Milan is a huge, crowdy city, so a trip to such a place may induce a little anxiety. Often, you ask us if Milan is actually safe. We’d like to clarify it all in this article. The base question is: what type of safety are we taking into consideration? Are there pickpockets in Milan? Is there a potential for terrorist attacks? Can you get robbed in Milan?
Are there pickpockets in Milan?
Sure, it’s undeniable that they do occur. The most ‘dangerous’ places and alleys in Milan are the Corso Italia, Porta Venezia, Roserio, viale Padova, Bovisa, Rogoredo and the Milano Stazione Centrale exit. The sheer amount of people in the city is shocking at times, especially during holidays or weekends, when there are a bunch of festivals or concerts happening. Such occasions attract both the people who are up for some fun and the pickpockets. Thing is, Milan’s no different than any other big city in that regard. Similarly as in Porto, for instance, with just a bit of extra caution we can feel safe and sound.
How to avoid the pickpockets in Milan? How should we act to not attract a potential thief? Take only as much money as you actually need. A big rookie mistake is to take all the cash with you, everywhere you go. In the case of theft, you lose everything. If you’re travelling in a group, split the budget evenly among all the participants. That way, you’ll not lose everything in the unfortunate case of theft.
If you can, keep the wallet somewhere in the front. Although it may seem unlikely that someone will open our bag without us noticing, it’s actually quite an easy target for thieves. Same goes for backpacks and the backpocket. It’s much safer to keep everything in the front, like the front pockets, bag held in front or fanny packs. What to do to feel safe in Milan?
Be more cautious of big clusters. Pay attention, is someone mindlessly roaming around you for seemingly no reason? This applies heavily around the most popular places, like the Milan Cathedral or the Sforza Castle. If someone stops us to ask us for directions or just bumps into us, don’t let them distract you. In case someone does get robbed, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Write down the bank phone number to be able to lock a stolen card quickly, make copies of the documents, memorize a phone number of a friend or a family member in case your main phone gets stolen.
Although we can’t say that Milan is 100% safe, with the basic caution rules it’s not overly difficult to avoid all the pickpockets.
Terrorism in Milan, should you be afraid?
In the most popular places in Milan, like Piazza del Duomo by Duomo di Milano, Piazza Castello, Porta Garibaldi or even Milano Stazione Centrale, we can spot an outpost of the local Carabinieri and the Italian military forces, mainly the Alpine infantry. They’re here to make sure that the most populated areas are safe from terrorist attacks. The roads connecting the main attractions of Milan are also prepared, by having barriers to stop the trucks. Milan is the second biggest city in Italy, so it’d make sense that the terrorists would prioritize it alongside other big cities, but Milan specifically, has a low of a chance for a terrorist attack as the rest of the European big cities.
Is Milan safe at night?
Milan, both during the day and the night is just as relatively safe, especially in the areas with heavy tourism. We don’t advise you to go through the side alleys with your phone or wallet out, like on Rosario, Bovisa or Rogoredo. Clubs in Milan as pretty much as safe as they can be, and if you’re coming back from a party at night, you should remain as rational and careful as you would in your home country.
Scams in Milan, what to pay attention to
Milan is truly a fashion capital, but Prada bags, Armani belts or Dolce & Gabbana wallets don’t just lie on the streets. Don’t buy any of the seemingly ‘legit’ well-known brands straight from the street. There are plenty of scammers trying to sell you Bottega, Missoni, Miu Miu, Versace, Zegny etc. The prices are obviously only a tiny portion of the original value – and can bring quite a bit of trouble upon us. Also, be careful around cafes and restaurants, where it’s quite common to not get a price list or get charged for ‘service’, which is against the rules. Beware of fake petitions, and ‘voluntary’ charity donations.
You should also be careful around bracelet vendors, who’re quick to wrap one around your hands – and it’s damn hard to get rid of one.
Is Milan actually dangerous?
Statistically, Milan comes out quite nicely, unfortunately it only applies in the global context. In Italy, province of Milan is responsible for the highest number of crimes: 237,365 yearly, which makes up for almost 9,5% of the country’s total crime count – it’s worth mentioning, that this province is one of the biggest in the country (second, in fact, right after Rome). Don’t be afraid though. The city’s well secured and if you just remain cautious during shopping or touring, you’ll be just fine during your visit in this beautiful city.
