Is Florence safe? Areas to avoid as an expat

Florence is a safe city overall. But if you’re going to live in Florence, it can’t hurt to know which areas you should avoid or be cautious in.

Greta

3 minute read

·

Updated on 11 Jul 2023

·

Living

If you're about to move or are discovering rental properties in Florence, you'll first need to figure out where to live. While you might look into public transport connections and the distance from your university or office, don't forget to take the neighborhood's safety into account.

Find out which Florence neighbourhoods are safe in this guide.

Not only is Florence a very safe city but also one of the best cities in Italy for expats. Florence, Italy is considered safe because the city has:

1. Low crime rate: Compared to other bigger cities in Italy, the crime rate is way lower in Florence. It rarely happens that you’ll hear about violent crimes or burglaries.

2. Great police work: Police officers in Florence are professional and dedicated to keeping the city safe.

3. Welcoming community: Florence is a welcoming city with diverse expat groups. Local citizens are always friendly and helpful, so you shouldn’t be worried about being excluded.

4. Good infrastructure: In Florence, you can use public transport to get more or less everywhere.

But as with any urban city, it’s also got hotspots where you have to be more careful. Especially when passing by crowded streets or busy areas, such as train stations, you’ve to keep an eye on your belongings as pickpocketing is common.

There's not much to say about the unsafe areas in Florence. Making a list of the best neighbourhoods to live in Florence would be much easier. However, Florence has a few areas that aren’t dangerous but where you should be more conscious about when living there.

1. Le Piagge

This neighborhood is in the northwestern part of Florence, near the airport.

Compared to other cities in Italy, Le Piagge has a higher poverty and social exclusion level. There have also been some reports of gang-related activities. But even though some areas in Le Piagge aren’t that safe at night, the neighborhood has been making efforts to uplift safety and quality of life in the past years.

More and more people are picking Le Piagge because the cost of living in the area is cheaper than in other parts of the city. This makes Le Piagge a perfect place for people with a tight budget.

Le Piagge also has a vibrant local community with many internationals and refugees living in the area. You can expect to experience different cuisines, music, and festivals.

Besides excellent access to the city and lower cost of living, a big highlight is the green areas. For example, Cascine Park along the Arno River has sports facilities, bike paths, and walking trails.

2. Santa Maria Novella

This neighborhood has 2 sides quite different from each other. One neighborhood is in the south, near the river, and another is around the central train station.

The train station area is less attractive as the streets are trafficked and noisy, making it an excellent place for pickpocketers. No matter day or night, keep an eye on your belongings when you’re around the train station.

Otherwise, Santa Maria Novella is an excellent area for many reasons. It’s centrally located within walking distance from the best attractions such as Duomo and Uffizi Gallery. This neighborhood is also home to many great restaurants, shops, and cafes, so you’ll never be bored.

Even though Florence is a safe city, it’s always better to take precautions to ensure your safety. Here’re some tips to stay safe in Florence:

1. Be aware of your surroundings, especially when visiting touristic locations or poorly lit areas at night.

2. Keep your valuables safe, such as your wallet and phone, in a secure place. Also, try to avoid carrying a lot of cash with you.

3. Use common sense and don’t accept drinks from strangers or refuse to go to unknown locations with someone you don’t know.

4. Use trustful transportation, such as trusted taxi companies or public transport to get around the city.

5. Know the emergency numbers. Police (113), ambulance (118), and the fire department (115).

As you can see, there’s not a lot of places to avoid in Florence. Even the 2 areas mentioned in this guide are relatively safe and you only need to be mindful of your belongings. Now that you know this, get ready to look for your dream accommodation in Florence. And if you’re yet to move to Florence, look into the things to know before moving to Florence for a smooth relocation.

Please reach out to content@housinganywhere.com if you have any suggestions or inquiries about the content on this page.