Siena Warnings or Dangers

Having lived in Italy for more than five years and travelled around a fair bit here, I can confidently say - don't worry! Siena is about as safe as it gets in Italy, and certainly safer than your average american city/town. Here's a summary.

Violent crime
Basically unheard of, except for the occasional bar brawl. The one exception is during soccer days (mostly sundays), when violent fans from out of town may run a bit wild once or twice per year.

Petty theft
There might be some pickpockets in crowded situations, mostly around Piazza del Campo in peak season. Still, with the bare minimum of street savvy you should be ok. No need for a money belt, but perhaps keep your wallet in a front pocket, and don't be stupid leaving anything valuable unattended, or visible in your car.

Rip-offs
If you're acting very gullible, being rather drunk, or just plain unlucky, you run the risk of being overcharged. In a restaurant, if the price doesn't seem right, do ask to see the menu again and count. A service charge is common, and the percentage should be stated on the menu. In addition, a cover charge is standard, usually around 2 euro per person. Bars generally have prices displayed on a sign somewhere, but remember that sitting down at a table might mean a different price than having your coffee/beer at the bar, and definitely so if you're being served at the table. In shops, haggling is usually pointless. At most, you can help the shop-owner cheat taxes by accepting a discount without receipt. Obviously, if you're buying from street vendors, expect the starting price to be a rip-off.

Walking around
You can generally go anywhere, anytime without worrying, but see below.

Women on their own.
While less evident than in some other parts of Italy, women may experience guys coming on to them and occasional cat-calls/comments. Do be aware that some italian men like to think of female tourists as comparatively "easy", and might be rather insistent. An invitation to have a coffee or show you around town is not general friendliness, but a definite pickup, even if it's an elderly man asking. Accepting to do things one-on-one means that you're potentially interested. While it's generally safe to walk anywhere in town, even after dark, you might want to avoid isolated streets if you're on your own.

Traffic
Keep your eyes open when crossing streets, and be sure that the approaching car has seen you and is intent on stopping. Scooters are everywhere, don't expect them to slow down noticeably just because you're walking on the same street.

Siena Hotels

Siena Warnings or Dangers

Visiting Siena?

Visiting Siena?

Siena Hotels