Areas of Rome to avoid

For tourists, students or to find an apartment, you are looking for which areas of Rome to avoid and which are dangerous areas.

Myself, when I had decided to visit Rome, I looked for a place to stay in a safe area of ​​Rome and well located for a tourist stay.

Indeed, even if Rome is not a dangerous city, I preferred to find out more to avoid choosing my hotel in a sensitive area or a red light district of Rome.

I found reliable information in the media, the economic press, forums and in rankings and statistics. This 2024 guide below therefore summarizes data on the dangerousness of Rome's neighborhoods.

Is Rome a dangerous city in 2024?

Rome is not one of the most dangerous cities in Europe. In 2024, it ranks far behind much more dangerous cities like Naples, Marseille, Montpellier, Nantes, Athens and even behind London !

But Rome is not a safe city either. Indeed, on the ranking of 136 European cities, with a crime index of 49.84, Rome is ranked 32nd most crime-ridden city in Europe.

Is Rome a safe city for tourists?

Rome is not a city where tourists are in danger as they can be in some cities in the Mexico, Brazil or South Africa. However, tourists are still exposed to petty crimes.

Indeed, in 2024 France Diplomacy recommends that French travelers exercise caution: Pickpocketing is common in large cities. It is therefore advisable to be vigilant in the following places:

• tourist places and attractions;
• hotels, restaurants and bars;
• public transport (sleeper trains or urban buses in particular);
• airports and train stations.

In addition, you should know that insecurity in Rome is only concentrated in certain places. Apart from a few neighborhoods to avoid, the city of Rome is no more dangerous than another capital or major world city like Paris, Barcelona ou New York.

Rome neighborhoods map

It's not easy to identify the different districts of Rome. To help you, here is a map that you can enlarge to locate the neighborhoods to avoid (listed below): Neighborhood map

Most dangerous neighborhoods in Rome

The dangerous neighborhoods in Rome are not very numerous and are mainly located in the east and on the outskirts of the city. This is where the greatest number of crimes occur. The outlying district of Ostia (Lido di Ostia) is renowned for its criminal groups which have settled there in recent years.

The dangerousness of Rome's neighborhoods is also linked to the presence of local mafias and the problems of cities in general (high unemployment rate, poverty, social misery). According to the local press, 3 neighborhoods are affected by violence and crime and are therefore considered the most dangerous in Rome:

• Ostia (see the article in Point " The Mafia invades the Roman streets of Ostia")
• Tor Bella Monaco (city in the center of Rome where the drug trafficking are important)
• San Basilio (city of social housing)

Areas of Rome to Avoid for Tourists

Before knowing where the best neighborhoods in Rome are, let's see which neighborhoods to avoid and the red light areas of the city.

Indeed, even if Rome is not a dangerous city, unemployment and increasing poverty only increase petty crime. Pickpockets, thefts, robberies and drug trafficking are on the increase as confirmed by the latest survey by Censis (Centro Studi Investimenti Sociali) which is an Italian socio-economic research institute.

Without being dangerous places, you should know that the major tourist sites in Rome are places where tourists can be targeted, particularly by pickpockets. To avoid being robbed, be careful throughout the historic center and on public transport, especially around Termini station. Indeed, the metro and certain buses like the 64 are strategic locations for pickpockets in Rome.

In addition, according to surveys of residents and the feelings of travelers, there are neighborhoods that have a bad reputation and that it is better to avoid in Rome:

• Esquiline
• Corvial
• San Basilio
• Romanina
• teal
• One hundred cells
• Torpignattara
• Torre Maura
• Tor Bella Monaco
• Gate Sapienza
• Torre angela
• Torbellamonaca
• Bridge of Ninth

Red light districts of Rome

Among the areas to avoid in Rome (especially for people traveling with family), we can mention areas that are poorly frequented and reserved for adults at night. It mainly concerns the Suburra red light district, of certain streets in the neighborhood Coppedè and the area Delle Tre Fontane.

Best neighborhoods to stay in Rome

According to travel forums and many blogs, the best areas of Rome to stay as a tourist are in the center of the capital:

• Historic Center (Centro Storico)
• Monti
• meadows
• From Via Veneto to Villa Borghese
• Testaccio (see comment below)
• Parioli
• Pigneto (see comment below)
• Saint John

See also Which neighborhood for shopping in Rome?

Where to sleep in Rome?

This is ideal accommodation for sightseeing in Rome without a car and without taking public transport. Furthermore, Condominio Monti is located in Via Dei Serpenti, in the beautiful, completely safe Monti neighborhood.

For those on a higher budget, see my recommendation on: Where to stay in Rome to visit on foot?

What to do in the event of theft or assault?

Here are the numbers you can call in an emergency:

• 112 (free European number) for all emergencies
• 113 number to reach the police
• 118 health emergencies
• 115 fire brigade
• 06 57 06 00 Emergency Medical Service
• 06 48 89 91 Tourist promotion service (information on tourist sites, stations, airports)