Spain : Safety by City
- Alicante
- Andorra la Vella
- Barcelona
- Bilbao
- Cadiz
- Canary Islands
- Granada
- Ibiza
- Las Palmas
- Madrid
- Malaga
- Murcia
- Palma de Mallorca
- Pamplona
- Salamanca
- San Sebastian
- Seville
- Valencia
- Zaragoza
Barcelona is Spain’s second-largest city, and with that the capital of Catalonia, so it’s no wonder that it’s a city famous for a huge influx of tourists.
Add to that a population of over one and a half million people and you’ve got yourself a vibrant city brimming with life.
What’s incredible about Barcelona is that this city is at the same time hip and very modern as well as incredibly old with such a rich history.
Wherever you go, you can see the new elements working to both preserve and celebrate the ancient.
If you go to Barcelona, you can count on having a marvelous time as it is filled with everything every other European city has to offer, like outdoor colorful markets, vibrant streets, restaurants, and shops, as well as cultural landmarks like museums and churches.
It is also very easy to check everything you want to see off your list because Barcelona has an extensive and reliable Metro system.
But if you prefer walking, that’s understandable too, since its streets are as marvelous as any other museum you might stumble upon in Barcelona.
Warnings & Dangers in Barcelona
OVERALL RISK: LOW
Barcelona is very safe to visit. Apart from the pickpockets, which are common in this city, tourists should encounter no other problems. Use your common sense and your trip should go smoothly.
TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: MEDIUM
Transportation in Barcelona is very safe and reliable, even though taxi drivers might try to overcharge their services or demand a tip. Also, be careful on public transport, as it's the place where pickpockets operate.
PICKPOCKETS RISK: HIGH
Barcelona is filled with tourists, and naturally, it attracts a bunch of pickpockets so watch out in crowded places such as bus and train stations. Be careful when carrying your valuables and never leave them out of your sight.
NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: LOW
There are no threats of natural disasters, apart from an occasional avalanche which can only be a threat when skiing in the Pyrenees.
MUGGING RISK: MEDIUM
Do not fear mugging or kidnapping in Barcelona, since it isn't too common here. Still, do not accept any unsolicited help or drinks from anyone you don't know (even though drink spiking is also not an issue in this country).
TERRORISM RISK: HIGH
There have been recent terrorist attacks in Barcelona, so it is highly recommended that you pay close attention to your surroundings and avoid crowded areas altogether. Always be informed about the recent events in this city.
SCAMS RISK: HIGH
There are a couple of ways to get scammed here. Be wary of "trileros" and their "shell game" where you might get ripped off or stolen from. Always check the bill twice in restaurants and bars since the staff may try to overcharge you or charge for something you did not order.
WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW
Women traveling alone should have no problems in Barcelona. You should use your common sense, and be careful at night, avoid desert and poorly lit streets, and finding yourself alone with strange people in abandoned areas. Apart from that, you should have no safety problems in Barcelona.
So... How Safe Is Barcelona Really?
Barcelona is a safe city to visit, but in the light of recent events, or more precisely, the terrorist attacks that have recently occurred, it is highly recommended that, if you do decide to go to Barcelona, take extreme precaution measures and remain aware of your surroundings at all times.
Apart from this, Barcelona is known for petty crime, which is no wonder, since it has a huge influx of tourists every year.
This is why it is recommended that you take precautions measures especially around popular tourist landmarks and larger cities.
There have also been cases of thieves on motorbikes driving by women and grabbing their purses, so keep it tightly by your side at all times.
Be extremely careful in bus or train stations and other similar crowded places, since pickpocketing is so common there that a voice message reminding you of pickpockets is always played on repeat.
Also, be well prepared for people trying to scam you.
This can happen with taxi drivers trying to trick you into paying a fixed price from an airport to a city, even though they have a visible fare table.
They may also demand a tip.
Before paying in bars and restaurants, always check the bill twice since the staff sometimes try to squeeze in a few extra euro by charging for something they did not eat or drink, or just by overcharging.
How Does Barcelona Compare?
| City | Safety Index |
|---|---|
| Barcelona | 67 |
| Andorra la Vella | 89 |
| Madrid | 68 |
| Valencia | 69 |
| Seville | 71 |
| Bilbao | 52 |
| Granada | 58 |
| Niagara Falls (Canada) | 87 |
| Calgary (Canada) | 82 |
| Buenos Aires (Argentina) | 60 |
| Vancouver (Canada) | 82 |
| Cordoba (Argentina) | 61 |
| Toronto (Canada) | 81 |
Useful Information
Visas
Most countries do not need a visa to enter Barcelona for any stays shorter than 90 days. Any longer than that, you will have to obtain a visa. Also, make sure your passport is valid for at least 6 months after your planned date of return. However, if you are not sure about your visa status, visit www.doyouneedvisa.com which will let you know whether or not you need a visa based on your nationality and the country you want to visit.
