that is funny. Taller de Tapas is one that members of this forum said to avoid

This has been a VERY (and much longer than I would have expected in some ways) interesting thread to read.

I can only add that i have been to Barcelona more than a few times and the first time I ever went I stayed in the very heart of the Gothic Quarter at the Hotel Colon even though a LOT of people here said it was the worst hotel and the worst place to stay, blah, blah, blah.

Then, as now, I have found the Gothic Quarter interesting if not jammed with both visitors from the US as well as a lot of other countries. It is true that some of the streets are like alleyways but they can also be some of the most interesting. The biggest "danger" I have ever experienced was during one of the local religious festivals when fireworks were being set off IN some of those alleyway-like streets and the sparks, etc., were literally bouncing off the walls.

I've stayed in many other locations since including the GAYxample (as the "expansion" area is known by many locals and lately I have actually stayed right ON the dreaded Las Ramblas and in a hotel which does not admit noise or snobs. You have to realize that ALL of these areas are part of Barcelona...the REAL one so I hope you enjoy your stay.

Eixample is a VERY large part of the city...I have never heard my friends from Barcelona
call it anything else but Eixample

There is only a tiny part of Eixample that has been dubbed that by some people. I believe it is on or around Balmes north of Gran Via. Looked pretty tame to me. (We stayed in an apt not far away earlier this year)

The area that has the most gay bars and clubs in Eixample is near Calle Diputacio and Arago streets along with Calle Balmes and Villaroel .

My gay friends prefer Barcenoleta!

.

Danon and Ekscrunchy..DO LIGHTEN UP, OK..the area IS what it IS whether YOUR friends agree or use the slang/jargon or not and those of us who ARE GAY know that.

Perhaps , 300.000 people who live in Eixample have not yet been informed about the change .
For some reason, all the maps and Google, still display
the " old " name .
How odd

danon,

Most people don't wander around train stations at night, and I don't think Milan has a pickpocketing problem of any significant concern. Rome does (despite its not quite being a Mediterranean port, it shares some characteristics), and were the OP going to Rome, I think we would all identify for her the places to be most on alert.

But walking around the vast majority of Italian cities at night poses none of the concerns a visitor must take into account in Barcelona at all hours of the day. Venice, Verona, Torino, Siena, Firenze, Bologna -- and the list just goes on and on, are Italian cities that host millions of foreign tourists and business travelers every year with next to zero reports of theft on the street at any hour of the day. Most European cities that are tourist destinations are the same. I tend to think someday Barcelona will also get a grip on the problem.

not sure how many tourists have been robed in Santander, Bilbao, Segovia,
San Sebastian, Cordoba, Salamnca , Malaga, Ronda.......

I realize people don't wonder around train stations at night, but the problem of pickpockets in Milano
( and Madrid)
has been a subject of the BBC documentary not long ago.

danon,

I just did some googling and found the story to which you are referring. I don't know what you consider "not long ago", but it was a program aired in 2009 reporting on a pickpocketing situation in Milan in 2007 that was broken by governmental intervention, and the bbc's only footage of Milan showed children begging, not pickpocketing. The subject of the program was about subordinating Romanian children into illegal activities.

You may consider these trivial points, and I don't wish to suggest that people should be lax traveling through major train stations in Europe (or America). But people need to know that an special problem with street theft exists throughout Barcelona at all hours of the day -- not Santander, Bilbao, Segovia, San Sebastian, Cordoba, Salamanca, Malaga, Ronda -- but BARCELONA

It also exists in other Mediterranean port cities like Naples, Palermo and Marseilles. (Genoa is becoming a problem as it gets more popular as a cruise ship port).

Tourists planning a trip often say "I have lots of big city street smarts so I'm not very worried." That approach is just fine for Milan. You need an extra level of preparedness to deal with Barcelona's much larger determined population of thieves who make their living targeting visitors to the city.

Barcelona is not just like "any city with pickpocketers". Barcelona IS the world capital for the best and most pickpocketers everywhere; not Naples, not Rome, not Bogota: BARCELONA. To make it worse the attitude of the authorities could not be more lax; I was pickpoketed in Barcelona, attempted to filled out a report at 3 police stations. One was closed (located right above a metro station!!!), the other two were incredible crowded with dozens and dozens of people filling out pickpocketing reports (one clerk taking in info; took hours). I actually stood in a corner at Las Ramblas to watch if I could see them in action and I was amazed. Pickpocketers often work as a group effort. I was amazed how distracted people get whenever there was a "street performer". Sure enough, pickpocketers were in action like vultures around those.

Anyone who cites Rick Steves as a recommendation for anything especially art and food, knows little about either.

I saw the doc on Milano last year... Good to know that the city is now pickpockets free .
I mentioned small Spanish towns because they are safe for tourists as are Siena, Padua, Florence .

