Over all, is Spain safe for tourists?

My quick answer is yes, Spain is safe for tourists. Whether you’re travelling in tourist areas or into lesser known towns & villages, there is very little chance of meeting any violence or any overt hostility. Spain is, in fact, one of the safest countries in the world.

(Photo above was taken outside the gorgeous Zuheros in Córdoba, Andalucía, where my kids and I were happily gallivanting at dusk during winter)

Might you meet some fed up locals with water pistols in Barcelona? Maybe. Might you see some graffiti calling for ‘tourists to go home’? Yes, again, maybe, due to the rising rental prices in popular tourist destinations that are pricing locals out of their homes.

But, is anyone going to actively take their frustrations out on you? No. Generally no, and especially not if you behave with respect and awareness of the issues of over-tourism in Spain.

On the Global Peace Index, Spain is number 25/163 of the currently ranked countries. In comparison, Canada is 14th the UK is 30th and the USA is 128/163.

Spain has very low levels of violent crime, and while there are definitely some issues (like pretty much everywhere) with pickpockets and petty crimes in popular tourist destinations, overall, you are safe coming to Spain.

Pickpockets, street crime and other petty crime

Truthfully, Barcelona and Madrid do suffer from problems with pickpockets. We can’t pretend that’s not true. However, in all my years of visiting these two cities, the minimal caution I take has always been enough.

The existence of pickpockets does not mean that you will have your belongings stolen, it means that you must take care and be aware. I’ve never had anything stolen anywhere in Spain.

(Photo above is of the street book market in Madrid near Atocha station, somewhere I love to while away spare hours before long train journeys)

So what do I do to keep myself, my kids, and my belongings safe?

Violent crime

As we noted above, on the Global Peace Index, Spain ranks number 25 / 163. That’s pretty damn safe, in fact, it’s one of the safest places in all of Europe when it comes to violent crime because unless you’re unlucky, it’s extremely rare. 

Natural disasters

Generally, when people ask about safety when travelling, they are referring specifically to human crime but truthfully, you also need to think about natural disasters. In these days of global warming, for Spain this generally means extreme heat and floods.

(photo above is Meca los Caños in Cádiz, Andalucía, it’s one of my favourite beaches in Spain)

Extreme heat in the summer months

It’s not only the famous ‘frying pan’ of Spain, Sevilla, that can be extremely hot in summer. Really only the extreme north escapes the horrendous levels of heat. The centre, Madrid, Toledo, Segovia (photo above) and other cities and villages, can also reach extreme temperatures in the summer.

😱 People do die from the heat every year so be careful and if you’re sensitive to the heat, I don’t recommend visiting in the summer.

Spanish people adapt their schedules and rhythms, you’re unlikely to see them out on the streets during the middle of the day in the summer.

→ Read the full MexicoCassie guide to coping with Spain’s extreme temperatures.

Drought – of course, extreme heat brings drought so if you’re visiting an area where there’s an official drought, please be careful with your water usage.

Rain storms

Rain storms can be torrential in Spain and after the Valencia disaster in 2024, the authorities are even more careful about issuing storm warnings. If you see an alert, pay attention. If the parks are closed due to these alerts, don’t get mad, know it’s a safety issue.

(Photo above of Science Museum in Valencia on a wet and cloudy day)

Hotels or AirBnB?

In terms of safety, always be aware of the location of whatever you book. Sure, apartments further out of town might be cheaper than hotels in town, but do you want to be outside of town in the dark?

Spain is actually massively cracking down on both illegal hotel rentals and on Airbnb style apartments in general so my advice is always, as far as you can, book a hotel, not an apartment (that way you’re helping prevent locals being priced out of their homes, and you’re actively helping to diffuse the resentment).

(Photo of Hondarribia near San Sebastián)

⭐️ If you aren’t asked to show your travel documents at check-in or before, then you might be staying in a non-legal rental. Spain requires everyone (including Spaniards) over 14 to show formal ID when checking into a hotel or holiday apartment.

Safety on public transport

Public transport in Spain is generally excellent. It’s clean, it’s reliable, it’s safe. I highly recommend using it if you don’t enjoy driving while on vacation.

(Photo of Atocha Station in Madrid)

🧳 Keeping your bags safe on public transport

🚌 On long distance buses, your suitcases go under the bus (coach) – you’ll won’t generally be given a ticket/receipt for your bag but the driver is always there guarding the open hold.

🚆 On long distance trains, bags are scanned like at an airport, and then on the train, any big bags are required to sit in the luggage areas. There are small racks above the seats but I’ve always found them utterly useless and too small for even my rucksack.

🚇 On cercanias trains and the metro, keep your bags with you at all times. These are the most hectic of forms of transport and where there’s a chance of opportunistic thieves so be careful and keep a close eye on your belongings.

A note on the train crashes of early 2026

If you’re reading this because you’ve recently heard about the 4 train crashes in Jan 2026, yeah, that was horrific and all of Spain is reeling. However, in general, Spain does have one of the safest rail systems in the world.

