Last Updated on December 26, 2024 by admin

I hesitate to write this post because I don’t want to scare anyone. 

As far as crime rates go, Rome doesn’t even crack the top ten riskiest cities to visit.

That said, there are some common scams here that you should be aware of on your visit to the Eternal City.

Let’s look at the most common scams in Rome – and how to avoid them.

Common scams in Rome and how to avoid them

1. Taxis

I just wrote a whole post about taking taxis in Rome, and I included a long list of common taxi scams. 

The bottom line is that there are plenty of honest taxi drivers in Rome, but there are also a lot of taxi drivers who will rip you off. Knowing the norms of operation can help you protect yourself in the event that your taxi driver is less than honest.

2. Street vendors “giving away” bracelets, roses, and other trinkets

If anyone approaches you and is holding a bouquet of flowers or any other items and tries to “gift” you one, refuse and keep walking. They will try to tell you it’s free, but if you accept it and start walking away, they will ask you for money.

If someone tries to tie a bracelet on your wrist, they also want money. You don’t have to be rude, but keep walking. 

3. Tourist traps

I’ve written a nice fat post on avoiding tourist traps in Italy, so feel free to peruse it if food is important to you. 

I cover these and more in my post above, but there are some basic rules to follow when looking for restaurants.

• There will be lots of tourist traps near the city’s major sights. If you’re near one, be especially cautious.
• If there are people outside trying to get you to sit down, it’s a tourist trap.
• If the menu is blown up to poster size, has pictures, and is translated into multiple languages, it’s a tourist trap. Note that just a translated menu does not a tourist-trap make; most menus these days, especially in the city center, are translated at least into English.
• If there’s a display of fake food outside, ’tis a tourist trap.

4. Third-party vendors

Ok, these are not a scam per se, but unfortunately, companies on Get your Guide, Viator, and others often sell tickets that they don’t actually have, because tickets to Rome’s major monuments only become available periodically in advance of desired booking dates. The third-party vendors also inflate the prices to make money.

This means that you might book a tour of the Colosseum or the Vatican Museums and find out just a few days before that poof! There are actually no tickets.

The best way to avoid your tickets disappearing or paying a surcharge is to book directly on official websites.

Here’s more on booking tickets to the Vatican Museums.

Here’s the link to the official website for Colosseum tickets.

5. Unauthorized tour guides or tour and ticket sellers (aka scalpers)

You may notice people being wrangled into groups at the Colosseum or Vatican Museums. These are probably people who didn’t book in advance (but that’s not you friend, because you’re here and I told you to book ahead of time and even linked to the official sites you need above).

The people doing the wrangling probably do have tickets to sell, but they are selling them at a markup. Again, booking on official websites or through a licensed guide will help you avoid being wrangled. 

6. Bad gelato

Yes, I consider paying for bad gelato to be a scam.

I’ve covered this elsewhere too, but bad gelato is piled high, brightly colored, and oftentimes, exposed, meaning it’s not covered. NOT ALL GELATO THAT IS UNCOVERED IS BAD, but if it’s all three of those things, DO NOT PROCEED, I REPEAT, ABORT YOUR MISSION!

So, what does good gelato look like? Good gelato is naturally colored (i.e. the pistachio isn’t bright green and there is no bright blue “Smurf” flavor on the premises). Good gelato lies low and flat in a metal pan, OR, it’s covered. 

Be sure to look for places that say “gelateria artigianale,” in their signage, which means that the gelato is made in-house. One more thing – if a place advertises an ungodly number of flavors, they probably all suck. 

7. Overpriced airport transfers

While researching for my post on how to get from Rome’s two airports to the city center, my eyes watered when I saw the price of certain airport transfers. 

If you’re booking a private car to pick you up and bring you to your accommodation, expect to pay a bit more than you would for a taxi (€55 from Fiumicino to anywhere inside the Aurelian Walls, or €40 from Ciampino to anywhere within the Aurelian Walls). That said, it shouldn’t be INSANELY more expensive, and it shouldn’t be per person, either.

My husband and I live just outside the city walls (we can see them from our house), so we usually book a private car if we’re traveling with more than just a carry-on. Depending on the time of day, we generally pay anywhere between €50 and €65 (with the higher end being for very early or very late arrivals). This is the price for my husband and I with luggage. If you have extra luggage or are in a big group, expect to pay a bit more. 

For reference, here’s the pricing info for a highly rated company that does private transfers (I have never traveled with them).

8. People dressed up like gladiators or emperors who want to take a picture with you

This isn’t as prevalent as it used to be because it was forbidden by the city in 2018, but you may see the odd Marcus Aurelius or Spartacus wandering around with a plastic sword trying to take pictures with people.

They want money for the pictures, and, like I said, it’s illegal, so probably don’t engage.

9. Restaurant staff demanding tips

This Roman scam is one I’ve only just become aware of recently. Apparently, in the city center, there are some dining establishments at which the staff tells customers that they have to leave a cash tip of at least 10%. 

This is a scam.

Tips are often left for great service or food, but they are by no means obligatory. 

A great way to suss out whether or not you might get tip scammed is to look at the Google reviews of a place before you sit down. You may find an extraordinarily low rating and stories of tourists before you who were ripped off. 

10. No prices on the menu

Ok, if you’re at a Michelin-starred place with a tasting menu and there are no prices listed, this isn’t a cause for concern (unless you consider fine dining a scam).

If, however, you plop down into any old place and there are no prices listed, this is probably a red flag that you’re going to get charged 40 euro for your carbonara and 15 for a caffè. 

Prices should always be displayed transparently, so you’ll know exactly what to expect on your bill. 

Things in Rome that may seem like a scam but are not

1. Having to pay more to sit down

If you decide to do as the Romans do and have breakfast at a bar, you’ll notice that some people are standing while they enjoy their morning cappuccino and cornetto, and others are sitting. 

The people who are sitting will pay for that right – a small surcharge is often added if you don’t have your breakfast standing up.

This isn’t a scam, it’s just the way things are done.

2. Paying a “servizio” fee at a restaurant

If you’ve traveled elsewhere in Italy, you may be familiar with the “coperto” charge, but that has been illegal in Rome and Lazio since 2006. The charge derives from the Medieval period, when people paid to eat under cover (the translation of coperto) for protection from the elements, but brought their own food. 

Restaurant owners in the Eternal City and its region have gotten around that law by charging for bread and service, hence, the “servizio” (service) or “pane e servizio” (bread and service) fee that you might see appear on your bill.

Note that this fee should be listed on the menu, so you know exactly how much you’ll be charged for bread and service.

3. Paying for water at a restaurant

Restaurants in Rome and Italy serve bottled water, or water that’s been filtered in reusable bottles. This is not a scam. 

Asking for tap water is uncommon, and bringing your own water is uncouth. Fork out the extra euros for bottled water, just like the locals do.

If you want to eat like a local on your trip to Rome, check out my guide to doing just that.

4. Paying a tourist tax for accommodation

When staying overnight in Rome (and other cities in Italy), you have to pay a tourist tax, which is meant to offset the cost of things like trash removal and other services that tourists make use of while they’re here.

This fee varies, depending on the type of accommodation. Note that it may increase significantly in Rome in 2025 owing to the fact that it is a Catholic Jubilee year.

Like I said at the start, I don’t want to frighten anyone or make anyone feel like they’re going to be scammed at every turn, but it’s good to be aware of these common ones. As the saying goes, better safe than sorry!

Is there anything you’d add to this list? Let me know in the comments!

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