Tourist safety in Italy

I am in Italy right now, and have been for 5 weeks. We have not felt any safety issues anywhere. Listen to your gut, when it tells you don’t go, don’t go. Always keep awareness of your surroundings.

With my trip to the Middle East cancelled I’ve scheduled travel to Italy beginning next week. Travel notices by way of the United States Smart Traveler Enrollment Program indicate vigilance around the world. I am following the same protocol as always of being careful with everything that I do and say, being aware of my surroundings, keeping my passport on me at all times, and enjoying my travel.

“ Worldwide Caution
Due to increased tensions in various locations around the world, the potential for terrorist attacks, demonstrations or violent actions against U.S. citizens and interests, the Department of State advises U.S. citizens overseas to exercise increased caution.

U.S. citizens should:
Stay alert in locations frequented by tourists.
Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive information and alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency overseas.”*

Stay away from demonstrations and you'll be fine.

You'll likely be more safe in Italy than here, honestly. There's always a carabinieri presence in transit spots and near tourist sites

Always, always have your Spidey-Senses TURNED ON when moving around in high density areas - which you should at all times, anyway.

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Sprout, I am curious as to why you think you would particularly be unsafe as an American citizen in Italy?

The vigilance is not focused on Americans. My friend that lives near Milan asked me how things were in Emilia Romagna and if I noticed anything different in Rome. This is due to the threats /incidents in France and Belgium. Italians are thinking about this also... it is not something directed at Americans nor is it something not to be taken seriously.

Thank you, all! These replies have been really helpful.

Stan, I’m not asking the question because I think Americans are targeted. I’ve just never been to Europe and wanted perspectives from those who have. When the US put a global travel warning out yesterday for all countries, it prompted curiosity to get the opinions of more well-diversed travelers than myself :)

I was in Italy two weeks ago when all this started and saw nothing that made me feel unsafe. Other than noticing the flights to Tel Aviv were cancelled when I was leaving, I did not notice anything else out of the ordinary.

Sprout, legit question for your first trip to Europe! You will be fine. Over the past few decades, I've had several trips coincide with world events (like landing in Barcelona March 20, 2003, the day the US-Iraq war started), and while we were cautious, we generally found that locals were more interested in having conversations about our government's policies than taking it out personally on us. (I feel like Europeans are better than Americans at separating government actions from people.)

FYI, we arrived in Italy (Venice) the same day as the Hamas attacks on Israel (told you I was lucky this way) and were not even aware of the attacks for a couple of days.

I think you have good advice above about being aware of your surroundings. I'd be doing the same if I took the train up to New York this weekend, for example.

When you're in the hotel room, check out some English-language news channels from France 24, BBC, or Al-Jazeera -- I find it's interesting to see what folks outside the US are talking about.

And have fun. I wish I were back there right now!

You can register your trip with the US Government so they are aware you are there. Not sure what help they would be but it would not hurt to register. This is a time where I would still go, exercise caution (as another poster mentioned), if you see a demonstration or protest go the other way, and I would carry my passport on me at all times.

The travel alert was (in my opinion) a very generic non-specific alert for the benefit of those who are not really aware of the situation in the Middle East. I don't think you will be any more unsafe in Italy than before the present situation. We have never felt unsafe in Italy - period. But then we always maintain a high degree of situational awarness. Go, and enjoy the trip! Using common sense and being aware of your environment will go a long way toward not finding yourself in an unsafe situation. Signing up with the U.S. State Department will allow them to notify you if a serious problem comes up in your area.

"of being careful with everything that I do and say, being aware of my surroundings, keeping my passport on me at all times, and enjoying my travel."

Ramonelee posted this but I wanted to highlight it. I generally have my passport with me when I am out and about but I know many on the forum leave it in the hotel room. This is a time period where I would have my passport, my extra credit/debit cards and my extra money in a money belt and would wear it at all times outside my hotel room. IF something untoward happens and you can't get back to your hotel you have the wherewithal to get yourself to a safe location by train, bus or plane.

IF you don't have a money belt, you can probably get one at a store at your International Hub....

I agree with the others that you will be safe in Italy and I would not hesitate to travel there at this time.

@Periscope...good suggestion. I used to always do that but got away from it when using City Mapper. I think it might be a good thing to have in your pocket and they are always available at the reception desk.

Pam made a good point about the money belt, passport, and etc. As someone one the forum said once, "with my passpost and credit/debit cards I can handle anything that happens".

You will be fine. I live in the middle east and while there is quite a bit of tension, and we are paying close attention to the worldwide news, we don't feel unsafe. Italy is far from the crisis. We almost always feel safer abroad than while in major American cities.

Fair enough Sprout. I think you're really asking what travelers who might be two thousand miles from home need to consider.

When I see that kind of Alert (an alert, not a warning), what i think of, is considering what you might need to know how to do if something happens in a place you are visiting. That is, thinking about how you would get of there, or even should you. To me that means having info ready - phone numbers, consulate locations, awareness of airport locations & how to get there, etc. It doesnt have to be a bunch of contingency plans: just the process of thinking about it puts you miles ahead of most pf the travelers. STEP is a great program, but you cant wait for Uncle Sam or Uncle Rick to get around to extracting you.

The likelihood of Hamas invading Italy is pretty small. But it would be the same kind of thinking for an earthquake, volcano (Italy has them, you know) massive power failure, super-COVID outbreak, or whatever disaster awaits us, home and abroad.