The exchanges about Barcelona have been going on on Fodors for a while; posters who have had a bad experience are understandably bitter , the others who enjoyed ( and love) the city
are defensive.
I still would not say it is perfectly safe to wonder in the alleys of all European cities known as tourist destinations.
In many years of travel I only had only two unpleasant encounters ( in a location I shouldn't have been in) - both in the middle of the day: one in Prague and the other, of all places, a suburb of
Stockholm.


In

Ok, while we are on the subject, here is a fairly informative, if a bit hysterical, tv program from National Geographic about pickpockets in Naples. It shows them in action and is useful in knowing how to protect yourself in any urban area where this problem exists. It airs again in the US on December 31 in the afternoon. Do your best to ignore Bob Arno, the "Vegas pickpocket" expert.


http://natgeotv.com.au/tv/inside-pickpocket-king/

ekscrunchy - Thanks for the link on the NG episode on pickpockets. Will be getting ready for New Years Eve (at our house) so doubtful I'll see it, but hopefully can see it online after, if not on 12/31. Hopefully there is some useful info about protecting ourselves from the determined professionals.

Danon, you are so right about posters with bad experiences vs. those who have been in BCN (or other Euro cities) without incident. I don't want to travel in fear, but you can't be too arrogant & assume that lack of bad experiences = exceptional street smarts/preparedness. It helps, as does knowing which areas require extra vigilance (hence my original post), but determined thieves can hit anyone & anytime, as you attest. I'm still trying to improve my odds, while not seeing BCN from a highrise hotel or from the inside of a locked limo. My original question has generated more comment & divergent views than I ever expected (I was hoping for a simple "yes, BG is fine - have a great time!)

I realize I am responding rather late, but just wanted to add that we visited Barcelona in October 2010 for 5 days & never had any problems with pickpockets, thieves,etc. I realize that other people have had problems but FWIW, we did not. We used the metro, the buses & cabs, & never any problems. If you are concerned about using the metro, cabs were quite reasonble & plentiful. We stayed in Eixample, unfortunately had an issue with our hotel, but the location is great, central, very pretty with wide boulevards & safe. However, I really like the Barri Gotic because of its narrow, cobbled streets, its quaintness, etc. & the BG really does remind me of what I think most Americans' perception/image is of old Europe. We were there a lot during the day but I don't think we were there late at night - not deliberately because we were afraid, but only because of other plans. I remember thinking I would love to stay in Barri Gotic next time.

Have you researched the El Born neighborhood? I remember liking that area, too, & an acquaintance stayed at Hotel Banys Oriental in El Born & really liked it & felt safe.

Restaurants: We liked Taller de Tapas, so not sure why some people don't like it. However, our FAVORITE restaurant was Cerverseria Catalana in Eixample. We ate there twice & I strongly recommend it. If you wish, you can click on my name to read my trip report. I give names & addresses of other restaurants we enjoyed as well.

This thread was very interesting to read. Let us know which hotel you decide on. We carry very little cash with us; my husband uses a money belt that he wears on his neck; I use a travel bag that I bought at REI that I wear across my chest & supposedly has a fool-proof strap (can't cut it). 0f course I don't know if it works because so far we haven't had problems, even in Prague which some people claim is the other pickpocket capital.

Also, my daughter studied in Barcelona for 4 months last year & she never had any problems either. Obviously, people who never had bad experiences have a different perspective, as danon stated.

Thanks, Kwoo. Too late for tonight but I'll check out your trip report. I'm always lax about restaurant plans, and would like to go a bit more prepared, so your report will be a big help. Thanks in advance. Haven't booked it yet, but will probably stay at Hotel Catedral Barcelona, a block or two from the Catedral in BG. And hopefully we'll be careful and get lucky and have a great trip.

I loved staying in Eixample. If I ever return I think I would try the El Born area, just for a different vibe

The Gothic Quarter and El Raval definitely have reputations for a reason. I wouldn't classify these neighborhoods as "dangerous", no, but caution should definitely be had if you choose them.

You might, instead, consider staying in the dripping-with-elegance Eixample neighborhood (specifically, the "Dreta de l'Eixample"), just "above" Barcelona's Gothic Quarter and only a few minute's walk. This area is safe, beautiful, very well-maintained, and residential while still being close to everything. Here, there are several hotels and many inexpensive "hostales", too. I nearly exclusively stay in this area although I've also stayed along Las Ramblas a couple times, too.

Staying in the heart of the Gothic Quarter certainly gives you a different vibe, that's totally true, and has the best bars and clubs, too.

Best of luck and enjoy your stay in Beautiful Barcelona!

Saludos, BarcelonaMan/MadridMan @ you-know-where!!

Thanks MadridMan. Barcelona is the only city in which I have not yet made a reservation - am still wavering. I will check out some hotels in the area you suggest & see what looks interesting. Thanks for your input. Imagine I'll be very happy to be done thinking/planning, and to be in Barcelona enjoying it all!