Taxis

🚕 Use official apps / taxi companies and don’t get in a car unless you’re sure it’s your taxi

Driving in Spain

→ Read the full MexicoCassie guide to driving in Spain to get the low-down on what it’s like to drive in Spain.

🚘 As a regular driver here in Spain, I find it to be very safe on the roads. The most important things to remember are that Spanish people will absolutely cross the road at a zebra crossing without looking. You, as the driver, have to be aware at all times that someone could walk in front of your car at any moment!

My own personal ‘favourite’ is that the Spanish firmly believe that the hazard warning lights give their cars special rights – want to stop on a roundabout, just put on the hazards, want to triple park so greet your friend and have a chat? sure thing, hazards are on. 

→ Check rental car options in Spain

Keeping safe on tours

We just need a quick note on tours and safety in Spain. The reality is that there aren’t going to be dangerous tours but there are definitely websites around that will try to sell you tours/tickets that don’t exist.

I’ve noticed this specifically with some of the biggest and most popular sites such as the Alhambra in Granada, the Mezquita in Córdoba, and the Alcázar in Sevilla.

Be sure you are on the official site pages if you’re just looking for entry tickets. These can be deceptively hard to find as some naughty folk have set up very convincing fake ‘official sites’. In my articles (linked above), you’ll always find the links to the official pages as well as to tours I recommend.

👣 If you do want to book tours in advance, my favourite tours in Spain are run by Take Walks / Devour Tours (partner companies). If I’m going somewhere they don’t offer tours, I use Viator & GetYourGuide to find what I need.

​Travelling while …

…Solo and a woman

Spain is considered to be extremely safe for solo female travellers. Just take the usual caution of not wandering around super late at night obviously looking like you don’t know where you’re going, and don’t get so drunk you can’t look after yourself.

If you’re solo drinking in a bar, please always take the usual precaution of covering your drink and not accepting drinks you haven’t seen poured.

Obviously, I loathe that I have to write this but, we all know that we don’t live in a just world. 

(Photo taken in Granada, Andalucía)

…With kids

Spain is an extremely family friendly, kid welcoming country. I can’t think of a single time when I’ve felt unsafe or unwelcome with, or because of, my kids. It’s perfectly normal for kids to be out playing on the plazas while their parents chat with friends until after midnight.

→ The MexicoCassie website has numerous articles for exploring Spain with kids (including Cádiz with kids, which is the photo above was taken)

…While queer 

Spain is considered to be one of the safest countries in the world for the LGBTQIA+ community, both culturally and legally. The bigger cities have thriving queer scenes, and pretty much every town hosts its own Pride celebrations. Madrid is actually home to one of the biggest Pride parades in the world.

… While Black

Please check these resources as I obviously am not qualified to answer this (and feel free to send me more if you think there’s something or someone excellent I should include).

⭐️ Sojourner’s experiences of travelling around Spain

⭐️ Sevillanegra – for tours about Black history and culture in Sevilla

Keeping safe in …

…Barcelona

Barcelona probably gets the best and worst press of Spain. It’s a glorious city with so much joy and culture to share but yes, pickpockets can be horrendous here. I haven’t ever had a problem but we can’t deny that it’s problematic.

👀 Pay close attention particularly when you’re around Las Ramblas, the Gothic Quarter, Barceloneta Beach, El Raval (at night), and when leaving metro stations.

…Madrid

Madrid, Spain’s capital city, has its fair share of pickpockets, too but I’ve never personally felt unsafe or harassed here. It’s one of my favourite cities in Spain and yes, I’ve wondered around plenty after dark on my own in the centre, too.

👀 Pay close attention particularly around Puerta del Sol, Plaza Mayor, Gran Vía and the Royal Palace

…Sevilla

I live in a small town near Sevilla. I go into the city regularly and the only difference in my behaviour between my town and in Sevilla is that I don’t keep my phone in my back pocket in Sevilla. Could you get pickpocketed here? Absolutely. Is it a major problem? No.

👀 Maybe if you’re in town for the Semana Santa processions and you’re in a massive crowd you might want to consider your pockets but otherwise you’ll be fine.

…Valencia

Valencia, like Sevilla, is considered a very safe place to visit. Safe, of course doesn’t entirely preclude pickpockets or opportunistic thefts.

👀 If you visit for Las Fallas and are in big crowds, yes, keep a close eye on your possessions. Other popular areas such as the City of Sciences, and the Mercado Central might see pickpockets. And bike theft is sometimes a problem so if you’re renting a bike, be sure to know where and how to lock it up safely.

…Málaga

Málaga, like Barcelona, is one of the most popular tourist destinations for visitors to Spain. It’s busy, busy, busy all year round and there’s plenty to do and see here.

👀 Pay close attention around the centre of the city, particularly Calle Larios, and La Malagueta Beach

…Caminos

Spain, of course, is extremely famous for its caminos and while they are considered extremely safe, nowhere, as we know, is 100% safe. To keep as safe as possible, walk during the day, keep your items close in the auberges and try to ensure someone knows your route.