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Las Ramblas not safe?
Hi, I'm reading about people being nervous in the Las Ramblas area and that's where I was planning on staying with my young girls. Is this a seedier area?
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I'm not necessarily certain I would call it "seedy" depending on your definition of that term.
Las Ramblas, the portion below the Placa Catalunya, is a very busy place into the later hours and during the day has lots of flower stalls, bird sellers, some shell games, plenty of "living statues" and the like. It also has high end hotels such as LeMeridien, the fabulous (interior) Barcelona Opera House, and so forth. Some people feel it is noisy and others simply enjoy the atmosphere. If you are looking for a super quiet and sedate area of Barcelona this isn't it. |
Sorry, islandmom...I misread your post..didn't realize you are finding "seedy" and "unsafe" as always coincidental.
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Pretty safe for people; not so for property. Carry nothing that you can't do without.
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We stayed at a hotel along the Ramblas last spring. It is a popular area for tourists to stroll and, as Dukey said, take in the atmosphere. There are many reports on this forum about pick pockets in this area. We took the usual travel precautions of wearing money belts to carry our major cash, credit cards, i.d.; carrying limited amounts of cash in my purse and in my husband's wallet; and being alert as to our surroundings.
Our hotel was not noisy. We did not feel unsafe. We enjoyed strolling the Ramblas. |
I remember part of the street closer to the water (not the Placa Catalunya end) as being a touch seedy. I personally woud not stay on Las Ramblas; it is very crowded, noisy, and lined with more than a few chain restaurants and the crowds they attract. Just my own personal taste. I have not been in 5 years and things may be different today.
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No, it hasn't changed from your visit five years ago...it was more or less like that one year ago when I was last there.
I'm not necessarily in agreement as to the quality of the "crowds" attracted by chain restaurants...a different issue for me. |
Dukey, I probably should not have written that part of my statement! Shall we say the street is not totally seedy but somewhat unsalubrious in parts?
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Tourists generally stop before they get down to the part of Las Ramblas nearest to the sea which is a bit seedy. Most people are very unadventurous - if there's nothing the guidebook says is a "must see" then they don't explore.
As for the rest of it. The name might give the impression of a small narrow rambling sort of thoroughfare - it's actually a wide boulevard. Yes, lots of tatty shops and street entertainers etc. I didn't much like it - can't imagine why anyone would want to stay in a hotel ON IT. Tons of much much nicer places to stay in areas that are still central. But it's perfectly safe. Why shouldn't it be? |
The Ramblas starts at the Placa Catalunya and runs to the water.
Down by the water, it can get iffy at night. It is an excellent point of reference for mnay sites in Barcelona. If you like to be in the middle of the nosie and action the Ramblas is the place to stay. Once, and I am not sure why, we stayed at a hotel on the Ramblas and it was quite noisy. |
As people before have said very busy just watch your pockets but it is somewhere you have to go to see. You can not go to Barcelona without walking down there during the day.
Now I did find very late at night we are talking about 1am that one end had shall we say ladies of the night looking for punters. Now the next bit did surprise me and I do not want to alarm you but just make you aware of this. It is the only place I have visted where there was a couple of people on the street offering drugs very openly. They were a few iffy looking characters hanging around off Las Rambles. They were hnaging at the back of resturants and bars that seem to attract the vistors that were shall we say over form the UK for Stag weeeknds. No I do not mean strip joints but the Irish theme bar type of places. There was not loads but it did concern me. i was with a group and we just walked quicker to by pass them. It would not put me off going again, but I least I would be prepared. My own prefence and this is just my thoughts. I would not really want to stay on Las Ramblas as it is far too busy. I like to be in a busy part during the day and maybe evening, but when I go away I don't like to stay in the heart of things. I like to stay within walking distance or a short cab away from things.I would not miss the day time stroll the girls will love it. I am sure that plenty of people on this site have taken Children to bareclona and would better advise you on that. |
I think if you don't go to Las Ramblas at least once then you've missed a significant part of Barcelona...it does exist and is at least worth seeing.
