Crime in Barcelona, Spain

I have lived in Barcelona for 10 years and never had any problems. Have wandered back late at night from parties without incident, only ever witnessed police taking a pickpocket into custody time.
It's true that the tourist attractions and neighborhoods, plus the metro in those areas, are targeted heavily by pickpockets, so you need to wear your wallet in your front pocket and keep your belongings on you / in sight at all times in those areas. El Raval is a seedier neighborhood at night, don't flash money or expensive watches, but I have had no problems there.

I was robbed of my jacket multiple times in clubs in the USA, never happened to me in Barcelona.

My wife travels across the whole city at night frequently for work functions, states she always feels safe.

Of course people with brown skin can be thieves too, but the intense racism in the comments on this page is truly wild... Real sad to read this antiquated white supremist BS in 2025.

i left Barcelona because i did not feel safe anymore and the cost of living rising did not compensate living there. I was attacked 3 times by moroccans in a period of like 2 years max (sexually attacked, robbed with violence) and people were only worried i was calling the criminals by their origin, instead of having compassion for me and my PTSD. I still visit because my family and friends are there but i can never relax there, because If you are not on "survival" mode, you will be robbed or something will happen to you. Morocans are very coward criminals and they attack women, the elderly, or people with disabilities. Then you have the eastern european mafias that are in every metro station robbing you. so yeah, not a single chance for a break in this city.

Couldn't agree more with the comment below. Barcelona is only dangerous for tourists with no survival instinct, locals know better thats why they suffer x4 times less robberies than foreigners also almost 70% in robberies in the city are commited by foreigners, so crime in Barcelona is pretty much a foreign problem on both ways, if you live in a 90% Spanish/Catalan neighbourhood then crime won't be relevant unless it's a poor neighbourhood

WORST city I’ve ever been to. As soon as I arrived at the airport, I was STOLEN. The place was completely overcrowded, with barely any room to move. There were no visible police patrols in the arrivals area, which gave thieves the perfect opportunity to steal my bag with my passport and laptop inside while I was in a restaurant. When I reported it, the police were useless, making me wait over half an hour out of their iron gate, only to rush through my report and send me off. This city gave me a terrible first impression, and I will NEVER come back.

barcelona is totally crime-ridden and dangerous, i have watched it get worse over the last five years before leaving, they try to hide it to keep the tourists coming. Valencia is nice though, and very chill compared to bcn

Very safe cit. We felt safe there compared to Madrid, MAdrid is really dangerous. Madrid is the Spanish city with more morroquians, (35.000) in BArcelona tehre are only 15.000.

2023, Madrid 26 murdered, Barcelona only 11.

Used to be one of the best cities in the world now it's completely destroyed and ruined by immigrants from all over the world commiting all types of robberies and sexual assaults, foreigners love to complain about locals being "racist" knowing well 80% of crimes are commited by their lovely Magrebians and Central American friends, if you ask me there's not enough racism against them and I blame locals for letting politicians, immigrants and drug addicts turn their city into the biggest garbage in the country, there's no other way back but violence and unity against thugs and corrupts

When in Barcelona, on the 25th of September 2023 at around 10PM near the gothic quarter behind a macdonalds, i witness a fight between what I believe was a gang and one who was clearly on something and so where the two main men he was arguing with. It turned pretty nasty and weapons where brought out so we ran away. Came back a few minutes later and the man was on the ground surrounded by a pool of blood. There were many other people who saw this and police where extremely quick and were there but I haven't seen any news about it since and was wondering by chance if any other person happened to also be there.
Apart from this, Barcelona was completely fine.

Reminder to anyone thinking America is a better option, people and children get shot and killed on a daily basis. count your blessings over in the EU.

I was trying to ask strangers to help me find a right bus as I didn't understand the system. No one knew or wanted to help me. In the end, a middle aged guy called me a stupid man.

Barcelona is one of the most loudest and chaotic cities, where people seem to be jaded due to high tourism. I wish that this influx of illegal immigrants continue so that I can witness Barcelona being burned to the ground.

You can't take this seriously, this page can be manipulated by anyone and it's being manipulated by spanish nationalists to give Barcelona a bad image because we want independence from them and because there's a lot of Moroccans. Just check official stats and you will see how crime in Barcelona has decreased 31% since 2021 while in Madrid increased 11% and in Valencia which is way more dangerous it increased 78% in only two years, but of course according to this site crime in Barcelona is higher than Valencia, stats are stats the rest are just words.

If you want a honest review of crime in Barcelona then avoid La Mina, it's the only real dangerous neighbourhood in the city because of gypsies

I just arrived back from a 4 day trip to visit a friend. She was staying in an Airbnb in El Raval and invited me to stay. I rented a car and found an underground car park 1 minute walk from her apartment.

I arrived at around 11pm and parked my car then realised there was a fork in the road and I wasn’t sure which way my friends place was so I whipped out my phone to take a quick look. I then locked my phone and put my arm down by my side but still had it in my hand - I thought as I was only a 1 minute walk (not even that!) that it would be ok.

Needless to say I heard footsteps running behind me and a man in a hood and a balaclava grabbed my phone. I kept a grip on it and started screaming to alert a few people nearby and he gave up and ran away. A paper bad I had was also ripped open in the process and my things scattered all over the floor. Two men came over and I thought I was in even more trouble but they picked my things up for me and found me a replacement bag. My friend heard me screaming through her window.

Barcelona used to be one of my favourite cities but I won’t be going back.

