We (2* 66 years old) will be in Madrid beginning of September. We were invited to stay in a friend friend's apartment which is on Cale Velarde. Recently I saw some comments stating that it is not advisable safety wise to stay North of Gran Via. Should one avoid this area? If so, are tourists attacked, robbed more often here? Is it dangerous only at night? We would like to be able to be out at night and walk home without being afraid or having to take taxis after dark. I'd appreciate some candid input regarding this specific area.

Sorry, but whoever is making such tall tales was either making them up or doesn't know what they're are talking about and should be horse whipped at the very least. You'll be staying on the edge of the Chueca district of Madrid, the Gay district, which is typically very safe, day and night. We've walked those streets late at night on numerous occasions.

You'll also be staying near the Museo de Historia de Madrid, which is worth a visit.

I think your friend would know about the area the apartment is in in. What have they said?
To add to Robert's advice I would also say just be as aware of your surroundings as when you are in any city.

If you are careful, as you would be anywhere else when traveling, you will not have a problem. I have found people everywhere helpful, but, of course, thieves and those who take advantage of tourists are everywhere--including the United States.

I have a Pac Safe purse that closes firmly making it very difficult to access for pickpockets. I bought it after I was pickpocketed in Marseilles years ago. Works.

You will then be 50-100 meters from Bohemian Plaza del Dos de Mayo, in memory of the very important Madrid uprising against French troops on the 2 of May 1808. One of Hemingawy's favourite parts of Madrid and no need for special worries at all.
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractio...yo-Madrid.html

The district surrounding the square is known as Malasaña in memory of one of the heroines of the revolt, the teenager Manuela Malasaña, who was executed by French troops in the aftermath of the revolt.

The revolt inspired two of the most famous paintings in Spanish art history, Goya's "The Second of May 1808" and "The Third of May 1808". You can see them both in El Prado.
http://www.museodelprado.es/en/the-c...cipe-pio-hill/

The area was the center of the so called Movida Madrileña in the 80's when Madrid and Spain left the Franco years for good. Malasaña is now not least known for great nightlife.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malasa%C3%B1a

I also suggest that taking a taxi late at night is definitely worth every penny. We are taught here to be aware of anyone coming close to you when you are going to open the apartment street door to the lobby. This is a time when if someone HAS been following you, they will take advantage to push themselves inside and do their business away from public view. This is how many young women have been raped inside their own building in the lobby/elevator.

I prefer the bus over the metro. And we do not stroll much at night outside of busy areas.

Think about it. Would you feel comfortable strolling in some parts of New york/Chicago/ LA/Seattle after dark? Madrid is no different and probably less dangerous but one still needs to use common sense, which at times, I think, some tourists lack as they are so enamored with the experience.

I'm all for safety purses, etc. but I don't think that is what saves you from the event. Residents in Madrid don't wear safety purses. They live a safe routine and know where they are going and what looks strange or uncomfortable to them. A tourist does not have that comparison and sometimes gets sucked into a false sense of security .. so.. be careful. enjoy your stay and you will be fine. I have never been robbed anywhere here in Spain in 42 years and I do not own a safety purse. But I try not to tempt fate.

A little more about Malasaña, a local feel and not touristy area. http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractio...na-Madrid.html

Malasaña and La Chueca has got a reputation for being Madrid's most lively shopping district that "combine both originality and the avant-garde. Specifically, the section made up of little streets perpendicular to Fuencarral and Hortaleza streets is a shoppers’ paradise".
http://www.softguides.com/madrid_gui...ne.html#chueca

Sorry - there are a lot of areas in the US where it is NOT safe to walk the streets at night - including large parts of New Orleans, Detroit an a lot of other large cities. The last time we were in NO the hotel concierge gave very specific instructions about areas we were not to walk in (only a couple of blocks from the hotel) and to stay in groups after dark.

Odd to me - since most areas of NYC are very safe.

But agree you have to have your wits about you at all times - and never let strangers into any building you are living in.

Thanks for the many answers. I am fully aware of the common sense rules that one needs to use in any new place regardless of the country.

What I was trying to find out from locals is if this specific area is less safe within Madrid than other areas in Madrid. Nothing "forces" me to stay there. So is this area considered less safe (for tourists in particular) than other central areas in Madrid at night? Are there reasons to have to be a lot more "careful" as a tourist at night in this area than in other central areas in Madrid?

No reason to be more careful here. Great nightlife area, so there will be people out and about into very late all days. Would perhaps be more concerned about the noise, there are some 5-6 late night bars in relatively short Calle Velarde.

The street is fine with some fun vintage shops and I remember a teashop.My favorite place for breakfast and to buy bread is very close on C/Fuencarral 95, Le Pain Quotidien next to the church-coffee in huge round cups and then you get a voucher for your next vist 50% off next cup!
Google the street and don't be put off by all the graffiti-it's everywhere!
Madrid is easy to walk to just about anywhere but you will be close to a bus stop.Buy a 10 ticket and share it.
In September it will still be light after 9PM but if you stay out super late take a taxi.
After many visits to Madrid, the only area I don't like- day or night- is Lavapies but you are far away from there!

I haven't been in the Chueca district that much, but the area immediately north of Gran Via is pretty seedy IMO, at least in the part where I've been, over towards the west end. I wouldn't want to stay there as it isn't very nice, but I wasn't in that much of it.

I don't know why some people think any place in the US is more dangerous that any place in Europe, that isn't true at all. And I would be willing to bet that some parts of Madrid are more dangerous than some parts of Seattle and LA, that's for sure (and I used to live in LA).

As a side note:

The first time we visited Madrid in 1972, they had men called serranos. (I think that was spelling.) You would get to the front door of your hotel at night and clap. They would come with the key and open the door. You could hear lone clapping in the Madrid night. I beleive they were all Civil War vets who could not find other employment.

Nightwatchmen were the serenos during the time of the dictator Franco.All buildings were locked at about 10:30 PM and you had to clap and wait patiently for the sereno to come with his bunch of keys and nightstick.He did expect a to be tipped! My sereno always smelled very strongly of booze!

Thanks Chapla for the clarification.

Suzanna, we walked around that area after dark during our visit last month and while it is not what I would call scenic it certainly did not feel dangerous. I do recall seeing several bar/clubs in the area (as mentioned above by kimhe) so you might want to check out the noise possibility.

btw given your name let me sugegst http://www.grupandilana.com/en/resta...inca-de-susana for a nice and very reasonably priced dinner. We arrived early (by Madrid standards, anyway) and were able to be seated without reservation, had an enjoyable time.

Thanks for the additional comments and suggestions. They make me feel somewhat better re. area.