put even less important things in it. If you use both a purse and a daypack, put the purse on first.

There are many ways to secure things both inside purses and inside daypacks. I use split key rings or little carabiners.

Yes, I also think you need a money belt. I'll also encourage you to carry some kind of emergency information on your body, in a money belt and in your purse and daypack. Identification redundancy is a good friend to have.

I carry my passport in my money belt on my body at all times, not a copy of it. To me, copies are for leaving in the room. The originals are in my money belt in case my purse goes AWOL. Or in case something happens that makes me incapable of communication.

I'm probably hyper about this because I travel solo, am older (although I did it when I wasn't older) and have pre-existing conditions. But being a step-mom to a set of identical twins both of whom had severe strokes in their early 40s (!) also made me realize that anything can happen to any of us at any time.

There are many types of money belts that will work. It depends on what feels the most secure and comfortable for the wearer. I've tried them all and this StashBandz one is the one I like best.

Obviously, you're supposed to wear it under your clothes, not outside them, no matter how fun the color is. For me, the layers go like this: skin, bra, Spanx tank, money belt, panties, pants (I never wear dresses or skirts), top. (Those who don't regularly wear shapewear might be surprised to learn that shapewear camisoles should always be worn under panties, not over them.)

My StashBandz has had a good workout recently because I've had to wear a sensor on a patch that has to communicate with a cell phone monitor. The 2 devices have to be close to each other. When my pockets are too small, I put the phone monitor in my StashBandz.

Good luck with your planning. It's a steep learning curve for the first trip, but just think how much easier it will be for the ones that follow. 😉

The short answer is YES, you do need a moneybelt or some other hidden place to store valuables like credit cards, passport, etc. Do NOT keep them in a waist pack or other exposed location. The pickpockets in Naples are some of the world's best and even if you're not visiting popular tourist sites, you will be exposed to them. Keep enough cash for daily use in an accessible location and perhaps one credit card. All other valuables should be in the moneybelt.

There are a number of different types of moneybelts, including waist belts, neck pouches, belt pouches (worn inside), under arm pouches, etc. Have a look at this - https://www.magellans.com/ShopCategory.aspx?ID=112,3719 .

There's also these models - https://store.ricksteves.com/shop/travel-accessories .

I always wear a waist-style moneybelt and find it quite comfortable.

I wear a "hidden pocket" type of moneybelt. I have for over 30 years. (Not the same one.) In it are my passport, vaccination card, credit cards, emergency contact list, and anything else I don't want to lose.

Even if everything else is stolen or lost, with the contents of money belt I can buy anything I need and get anywhere I need to go.

Fanny Packs, backpacks and pockets can be easy pickings.

Question on no Fanny pack. I usually use a crossbody when touring and this year was thinking of going smaller with a fanny pack. Would love someone to elaborate on “no fanny pack”. I am planning on upgrading my “theme park” fanny pack to an “anti theft” fanny pack. But this thread has me rethinking my plan. But I am unsure about money belts. It’s a sensory issue with wearing something under clothes and on my skin. But I do want to travel smart in Italy. When wearing cross body (in crowds/on street) or fanny pack they are always worn in front on my body with my hand on them, and sometimes I wear my fanny pack like a cross body if it’s really crowded. Do folks put there phones in money belts? That’s one of my biggest theft concerns.

I only carry a paper copy of my passport and leave the other in the safe in the hotel I'll probably do the same with my CDC card or at least have a paper copy of the CDC at the hotel just in case