Madrid--Is it safe??????
 

I have been reading guide books and all state that Madrid is a hot bed of crime. Is this true? How bad is the crime? Is there a lot of theft? I am planning on going in April of 2009 and wonder if I should change my plans. Please advise.
Thank you,
Jo Jo

"I have been reading guide books and all state that Madrid is a hot bed of crime."
could you list a few guide books
that make that statement????

Hi j,

I think the guide books are telling you something as maybe you should simply stay home.

In two days in Madrid our tour group of 49 people was successfully pickpocketed 3 times. I suppose a 6% chance ain't all that bad. Seriously, everywhere we went concerned locals warned us to watch our stuff and to be sure our cameras and bags were slung in front of us. The residents of Madrid seemed highly embarassed about what is going on. The good news is that we didn't hear much about violent crime.

Oh, and by the way, we still had a great time. We never felt threatened our scared. You simply need to be alert at all times.

Don't know if this is any relief, but Barcelona certainly looked and felt more dangerous than Madrid: less police, more riff-raff, dirtier and darker subways... On our visit, we survived Madrid easily, but were robbed in Barcelona.

Pickpockets are the main worry, in Madrid and many other European cities. I would combat them by carrying your passport, your credit cards, and other valuables in a money belt or in the zippered inside pockets of travel clothes. Violent street crime is less of a problem.

an acquaintance of mine was seriously mugged while in Madrid - does that make Madrid unsafe, no. I live in NYC - at least one violent crime occurs every day in my fair city. (not that this is a competition) Be aware but don't be overly defensive or paranoid You're more likely to get roughed up here at Fodor's than Madrid.

The 2 of us spent a week in Madrid and were never pickpocketed.

Nothing happened in 10 days in Rome either.( another " hotbed of crime"!)

The residents of those cities often blame the influx of immigrants for the rising crime rate. Who knows?

Be careful, like you should be in any big city, and you will be o.k.

I won't change plans! I have been lucky enough to spend a fair bit of time in Madrid over the last decade, and have never been pickpocketed or whatever. There are good and shady areas like anywhere. Just be aware of where you are. And use common sense like not to count cash in the middle of the street!!etc.

>>The residents of those cities often blame the influx of immigrants for the rising crime rate. Who knows?<<

So why are you repeating scurrilous statements like that? Do people who get robbed in a foreign country feel less robbed when they are told it was an immigrant?

I have not been to Madrid, but we were warned to be very careful in Paris,especially on the Metro.
We had no issues at all. I left my passport and most everything of value in the hotel safe. I carried only some daily money and one credit card. I was very aware of my surroundings in the metro and the people around me. We looked like tourists and my DH has a huge camera. No one looked at us. We walked all around the city and saw gypsies and some scams (the gold ring). One approached my DH and asked if he spoke English, he said no.
I also heard bad things about Barcelona and my my mother in law was there in July and said it was beautiful and she had no problems.

I think it is potluck. Be aware of your surroundings. Don't carry your stuff on you unless it is in a moneybelt under your clothes. Don't wear flashy jewelry. Don't stay out late at night and then walk home, take the cab. Also, learn what areas to stay away from and don't go there.
My daughter is dying to go to Spain and someday we will make it there. I would say go and just take precautions just like you would in any large city anywhere. Learn as much as you can about Madrid before you travel.

"So why are you repeating scurrilous statements like that?"

What is your probem lady?
Kindly stop yelling at everyone here !

My friends in Rome made the comment, as well as our friends in Barcelona - both life long residents of their cities, and very decent people.

I'm not yelling. I asked a question.

People used to blame those things on Jews. Hardly a decent thing to do. That's "my problem," since you asked a question. Not that I'm Jewish. I'm an immigrant.

My feeling was that Madrid was perfectly safe. Barcelona had some crime, but nothing that would prevent me from returning. I was in Madrid for a month in January 2000 and for a few days in 2004. I never felt any apprehension there, either for my personal safety or for my belongings. By the way, I am a gray/white-haired female of 72.

I always carry money, passport and credit cards in a money belt, and I try to be aware of my surroundings.

Under no circumstances should you let rumors like this deter you from visiting. Personally, I plan on returning to Spain in early spring next year and traveling solo.

Actually, I really shouldn't imply that Jews don't get still blamed -- even killed. The recent beating death of a Romanian Jewish immigrant by supporters of the mayor of Verona -- decent guy, right? the mayor? -- was only the most visible beginning of an alarming trend of people casually repeating slurs against immigrants.

