Street Scams in Turin, Italy
Pickpockets, distraction thieves, fake petitions, and street hustles in tourist areas. Below are the street scams scams reported in Turin — how they work and how to avoid them.
For broader context, compare this scam type with nearby destinations like Hamburg, Munich, and Glasgow.
Last updated: April 4, 2026
5
Street Scams Scams
9
Total in Turin
How it works
Porta Palazzo is Turin's vast open-air market and the largest outdoor market in Europe — also the city's highest-risk zone for bag snatching. Motorcycle-mounted thieves and on-foot snatchers target visitors in the crowded market lanes. Phone theft from people using navigation while walking near the market is also documented.
How it works
Turin's Porta Nuova railway station and its surrounding streets are the primary pickpocketing hotspot in the city. Thieves target travelers distracted by luggage, ticketing machines, and navigation at the station entrance, on platforms, and in the underpass connecting to the metro. The streets immediately south of the station also see elevated opportunistic theft.
How it works
Porta Palazzo — one of Europe's largest open-air markets — is Turin's highest-risk zone for distraction theft. The dense crowds, narrow market aisles, and noisy environment provide ideal cover for pickpockets. Thieves work in teams, with one person creating a distraction (bumping into you, asking for directions, pointing at something) while another accesses bags or pockets.
How it works
Turin's tram lines 4 and 15 — which connect Porta Nuova station to the city centre and the Porta Palazzo area respectively — see pickpocketing during peak hours. Thieves target distracted passengers, particularly those using phones for navigation or listening to music. Crowded stops such as Porta Nuova, Piazza Castello, and Porta Palazzo are the primary risk points.
How it works
Informal street vendors in Turin — particularly around Porta Palazzo and near the main train stations — sell counterfeit branded goods including sunglasses, clothing, bags, and accessories. Purchasing counterfeit goods is illegal in Italy and can result in on-the-spot fines of up to €10,000 under Italian law, which is actively enforced by the Guardia di Finanza.
See all scams in Turin
9 total warnings across all categories