Is Barcelona Safe for Solo Female Travelers?

Barcelona is generally safe for solo female travelers. The crime rates are relatively low, however pickpocketing and bag snatching are common in crowded places and on public transportation. Basic precautions like avoiding deserted areas, not flaunting wealth or valuable possessions, and being vigilant on the street and in the metro, especially after dark, should ensure a safe stay.

Safety rating

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Safety index

Safety at night:Moderate

Barcelona, generally holds a decent level of safety. However, during the night time, especially if you're alone, it is advisable to stick to well-lit, populated areas. Unwanted attentions or pickpocketing incidences can happen, particularly in tourist-centric locations. Public transportation is reliable and often preferred. Overall, maintain awareness of your surroundings and take general precautions as you would in any other city.

Public transportation:Safe

Public transportation in Barcelona is safe, reliable, and well-maintained. It includes a comprehensive network of metro lines, buses, trams, and trains. Furthermore, they run frequently and even late at night. However, caution needs to be exercised, as in any crowded place, against pickpockets and minor thefts. Special attention should be placed on your belongings. Despite this, it still remains a secure and efficient way to move around the city.

Street harassment:Low

Barcelona is generally considered safe for solo female travelers, with locals respectful of personal boundaries. Street harassment is not a rampant issue, with most of the concerns revolving around pickpocketing. That said, it's always important to stay vigilant, especially in crowded tourist areas. However, women should feel relatively comfortable moving around the city, at day or night, without facing significant harassment or discomfort.

Petty crimes:High

Barcelona, despite being a fantastic city with vibrant culture and breathtaking architecture, unfortunately has a comparatively high rate of petty crimes. Tourists often face thefts, pickpocketing, and scams, particularly in crowded areas such as popular tourist sites, beaches, and public transport. Often these crimes are non-violent; however, the frequency can be disconcerting. It's crucial to be cautious, stay vigilant about your belongings, and be aware of your surroundings when exploring the city.

Tap water:Very safe

Tap water in Barcelona, is generally safe to drink. Barcelona's water undergoes rigorous treatment and testing processes to meet European Union water quality standards. However, due to its high mineral content, some travelers find the taste to be a bit off-putting, but it's perfectly safe for consumption.

Is Barcelona safe to travel?

4.2 /5

Based on 83 experiences

Veronika

Veronika

Germany

Solo travel experience

I general i felt safe during daytime in family friendly areas,but Barcelona got a bit scary,many pickpockets are around the cities.They dont mind if its daytime. Overall people in Barcelona a friendly,not always helpful when it comes to recommendations though. Catalans are very proud. Foodwise i loved it,not only tapas u will find,also a variety of international food.fresh food. Nightlife is good,if you’re into Bars, you’ll find many options.

Posted: April 26, 2024
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Group travel experience

I unfortunately got robbed on the street late at night on my first night in Barcelona. I was walking back to my hotel late at like with my friend (female) and 2 men ran up to us and grabbed my purse and her phone. We were very shaken up by this experience and did not feel safe for the rest of the trip. Would not recommend walking at night, even in a group. We were here on a work trip and several other coworkers, including men were either pickpocketed or someone attempted to rob them

Posted: April 16, 2024
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Rukiye

Rukiye

Turkey

Solo travel experience

Barcelona is a beautiful city in general. It has very suitable conditions for traveling alone. I visited many European cities alone. However, I received warnings from locals about a lot of theft here. I think it was a bit of an exaggerated warning. It's not such an unsafe city. Just in general, you should not act like a tourist while traveling. This can be a problem in any country if you act too much like a tourist.

Posted: April 8, 2024
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Family travel experience

I visited Barcelona in October with my 13-year-old daughter. It was absolutely an amazing experience in terms of culture, food, history, and shopping. I recommend staying just off La Rambla, a famous car-free street. It's very safe to travel to, even at night. There are lots of beautiful ceramics to shop for, as well as high-end designer brands.

