Barcelona crime rate

[holidayfriend]

yes crime is bad in barcelona, and yes its worse then most places, I went couples years back on a collage art trip, and couple people nearly got items stolen, one person actually walked up to a friend and tried to steal a tie hanging out his top pocket,
i guess we was alright as we walked around normally in group of about 10 guys.

but undernearth it all, barcalona is one best cities in world, the buildings are just a eye opener. one of the places you just have to travel and see to believe, seeing pictures of it is nothing compared to being there.

[jj67]

i see this thread b, but basically im planning a trip to Barcelona this summer with my girlfriends but I'm starting to get cold feet because it seems the crime rate in Barcelona sky rocketed? is this true? I know crime is to be expected in large cities but is it rally that bad at the moment?

[Jenna]

hey holidayfriend, not sure crime in Barcelona have skyrocketed..I think it's a bit of scaremongering going on...what it is a problem is petty crime, which is bad yes, but other than that don't be afraid. Don't flash valuables, don't walk by night and keep a lowkey (meaning don't let the entire city know you're a tourist by being loud)

I've never to Barcelona a few times and I have never been robbed, though thieves do seem to have a sixth sense to locate tourists, their the wallets and valuables so keep on eye out.

[filippoQ]

Just wanted to post our trip report from Barcelona as we just got back. We had an incident where a guy came up to my friend and just grabbed his wrist to apparently look at the time, but there is no doubt he was trying to make a move to take something..so again, just be aware.

Also, make sure that you have things kept in sight, inside pockets, etc.. separate your money between you if you have large amounts.

[pokhuy]

I've been to Barcelona early this year and I had no problems. I just think that like in any big city, you have to be careful.

I am not sure "filippoQ" where in Barcelona you were staying but I don't feel Barcelona is crime ridden though I have heard of people been robbed in Las Ramblas. I mean they had been pickpocketed as they were carrying luggage. I think many tourists fall pray to crime because of their unawareness to the fact that tourists are always a target.

[wladimirloco]

There is certain areas you need to avoid in Barcelona as some parts of the city are dangerous,especialy at night. I'd say that the Encants/Marina area is safest areas of Barcelona, though it's not particularly touristy.

In my opinion though a lot have been said about Barcelona crime rate on this forum which can be applied to many other European cities, so it's not just Barcelona you need to worry about in particular.

By the way, "FilipoQ" FYI...Barcelona centre is filled with pickpocketers, but isn't Paris and Rome also?

[wokkadf]

pickpocketing is ridiculously bad in Madrid and Barcelona in Spain, and violent crime is on the rise. The mainstream media abroad aren't picking this up, but Spain's economy is really bad and it's affecting all the year cities, which is why crime is getting out of control.

Don't mean to scare you out of a trip to Barcelona, but if you think because you're in a European country nothing bad will happen to you then, you should rethink.

I live in Barcelona and I would neither say that it is safe or that I did not have any incidents. watch out when you are in crowds, subway, and deserted areas.

[Zpacd]

it seems some people on this forum are spreading a bit of scaremongering. Barcelona is a lovely city and i've been going there almost every year without anything ever happening to me.

Just like anywhere there are areas to avoid like the Gothic Quarter of the Old Town which is known for its pickpockets. It's a bit of a shame because this area is dates back to the medieval era and has beautiful winding streets.

the Gothic Quarter is packed with tourists wall to wall checking out the little shops and not paying attention which makes them perfect targets for pickpockets. To be honest, I blame tourists for being so careless.

[smanthalocke]

Yes, you have to watch out for pickpockets but don't become paranoid! Make sure you are still enjoying yourself in Barcelona or there isn't any point in going there, is there?

Pickpocketing is a problem in Barcelona but so it is in London, Prague, and Rome as someone else was pointing out. To be honest, petty crime is a problem in many tourist destinations around the world, but it doesn't mean that thieves are waiting for you at every corner.

Just use common sense like not carrying large amounts of cash with you, or leave important documents in a safe deposit box at your hotel.

[steveurkle]

I've returned last night from a week vacation in Barcelona and wanted to share my pick-pocket experience with you. First of all, pickpocket is ridiculous over there, it's blatant and comes in all shapes and sizes too!

When I came out of the metro at the top of the Ramblas station I was standing near a telephone box and someone felt my bum. When I looked back I was expecting to see a guy but only saw a group of young girls so I didn't think much of it.

A few minutes later, I was surrounded by this group of girls who were laughing loudly and pressuring against me for no reason. When they left, I realized that my backpack was open and my camera was gone!