Barcelona Health and Safety

Pickpocketing and theft are the problems most likely to rain on your holiday parade. Barcelona has been ranked Europe's worst city for credit card theft, petty crime is endemic, and a string of experienced guidebook writers are among the list of hapless victims.

Keep only a limited amount of cash on you, and the bulk of your money in replaceable forms such as travellers cheques or plastic. Use your hotel safe. Money or valuables that you need to take out with you should be in a shoulder wallet or a concealed money belt. If you wear an external money belt, you might as well paint a big target sign on your back. Men should carry their swag in their front pockets only and women should wear bags across their bodies and never hanging from the shoulder. If you're carrying a daypack, even if it's on your back the whole time, don't leave valuables in any accessible pockets. Be particularly alert on the metro, in heavily touristed parts of town such as La Rambla and Barri Gòtic and on the beaches in summer. Also, the port side of El Raval - what's left of the notorious Barri Xinès - is not the place to play the clueless tourist.