Posted: April 7, 2024
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Solo travel experience

During the day I always felt safe in Barcelona and I highly recommend visiting the city! It's full of life and you never feel alone despite travelling solo. I spent most of my time outside in parks and there are hundreds of sights to visit. After hiking to the top of the Tibidabo, I had a picturesque view! For lunch I usually had really good empanadas for a low price. You should definitely walk along the beach and let your feet get wet although I have to admit the water was a bit cold in April. All in all, it was a wonderful experience!

Posted: March 27, 2024Experienced: March, 2023
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Couple travel experience

We felt pretty safe. But you definitely have to be careful of pickpockets! Keep your belongings close to your body and try to not act like a tourist too bad. We mostly used taxis or Uber. I can recommend it. They have fair prices and it was the easiest for us. The Steak House and Jansana (Gluten free bakery) are our favorite food places. We also visited the popular bar Orient Express Cocktail Bar. It’s been worth a visit and a cocktail. But nothing to spend more than an hour at. We visited the Olympic Parc at sunset. Go for it! It’s so wonderful!😍

Posted: March 25, 2024
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Solo travel experience

Stayed at onefam ramblas. It was a fun and social hostel! Felt safe even with mixed dorms. Food was alright. Your typical Spanish food. Some places were more expensive than others and were not filling. I had a small slice of toast with hummus for €12 or so which I found to be pretty pricy for that price. It wasn’t even filling and this was for breakfast. Streets were dirty. Lots of graffiti and I saw I’d like to imagine, dog poop on some wall. I wasn’t worried about getting pickpocket since I wore a jacket that had an inner pocket where I kept my valuables. If I have my phone in my front pocket, I tend to walk where I’m constantly brushing my hand against my pants to feel my phone.

Posted: March 21, 2024
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Solo travel experience

My phone got stolen on the way to Park Guell, after only two days in Barcelona. After that, I just did not feel safe. I read all the reviews saying how bad the pickpocketing situation is and I felt prepared, but never anticipated they were that bad. For this reason alone, I don’t recommend it. Completely ruined my trip.

Posted: March 14, 2024
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Solo travel experience

Barcelona felt very safe, I wasn't scared to walk alone even at 3am. They have a good transportation system but because my hostel was in a good location (more on hostel later) I walked a lot. The weather was so good too! It was mostly sunny but not too hot. I stayed at Yeah Hostel and it was the best! Reasonably priced, very social atmosphere if you're up to it (they host group dinners and bar crawls every night, and walking tours in the morning) and the location is perfect with many restaurants and attractions nearby :) I don't think I would come back though as it seems too.. touristy 😆

Posted: March 7, 2024Experienced: February, 2024
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Maide

Maide

Turkey

Group travel experience

I visited Barcelona in 2019 with my two female friends. It was a beautiful city with great architectural structures and historical view. I felt safe most of the time but one should be careful about snatchers especially while visitimg touristic and crowded areas. Take care of your phone and your purse. We stayed in two different places that we booked through Airbnb. The houses and the hosts were very kind and welcoming. One should try the famous tapas, sea food and wines in Barcelona.

Posted: February 8, 2024
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Is Barcelona safe for women to live?

Safety rating

3.1 /5

Based on 8 experiences

Crime rates rating

1.3 /5

Based on 8 experiences

The worse experience i’ve had so far is getting my phone pick-pocketed (although the police gave it back to me almost immediately). I know there’s violent crime here, but in general, if you are aware if your surroundings you will be fine.

Posted: April 11, 2024
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I feel safe in Barcelona, I walk the streets alone and have taken trains to other towns. I haven't wandered alone at night for the moment, there are dark places and I didn't see many police officers but I wouldn't be afraid to go out, I'm from Argentina.

Posted: April 2, 2024
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Is Barcelona safe right now?

Before your visit to Barcelona, it's essential to check travel advisories for Spain, including your home country's official travel advisory. These advisories can provide up-to-date information on safety, health, and any specific considerations for travelers.
🇺🇸

United States Travel AdvisoryExercise a high degree of caution

The United States Government advises exercising increased caution in Spain due to terrorism and civil unrest. Check the full travel advisory.
Last updated: July 26, 2023
🇨🇦

Canada's Travel AdvisoryExercise a high degree of caution

The Canadian government advises exercising a high degree of caution in Spain due to the threat of terrorism. Check the full travel advisory.
Last updated: April 11, 2024
🇦🇺

Australia's Travel AdvisoryTake normal security precautions

The Australian Government advises to exercise normal safety precautions in Spain. Check the full travel advisory.
Last updated: April 18, 2024

Is Barcelona worth visiting?

