6 Tourist Scams in Florence

You're walking near the Duomo when a man approaches and says your shoes are untied. As you glance down, he slips a woven bracelet onto your wrist and calls it a 'gift.' He then aggressively demands payment — usually €10-20 — and won't let you easily walk away. Refusing gets awkward fast, especially if his friends appear nearby.

A street artist lays cheap digital prints or paintings on the walkway — deliberately in your path. If you accidentally step on one, they come rushing over screaming about you destroying their 'expensive artwork' and demand you pay for it. The prints cost almost nothing but they'll demand €50 or more.

You're on a crowded bus or squeezing through the Mercato Centrale when a group presses against you from multiple sides. One creates a distraction — drops something, waves a clipboard, shouts — while another lifts your wallet or phone. By the time you realize what happened, the group has scattered in different directions.

Someone approaches asking you to sign a petition for a 'good cause' — deaf students, refugees, environmental protection. While you're distracted reading the form and deciding whether to sign, an accomplice picks your pocket from behind. Some also demand a cash 'donation' after you sign and become aggressive if you refuse.

You sit down at a charming-looking restaurant near a major sight and the waiter brings out bread, olives, and aperitivo without you ordering them. When the bill arrives, you're charged €5-10 per item as 'cover charges.' The menu prices looked reasonable but extras — service, bread, tourist surcharges — can double your bill.

You're having a romantic dinner on a terrace when a vendor hands your companion a rose saying it's a free gift. The moment it's accepted, they demand €10-15 and hover uncomfortably until paid. The same happens at scenic viewpoints — vendors shove trinkets into your hands then claim you now owe them money.