Both my wife and I were walking from Barcelona Cathedral along the small avenues. We stopped by at a shoes shop. Very fortunate a tour guide told the shop assistance and us that someone was targeting me. He was helpful enough to call the cops. When the cops came, the robbers left and we were told that we were safe to leave.

We quickly left and wanted to get out of Las Ramblas. Along a big street two guys pounded on me from the back while pushing my wife away. One tried to grab my watch, the other holding me from the back. All these happened during the broad day light (11ish in the morning) with hundreds of people passing by. Two families from the crowd shouted and tried to help us while I was struggling with the robbers. In a few moment 6 cops arrived. The robbers ran away. Fortunately watch was still intact and only got a few scratches and bruises.

Would never come back again to Barcelona.

We do appreciate the kind help from the tour leader, the passer-by families and the cops who helped us.

Leaving Barcelona tomorrow. Have to say it is the worst crime ridden European city I have ever seen. The thieves are everywhere you look to pick Pickett so if you come bring nothing!! My husband was violently set upon for his watch and arm sliced with a knife in the process and I assure you we are smart enough that it was not a super expensive watch just did not matter they jumped him in broad daylight with hundreds of people around. We loved so many things about the city but the lack of police protection, action and crime is so so bad. I would recommend to stay away!

Barcelona is off my destinations and should be off yours if you have any sense
Me and my partner attempted theft on the underground 6 months ago and my daughter robbed last week and can’t claim on her insurance because the police refused to give a crime number - Lost the plot big time!

I was physically assaulted near Parc Guell. Very violent punch to the face by a deranged man saying I had hit his son!?!! I am 65 and was punched very hard. Completely blind sided. He ran away when I said I was calling the police. Many bystanders just looked on. Police were NO help. They said if I didn’t know his name there was nothing they could do. No one seems to give a f**k about tourist in Barcelona. 4/24/2023

I lived in Barcelona from 1992-1998. At first, I fell in love with the city. After six years I decided to come to England to improve my English. After a year, I decided to stay here for good. Great opportunities to study and work. I never looked back. Spaniards were racists/xenophobes (not everyone though), while in the UK there are people from every country in the world, all coexisting peacefully and all of them with the same opportunities for advancement.
Living here, I traveled back many times to visit Barcelona and some friends I had then. The last visit I made was possibly in 2008. Very disappointed about people being so loud and rude there, compared to the way most people in the UK behave: politely.

My son was stabbed in Barcelona in October 2022.
Jumped by a gang of 7.
He was a week in ICU,and nearly lost his life.
The knife just missed his heart. he nearly bled to death and had internal bleeding.
He will be scarred for life in both senses of the word.
Apparently there were a further 2 stabbings that weekend.
The hospital were amazing and the crime logged with police.
But those people are still out there.
be careful.

I have lived in Barcelona for over 10 years and never had a problem. It is a safe and beautiful place in my opinion.
All tourist areas in the world have problems and I am never there.
Enjoy the beautiful city.

Barcelona is no longer safe, lots of Moroccans robbing, you are safer in America where u can own a gun

While I have had no problem living here, the impression is that safety has worsened. Most troublesome areas, doubtlessly Ramblas area and surroundings, also other tourist places. I won't mention areas where tourists have no business. In any case, try not to look too much like a tourist, and don't look ostensibly distracted or "lost" in those areas. If you know where you go, and just continue your path, you will be fine.

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.

Try to avoid Las Ramblas, Barrio Gótico, and Raval during the night or pay the consequences. The same places during the day are not dangerous but are plenty of pickpockets, the Metro (subway) too. There are not violent but very effective in their "job". El Carmelo and La Mina, are not good places at night either. If you pay attention and try to not look like a tourist, you'll enjoy the city without problems.

I spent 5 days in Barca for my honeymoon. I was pickpocketed on the 2nd night, took my phone. I chased the guy and then was counter-chased and tried to be run over numerous times by a gang on motorbikes. The chase lasted for 30 mins. I got in a taxi but he refused to take me when we were surrounded by the gang who literally blocked every exit around us. It was a very scary situation. If I hadn’t just had my wedding with photos of my family and friends on that phone, I wouldn’t have been so determined to get it back. There are a lot of scum bags in the world, but there seems to be a high concentration in La Rambla area (Gotica, Raval & Barceloneta).

I have been living in Barcelona for more than a year, and in my experience, it's a very safe city. I don't understand why some people say it's dangerous... It's really not. People asking me for money, is the worst that happened to me, but they are not violent or anything like that if you refuse to give them money.

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).

Was in Barcelona for a month and witnessed 4 muggings and was beaten by 3 men outside a club. The police did nothing.

Most comments on this page look like fake. Probably from haters. The city has its share of problems, but it's definitely a very safe place. Look at homicide rate for instance, it's ridiculously low in Barcelona (as in most southern European cities). My girlfriend and I always feel safe at day and night, additionally I have noticed that people here are really concerned about gender equality and men are very respectful toward women. If I have to go to Rambla area I take some more precautions, but as in most touristic cities, nothing dreadful.

I have lived here for 3 years and I think 20 of my friends including myself have been robbed in the Ciutat Vella and Barceloneta district in this period. Many what seems to be north african immigrants that do not seem to have any place to go (not that it matters but Im not white myself, but there is no need denying the obvious). Societal failure for sure, that make the city way more unsafe than I initially thought before moving here. Never thought I would feel safer in the city centre of London, but I definitely do.

Had a colleague who was held at knife point by a group of "none Spanish native" people, to withdraw all his money from the ATM when he was walking back to his Airbnb at night.

It's safe to say that Barcelona has seen better days.

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.