Personal Safety

Incidents of pickpocketing especially in crowded tourist areas and on public transport are common in Venice. St Mark's Square where crowds frequently gather is notorious, and you should keep a tight hold on your bag and belongings when in the area. Use bag clips on the underside of outdoor dining tables at restaurants and cafés. These ensure that your belongings can't be easily removed without your knowledge. If there are no bag clips provided then keep your bags either on the table in front of you or between your legs, when any attempt to disturb them won't escape your notice. Don't ever hang bags on the back of your seat where they could be tampered with out of your view.

In crowds watching street performers or while queuing for attractions at busy times are both places where your belongings are at risk. Thieves often take advantage of such distractions to steal items, and may work in pairs, with one person distracting you while another steals from your pocket or bag. Do not believe anyone who says that your coat has been soiled by guano from one of the numerous seagulls. Often your gallant interlocutor will help you off with your coat - but only so that they can make off with it, and all the money and goods in its pockets. Always try to be on your guard against such things.

A police station is located at: Castello 4693/A Tel: +39 041-520-477

Take care walking BY canals, there are rarely ANY railings AND

You should take especial care in the city during the annual flooding that occurs in October and November of each year. Water doesn't have to be at that high a height for it to make walking extremely difficult, and flowing water over a foot or so in height can knock people over. Added to that, if you're not careful, you could easily step off the edge of a walkway and into a canal if wading through flood water. Always look for the posts and markers that line the edge of every canal.