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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How safe is Barcelona?

Safety at night:

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:

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:

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:

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.

Is Barcelona worth visiting?

Overall rating

4.5 /5

based on 123 experiences from female travelers

Things to do

4.5/5

Safety

4/5

Food

4.4/5

Budget-friendly

3.3/5

Solo travel

I didnt feel that safe.but It was overall nice i have been loving my whole Life in Madrid and seeing the beach seeing the Life and the Big streets It was actually really really nice i Will repeat pretty soon

Posted: March 14, 2025Experienced: February, 2019
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Solo travel

I felt very safe. I stayed at Kabul party hostel and it was amazing they have activities everyday. I met so many people with who i went to party, walked around. I deffinetly raccomend Parc Guel or the Bunkers where you have the whole panorama of the city

Posted: March 3, 2025Experienced: January, 2025
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Solo travel

There's a lot of possibilities for public transportation (train, car, metro, bus, tram). also nice, on the weekends there are no cars allowed in the streets. Felt unsafe walking around at night and in some clubs (even with friends)

Posted: February 17, 2025
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Olympia

Olympia

Sweden

Group travel

First time traveling to barcelona with a friend🫶🏽 Overall I felt safe, heard a lot about there being a lot of pickpockets which made me less safe. but nothing happened to us. We were there for 3 days and we managed to see everything we wanted to see - arc de triumph, sagrada familia, ciutadella park, las ramblas, barcelona beach and harbor. and it was really (!!!) worth seeing. The food was great, and the waiters and staff were so nice which made it an even better experience. but, it was more expensive than other cities, like madrid or alicante, although it could be because of the restaurants own prices and locations. we didn't really have a budget but in my opinion 3 days in barcelona wasn't that expensive. I spent around 3500 (300 euros) INCLUDING THE HOTEL which was 1300 (110 euros) for 2 nights, so the total price WITHOUT the hotel was 2200 SEK (190 euros) which went mainly to food and drinks, but also metro, taxi. We stayed at Sant Agusti Hotel which was a 2 minute walk (200 meters) to las ramblas. Our room was amazing and the breakfast as well. there was a small square just outside with a few bars and restaurants but if you want more, you just go past the square and is at las ramblas. We mainly walked, but to get to the airport and train station we took the metro or taxi (we could have walked to the train station but since we had bags we thought it would be easier to take a taxi) Overall my first Barcelona experience was great, we loved the food, the people and the places we visited. we will definitely travel to barcelona again.

Posted: February 15, 2025Experienced: December, 2024
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Solo travel

I was in Barcelona for 4 days in a solo trip. The city is not too expensive, and I felt much safer than I though I would. There are so many activities to do (during the day and the night as well). It’s also perfect for trekking!!

Posted: February 6, 2025
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Eva

Eva

Norway

Family travel

I was in Barcelona with my sister. I felt safe during night and I liked food there. Prices are cheap (10€ for 1 kg of shrimps) it’s cheap for me 😅 because I’m living in Norway 🇳🇴. But I didn’t like that people don’t know English,the biggest income in Barcelona is tourists and people (old generation,millennials) could learn some basic words and sentences. A lot of tourists traps where they can charge more then in normal shop so be aware. I understand that Barcelona had enough tourists all this years but still,5 words in English not so hard to learn. 7/10

Posted: February 4, 2025
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Tracey

Tracey

South Africa

Solo travel

The anti-tourism sentiment was really strong. It made for a really tense atmosphere in general. It's a beautiful city but I didn't really feel welcome, though I wouldn't say that I felt unsafe either. Not a place I'd necessarily go back to though.

Posted: January 30, 2025
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Solo travel

A lot of people were concerned about me because I was going to solo trip to Barcelona. I felt safe. The city was safe. Still everyone should be careful ofc. Because I am not a fan of the things that I can see online (attractions 😅), I was mainly walking around the streets and visited only a few attractions. So I definitely would recommend the park near Sagrada Familia and also Barceloneta Beach. I spent around 150€ for 3 days (for food and drinks), keep in mind I was not budgeting. You could definitely spend less.

