<<Any tips or tricks I should be aware of>>

Be alert and don't leave your valuables out in the open.

Oh, that applies everywhere.

That said, the Raval at night wouldn't be my first choice of a place to go.

Best safety tip for this den of thieves.....unfortunately it's don't go. Sorry if that offends but the situation there is simply out of hand no matter how careful you are.

I have a cruise starting from Barcelona in June. I will fly into Barcelona the day before (only because I like to leave some lee way for flight delays) stay by the hotel and take a taxi to the cruise terminal. Call me whatever you want but that's how I feel about the place.

Barcelona is a wonderful place, but there is a definite theft problem--not a violence problem.

I always wear my money belt and pay attention to what's going on around me.

The Subway/Metro. ALWAYS be alert, especially when you get off. I had left my train with my girlfriend who was wearing a small daypack...I knew there were more passengers behind us but didn't think much about it. Suddenly I looked around and an eastern Europens theif had her hand right inside the bag - almost down to the bottom. I confronted her and it appeeared she was accompanied by 2 other women. She mumbled a bunch of words in Romanian and I told her to f**K off before I smashed her face in. On reflection a rash thing to do as she could have been (and almost certainly was) part of a larger gang.

My advice, when in a crowd, LWAYS keep valuables safe...wear a daypack on your front rather than your back, and don't leave any valuables visible.

I’ve been to Barcelona twice and will return next month. To be fair and honest I suggest common sense, the same that you would apply in any big city. I am particularly careful with the gypsies; I simply don’t let them get too close! And a firm no and making eye contact always helps. Try to be aware of your surroundings and I will definitely steer clear from the Gothic Quarter at night, it’s like getting lost in a maze! I would like to add that we used the metro every day and night and it felt very safe. If you are out late at night a taxi ride is the best bet back to your hotel.

Just back from an 8 night stay in Barcelona and never felt unsafe at any time. Just use common sense. My wife carried a purse and I carried a small bag from PacSafe (great little bag...zippers lock, unslashable, etc...). I usually kept my wallet in my bag and carried some change and small bills in my front pants pocket. Also carried my iphone in my other front pants pocket.

We walked all over the city and also rode the metro. We were just observant all of the time, but never encountered anything that would remotely resemble an unsafe situation.

Never saw any packs of gypsies (as we saw in Paris and London). We would often find ourselves walking around Eixample after 11:00pm and again never felt unsafe.

Just be aware of your surroundings and try not to look like a typical tourist and you should have a great (and safe)time.

Barcelona is a wonderful place, but there is a definite theft problem--not a violence problem.>

well there are more than a few muggings which if it happened to you like it did to a dear friend of mine in Madrid (plagued also by street crimes against tourists) you'd call it violent.

Google Barcelona and Muggings and you'll get many more hits than for anyplace in Europe - well along with Madrid. There are pickpockets and clever thieves in many cities like Paris who will steal you blind without you knowing it but in Barcelona unfortunately this is not always the case and you end up like mine friend - bruised and bloodied after the assault.

Wear a money belt and a body cross purse. Learn a little Spanish and don't take any cr@p from anyone.

My husband and I were in Barcelona. I went inside a store along La Rambles . The owner told my husband that I had stolen something and wanted him to pay for what I "had stolen." I came back and told the creep to call the police, right now and we'll get this settled straight away. Boy! He ticked me off. I caused a little scene and started telling other tourist what had happened, only when his store sufficiently cleared out, did I accept his apology.

Other than that, not much else happened. I didn't like La Rambles anyway.

sorry for my spelling las ramblas.

There is such a mix of opinions, from its fine just use common sense to, its horrible.

Must be a slow month - usually the topic of Barcelona safety gets alot more posts. You may want to use the search option and find a longer thread.

But my opinion is you are most at risk for theft on the metro - esp. in the crowded, main stations. The ne'er-do-wells are as likely to appear as business folks as the more recognizable gypsies. Be esp. on guard if there is any sort of a blockage - getting on or off the metro or on the elevators. Their SOP is for one person to create a snarl and for others to be "fishing" thru pockets and bags.

I think there is some violent crime and muggings but it is much less frequent than the pick-pocketing. I would never skip Barcelona because of the theft problems BUT either carry your stuff super-secure, under your clothes or better yet IMO, limit what you carry so if you happen to be a target they do not get all your credit cards or cash. These theives are professionals and they are pretty darn good at their jobs - I would never assume that I am too saavy to be a target but I can make sure that my trip is not ruined if they happen to "bump into!" me.