Overall rating

4.5 /5

based on 83 experiences

Helena

Helena

Germany

Solo travel experience

My accommodation was in Sants - at first I didn't feel very comfortable in the area but after two days I realized that it was very familiar! I got more and more comfortable every day. The Spanish food was very tasty but in normal restaurants you also pay 10-15€ for food and drink for one person. But the tap water is free, which was great! Riding the METRO with the HolaBarcelona ticket was also super easy! You can buy the ticket online via the app and print it out at the machine on site. This is available for several days. 5 days were €36. The transport network is well developed and very uncomplicated. I recommend booking tours etc. in advance via Getyourguide as you can save a lot and there are no long queues. Barcelona is great for beginning solo travelers!

Posted: April 4, 2024
Things to do: 5/5Food: 5/5Budget-friendly: 3/5Safety: 5/5
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Megan

Megan (23)

United Kingdom

Solo travel experience

Stayed in The Gothic Quarter which is beautiful. Feels very familiar. Definitely check out the free museums. The science museum was my favourite with the sunken forest - I couldn’t believe it was free. Barcelona wasn’t too expensive, I particularly loved the area of Gracia.

Posted: March 31, 2024Experienced: February, 2023
Things to do: 5/5Food: 5/5Budget-friendly: 3/5Safety: 4/5
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Meet locals in Barcelona

Meet local women in Barcelona who are open to meet up for a coffee or a drink, show you around, give local advice or practice a language with.
Angela

Angela

About Me

Hahaha I don't mind introduce myself. Hai I'm Angela, I'm just a young lady who loves traveling and adventures, and making memories from the simples things to crazy things and ofc silly stuff too, because its good to feel free and stay open minded and learn different culture and presepctives. We're human after all (wow why am I like this) Yolo and be kind :)

Speaking

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Maya

Maya

About Me

Hello! My name is Maya. I’m originally from Israel but I’ve been living in Barcelona for a few years now. I love animals, yoga, dancing, singing, and cooking. I’m quite a foodie so I can recommend some good restaurants around town. Feel free to ask me anything you want about Barcelona. I’m happy to help :)

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Stay with locals in Barcelona

Stay with local women in Barcelona who offer free accommodation as part of cultural exchange. Couch surfing is a great way to meet new people, learn more about new cultures and experience destinations like a local.
Maya

Maya

Barcelona

Can host for:

3 days

About me

Hello! My name is Maya. I’m originally from Israel but I’ve been living in Barcelona for a few years now. I love animals, yoga, dancing, singing, and cooking. I’m quite a foodie so I can recommend some good restaurants around town. Feel free to ask me anything you want about Barcelona. I’m happy to help :)

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Rebecca

Rebecca

Barcelona

Can host for:

5 days

About me

Hey! It's me, Rebecca, another Italian abroad hehe ✈️ I become an expat 4 years ago, after being in Germany and Poland, now I made Barcelona my home! I work in Marketing and I love to travel so much that I'd love to do it for work. I love to meet new people and show around the cities I know!

Speaking

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Upcoming visitors to Barcelona

Connect with upcoming visitors to Barcelona who are looking for travel buddies or meet ups.
Katja

Katja

About Me

Hi! I’m an English teacher that loves to travel and meet new people. My personality is quite outgoing, bubbly and spontaneous. I enjoy trying new foods and cooking myself. I’m always looking out for a new challenge and trying to overcome my fears. Looking forward to making new friends! 🫶🏼

Speaking

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Kamila

Kamila

About Me

Hi, I’m Kamila! I am 23 years old and starting medical school in the United States later this year, so I’m very interested in solo traveling and meeting new amazing people this summer! I love to hike, run, practice yoga, read, and learn new things.

Speaking

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Safety in Spain