OTOH...there are some much nicer restaurants on the <b>other side</b> of the Placa Catalunya and that part of Las Ramblas. As to why anyone would stay ON it???? I can think of a lot of people who might ask, "Why would you even consider staying OFF of it?" so that's one question to be answered depending on your tastes and interests. BOTTOM LINE, Islandmom...the chances of being assaulted or murdered are probably low; pickpocketing happens as much on the Metro in Barcelona as anywhere else. |
I recommend staying in the Exiample area, especially with your girls. We went to Las Ramblas one time and couldn't get out of there fast enough.
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The first two times I went (once alone) I stayed at the Majestic on Passeig de Gracia, which is the continuation of the Las Ramblas above the Placa de Catalunya. To me that was an ideal location - it felt very safe but was very close to the action.
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Sorry to throw this in, but so many people here seem to know the City.
We're considering staying at the AC Miramar in the Montjuic neighborhood. Is this too far out of the main stream for a 5 night visit? Thanks! |
. What is going to surprise me about Barcelona (positive or negative)?
148 responses; most recent on 08/04/20 check out the many unfortunately experiences and sage advice on this thread so you are not victimized - know the real problem and it may not affect you. Be naive and you could be robbed on the Ramblas or other places. Along with Madrid Barcelona seems to be the most crime-ridden city vis-a-vis tourists in Europe and many think local authorities are not reacting enough. |
BOTTOM LINE, Islandmom...the chances of being assaulted or murdered are probably low; pickpocketing happens as much on the Metro in Barcelona as anywhere else.
This is just misleading. Violent crime is almost non-existent. Yes there are pickpockets but that is far cry from murder. The Ramblas itself it is a high energy area where you will see many Catalans. It is near the Cathedral, Barrio Gotico, the Mercat, and other sites that are part and part of the Barcelona experience. |
You must visit Las Ramblas during the day - it is lively and full of characters. The flowers, birds and fruit market are something to see. It is perfectly safe as it is packed with tourists. Just be sensible and be aware of your valuables. Leave purses behind. Your young girls will love the sights. Best recommendation is not to stay on Las Ramblas - we stayed on Passeig de Gracia at the Hotel Condes de Barcelona which was brilliant and just a 10/15 minute walk to Las Ramblas. Its on a beautiful boulevard with smart shops and great tapas restaurants. Very safe area. Enjoy your trip - Barcelona is wonderful. Dont be put off by all this talk of the seediness of las Ramblas. You just dont need to go there at night as all the stalls etc are closed then. During the day it's just like any other tourist city - sightseers and tourist attractions! Enjoy.
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We (husband, 2 sons in their 20s, plus their partners) stayed in an apartment on Las Ramblas, right across from the opera house, for a week in spring '06. We really enjoyed sitting on the small balcony of our apartment in the morning and evening, watching the street scene below.
Benefits of that location: lots of activity--mornings started out quiet, then the action picked up and lasted into the late evening. A constantly changing array of street performers to watch (and, just as fun, the reactions of passersby). Pretty flower stalls. Walking distance to good shopping, and very close to the fabulous La Boqueria food market--don't miss it. Also right near the metro station so it was easy to get to other parts of the city. Drawbacks: lots of noise if the windows were open (not too bad if they were closed). Many other tourists walking up and down. Not as much of the "neighborhood" feeling as we usually like--it was much more commercial. I didn't feel unsafe. I definitely kept my eye on my bag when I had it with me--often I just left it in the apartment and carried essential money or a credit card in a front pocket. Late at night the lower part of the street, as other posters have said, did feel a bit sketchy, but we didn't hang out there. Our area seemed fine. When we return to Barcelona we will stay elsewhere, but being on the Ramblas for a week was definitely an interesting experience! |
<Violent crime is almost non-existent.>
OK if you don't call muggings a violent crime - read the post i refer to and you'll see several have been mugged |
Well a quick Google of Muggings in Barcelona yields pages and pages of the following: (I tried for cities like Paris and nearly none come up.) Anyone who denies the problem is apparently out of touch with the problem. I'm sure all the reports are exaggerations...
