Is bus 64 still 'the pickpocket bus'?

Yes — Rome's most-pickpocketed bus, Termini to the Vatican via Piazza Venezia. The 40 (express) and 492 are alternatives but pickpocket teams work all three. Hand on bag the whole ride; phone in a zip pocket. The Metro A from Termini-Spagna-Ottaviano is faster anyway, though equally pickpocketed.

What scams should I watch for in Rome 2026?

The bracelet/rosary 'blessing' scam (refuse firmly and walk on); 'fake tour guides' outside the Colosseum and Vatican Museums (book online); restaurant cover-charge scams (confirm coperto on the printed menu); unmetered 'tassista' taxis (use white official taxis or the FreeNow/ItTaxi apps); the gold-ring drop near Pont Sant'Angelo.

Common Tourist Scams in Rome (post-Jubilee) (and How to Avoid Them)

By The Kakapo Editorial Team · Last updated 2026-05-21 · Part of the Rome (post-Jubilee) safety guide

The pickpocket geography — where the teams still work

Termini Station + concourse — Italy's busiest station, 480,000 passengers/day. Theft density highest at the McDonald's, Sephora and the platform 24-26 area (Leonardo Express to Fiumicino).
Bus 64 (Termini → Vatican via Piazza Venezia) — Rome's most-pickpocketed bus, a long-running joke among Romans. The 40 (express version) and 492 are alternatives but both also worked.
Metro Line A (Battistini-Anagnina) — the tourist line, Termini-Repubblica-Barberini-Spagna-Flaminio. Heavy pickpocket density at the Termini and Spagna platforms; teams work the carriages between Spagna and Ottaviano.
Spanish Steps (Piazza di Spagna) + Via Condotti — luxury-shopping pickpocket teams operate the Trinità dei Monti steps and the high-end shopping street below.
St Peter's Square + Via della Conciliazione — pilgrim-density pickpocket zone. Teams operate the security-screening queues entering St Peter's.
Trevi Fountain — densest crowds in Rome, photo-staring tourists. Phone-snatch and bag-grab teams.
Colosseum + Roman Forum — pickpocket teams on the queue lines; "free tour guides" who hustle for tips. Buy timed-entry online (€18 + €2 reservation) to bypass the queue.
Piazza Navona, Pantheon — evening pickpocketing; restaurant-terrace pickpocketing of bags on chair-backs.
The scam-bracelet revival — "free" bracelet/rosary handed to you as a blessing; payment demanded after. Same scam as Paris's friendship bracelet. Now back to pre-Jubilee intensity.

FAQ

Is bus 64 still 'the pickpocket bus'?: Yes — Rome's most-pickpocketed bus, Termini to the Vatican via Piazza Venezia. The 40 (express) and 492 are alternatives but pickpocket teams work all three. Hand on bag the whole ride; phone in a zip pocket. The Metro A from Termini-Spagna-Ottaviano is faster anyway, though equally pickpocketed.
What scams should I watch for in Rome 2026?: The bracelet/rosary 'blessing' scam (refuse firmly and walk on); 'fake tour guides' outside the Colosseum and Vatican Museums (book online); restaurant cover-charge scams (confirm coperto on the printed menu); unmetered 'tassista' taxis (use white official taxis or the FreeNow/ItTaxi apps); the gold-ring drop near Pont Sant'Angelo.

Read the full Rome (post-Jubilee) safety guide — score breakdown, every neighbourhood, all 4 sources →

Live Rome (post-Jubilee) safety score (updates daily) →

Sources

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