Posted: January 26, 2025Experienced: January, 2025
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Charlotte

Charlotte

France

Solo travel

Had a wonderful time in Barcelona! Art, food, people... everything was amazing. My artsy heart was fulfilled with all museums and such cool places. + : near Barcelona, try to go to Montserrat, it's is such an incredible place, clearly a must-see!

Posted: December 30, 2024Experienced: April, 2024
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Solo travel

I felt safe, surprisingly, I heard a lot about the pickpocketing. I stayed for 2 nights in Hostel Grau which was located near the famous street. I liked the homey feel of this hotel. February was a surprisingly good time to visit, I had blue skies and nice temperatures.

Posted: November 15, 2024Experienced: January, 2023
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Is Barcelona safe for women?

Safety index

3.6 /5

Based on 79 local experiences

Crime index

2.6 /5

Based on 79 local experiences

If you stay where are a tons of people is quit safe, but always watch your back and never go alone during night or in a dangerous streets. But, I think that during the day and even if you go alone, nothing will happen, but remember to always have your bag in front of you.

Posted: March 23, 2025
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Iris

Iris

It really depends on the zone you're visiting, the time of the day, if there are fesitvals or events etc... If you mind your business it won't happen anything. Locals are always friendly if you need help :)

Posted: March 16, 2025
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Meet locals in Barcelona

Ona

Ona

About Me

Hello, I'm student of second of nursery. I want to see the world and live a lot of experiencies. I can host one person only one night because i live with my family

Speaking

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maria

maria

About Me

Hellooo! I'm Maria, currently a uni student in Barcelona, diving deep into the realms of law and labor relations, but when I'm not buried in textbooks, you'll find me hanging out with friends, hitting the mountains for a hike, or chasing down the most spectacular sunsets you've ever seen. Oh, and did I mention I'm a sports enthusiast? Volleyball has been my game for as long as I can remember. There's just something about the thrill of the game that gets my adrenaline pumping! But wait, there's more, I'm also a bit of a foodie. I love experimenting in the kitchen and trying out new dishes from around the world. If I had to pick favorites, though, you can't go wrong with a classic carbonara pasta or a plate of delicious sushi. I have a few other hobbies that keep me busy. For one, I'm a language enthusiast! Learning new languages opens up a whole new world of opportunities, and during this school year, I've had the incredible experience of working as an English teacher for kids in Barcelona. It's been both challenging and incredibly rewarding to help young learners unlock the magic of language. When I'm not busy teaching or hitting the volleyball court, you'll often find me with my nose buried in a book. Reading is my escape, my chance to explore new worlds and immerse myself in captivating stories. Although I don't always have as much time for it as I'd like, it's a hobby that brings me immense joy whenever I can indulge in it.

Speaking

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Stay with locals in Barcelona

Ona

Ona

Barcelona

Can host for:

3 days

About me

Hello, I'm student of second of nursery. I want to see the world and live a lot of experiencies. I can host one person only one night because i live with my family

Speaking

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Gabriela

Gabriela

Barcelona

Can host for:

4 days

About me

Hi! I’m an international student staying in Montreal. I’m looking for an acommodation in vancouver to visit the city.

Speaking

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Upcoming visitors to Barcelona

Elif

Elif

About Me

25y old woman lives in genoa for master degree in economics. Originally from Istanbul. I love meeting new people and traveling, in the past I lived in Warsaw too. Genoa is my third home, trying to make it more meaningful. 🎀

Speaking

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Mesi

Mesi

About Me

Hi, my name is Emese! 👋 I'm from Hungary, and I really love living here. Budapest is such a cool and beautiful capital city! You must visit if you're traveling nearby and want to have a great time without spending a lot of money. ;) I also love traveling and getting to know different cultures to learn and find inspiration. I'm a university student studying architecture, so I enjoy visiting both famous and not so kown landmarks. But I'm a huge foodie too!

Speaking

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Safety in Spain