People to Avoid - Barcelona Warnings - VirtualTourist.com Barcelona is a safe European city in terms of serious crime. However, muggings of tourists involving little or no physical contact are a problem. ... http://www.virtualtourist.com/.../Ba...void-BR-1.html Be Aware! - Barcelona Warnings - VirtualTourist.com barcelona is a very safe city and it's very hard to get into any real trouble there. muggings are quite common but mostly happen in touristy areas so just ... http://www.virtualtourist.com/.../Sp...ware-BR-3.html - 94k - Cached - Similar pages Spain Fact Sheet - Travelers DigestMadrid and Barcelona, in particular, report incidents of muggings and violent attacks, and older tourists and Asian Americans seem to be particularly at ... www.travelersdigest.com/spain_fact_sheet.htm - 31k - Cached - Similar pages Fodor's Travel Guides | Forums Messages | What is going to ...Madrid and Barcelona, in particular, report incidents of muggings and .... That said, enough said - anyone who wants to google Barcelona Muggings can read ... http://www.berkeleyguides.com/forums...43&start=0 - 136k - Cached - Similar pages Barcelona Culture SurvivalBarcelona is one of the safest European cities in terms of serious crime. However, muggings of tourists involving little or no physical contact are a ... geographyfieldwork.com/Culture.htm - 13k - Cached - Similar pages Thwarting the PickpocketLas Ramblas in Barcelona: According to Commandant Miguel Lalom Clotet of the ... Mini-muggings occur in some areas, with Rolex watches being particularly ... www.bobarno.com/bata.htm - 28k - Cached - Similar pages Muggings - News - Times Topics - The New York TimesHarryette and Stanley Helsel letter on March 31 letter on muggings in Barcelona recalls instance in which rental car tire was punctured in parking lot of ... topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/subjects/m/muggings/index.html?offset=20& - 56k - Cached - Similar pages Barcelona Crime - New York TimesTo the Editor: In response to ''Barcelona Crime,'' (Letters on Travel, March 31), a reader's complaint about muggings in Barcelona, the director of the ... query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?sec=travel&res=9806E6DF1E3DF937A 25757C0A9649C8B63 - 52k - Cached - Similar pages Barcelona: Mugged! - TelegraphPere Duran, general director of the Barcelona tourist board, said that muggings in the city were being "combated in a decisive way". ... http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/ma...xml&page=2 - 44k - Cached - Similar pages Barcelona holiday reviews, Spain travel reviews and truth reports ...Barcelona is a wonderfull city except for the muggings. Both I and my friends were robbed by african women. What was amazing was the same women were outside ... http://www.myholidayreport.com/regio...pain/Barcelona |
From your sites Barcelona Field Center:
Barcelona is one of the safest European cities in terms of serious crime. The NY Times incident was from 1999. I noted that there are pick pockets but there is little violent crime and some poster mentioned MURDER. When I was there in May, I prepared. I had a neck pouch for my passport, which i did not wear everyday. And instead of carrying a wallet, I put my credit cards and license in a business card holder and kept in my front pocket. Maybe becasue I am life long New Yorker and live on the Lower East Side that I understand city life. But, yes, there is petty crime, but just be careful. |
<From your sites Barcelona Field Center:
Barcelona is one of the safest European cities in terms of serious crime.> Do you work for Fox Noise? I see you edited the statement and left off <However, muggings of tourists involving little or no physical contact are a problem> The full statement reads: <Barcelona is a safe European city in terms of serious crime. However, muggings of tourists involving little or no physical contact are a problem> "MUGGINGS ARE A PROBLEM" and you don't have to be physically mugged if the intimidation of being mugged causes the same" Do i have it right? You spent a few days in Barcelona and can assure folks that muggings are not a problem? |
islandmom,
I have posted almost the same question myself about three weeks ago and got very similar responses from some of the same people that you have. I have returned from Barcelona only this afternoon and this is my experience. First I would like to say that all of the advice these users give you is very good, all valid points some based on personal experience some I think maybe not and I'm forever grateful for all of it. Listen to all the advice and act on it!! We found Las Ramblas to be very busy (but not as busy as expected) and full of every sort of person (and yes that includes people that looked wasted) and every race and colour under the sun. I was told to be on my guard, only take what you need, avoid Gypsy's and get a get a money belt, I did all of these things and to be honest I was a bit