Newsweek had the story early:

http://www.newsweek.com/id/139019?tid=relatedcl

I was in Madrid and Barcelona in 2007. We walked about day and night, on side streets to a chocolate shop, in a busy crowded plaza to a street performance and to beautiful architecture lit up at night. We never wandered to secluded areas and were aware of our surroundings. We felt perfectly safe and we were safe. There is no difference in the big European cities than the United States.

The only time I have ever had my pocket picked was on the Metro in Barcelona and they were successful BECAUSE I was careless. I've been back since and will continue to go back.

As to Mardrid, it used to be that pickpockets worked the Sunday flea market..ideal conditions..very crowded, etc.

I've been to Madrid several times and have never felt unsafe and I doubt you will, either.

IMO, neither one of these places are a "hotbed of crime" which I think is an exaggeration.

And I agree that we have heard about immigrants and rising crime rates...HERE in the US!

IMO take the usual precautions and enjoy Madrid. It is a wonderful city (as is Barcelona).

fact:petty crime has increased GREATLY in spain since our HUGE influx of immigrants.

FACT: passion murders are sky high, MOST involving NON-spaniards.

Fact: Organized mafia crime has also found a comfortable base in spain which at times is being successfully dismantled by the police/guardia civil.

now if only or judicial system would back up this hard work with some quick tough sentences.

FACT: The mafia found it very easy to settle in spain due to the loopholes in our judicial system. ask them.
ask anyone who lives here.

FACT: i have been to madrid at least 20 times in the past two years and never been robbed. same for barcelona, but too many of my guests/clients have been victims for me to brush these warnings off lightly.

learn to be an aware traveller and you should be fine.

sorry about the tongued face...

How could you ?! Just kidding.

Lin, Not doubting what you say (after all, you live there) but is there any data to back it up? Some agency or the other must be tracking these. Just curious how bad or good it actually is.

I have been to Madrid many times, never pickpocketed. I was in Viana Do Castelo once and was pickpocketed. Conclusion?; be careful NO MATTER where you are.

In a synopsis, by all means GO TO MADRID. It is a fabulous city, violent crime is almost non-existent. Be aware of your surroundings; pretty simple, really.

We're going to be in Madrid at the end of the month, so of course, I've been reading guidebooks, and other than the typical warnings about pickpockets, none of the books I've read said anything remotely like "Madrid is a hotbed of crime" (Fodor's, Frommer's, Eyewitness, etc.). Be aware of your surroundings and your belongings. Don't be stupid. You'll be fine. (P.S. The closest anyone in our family has come to being successfully pickpocketed was on the Rome subway - my son - and he was stupid enough to push the guy when he realized (in time) what was happening. They got away, but he kept his wallet (and his life)).

Why is someone who has never even been to Madrid responding about crime in Paris? They aren't the same places. I've been to both, and I would say that on average, there probably is more crime in Spain (Madrid and Barcelona) than some other cities, like Paris -- as far as what relates to tourists.

I didn't have a problem in Madrid, but I know several people who did. People who are careless and get their attention diverted, have things easily accessible in purses or pockets, etc. need to really be careful. They shouldn't do those things anywhere, but all the people I talked to who were pickpocketed in madrid were the kind of people who were careless and clueless.

Didn't you just answer your own question. A) They shouldn't do that anywhere, and B) they were the kind of people who were careless and clueless.

Anyone telling you there are no special problems with crime in Madrid (or Barcelona) IMO simply does not know of what they are talking and are doing you a disservice.

Guidebooks are not always right but most do not print something about crime in a place unless it's really a problem

I have just now topped a thread MUGGED IN MADRID where you will read many experiences of crime in Madrid

This is of interest to me ever since a close relative of mine was violently mugged early on a Sunday morning in front of Atocha train station - she ended up bloodied and scarred - shopkeepers opening their shops stood by and did nothing.

There is a problem but if you know there is a serious problem then you may be able to take precautions to prevent it

Will you likely get robbed in Madrid? Not likely but it's a real possibility - much more than in most European cities. don't wear expensive jewelry, etc.

Google pickpockets or mugging in Madrid and you'll get hundreds of posts - do the same for paris or other cities and you'll get a handful.

<Under no circumstances should you let rumors like this deter you from visiting.>

Yes and these are not rumors in Madrid - not at all - take the 'rumors' seriously - very seriously

Hey PalenQ: What ever happened to that thread where you went on an insane cut-and-paste frenzy and copied every negative post about Spain from every travel message board you could find?

I was in Madrid alone in September 2007 and I had no problems. I LOVED Madrid. It was beautiful during the day and the architecutre of the old buildings was beautiful.

