Vatican City Travel Risk — Moderate Risk (25/100)
Is Vatican City safe right now? Checked 16 October 2026
Vatican City scores 25/100 on our travel risk index (Moderate). The US State Department rates Vatican City Level 2 (Exercise Increased Caution, updated 10 Sep 2026). No GDACS or USGS hazard events within 100 km in the last 14 days. No change in government advice in the last 7 days.
Government advisory (score 5)
Crime (score 20)
September 27, 2026
Vatican City, Vatican City has a current Travel Risk Calculator composite score of 25 out of 100 (moderate risk tier); the highest-rated risk category is crime at 20/100; the lowest-rated category is government advisory at 5/100; last updated September 27, 2026. For official nationwide security advisories, entry requirements, and health notices, see the Vatican City travel risk page. Real-time conditions below include live weather, official advisory levels, GDACS disaster alerts, and current news.
Get a personalized assessment for your tripHow safe is Vatican City to visit in 2026?
Vatican City currently sits at 25/100 on our composite travel-risk index, which puts it in the moderate-risk tier. Most travelers will be fine with normal precautions, but a few categories below score high enough that planning matters. The highest-rated risk category for Vatican City is crime (20/100), and the lowest is government advisory (5/100). This page was last updated on September 27, 2026; the baseline category scores reflect analytical indicators, layered with live conditions throughout the day. Live conditions — weather and air quality every 30 minutes, US State Department advisory every 6 hours, GDACS disaster alerts every 30 minutes, CDC health notices every 12 hours, and news every hour — are cached at the source and refreshed automatically when stale.
Driven by: security (35/100) and natural hazards (19/100).
A score of 25 is higher than the scores of 15% of the 241 countries we cover.
AI safety snapshot · refreshed Oct 14, 2026
Vatican City currently maintains a moderate overall safety risk level with a baseline composite score of 25 out of 100. Travelers should also note a Level 1 global dengue health notice from the CDC.
AI-summarized strictly from the live public-source data below (US State Dept advisory, GDACS, CDC, Google News). Auto-refreshed at most once per day on the first visit. Not official advice.
Live conditions last refreshed: Oct 16, 2026 09:02 UTC
What should I do now?
- Run a real assessment. Open the calculator for live data (weather, advisory, news) layered onto this baseline.
- Crime (score 20/100): Use registered taxis or ride-share apps. Keep electronics out of sight in public transit. Read recent reviews for your specific neighborhood.
- Transport safety (score 15/100): Use the safest available transit. For high-risk routes, prefer reputable carriers and avoid late-night driving.
- Check your country's advisory. The single most authoritative live signal. Linked at the bottom of every real assessment.
Day vs Night Safety in Vatican City
Guidance based on our scores and official advice — not a measured score.
Daytime transit and exploration in central areas are generally safe and routine. Standard alertness in crowded transit hubs and tourist plazas is adequate.
After dark, keep to well-illuminated thoroughfares and busy dining/entertainment quarters. Use verified taxis or rideshare apps when returning late.
Safety by Traveler Type in Vatican City
Guidance based on our scores and official advice — not a measured score.
No group-specific warning is triggered in Vatican City for solo travelers (Crime 20/100 · Transport 15/100), women traveling solo (Crime 20/100), families with children (Health 10/100 · Natural disaster 5/100), older travelers (Health 10/100 · Transport 15/100), business travelers (Digital 20/100 · Money 15/100 · Transport 15/100) and lgbtq+ travelers (Advisory 5/100 · Political 5/100): these scores sit in the low-to-moderate range, so standard precautions apply. Local laws affecting LGBTQ+ travelers and gender-specific incident rates are not captured in our scores; check your government's travel guidance.
Score layers
Safety categories
Source: Grounded open data research & citations
Quick facts
| Hospital access | medium |
|---|---|
| Airport risk | low |
| Road safety | medium |
| Public transport | low |
| Tourist scam risk | medium |
| Night safety | low |
| Last updated | September 27, 2026 |
Live conditions in Vatican City
Real-time data refreshed from public sources — weather and air quality from Open-Meteo, official advisory from the US State Department, disaster alerts from GDACS, health notices from the CDC, news from Google News. For an AI-synthesized briefing tailored to your specific trip, run a personalized assessment.
