Which areas of Barcelona should I avoid?

If Barcelona is a safe place, there are some neighborhoods to avoid after dark.

To avoid finding yourself in too dangerous places after a certain hour, I advise you to avoid these places.

Together, let's find out which areas of Barcelona to avoid.

Barcelona neighborhoods to avoid: article summary

Barcelona districts to avoid: El Raval

It is true that in the neighbourhood adjacent to the Gothic Quarter, El RavalHere, you'll see strange characters selling drugs, and come across several low-class drinking establishments and parks where prostitutes congregate at night.

Nevertheless, I can't claim that this place is terribly dangerous, even if the general environment of streets like Carrer d'En Robador in Raval or the little park, Ronda Sant Antoni, might come as a slight shock to the average tourist.

However, visitors should be extremely careful on the main tourist street, Las Ramblasat night. Professional pickpockets usually roam the popular tourist streets at night.

For this reason, there are certain rules of conduct to be followed in the restaurants, bars and clubs in the district. Raval and on Las Ramblas itself.

A few simple rules to follow

First of all, I wouldn't recommend putting your cell phone on a restaurant table or bar counter. It's best to keep your phone close to you at all times, and to keep it in a safe place.avoid taking it out too often.

Secondly, a small handbag with a shoulder strap that fits over your chest is a "must-have" when visiting certain establishments in this tourist area. Similarly, backpacks and ordinary bags are not good choices for nightclubs, as these options are too risky.

Thirdly, it's best not to drink too much. If you do, you should avoid walking along Las Ramblas at night by hailing a cab. In general, although Raval is on the list of Barcelona's relatively dangerous neighborhoods, the worst thing that can happen to you is to lose a handbag or cell phone in a crowd of tourists.

Stay alert in Parc Güell

This park is one of Barcelona's most popular tourist destinations. As well as enjoying its cultural and aesthetic value, you should take care to keep an eye on all your personal belongings.

The most common trick used by thieves on this site is a technique called "bird droppings scama trick featuring bird droppings. Typically, a middle-aged lady or gentleman will approach you, noticing that bird droppings have fallen on you.

In reality, the white liquid can be either white chocolate or liquid soap. The lady or gentleman will then "help" you clean the traces of this unpleasant accident from your clothes, after which your wallet and cell phone will be gone for good. I'd advise you to remain extremely vigilant.

Barcelona districts to avoid: Sant Adrià de Besòs

If you want to avoid Barcelona's most dangerous areas, I'd advise you to stay away from Besòs. In La Mina and Besòs Mar, you'll see more garbage on the streets and might be surprised that the streets are almost empty when darkness falls over the city.

Here, you might meet some suspicious characters. Plus, there may be more homeless residents on the streets here. Still, it would be an exaggeration to say that you'll die of fright or face a life-threatening situation. Some would argue that this is not a good idea to park a car here for safety reasons.

What's more, it would be a real mistake to leave your personal belongings in plain sight inside your vehicle. It's worth mentioning that over the past few years, there has been a lot of fighting here. As a result, today the police vigorously control this area, especially during the tourist season.

Las Ramblas d'El Raval

It's important to remember that Barcelona is a city of contrasts. Although I'm talking about dangerous streets in Barcelona, this doesn't necessarily mean that these streets see thugs armed to the teeth on every corner.

However, the boulevard known for his famous bronze cat sculpture is one of the most common gathering points for these people. During the day, you'll feel safe here. There's also a children's playground in the middle of the boulevard and benches for residents and tourists scattered throughout the neighborhood.

Nevertheless, if you walk a little further to the right of the well-known cat, you'll see alleys with abandoned houses, people wandering the streets with no apparent purpose, graffiti-covered walls and shocking loneliness.

In the evening, the boulevard's bars and cafés open and people walk in groups from one place to another. Yet some of the abandoned lanes are still completely empty, and these are the streets you should avoid at all costs. Listen to your instincts, and chances are you won't go down these dark alleys. Although nothing dreadful happens here, it's a place notorious for its concentration of brigands.

Barcelona is a very safe city. However, you should avoid walking around late at night. If you must go out, prefer the livelier district to the darker alleys of the city.