Is Barcelona safe for new travelers?
It’s the home of the Sagrada Familia, the Camp Nou, and some of the coolest city planning in the world.
This city is home to over 1.6 million residents, making it approximately half the population of Spain’s capital Madrid.
However, Barcelona is the epicenter of all things Catalonian and receives three times as many tourists as Madrid each year.
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Is Barcelona Safe?
Barcelona is full of history, both recent and medieval, it has an eclectic array of museums and galleries.
It’s also one of the best places in the whole country for architecture fans, as the cathedral is near to completion after 150 years of construction.
The big question, however, is whether Barcelona is as safe as visitors make it out to be. Is Catalonia’s most recognizable metropolis just another European city with petty crime and scams?
Or is it safer than most cities? We’re here to give you the scoop!
How Safe is Barcelona?
Barcelona is an interesting place when it comes to the question of safety.
On the one hand, it’s just like any other major European city with petty crime problems, organized crime, and the highest chances of crime happening to visitors being pickpocketing.
However, it’s still seen by some visitors as a more dangerous place than the likes of Berlin or even London.
This is due to the fact that the main tourist areas more central to the city such as the Ramblas are targeted by the gangs for pickpocketing.
Get a FREE travel insurance quote from SafetyWing to get the right (and timely) support when it comes to protecting yourself in Barcelona.
Barcelona Crime Rate
- The current U.S. Department of State Travel Advisory at the date of this report’s publication assesses Spain at Level 2, increased caution due to terrorism. Exercise increased caution in Barcelona and Catalonia due to civil unrest.
- The COVID-19 pandemic saw a severe drop in crime due to lack of tourism.
- From March 14th to June 20th, 2020, there was a 56% drop in petty theft and a 38 percent drop in robberies using force.
- Visiting tourists are commonly victims of purse snatching or pickpocketing in high traffic and tourist areas, but violent crimes against tourists are infrequent.
- Criminals tend to target elderly people and women, according to El Periodico, and stealing jewelry, mobile phones, and wallets.
Many people living in Spain have chosen Barcelona over other parts of the country, so it’s worth looking into the reason why so many people visit despite the crime rate and in some cases unfavorable statistics.
Is Barcelona Safe for Tourists?
The locals say there are some safety considerations to keep in mind. Barcelona is a big city, after all, the second-largest in Spain to be exact.
As a popular tourist destination, it draws pickpockets as well as scammers and crooks. However, serious crime is very rare here.
There was one case in which an armed mugging of a Korean diplomat went awry, but this was targeting a known mega-wealthy person. It’s also worth knowing about the Catalonia independence movement.
It inspired the recent protests in Barcelona. It is possible that you’ll encounter protests like this when you visit. Although such protests are meant to be peaceful, they have in the past turned violent.
It would be best to find out when these protests take place and plan your trip to not fit one in.
Where to Stay in Barcelona
There are some incredible spots to stay when visiting Barcelona, take a look at some of these options below.
Plaça de Catalunya
Plaça de Catalunya is a large square in central Barcelona that is generally considered to be both its city center and the place where the old city and the 19th century-built Eixample coincide.
Most tourists have this landmark as this is a popular spot for all types of visitors to the city. If you have a ticket for the hop-on hop-off bus you can easily visit this area then transport yourself to another part of the city.
Gothic Quarter (the old town)
The charming Gothic Quarter, or Barri Gòtic, has narrow medieval streets filled with trendy bars, clubs, and Catalan restaurants.
The Museu d’Història de Barcelona shows remains of the Roman city, which many Spanish cities have lost over time.
There are leather and jewelry shops near the Cathedral, while flower stalls and street-food vendors line busy avenue La Rambla nearby.
Poble Sec
Known as a cheaper place to stay than the more central neighborhoods, Poble Sec is still a lively spot for tourists to enjoy.
El Poble-Sec is a more compact district with leafy squares and elegant 19th-century architecture. We highly recommend a night’s stay at Hotel Brummell for boutique stays just a few steps The Grec theatre.
Carrer de Blai is known for its creative tapas bars and lively drinking dens, while the theatre strip of busy Paral·lel avenue features old-school playhouses staging musicals and cabaret.
Barcelona: Travel Safety Tips
Although Barcelona isn’t the most unsafe location in the world, it wouldn’t hurt to take some precautions before and during your stay to ensure that you stay safe no matter what.
Here are some tips to help get through all parts of the city:
- Be aware of your surroundings on public transport.
- Walking around flashing expensive items and gadgets will attract the attention of unwanted petty criminals.
- You can take on one of the best hikes in Spain from Barcelona so make sure you arrive prepared and have all the right gear with you.
- Keep your bag close to you at cafes/restaurants, never place your bag in a retrievable position open for passers-by to grab.
- Don’t show wads of cash when paying for stuff – control how much cash you carry around and use a hotel safe.
- Wearing a money belt may attract the wrong attention here in Barcelona.
- Know the typical distraction techniques – pickpockets often work in groups and sometimes pretend to be collecting money for a charity.
- Be especially cautious when ambling through the Ramblas. We would say avoid the south side the most, especially at night. Also, the restaurants are overpriced, as they cater to tourists mostly.
- If you are traveling to Barcelona on a budget you may want to check out some of the Top Rated Hostels on offer for a fraction of the price of hotels.
- Some thieving scams include them looking like a tourist by holding a camera and map. They may ask for directions or for help and then steal from you.
- Remember to get your FREE travel insurance quote from SafetyWing to receive fully comprehensive support when it comes to unforeseen travel complications.
- Someone might toss a small amount of liquid on your shoe or pants. This is a scam in which someone will try to help you clean off the “bird poo.” While you’re distracted, their partner will steal from you.
- Refuse strangers attempting to give you ‘gifts’. This scam is popular throughout Europe. Here, scammers will try to offer you a gift—like a rose or a bracelet. If you accept the gift, the scammer will make a scene and demand payment, often threatening to call the police.
Best Time to Visit Barcelona
When planning a trip, and expecting Spain’s sunnies weather and warmest temperatures it is well worth keeping your eye on the seasons.
According to the best resource to this kind of material, Travel US, the weather reaches its most preferable period before Summer:
“The best time to visit Barcelona is from May to June when balmy temperatures in the low to mid-70s mesh with a flurry of festivals that trumpet the advent of summer. The actual summertime is sticky with humidity – locals leave their beloved city in droves to catch a breeze somewhere else.”
As you plan a trip to Barcelona it would also be worth taking into account some of the key cultural events that are held during the year.
Here are some key events in Barcelona:
- Verbena de Sant Joan (June)
- Sónar (June)
- El Grec (July)
- Festa Major de Gràcia (August)
If you want to get some amazing pictures, the chance to hire a professional photographer on the Barcelona Instagram tour is becoming popular with visitors looking to get picture-perfect shots of the city.
Is Barcelona Safe? Final Words
Turns out, Barcelona is quite a safe place if you take the necessary measures.
Planning ahead will make your trip stress-free, so make sure you have the right equipment and know what to do in the event that something might go wrong.
Barcelona has one of the best tourist scenes in the world!
So, if visiting purely for the galleries and old buildings, you should know in advance about the sketchy areas of the city and that the tourist spots aren’t sunshine and rainbows at night as much as they are in the day.
See this 3 days in Barcelona itinerary and remember to take care when walking around with your valuables.
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