Crime in Barcelona, Spain
Crime rates in Barcelona, Spain
| Level of crime | 53.72 | Moderate | |
| Crime increasing in the past 3 years | 74.66 | High | |
| Worries home broken and things stolen | 45.72 | Moderate | |
| Worries being mugged or robbed | 55.37 | Moderate | |
| Worries car stolen | 33.25 | Low | |
| Worries things from car stolen | 49.07 | Moderate | |
| Worries attacked | 43.39 | Moderate | |
| Worries being insulted | 40.42 | Moderate | |
| Worries being subject to a physical attack because of your skin color, ethnic origin, gender or religion | 27.76 | Low | |
| Problem people using or dealing drugs | 58.04 | Moderate | |
| Problem property crimes such as vandalism and theft | 60.82 | High | |
| Problem violent crimes such as assault and armed robbery | 43.15 | Moderate | |
| Problem corruption and bribery | 54.75 | Moderate |
Safety in Barcelona, Spain
| Safety walking alone during daylight | 70.81 | High | |
| Safety walking alone during night | 45.94 | Moderate |
Contributors: 532
Last update: June 2022
These data are based on perceptions of visitors of this website in the past 3 years.
If the value is 0, it means it is perceived as very low, and if the value is 100, it means it is perceived as very high.
Moving to Barcelona? Explore:
Nearby cities:| Crime in L'Hospitalet de Llobregat | 5.50 miles |
| Crime in Badalona | 6.72 miles |
| Crime in Cornella de Llobregat | 7.27 miles |
| Crime in Sabadell | 16.28 miles |
| Crime in Terrassa | 17.03 miles |
| Crime in Tarragona | 63.44 miles |
| Crime in Castello de la Plana | 173.67 miles |
| Crime in Sagunto | 205.23 miles |
| Crime in Valencia | 218.59 miles |
This page in other languages:
DeutschKriminalität in Barcelona
PortuguêsCrime em Barcelona
ItalianoCriminalità a Barcellona
FrançaisCriminalité à Barcelona
EspañolCriminalidad en Barcelona
Also, and this is a phenomenon that appeared more or less during the last six years, which I really feel I should mention: if you see in those areas small "bands" of young boys (most were part of the numerous boys who migrated alone in recent years from the Maghrib area, and these particular "bands" have become used to bad "street life"), be wary if they look like they are keeping an eye on you, particularly if you are visibly wearing valuables.
They are called locally the "relojeros" (as they work with watches, "relojes"), they have lately become quite specialized in stealing expensive watches (Rolex, Patek Philippe, etc.). They identify people wearing them, and once the victim is chosen, they can follow him/her for a long while. The price is worth it, for them. The best thing is not to show anything of value. They have been reported to become violent in some instances, shoving or violently grabbing from their victims to steal their belongings, or even brandishing knives.
If you are happy with that, go.
Otherwise, there are equally, or more beautiful cities in the world that are far safer and less trouble.
Is it really worth it?
Of course, I still try to avoid some areas, and I almost never go out late at night (not my lifestyle). So my experience is safety during daylight in decent areas mostly (all areas except El Raval and La Mina).
Very nice and cool city and extremely safe.
After Barcelona we visited Madrid and we found out that Madrid was by far more dangerous, plenty of gangs of "macheteros" and North african teenagers chasing tourist, we saw one german stabbed by "macheteros" in Madrid´s high street, it was really sad:we didn t see anything like that in Barcelona.
I loved the downtown and Barceloneta, extremely safe.
In huge contrast, we found Madrid very unsafe, all te city including Madrid s downtown, we were mu . In Madrid pickpocketing happens 24/7 but robberies, even violent ones can happen during the night.
Being pickpocketed is quite common, specially in touristic areas. Being robbed or assaulted during the day, even in front of hotels and/or restaurants, happens more often than not (so don't wear expensive watches or jewelry while visiting).
It's sad to say, but during my recent visit, I felt that they are not too welcoming of foreigners or tourists as much as they used to.
Beautiful city, but be very careful while visiting.
Be alert like any other big cities
Have a look at the comments, no English native speakers at all, mainly Madrid people writing against Barcelona due to gelousy since Barcelone is safer and more appealling fir foreigners, ranking among the 10 most visited cities in the World (Madrid does not)...and is not even the capital !
Madrid has the highest rates of violent crime in Spain by far, no wonder the expat Western community is largest in Barcelone by far than in a rough city like Madrid.
The society gives them rights but nor responsibilities. They give them money and assistance while they have a multiple crime history behind. It's like free pass for everything, since they are ''vulnerable colectives''. How about the elderly and women? We are being eaten by this rats.
Local people trying to work and be good citizens, but they cannot even afford rent nowadays. And the government encouraging the importation of problematic people that have little future in our society because their mindset is so rotten.
Nothing makes sense anymore...
Criminals are not being punished enough, and locals get fines by breaking some stupid rules such as laying on the sand or opening a bar terrace during covid.
