Is Spain Safe for Solo Female Travelers?

Spain is generally a safe country for solo female travelers. Both urban areas and rural regions have low levels of crime. It is always prudent to take basic precautions, such as avoiding poorly lit and deserted areas late at night, keeping a close eye on personal belongings in crowded places, and not sharing your personal details or itineraries with strangers. Public transportation and taxis are usually safe and reliable. However, like anywhere else, incidents can occur, so staying alert and using common sense is important.

Safety rating

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How safe is Spain?

Safety at night:

Safety at night:Safe

Spain, in general, is known to have a good safety record and this includes safety after dark too. However, like any other place, safety can vary depending on the area and time. Bigger cities like Madrid and Barcelona are largely safe but do be cautious in quieter or less lit streets. Also be aware of pickpocketing, especially in crowded areas or tourist hotspots. Overall, basic precautions such as sticking to well-lit areas, not displaying valuables openly, and maintaining a sense of awareness are still advised.
Public transportation:

Public transportation:Safe

Public transportation in Spain is generally safe and reliable. It consists of buses, trains, trams, and metros which effectively connect cities and towns. The services are frequented by local and foreign travelers alike. However, it's important to be conscious of your surroundings, especially in crowded spaces, as pickpocketing incidents have been reported in some areas. Overall, the system is widely used and safety concerns are minimal.
Street harassment:

Street harassment:Low

While cases of street harassment do occur and vary by region, Spain generally has a safe atmosphere. Instances of wolf-whistling, cat-calling, and lewd remarks are not commonplace. Being a solo female traveler, you may occasionally experience unsolicited attention, but typically, locals are respectful and unobtrusive. Nonetheless, maintaining caution in crowded areas or during late hours is advisable. Remember, your experience may vary depending on various factors such as the neighborhood you're in, the time of day, and your general demeanor.
Petty crimes:

Petty crimes:Low

Spain, as a whole, experiences relatively low levels of petty crimes such as pickpocketing, particularly outside of major cities. However, you may encounter higher risk in tourist-heavy areas including major cities like Barcelona and Madrid, where pickpockets might be more common. Always remain alert and keep an eye on personal belongings even in crowded public transports and places. Stay aware of your surroundings, but overall, Spain is considered quite safe for travelers.

Is Spain worth visiting?

Overall rating

4.7 /5

based on 449 experiences from female travelers

Things to do

4.5/5

Safety

4.5/5

Food

4.4/5

Budget-friendly

3.5/5
Jildou

Jildou

Netherlands

Puerto de la Cruz, Family travel

I stayed for 7 days in a hotel which had a minute walk to the centre. My hotel was around 100 per night and my budget for food and activities was €30 per day which was easily achievable. I felt very safe walking at night in the city centre, and the people were very friendly. Not everyone speaks english so try to learn a few basic spanish sentences

Posted: July 9, 2025Experienced: May, 2025
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Natasza

Natasza

Poland

Malaga, Family travel

I had an amazing time in Malaga, i felt 100% safe walking at night, using public transport or exploring the city, all alone! Food was amazing, you HAVE TO try paella! With chicken, rabbit, shrimp, tofu: all of it was amazing! It's usually a big portion so be prepared!

Posted: July 6, 2025Experienced: October, 2024
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Ieva

Ieva

Lithuania

Seville, Family travel

I generally felt safe. Many people and myriad of tourists. I highly recommend buying tickets to museums and popular objects a few weeks in advance, since they sell out quickly. Must-see places are: Plaza de España; the Cathedral of Seville (beautiful view from the tower, which doesn’t have stairs, but rather ramps and thus is easier to climb into even for elders or disabled persons); Real Alcázar (has a standing queue from early in the morning in order to buy tickets if you missed them online, but arrive very early, like 7:00).

Posted: July 3, 2025
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Leona

Leona

Czech Republic

Canary Islands, Couple travel

Canary Islands concrete Tenerife is beautiful place. I was so surprised clean nature and many different things… I recommend a trip to Loro Parque. Also recommend lend scooters and to travel the whole island.

Posted: July 2, 2025
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Spain, Family travel

I went few times in Spain with my family. First time we travelled with a camping car and overall it’s quite easy to find places to stay for free or very inexpensive. I think you feel welcome and safe in Spain, the people are very open and willing to party. And the food is great !

Posted: July 1, 2025
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Alicante, Family travel

I travelled to Alicante with my younger sister. We spent about one week there. We felt safe, We were walking on the streets and beaches even by night. We had a hostel in the same center so We had very close distance to everywhere.

Posted: June 30, 2025Experienced: July, 2024
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Is Spain safe for women?

Safety index

4.3 /5

Based on 499 local experiences

Crime index

2.1 /5

Based on 499 local experiences

Madrid

It's generally safe for women walking alone after dark. I've gone back from party alone several times and nothing ever happened to me. I would recommend Madrid for solo traveler women, it's weird that anything can happen to you.

Posted: July 8, 2025
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Daphne

Daphne

Girona

I think is a good place to travel as a female, theres a lot of students here and people are friendly. Nights are good to walk and there is people around all the time. You may evade little streets if you fell more secure

Posted: July 6, 2025
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Safety in Spain