Currency
Euro is the official currency in Barcelona. ATMs are widely available throughout the country, and credit cards accepted in most establishments such as hotels and restaurants. Allow yourself a budget of around 150e per day, including accommodation.
Weather
When in Barcelona, tourists can expect a Mediterranean climate, with hot, sunny and dry summers and mild, rainy winters. The coldest month is January with an average temperature of 9 °C and the hottest is of August with an average temperature of 24.5 °C.
Airports
Barcelona–El Prat Airport, commonly referred to as El Prat Airport, is an international airport located 12 km southwest of the center of Barcelona. It is situated in the municipalities of El Prat de Llobregat, Viladecans, and Sant Boi.
Travel Insurance
Just like anywhere else, we recommend getting travel insurance when traveling to Barcelona, since it covers not only medical problems but also theft and loss of valuables.
Barcelona Weather Averages (Temperatures)
Average High/Low Temperature
| Temperature / Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °C | 13 | 15 | 17 | 19 | 23 | 27 | 30 | 30 | 27 | 22 | 17 | 14 |
| Low °C | 7 | 8 | 9 | 11 | 14 | 18 | 21 | 21 | 19 | 15 | 11 | 8 |
| High °F | 55 | 59 | 63 | 66 | 73 | 81 | 86 | 86 | 81 | 72 | 63 | 57 |
| Low °F | 45 | 46 | 48 | 52 | 57 | 64 | 70 | 70 | 66 | 59 | 52 | 46 |
Spain - Safety by City
| City | Safety Index |
|---|---|
| Alicante | 77 |
| Andorra la Vella | 89 |
| Barcelona | 67 |
| Bilbao | 52 |
| Cadiz | 74 |
| Canary Islands | 81 |
| Granada | 58 |
| Ibiza | 82 |
| Las Palmas | 74 |
| Madrid | 68 |
| Malaga | 76 |
| Murcia | 83 |
| Palma de Mallorca | 57 |
| Pamplona | 81 |
| Salamanca | 59 |
| San Sebastian | 56 |
| Seville | 71 |
| Valencia | 69 |
| Zaragoza | 79 |
Not so safe
Do not visit here. Not right now. Maybe not anytime in the near future. My wife and I went recently and she was robbed twice. We were also scammed and someone stole our passports with all of our money. It was an absolute nightmare. We were stuck there an additional week with nothing but the clothes on our backs and what little wasn’t taken from us in our hotel.
bad
robbed 100 times. nobody to understand what i was saying. food is terrible like eating mashed maggots
They don’t just stand around robbing people! LOL You have to be completely unaware and in a very crowded place to be a victim of pickpocketing. On top of that, saying you got robbed 100 times is extremely hard to believe. I have been to Barcelona a good 10 times in the last 20 years and have not been robbed a single time, nor anyone I know who has gone.
I live near Barcelona and often go into the city. I’ve never been robbed or heard of any of my friends being robbed. It is generally a safe city for anyone who is sensible.
Many violent assaults
I was carrying a knife and walking fast straight to the Prado museum, ready to fight and looking behind my back, and was still jumped by 2 guys in broad daylight with a switchblade. Luckily didnt get stabbed but was choked out. Seemed like these guys do this all the time. I woke up on the sidewalk with bruising all over my neck.
While my friend and I were sitting on a bench, a guy came up to me to ask for a cigarette, he was the distractor because while he was doing it, another guy stole her backpack with her camera, wallet, money, passport, etc. What hurt her the most was losing her photos and her travel diary. We thought that maybe they had thrown the diary or the bag in a public trash garbage can and we started looking for it. We didn’t find it but we did find at least 6 wallets with IDs without money and other items like passports. We turned it all in to the police when we went to file a report (so that my friend’s insurance would cover the theft). I was shocked at how much stolen stuff we found. Beware of pickpockets! Especially in tourist places. Barcelona did not feel safe.
Had the best time weather was beautiful food was amazing especially the seafood and wine 🍷
Had the best time best food hotel beaches and wine 🍷
On 6 October my wife and myself arrived in Barcelona from the overnight ferry from Rome. Our car is a Mercedes GLC 250 and has Portuguese license plates.
