Tips on Barcelona Warnings or Dangers – Stay Safe!

Barcelona Warnings and Dangers

Known for its art and architecture, Barcelona is the capital of Spain’s Catalonia region. While it is a beautiful city to visit there are definite tourist dangers to be aware of. Below, we have put together a list of just a few of the dangers to be aware of when traveling to Barcelona, Spain.

Flower Scam

When traveling around the city, be aware of the women giving out flowers to tourists. Without permission, the women will come up and place a flower in the lapel of the tourist’s coat. Without asking, the women will stand in front of the tourist requesting payment for the flower. When a local coin does not suffice, they will begin pointing at the tourist’s luggage and even demand they open it for payment.

Pick Pocketers

Often termed the pickpocketing capital of the world, Barcelona is home to many thieves found in public spaces. Part of the reason it is so rampant in the city is that police must have proof that the items stolen exceed 600 Euros. The worst pick pocketers are located around the metro line. The pick pocketers often work in teams of two or three. The pair will distract the tourist while a third thief will do the actual stealing.

Taxi Scam

Keep an eye on the fare meters for taxis. For unknown reasons, the fare can jump an exorbitant amount, despite not moving. When asked to explain why, taxi drivers will just ramble about additional charges. To add insult, many taxi drivers will not drop tourists off at the final destination but will simply get the tourist to the right block citing traffic congestion. The taxis will certainly still charge the tourist the full amount of the trip though.

Editor’s note: The information contained on this page was compiled using real traveler reviews about warnings and dangers in Barcelona, Spain.