Barcelona??????

Question

Is there a neighborhood in Barcelona that is unsafe and should be avoided? I'm looking for accommodations and just wondering what areas are a little sketchy....

Answer 1

City center (ancient Barcelona: Rambles & Ciutat Vella & El Raval) = massive tourism.

Massive tourism = all the thieves there. Look always on your bag.

Non-turistical unsafe zones: poor neighborhoods = "La mina" & "Nou barris", very far from the city center. The rest of Barcelona is safe.

Answer 2

all the neighborhoods in barcelona are close together, so it's not like all the thieves and bad people stay in one area. but El Raval has had a history of being a bit seedier than other more modern areas of the city. just be careful that throughout Barcelona, there are always con artists walking around waiting for tourists. keep your bag close, and be weary of some of the people.

btw,

beware of a girl named Susan. she's thin and has long hair and glasses. she often approaches tourists and tells them her bags have been stolen, which you then will give her money. there are others like her, except she doesn't keep track of who she has asked. bless her.

Answer 3

Stay away from the red light district...we wound up just on the border of it, and it felt a little wierd.  That would be the area around Carrer Nou de la Rambla and Parallel.  Bit seedy.

I second what has been said about Raval.  We wandered about there, and I wouldn't want to stay there.

The thing to keep in mind is, while the overall crime rate is high, it's almost all purse-snatchings, pickpockets, etc.  RARELY personal crimes.  So, it is preventable, and not too terrible (not really nice, either) if it happens...not earthshattering.  Keep your wits about you, watch people, be aware of your surroundings, and know that a lot of the thieves are in the really crowded places, where you are likely to not be paying attention, but if you are, then they can usually sense it, and target someone else.  The Magic Fountain show was massively crowded, the Boqueria market, certain times of day on the Ramblas, Major plaças, and subways are among the worst places to get hit.