Disaster alerts
Active Disaster Alerts
-
Green flood alert in Italy GREEN · ~362 km away · 2026-10-10
On 07/10/2026, a flood started in Italy, lasting until 12/10/2026 (last update). The flood caused 0 deaths and 204 displaced .
“~N km away” = event centroid within ~500 km of this location; “country-wide” = a national/regional alert that may not be near this specific city. Source: GDACS · fetched 2026-10-16 09:02:20 UTC
Natural hazard calendar & history
5-Year Hazard Calendar (100 km Radius)
| Hazard | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Floods | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Droughts | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Most flood events within 100 km of Vatican City happened in April (1 of 1 in five years).
Source: GDACS, USGS; five years to October 2026.
For consular advice on women's safety, LGBT+ travel, and local laws, see the Vatican City travel advice & laws.
Check the official entry requirements for your nationality before you travel. See the Vatican City entry requirements.
Health notices
Health Notices for this Destination
-
Level 1 - Global Dengue WATCH · 2026-10-02
Dengue is a year-round risk in many parts of the world, with outbreaks commonly occurring every 2–5 years. Travelers to risk areas should prevent mosquito bites. Country List : Colombia, Vietnam, Maldives, Bolivia, Cambodia, Kenya, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Costa Rica, Mar
-
Level 2 - Global Polio ALERT · 2026-09-23
Some international destinations have circulating poliovirus. Before any international travel, make sure you are up to date on your polio vaccines. Country List : Afghanistan, Algeria, Benin, Cameroon, Chad, Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast), Democratic Republic of the Congo, Niger, Nig
-
Level 1 - Global Measles WATCH · 2025-05-28
Measles cases are rising in many countries around the world. All international travelers should be fully vaccinated against measles with the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, according to CDC's measles vaccination recommendations for international travel. Country List : Afghan
Source: CDC Travelers’ Health · fetched 2026-10-16 07:26:45 UTC
1991–2020 climate normals
Seasonal risk & best time to visit Vatican City
The most weather-stable two-month window for Vatican City is May–June, when typical daily temperatures run from about 12°C to 26°C and monthly rain averages 55 mm.
No threshold-level heat, cold, wind, or cyclone flag appears in the stored normals; October is the wettest typical month at about 128 mm.
Climate normals are planning context, not a short-range forecast. Source: Open-Meteo Climate API. Refreshed Sep 7, 2026.
Calculate risk for these travel dates Compare seasonal windows →
Practical safety map
Safety infrastructure nearby in Vatican City
Vatican City has 10 hospitals, 10 police stations, 5 embassies, 10 pharmacies and 5 fire stations within 7 km of the city center in the latest OpenStreetMap extract.
The interactive map loads when it approaches the viewport.
Facility list (works without JavaScript)
- Hospital: Bambino Gesù Hospital
- Hospital: Casa di Cura Santa Famiglia
- Hospital: Clinica Villa Benedetta
- Hospital: Istituto Dermopatico dell'Immacolata
- Hospital: Ospedale Santo Spirito in Sassia
- Hospital: Presidio ospedaliero Oftalmico
- Hospital: Pronto Soccorso Oftalmico
- Hospital: Pronto Soccorso Ospedale "Santo Spirito in Sassia"
- Hospital: Salvator Mundi international Hospital
- Hospital: San Carlo di Nancy
- Police: Unnamed police
- Police: Unnamed police
- Police: Barracks of the Vatican Gendarme Corps
- Police: Carabinieri
- Police: I Gruppo Centro Polizia Locale di Roma Capitale
- Police: Ispettorato Vaticano Polizia di Stato
- Police: Policia ferrovieria
- Police: Posto di Polizia
- Police: Posto di Polizia del Colonnato di San Pietro
- Police: Vatican Gendarmerie Office
- Embassy: Embassy of Argentina to the Holy See
- Embassy: Embassy of Burkina Faso to the Holy See
- Embassy: Embassy of Ecuador to the Holy See
- Embassy: Embassy of Palestine to the Holy See
- Embassy: Embassy of Peru to the Holy See
- Pharmacy: Farmacia
- Pharmacy: Farmacia Boots Cipro
- Pharmacy: Farmacia De Longis
- Pharmacy: Farmacia Germanico
- Pharmacy: Farmacia Giulio Cesare
- Pharmacy: Farmacia Ldo. Leone Alessandro
- Pharmacy: Farmacia Vaticana
- Pharmacy: LaLiFarm
- Pharmacy: Mannucci
- Pharmacy: Vatican Pharmacy
- Fire station: Caserma dei Vigili del Fuoco Alberto De Jacobis
- Fire station: Distaccamento Cittadino Fluviale
- Fire station: Nucleo sommozzatori di Roma
- Fire station: Vigili del Fuoco - 9° Distaccamento Massimo Frosi
- Fire station: Vigili del Fuoco - Comando provinciale di Roma
Map and facility data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Locations can be incomplete or outdated; confirm before relying on them. See this destination’s numbers or browse emergency numbers by country.
