This Popular European City Has A Ruthless Reputation For Pickpocketing Tourists

It is easy to see why Europe's elegant, sophisticated cities are such a magnet for travelers. From London to Madrid, Europe's capitals are bursting with culture, history, glamorous nightlife, and mouthwatering cuisine. And its smaller cities are just as charming, with gorgeous architecture, incredible museums and galleries, and wonderful traditions everywhere you turn. From show-stopping sites like Paris' Eiffel Tower or Rome's Colosseum to smaller, underrated spots where you can avoid the tourist crowds, it is hard to go wrong when exploring Europe.

However, the joys of these stunning cities come with certain downsides — especially when it comes to pickpockets. Take Barcelona, for example, the vibrant capital of Catalonia in Spain. Although avoiding pickpockets in Europe can be a challenge — particularly around the most famous and popular attractions — there is no denying that pickpocketing is a serious problem in the city. Because, while most major cities in Europe struggle with petty crime to a certain degree, meaning visitors need to take extra care of their belongings, Barcelona has developed an unfortunate reputation as one of the continent's pickpocketing capitals.

Although the city enjoys a relatively safe and low-crime environment overall, its crowds make it a prime target for petty thieves. According to official statistics from 2023, pickpocketing accounted for over 48% of all crimes committed in the city. Over 100,000 incidents of pickpocketing were reported — a rise of 6.5% from the previous year.

While pickpocketing might be Barcelona's most common crime, it's typically concentrated in a few areas of the city. This means you don't have to spend your entire trip worrying about losing your personal items. However, it does mean you need to be hyper-vigilant when exploring certain spots. And unfortunately, though perhaps unsurprisingly, Barcelona's pickpocketing hotspots coincide with the most popular tourist areas of the city.

Number one on the list is La Rambla, Barcelona's famously bustling and beautiful avenue that runs right through the center of the city from the Plaça de Catalunya down to the sea. If you are visiting the Barri Gòtic or the Mercat de la Boqueria, chances are you will be taking a stroll down La Rambla. With its crowds of tourists and distracting street performers, it is easy to see why pickpocketing is such a problem here. Similarly, the Basílica de la Sagrada Família, one of the city's most iconic attractions designed by Antonio Gaudí, is another extremely popular tourist attraction that is also plagued by pickpockets.

Luckily, Barcelona is a big city, and there are plenty of districts that don't come with the risk of sticky fingers. While you will likely want to check out the biggest attractions, staying outside the city center and away from the main tourist hotspots is a good way avoid trouble. Areas like L'Eixample, Gràcia, and El Poblenou, for example, are much more secure. Plus, they offer an alternative perspective on the city that can make for a richer experience.

The fact is that some pickpockets are extremely skilled in their nefarious craft, and stopping them completely can be almost impossible. After all, you want to make sure you enjoy your vacation — not spend it worrying about security. That said, there's a long list of things you should never do when visiting Barcelona, and successfully avoiding these basic mistakes — as well as taking some simple precautions — can make you a much harder target.

For starters, pickpocket prevention is all about making things difficult for criminals. If you are vigilant and aware of your surroundings, it will discourage plenty of thieves. Additionally, it's worth doing small things like wearing your backpack, fanny pack, or handbag in front of your body so no one can access it without you knowing. Similarly, money belts are also a good idea, and it is always worth spreading your cash and cards around different pockets, bags, or wallets. That way, even if a pickpocket snatches something, they won't get away with everything.

Finally, it is also worth attempting to look less like a target — which, in tourist areas, usually means looking less like a tourist. To do this, avoid flashing cameras and expensive phones, and keep selfie stick use to a minimum — they're a clear giveaway that you are a visitor with potentially lucrative pockets to raid.