The 15 Tourist Spots With the Most Pickpocket Warnings — Including One in the U.S.

A new analysis of traveler reviews reveals where theft comes up most often, and why these places are so easy to target.

Travel is supposed to be fun…not constantly checking if your phone is still in your pocket.

But a new report from Stasher makes it pretty clear that some of the world’s most famous places also come with a higher risk of pickpocketing.

The study analyzed thousands of TripAdvisor reviews, flagging how often travelers mentioned things like “pickpocket” or “theft.” And once you look at the list, a pattern becomes obvious: crowds and people focused on anything but their belongings.

Here’s where travelers are warning each other the most.

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The 15 Worst Tourist Spots for Pickpocketing

15. St. Mark’s Square, Venice

Large tour groups move slowly through the square, and people tend to stop in place to take photos or interact with the pigeons. That constant stop-and-go makes it easy to get bumped without thinking twice about it.

14. French Quarter, New Orleans

This is the only U.S. location in the top 15. Between live music, drinks, and crowded streets, it’s easy to get distracted…and that’s usually when phones and wallets go missing.

13. Louvre Museum, Paris

Everyone is focused on seeing the Mona Lisa, not what’s happening around them. The tight crowds pushing toward the most famous pieces create the kind of environment where personal space disappears.

12. Ponte Vecchio, Florence

The bridge is lined with shops, and the narrow layout forces people to be shoulder-to-shoulder. When you’re pressed up against display windows, you’re not exactly watching your bag.

11. Piccadilly Circus, London

Most people are looking up at the massive screens or trying to get a photo. That shared distraction lowers everyone’s awareness at street level.

10. British Museum, London

It’s free to enter, which means it’s almost always packed. When people crowd around major exhibits, attention is fully on what’s in front of them, not what’s happening behind them.

9. Eiffel Tower, Paris

Between taking photos and dealing with street distractions (like petition scams), it’s easy to lose track of what’s going on around you.

8. Oxford Street, London

This is one of the busiest shopping streets in Europe. People are juggling bags, weaving through crowds, and generally not paying close attention.

7. Djemaa el-Fna, Marrakech

The square is packed with performers, vendors, and nonstop activity. It’s a lot to take in, and that sensory overload makes it easy to overlook something like an unzipped bag.

6. Charles Bridge, Prague

Street performers, statues, and views all compete for your attention. Add in a dense crowd that keeps stopping and starting, and it’s easy to lose track of your belongings.

5. Copacabana Beach, Rio de Janeiro

People relax, swim, and leave their things on the sand. That laid-back atmosphere is part of the appeal, but it also creates easy opportunities for theft.

4. Trevi Fountain, Rome

The tradition of tossing a coin means turning your back to the crowd. It’s a small, quick moment, but it’s exactly when you’re not paying attention.

3. Chatuchak Weekend Market, Bangkok

This place is massive and has so much to take in. But with tight alleys, huge crowds, and thousands of stalls, it’s easy to get disoriented…and distracted. You can see it in the video above. (I still think it’s one of the best things to do in Bangkok, though.)

2. Sacré-Cœur / Montmartre, Paris

The stairs, the views, and the crowds all pull your focus. Add in narrow walkways and street activity, and it’s a setting where awareness drops quickly.

1. La Rambla, Barcelona

This busy pedestrian street takes the top spot. It’s full of energy with street performers, markets, and constant foot traffic, but that same energy makes it incredibly easy to lose track of your belongings for just a second.

If you want a better idea of what to actually watch for, I broke down some of the most common pickpocket tactics in another post. And if you’re curious how entire cities stack up beyond individual landmarks, I also looked at where pickpocketing and scams are most common globally.

Read more: The World’s Worst Cities for Pickpockets and Scams, Ranked

Read more: Pickpockets Don’t Look Like You Think — Here Are the Signs Locals Watch For