A study looked at the European cities where tourists are most at risk of being robbed. The first in the ranking is a very popular destination for the French… and, no, it’s not Barcelona.
In summer, we especially dream of ice cream, terraces, beaches or cultural visits. Much less spending several hours at the police station because your wallet or phone has disappeared. However, pickpocketing remains one of the most common traps in major tourist cities. And contrary to what many imagine, the city where pickpockets are most active is not Barcelona, although it is renowned for this type of theft.
This survey was carried out by the magazine Paul Campera German platform specializing in motorhome rental. The researchers compared 25 busy cities in Europe based on three criteria: the risk of pickpocketing, which accounts for 40% of the score, car thefts, also for 40%, and other types of theft, which represent the remaining 20%.
Behind the first place, there are several well-known cities. London comes second. On average, one in 367 visitors is robbed by a pickpocket. The areas of Camden Market, Westminster and Southwark are particularly monitored by the police… and very popular with thieves. Edinburgh completes the podium. Every year, nearly 4,000 tourists leave with a bad memory after a visit near the castle, on the Royal Mile or in the Princes Street gardens.
Rome is also one of the cities where you must remain particularly vigilant. Around the Trevi Fountain, tourists often look up to admire the monument or toss a coin… while some instead keep their eyes on the bags. The surroundings of the Colosseum and Vatican City are also affected. The study mentions around 110 pickpocketings per day in these sectors. Stockholm completes the top 5, notably in the historic Gamla Stan district, at the central station or at the Skansen open-air museum. On the other hand, good news for those who travel by car: vehicle thefts are much rarer there than in several other European countries.
Despite everything, the most affected city is none other than Milan. According to the study, one in 162 tourists is the victim of pickpocketing. The police register more than 21,500 cases there each year. The areas of Duomo Square, the Vittorio Emanuele II Gallery and the central station concentrate a large part of the flights. Motorists are not completely spared either, with around 213 car thefts per 100,000 inhabitants.
On the French side, Nice takes sixth place, just ahead of Paris. Venice then follows, then Barcelona, which ultimately only ranks ninth despite its reputation. Zurich closes the top 10. You will have understood, without falling into paranoia, it is better to keep your bag closed, avoid letting your phone stick out of a pocket and not leave your belongings behind you on the terrace. It seems obvious… until it isn’t.