paranoid without good need I think. My wife and I walked up and down Las Ramblas about a dozen times both day and night and we never had any problems, the vision of gangs of robbers roaming Barcelona simply did not exsist, don't misunderstand me I'm sure people get robbed but not on scale you think. We even saw one old lady about 70 with a walking stick in one hand and purse in the other and nobody and I mean nobody even gave her a second glance and we must have followed her for 10 mins, I probably looked more suspect watching her every move in case somthing happened!!! We saw nothing more shocking than a few derro's sleeping of too much of somthing in the odd doorway, in fact the only time I felt threatend in any way was when three p**sed up English tourists walk passed us shouting and being English whilst we waited for a taxi. We never even saw a Gypsy, what we did see were children out (with parents) until late at night and loads of uniformed police. The bottom line is this, do all the things like get a money belt and keep your guard up and don't get involved in the sea shells game, but don't let it spoil it for you because it really isn't that bad. Go and make sure you visit the gothic quater, it's superb. I feel more uneasy walking around my home town of Manchester and that is the truth. If you want more advice or experiences of mine then feel free to email me. [email protected] |
PalenQ, you should have lived some years in Barcelona then...and that's why you "assure folks that muggings are a problem".
There are muggins in Barcelona ? yes You have to be careful of your belongings ? yes It is Barcelona a safe city ? yes |
An independent observor will realize that muggings are a problem there - Google it yourself there are literally pages and pages and pages
not so for any other city, except Madrid yes that my lovely sister-in-law was violently mugged early on a Sunday morning influences me to warn others and i've had reliable reports from many others with similar fates. sorry but that's my take and i don't have to live there to realize that. It's a crime itself that local authorities don't do something about it. My objection to the original comment was her assuring folks that muggings were rare - well they may be for the average citizen but not for naive tourists it seems. Read the threads i refer to on Fodor's and some locals who do live there concur in my assessment. Are American cities more dangerous - yes a thousand times more and it's a national disgrace. Just in Barcelona read the warnings and take precautions and you will have a nice trip in one of the world's finest finest cities. But anyone who says it is not a problem i believe is not giving the true story. I may be wrong but that's what my investigations tell me. |
PalenQ
I'm sure there are pickpockets and such, but from what I've seen in the last two days it's nowhere near as bad as it's made out to be. |
You are right. I have only been Barcelona three times once for a month and the other two for a week each.
I did not go through all your sites but I suspected that the incidents were spread out over a period of time. In May I was an apartment in El Raval. Your site Barcelona Field Study calls the El Raval Urban Regeneration. I am not denying their is street crime I am only trying to minimize the anxiety of violent crime. |
Yes, of course it is a problem. And of course every local will want to get rid of the problem...just the same as I suppose every local doesn't like such kind of things happen in his place. And of course..you can't be so naive to ignore it and go walking any city as if you were walking in the countryside.
But PalenQ, I think you really are putting things a bit out of context. I mean, there are millions of visitors in Barcelona (tourists and spaniards from other places ) and even if you find 20,000 articles on the net about it...it's still a little number. Crime exists of course, but fortunately is not the usual thing that happens to you when you travel to Barcelona. |
kenderina
Well said, and as for the powers that be not doing anything about it, from the amount of police I saw they are!!! |
All these posts are surely putting islandmom off going to Barcelona full stop. If you travel to any city there is a risk of getting mugged. That is the state of the world right now. You just need to be aware and streetwise when travelling anywhere. Rome, Naples, London, Paris, New York - need I go on ... If we all research and worry before travelling we'd never go anywhere. Stop googling everything in life and just go with an open mind - you will love the city and the culture and especially the architecture. Less research and more spontaneity and you will be pleasantly surprised. Armed with all these negative responses you wouldn't want to leave your home for fear of muggings. Google your hometown and I'm sure "muggings" will have happened at some stage. Enjoy life and take a chance on a new destination.