Stop blaming Barcelona for this because Madrid sometimes known as "the gay capital of europe" is not better at all either, right-wing homophobic political parties such as "PP" and "Vox" are more present there and yes, once I saw on an article that there were 345 attacks against LGBT in Madrid on 2018 but in Barcelona there were around 50 on 2019. Attacks against LGBT have increased in Madrid as well, not only in Barcelona.
Sources:
- Attacks against LGBT in Madrid: https://www.elpais.com/ccaa/2019/04/07/madrid/1554646483_517939.amp.html (in Spanish)
- Attacks against LGBT in Barcelona: https://beteve.cat/societat/agressions-homofobia-barcelona-2019/ (in Catalan)
- Muslim population by city in Europe: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_cities_in_the_European_Union_by_Muslim_population
I honestly, wouldn't suggest anyone to live in "Ciutat Vella".
Barcelona is a beautiful city yet my impressions of areas within Barcelona are that of a weird Dystopia were crime rules and is openly allowed to be carried out. The police station i had to report my robbery at was on Las Ramblas. From walking there the groups that are carrying out the robberies are openly obvious. The police are not helpful and say "this is Barcelona, it is an international city". Nobody wants to say it for fear of seeming racist or stereotyping groups of immigrants. When at the police station many people were doing reports. The thefts of belongings from safes within hotel rooms was the most common. This is not a matter of being vigilant of your belongings. This is a matter of avoiding certain areas of Barcelona all together including staying in them. The level of vigilance that is required for these areas is unsustainable and affects enjoyment. I tried not to "behave" like a classic tourist and draw attention to myself yet i was robbed while momentarily sitting in a shop. My impressions were that gangs work together and you are watched along a long line of people. From the information i gathered in the police station and the amount of people doing reports i would say your belongings are unsafe when staying in hotels in the Las Ramblas area and i would avoid this area all together.
The situation is insane:crime is increasing, no measures are taken, everywhere in the centre you go you see some faces of these people that come not to work but to be a parasite. These people sometimes are defended by local Catalonia s, and you cannot call the names as then you gonna be blamed as a racist and nationalist even if everyone knows which kind of population is spreading the crime.
The crime is actually kinda accepted in Barcelona - stealing with no violence is not a crime, break in into someone else's flat and live there for free is a socially accepted norm. Believe me, I know what I'm talking about as thhe past week in my district policy was trying to get those illegal people occupying someone else's flats but the locals came out to protest to throw stones at police while insulting police officers for doing their job. Few policemen got injured by those protectors of ocupas (this way they call people that break in into someone else's flats).
If you try to hit some criminal that is trying to steal from you or someone else, locals most likely would scream at you for being a violent nationalist.
I believe this kind of locals deserve all the things happening now. All decent locals have already moved away.
For me there is no sense to continue living here - I'm moving to another region of Spain.
Extremely safe, 3 week stay trouble-free.
We will be back soon, hopefully next year.
Barcelona is not an insecure city at the level of Ciudad Juarez, of course, but my recommendation is that they try to go unnoticed and do not look like tourists, not to be clueless and act as a local would do, to have a lot of attention throughout the downtown area and in some parks, especially in places where not many people circulate and at night from 10 pm, especially when returning and better if they have not had many drinks, because this is something that criminals observe. Watch your bags, and do not carry the phones in your hand and at all times maintain common sense because the truth is that you, foreigners are an easier target. There are many young Moroccan criminals who tend to be violent, and their victims are usually foreigners in the first place that if they notice that they are being watched, move away from the place or directly call 112 police without thinking about it. For the rest if they always watch and take these precautions, nothing has to happen to them, sometimes it is better not to be fearful because this makes them more violent. Good Luck and welcome
Even the new head of the security is threatening the patrols that are helping the people getting robbed in the metro. Now we have one stab or more / day. Good job Catalunya! Focus more on the safety of your people than on your fake Catalan republic.
Goodbye Cataluña and good luck.
Since a year I am living close to the Rambla and I heard several people been stolen.
The areas of Raval, Born and Gotic are the most critical for robbery during night time.
Quite often they steal the bag to women if they are walking in the early morning alone. More than one time the screams of the unfortunate woke me up in the night.
Also Barceloneta is full of thieves, ready to steal your bag when you are on the beach or your watch/wallet when you are walking around the district. The metro requires attention too, especially in the moment that you take out the wallet to buy your ticket.
More pickpockets, violent robberies and also increase in rapes.
At night you have to avoid Raval, Gotico and El Born.
Such a shame for this beautiful city but no one is managing to get the laws changed.
To walk around Barcelona late at night with their noses stuck in their phones are just thick.
- From NC, USA having traveled to cities NYC and Rome. Travel with a friend.
The next day while at breakfast, we had a bag stolen from the table.
The police stations were closed and were unhelpful over the phone.
I am so moving abroad again. Adéu Bcn.
One thing are immigrants from south america and then the immigrants from Afrika and Asia (mostly Pakistan).
Have travel over 40 countries so for me Barcelona is not really safe, great city but i dont like it after last time...