Emergency numbers (Vatican City)
| Police | — |
|---|---|
| Ambulance | — |
| Fire | — |
| General | 112 |
See nearby hospitals, police, pharmacies, embassies, and fire stations on the safety map.
Medical access
| Hospital access | medium |
|---|---|
| Pharmacy access | medium |
| Emergency response | medium |
| English-speaking care | unknown |
| Evacuation complexity | medium |
The provided sources do not mention specific hospitals, emergency services, or pharmacy facilities within Vatican City. Consequently, details on hospital access, emergency response, English‑language medical care, pharmacy availability, and evacuation complexity are not available in the search results.
Common scam patterns
- label. Costumed “gladiator” impersonators approach visitors near the Vatican and claim to offer exclusive tours or souvenirs for a fee. This type of scam is listed among the most common in Rome, which surrounds Vatican City, and targets tourists unfamiliar with the area. Tip: Politely decline any unsolicited offers and only use official ticket offices or guided tours.
- label. Unlicensed taxis or ride‑share drivers pick up tourists near the Vatican and overcharge or take longer routes. Taxi scams are highlighted in the Rome safety articles and affect travelers moving between Vatican City and Rome. Tip: Use only official taxi stands or pre‑booked transport services with clearly displayed rates.
- label. Street vendors sell cheap bracelets or jewelry claiming they are authentic religious items, then demand higher prices once the purchase is made. The Rome scams overview includes this tactic, which can also occur in the crowded Vatican visitor zones. Tip: Avoid buying accessories from street sellers and purchase souvenirs from reputable museum shops.
Area notes
- St. Peter's Basilica. The main religious landmark draws the highest concentration of visitors and is well‑patrolled by security.
- Vatican Museums. Home to the Sistine Chapel, this museum complex is a primary tourist hub with organized ticketing and staff presence.
- St. Peter's Square. The open plaza in front of the basilica is heavily monitored and considered safe for daytime visitors.
Nearest embassies & consulates
Find your home country's diplomatic mission in Vatican City for consular support, lost passports, or citizen emergencies:
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Calculate my trip riskScore history
| When | Score change | Tier | Reason / source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 27, 2026 | 11 → 25 | low → moderate | Method change (scoring v2) scoring v2 |
| Jul 2, 2026 | 0 → 0 | unknown | Data update Grounded open data research & citations |
Every editorial change to Vatican City's composite score is logged here, with the source and reason for the change. Live data overlays (weather, advisories, disaster alerts, news) refresh continuously on their own cadences and are not recorded as score changes — see the Live conditions section above for current overlay state.
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Transparency & Sources
We document the baseline sources, coverage scope, and data inputs for this destination below.
Sources used
- SimpleMaps World Cities (CC BY 4.0): Coordinates, region, population for Vatican City
- Travel Risk Calculator score (method v2): Security, crime and scams, health, natural hazards and current alerts for Vatican City, from US, UK and Canadian advisories, INFORM, World Bank, UCDP, CDC, GDACS, USGS and OpenStreetMap
- Editorial baseline (Travel Risk Calculator): City-level threat scoring across 9 categories (crime, health, advisory, political, disaster, transport, environmental, digital security, money safety)
Live data overlays on this page refresh asynchronously on the source cadences shown above. Run an assessment to create a trip-specific briefing using your dates and traveler profile.
Baseline scope
- Category scores represent an analytical baseline, updated from official feeds and public records.
Coverage notes
- Transport-hub safety notes (airport, train stations).
Methodology · Full data-source registry · Report a correction
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Disclaimer
Travel Risk Calculator provides estimated travel-threat information for preparation purposes only. It does not replace official government advisories, medical advice, emergency alerts, immigration rules, insurance advice, police guidance, embassy information, or professional security consultation.