I'm not sure what you're reading, but I think it's hyperbole. I read about Madrid before I went and I didn't see anything stating that Madrid was anymore dangerous than any other city. As a woman traveling alone, I took the same precautions I'd take anywhere by myself.

I hope you don't change your plans, Madrid has much to offer.

Bridget

Pete R

you are wrong about every negative thing ever said about Spain

it was only about the crime that authorities do nothing about and yes there was a whole lot to copy

thanks for remembering - i'll try to dig it up

but i'm not anti-spain as you suggest just when my dear friend was so abused and mugged and then i hear so many other documented cases i wonder why local authorities don't crack down - like Berlosconi is in Italy - i guess if it had not happened to my dear friend i would not be on a mission but i am and will until it seems local police do something about it. Yeh will seem overly zealous to you but it ain't anti-spanish

and in the Barcelona crime thread and Madrid Muggings thread you will note quite a few locals who basically said the same thing

"anyone telling you there are no special problems with crime in Madrid (or Barcelona) IMO simply does not know of what they are talking and are doing you a disservice."


a bit presumptuous , no?

Bridget, how did you travel around town (subway, bus, taxi)?

yoghurt - read the Mugged in Madrid thread before commenting please

dmlove -

I walked, took the open tour bus and used cabs in the evening. I used cabs in the evening because I wasn't always sure of how to get where I was going and didn't want to wander into an unknown area at night.

Once I got where I was going I generally walked around the area.

I didn't use the subway at all. Madrid was relatively compact and I found I was able to get around to where I wanted to go pretty easily. I stayed in a lovely hotel on the Gran Via - Hotel Atlantico.

It was in a great location and so I was able to get around without too much trouble.

Happy to see that Europeans like to blame immigrants and minorities for crime problems, too!

To the OP, I would take the normal precautions, but didn't find Madrid to be or feel unsafe in any real way.

As far i as i can tell it is mainly immigrant drug addicts that perpetrate most of the crime on tourists in Madrid and Barcelona. And i pity them - they are doing what they have to to survive

whether it's anti-immigrant to state this is obviously foolish

and Americans often hear at home folks blaming the Hispanic illegals for crime sprees and use that as a reason to limit immigration - at least in this case i think it is not true

but i'd wager a lot of the street muggings and pickpocketing in Madrid is done by immigrants - if that makes me a racist then so be it

PalenQ wrote: "As far i as i can tell it is mainly immigrant drug addicts that perpetrate most of the crime on tourists in Madrid and Barcelona."

How far can you tell? Do you have a sufficient number of personal observations, or have you access to reliable data? Or do you simply rely on the cardiovisual method?

If I project from my own experience, there is no street crime anywhere.

There has always been lots of petty crime in Madrid, mainly pickpockets, purse snatching type stuff. However, Ive noticed lately petty crime is more 'accepted' now. What I mean is that the moral code against such behavior is breaking down in Spain and among the Spainards. Almost as if it is now an acceptable line of work to pickpocket an American or Northern European and even legitimate professions now routinely extort tourists.
It is worrisome

these pots end up going no where.

i am unaware of where to find the official statistics.but from television, debates on tv, newspaperes, and the news, comments from victimized friends and family ( my daughter was just hassled for 40 minutes on and off an aboveground tram by a group of young foreign girls trying to scare her to death and rob her)..

EVERYONE who lives here takes extreme caution and tells their friends and children HOW to be careful, and from WHERE not to take the metro home.. etc.etc.

but NOT going to anywhere has never entered my mind. if cautioning travellers is going to keep them from travelling somewhere, perhaps then, ignorance is bliss.

and BTW, the 112 and police were called to attend this agression problem on the tram by my daughter AND me, and NOTHING was done. no one helped ehr. people got off.. and when she got off, they followed her.

really the pits that day.

i think we were supposed to wait until she was beaten or actually robbed to ask the police to get involved.

very frustrating.

i agree with Lincasanova. I suffered it a year ago in the Madrid metro and it was confirmed to me by many Madrileños .Sadly it is not only in Madrid where the influx of foreigners that now travel freely within the EU (+ others)has changed things and not for the better.
Nevertheless I would go back to Madrid anytime but I would avoid the Metro and be most careful. Very careful.
One could say that this is a prejudiced point of view however when you visit for instance Tordesillas, Spain and the cafe in the main sq., the hairdresser, and many locals tell you that they have been robbed by the newcomers....what is there to imply?. In those little towns everybody knows everybody and they lived fairly in peace before.