What is the pigeon scam in Piazza San Marco?

Men with bags of corn approach tourists offering to pour corn into your hand to feed the pigeons. After you've fed pigeons and taken photos, they demand €5-20 per person. Refuse the corn from the start. Pigeon-feeding is officially banned in Venice anyway (€50-200 fine if a Polizia Locale officer catches you), introduced to protect the marble of the historic buildings from pigeon-droppings damage. The other persistent Piazza San Marco approaches — rose sellers, bracelet sellers, selfie-stick sellers — are annoying but not predatory. Keep hands in pockets; firm 'no, grazie' without engagement; walk on.

Common Tourist Scams in Piazza San Marco, Venice (and How to Avoid Them)

By The Kakapo Editorial Team · Last updated 2026-05-28 · Part of the Piazza San Marco, Venice safety guide

The pigeon scams and other catches

The "free pigeon corn" scam: men with bags of corn approach tourists in Piazza San Marco and offer to pour corn into your hand to feed the pigeons. After you've fed pigeons and taken photos, they demand €5-20 per person. Refuse the corn from the start; pigeon-feeding is officially banned in Venice anyway (€50-200 fine if a Polizia Locale officer sees you).
The rose-and-bracelet sellers: men with roses or African friendship bracelets aggressively press them into your hand and demand payment. Keep hands in pockets; firm "no, grazie" without engagement.
The selfie-stick and toy sellers: aggressive but not predatory; price-pressure rather than scam.
The "this restaurant is closed, let me show you mine" tout: occasional pattern near San Marco; refuse all redirects.
The "fake waiter" bill add-on: very occasional; at less-reputable restaurants near tourist hubs, extra items appear on the bill. Always check itemised bill before paying; the cover charge (coperto) of €2-5 per person is legitimate, but mystery extras are not.
The honest big picture: Venice has very low rates of violent crime, theft, and pickpocketing compared to Rome, Naples or Barcelona. The Piazza San Marco scams are annoyances, not threats.

FAQ

What is the pigeon scam in Piazza San Marco?: Men with bags of corn approach tourists offering to pour corn into your hand to feed the pigeons. After you've fed pigeons and taken photos, they demand €5-20 per person. Refuse the corn from the start. Pigeon-feeding is officially banned in Venice anyway (€50-200 fine if a Polizia Locale officer catches you), introduced to protect the marble of the historic buildings from pigeon-droppings damage. The other persistent Piazza San Marco approaches — rose sellers, bracelet sellers, selfie-stick sellers — are annoying but not predatory. Keep hands in pockets; firm 'no, grazie' without engagement; walk on.

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Sources

Scores are the Kakapo Safety Index — compiled from government travel advisories and public crime, health and transit data. All data sources.