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Well..the powers try...I too think that they should go a step futher into this..because most of this problem has another roots (illegal inmigration, mafia groups which came from ex soviet countries...) and this can develop into a big problem which the least important part..would be a tourist losing his passport.
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If the OP is put off from going to Barcelona by these posts that is unfortunate and there is little some of us can do except to voice our own ideas based on personal experience.
The OP said she was "reading about people getting nervous..." Some people "get nervous" about any and everything. I am sorry but I do NOt think the area around the opera house is "seedy" and as I said in my OP, the definition of seedy as well as what that really means can be highly variable. There may be some people who actually think the area I live in with its multi-million dollar homes is "seedy" so after a while replies to posts which utilize highly variable definitions begin having lower and lower rates of return. Since the OP has failed to respond, even to voice a "thank you" I'll leave the remainder to others and move on. |
<This is just misleading. Violent crime is almost non-existent.>
this is all i was objecting to - i think indeed that statement is mid-leading and i'd say yes to islandmom - go the chances are you will have a lovely time - but leave the expensive Rolex or jewels around the neck at home. I understand the problem of overhyping the situation and as i said perhaps i'm still angered at my sweet tiny sister-in-law being dragged into a gutter and for about two minutes the attacker struggled to get her daypack off and she struggled to get it off too to give to him but could not. Nearby shopkeepers stood by and did nothing - not even call 911 or whatever. I admit that may cause me to over react but indeed there are many other similar cases and i've never heard of any in other cities. In fairness my sis-law was attacked in Madrid but i think it's a similar situation. I've said what i said and i'll leave it to you all to say there is no problem. |
Oh, I don't have anything exciting to steal. I was more worried about exposing my kids to anything. It is a high-end hotel. I'm also looking at a resort location 40 miles out for a couple of days.
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I have to agree with Palenque. To say that Barcelona is like "any other big city" is an understatement. Sorry, but its is. I was in Barcelona last year. I wasn't mugged but in the space of a couple of hours, I talked with 2 different persons that had been! Statistically, what are the chances of that???
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Has PalenQ been to Barcelona?
This post is dividing nicely into people who are savvy, well-travelled and open minded, as well as being realistic about big cities anywhere (chances of being mugged remote but keep your wits about you) and those that have persuaded themselves it's a bad place and nothing anyone can say will budge them from their pre-conceived prejudice. The bottom line, of course, is that it's too dangerous for you then don't go. Stay at home amidst the daily shootings. |
So you have read the postings and taken everything in to account. As people have said it can be a bit iffy, and a lot of big tourists cities have iffy bits. It does not look like you will be wandering around late at night when the bars kick out, as you have 2 little ones with you. ( before someone says pick pockets operate any time of the day I am referring to the ladies of the night looking for punters).
To quote islandmom " I was more worried about exposing my kids to anything. It is a high-end hotel." As long as you do not mind maybe having a room over a very busy place and have no problem sleeping throught it then you should be fine. |
hi ya,
myself and my gilfriend went to barcalona in september last year, on speaking to the locals we were adviced that violent crime was nearly none existent, however we were advised to watch are belongings as that was supposed to be the most common crime. not at any point did either of us feel intimidated, even at night. we were advised that there is a "china town" area and this was worth a miss!! to be honest i think it was no worse than anywere else i have been, you just simply need to remember to pack your brain, things like dont leave your camera on the table when eating, and keep your bag safe. the actual Ramblas was fantastic, packed with street artists and flower sellers, also packed with places to eat. it is a really busy place and never seems to go to sleep. hope this helps and you enjoy your holiday. LL |
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