We drove for a little while and were in the centre when simultaneously the dashboard indicator showed a tyre was rapidly deflating and a young man on a scooter knocked on our car window to tell us about the tyre. We pulled over to the kerb and parked. The tyre was flat and the young man said he knew a mechanic. While he was distracting us, his criminal accomplice got into our car and stole two bags. The valuable bags contained our passports, licenses, cash, cards, jewellery, high value watch, tickets and other valuable items. One bag was Louis Vuitton and the other Carolina Herrera. The total value of all is over Euros 10,000.
The theft was fast, slick and conducted to a plan. The criminals probably followed us from the port and chose the best place for them to enact the crime. The tyre was slashed by a sharp knife.
This crime has to be stopped. We understand from local people that this type of crime and the gang are regular targeting visitors and they were not surprised at all at our experience. But everyone seems to take the attitude that nothing can be done and they just look the other way. This is bad for visitors and bad for Barcelona.
We have valuable information that could help the Police catch this gang but we need their cooperation and yours. They used our cards to purchase goods from stores and the watch and bags are highly identifiable. I remember the young man on the scooter and can give a picture of him. I would even be willing to re-enact the scene with the cooperation of the Police to entrap the criminals.
My wife and myself are still suffering from the shock of the crime and hope that with your assistance in publishing our experience we can catch these criminals and prevent other visitors to Barcelona experiencing the same ordeal.
Mr Chris Ogilvie-Taylor
I’m a citizen from Barcelona and I can tell you there is nothing that can be done simply because government won’t punish the bad people the way they have to. Spain is like a country where you can go, steal some stuff and then go back to your country to spend the money you got from it.
We rely on human rights too much, and doing that means we invite them to do those crimes. And I can assure you that won’t change, at least not in the near future. Barcelona isn’t a place to spend 10000€ in two bags nor showing expensive jewelry to other people. If you ever come here again, change your philosophy a little and just travel like you were an average salaryman, without anything flashy on you and be careful, do not trust anyone without an official dress on the street and you’re good to go.
BARCELONA PICKPOCKETS
Be careful in the Metro, pickpockets stole my iphone right out of my left side pocket.
Cool
I found an I phone on the metro
Robbed at gunpoint in Las Ramblas 2 years ago it is not safe and wasn’t the first time.
Nice City
You must have a gun magnet First you got robbed at gunpoint in San Francisco Bilbao and now in las Ramblas both times 2 years ago very strange….
it was beautiful. i videoed it for all my family in India. And for my sister Ilru.
I am from Barcelona and got pickpocketed myself twice, so be careful.
Besides that, everything is perfect: weather, shopping, cultural life and gastronomy.
Great city
my wife and I went to Barcelona we had a great time no incidents food good people very friendly and helpful, going again in May
Question
Not a review, but a request for opinions for senior English-speaking, wine drinking couple in Barcelona.
requesting hotels where english speaking, availablilty to get covid test for cruise
Things have changed
When was this written? Barcelona has changed a lot in the last 4 years. Pickpockets were always a thing, but violent crime has skyrocketed and if you stay there long enough you will see it or be a victim of it.
I loved Barcelona apart from one incident where I got attacked in a park
I visited in June 2022 with my girlfriend and it was our first time in Spain. I generally felt very safe in Barcelona until I passed by Jardins de Sant Pau del Camp at around 11am or so – broad daylight!
A man in a football shirt approached me from a nearby bench where two others were sat, he came to me with a smile and asked me where I was from. I told him the UK and he was smiling and laughing and he turned and punched me in the face and grabbed my collar, he hit me again and I pushed him away and saw his two friends stand up. Fortunately I was near the gate at the edge of the park and my gf started to move towards it whilst I stood between them. He shouted at me but I was too confused and my Spanish is not too great anyway so I showed two open palms and backed off hoping it was just a case of I’d walked through the wrong park and wanted to diffuse the situation.
I probably could’ve fucked him up, not all 3… but at least the first guy. However, he put his hand into his pocket so I made a business decision in case it was a weapon and ran, as did my gf. They chased us briefly but fortunately, they didn’t chase us once we had got outside of the park and we came across a police car in the next street anyway. My face was bleeding by the police didn’t seem very concerned at all and didn’t listen to what I’d told them, suggesting I move along.
Overall, I really enjoyed my trip and would recommend that you visit, just take care to check out the places that you decide to wonder through….. And if you go through that park and some skinny dude in a footy shirt gives you any grief, pop him one for me.
Steer clear?
I never went to, Barcelona, Spain but after reading all of these crime stories I feel like I was robbed and beaten multiple times in broad daylight. The Netflix series, “Who is Erin Carter?” made the place look like heaven. Guess not. I’ll skip, “Tapas with a side of terrorism”. Jeez. If the police don’t care – there goes your tourism revenue. Idiotos.