Vatican City is one of the safest places to visit in Europe. Violent crime against tourists is very rare here and most visitors have no problems during their stay.

It is because of the sheer number of tourists that the area around St. Peter's Square and the Vatican Museums are among the most common places for pickpocketing in the whole of Rome.

In fact, most of the risks are not directly related to the Vatican, but to the tens of thousands of visitors crammed into queues, security checks and crowded streets every day.

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Is the Vatican safe?

✅ Yes, if:

• you use common sense
• keep an eye on your phone and wallet
• you don't buy dubious services from street vendors

❌ Beware of:

• pickpockets
• tourist scams
• overpriced skip-the-line deals
• extreme heat in summer

Pickpockets and petty theft

This is by far the most common problem.

Pickpockets mainly target:

• queues for the basilica
• museum entrances
• the A line metro
• the crowded surroundings of the square

How to protect yourself?

For me, a few simple rules are quite enough:

• Don't carry your phone in your back pocket.
• carry your backpack in front of the crowd
• keep your wallet in your front pocket or inside jacket pocket
• don't leave your backpack open

There's no point in getting paranoid.

Most visitors pass through the Vatican without a single problem. It's just good to keep in mind that it's one of the most visited places in Europe.

The most common scams in the Vatican

Fake skip-the-line tickets

This is considered the most common tourist trap in the Vatican.

Around the Vatican you will often hear:

• "Official tickets."
• "No waiting"
• "Last tickets"
• "Fast access"

But dubious sellers will just resell you a ticket that they themselves bought on the official website, only maybe 5 times more expensive.

You get absolutely no advantage over buying directly on the websites:

• St. Peter's Basilica
• Vatican Museums

Free bracelets

The classic Roman scam also works around the Vatican.

Someone gives you:

• starts putting on a bracelet
• gives you a "gift"
• wants to shake your hand.

After a while he starts asking for money.

The best strategy?

Just move on, don't take anything, don't react at all.

Petitions and fake fundraisers

Sometimes someone stops you with:

• a signature drive.
• a charity fundraiser.
• supposedly supporting the deaf

Often this is just a way to distract you or to lure money.

Health risks

Summer heat

This is realistically a bigger problem than crime.

Summer:

• Temperatures routinely exceed 30-35 °C.
• queuing for long periods in direct sunlight
• there's minimal shade in the square.

It is this combination that is one of the most common reasons for health complications for tourists.

What I recommend

• a bottle of water
• headgear
• light clothing
• a visit as early in the morning as possible