This is a city that is located in Catalonia, Spain and is famous for its architectures, people’s culture and energy and nightlife. People love to visit this beautiful city, which has millions of tourists who visit it every year, but the problem most people have to worry when they are walking the streets at night. From this and the following blog post you will learn about the safety features of the city and receive important advices on how to have a pleasant stay in Barcelona.
Get an Overview of Barcelona’s Safety Crisis
But as we know any big city in the world, Barcelona has its fair share of criminal activity. Nevertheless, it possible to mention that Barcelona is rather safe for tourists and it is safe to walk at night. The city has done much over the years to reduce crime and over all make the city one of the safest in Europe.
Barcelona is divided into districts, which are rather different from each other by their atmosphere and appeal. Though all the neighbourhoods are secure, some areas might have a slightly elevated crime level. One has to be sure of the particular districts, and again, if necessary, be careful.
Choosing Safe Neighborhoods
Some of the areas specifically preferred by visitors include Barcelona because of the safety decision, available facilities and the closeness to the interesting places. These neighborhoods are generally considered safe for walking at night:
Eixample: This neighborhood is well known, which highlighted with such attractions as the Sagrada Familia and Casa Batlló. There is much that is open, many rather wide avenues, there are well-illuminated areas, and it seems the city is alive, thus it can be stated that it is rather safe.
Gràcia: Another area common for citizens to live in is Gràcia – it is considered to be bohemian and rather unhurried. Essentially the city is characterised by small lanes, beautiful piazzas and an effervescent populace. The area on the whole is safe, however, it is always better to be safe than sorry.
El Born: El Born is a modern area with lots of art galleries, specialty stores, as well as popular restaurants. Many people enjoy visiting this area regardless of whether they are visitors or residents of the country; it is safe to wander around this place after dark.
Even though all those mentioned neighborhoods are safe, one should still avoid areas with unfavourable lighting, deserted places or vagrants and be careful with pickpockets especially in crowded places.
Night Walking in Barcelona or Advice for the Pedestrians
To ensure your safety while walking at night in Barcelona, here are some useful tips:
Stick to well-lit areas: Always try to avoid deserted areas and areas without much light about always. Avoid cutting across through blind and unknown regions such as weak-lit regions.
Avoid displaying valuable items: Jewelry, expensive cameras, and large amounts of cash are things which should not be left in plain view of the criminals. Beware of what you are carrying and do not attract attention to yourself any more that is necessary.
Blend in with the locals: You should avoid dressing like a ‘mzungu’ especially when in a group. This can help you reduce your chances of turning into a punching bag for rogue petty thieves, aka, pickpockets, or give you the slimmest chance of falling into the tricks of fraudsters.
Travel in groups: In as much as it is possible do so always in groups. People are less likely to try something as they see that there are other people with them or you can manage to ward off an attacker with the help of others.
Use reliable transportation: If during night you go out and still getom around to go back to your accommodation, the recommended means of transport would be licenced taxis or reputable ride hailing firms. Do not use unmarked or what may be locally referred to as ‘low profile’ taxi cars.
Stay informed: Whenever going out always make sure that you know any incidents or parts of the town that might be dangerous.
Trust your instincts: If you have a bad feeling, always make sure to go to a well-lit crowded area because you never know what you are going to find yourself in. Your safety is paramount.
In Conclusion
In as much as there is no city that can boast of no cases of crime, Barcelona is relatively safe to walk at night especially in some parts of tourists. If you keep these tips, be cautious, and ensure you know your surroundings, you won’t have to worry much when taking your night walks in Barcelona. Safety comes first regardless of the country you are bound to or currently reside in throughout the world.
