Spain : Safety by City
- Alicante
- Andorra la Vella
- Barcelona
- Bilbao
- Cadiz
- Canary Islands
- Granada
- Ibiza
- Las Palmas
- Madrid
- Malaga
- Murcia
- Palma de Mallorca
- Pamplona
- Salamanca
- San Sebastian
- Seville
- Valencia
- Zaragoza
Madrid is the capital of Spain, and also the largest one in the county.
It has a population of roughly 3.3 million and a huge amount of tourists annually.
It’s no wonder that attracts as many tourists, because this city is one of the European prettiest capitals, with a great cultural and artistic heritage (just think of the enormous El Prado Museum) and rich history.
Madrid is also one of those cities where it only gets livelier as the sun goes down – it has some of the most vibrant nightlife in the world.
So, if you’re planning on visiting Madrid, you should know you’re in for a good time: it’s brimming with its famous plazas, parks, shopping opportunities, indoor and outdoor markets, gorgeous buildings and the amazingly fun nightlife we’ve mentioned before.
Warnings & Dangers in Madrid
OVERALL RISK: LOW
Madrid is very safe to visit. Apart from the pickpockets, which are common in this city due to an enormous amount of visitors, tourists should encounter no other problems. Use your common sense and your trip should go smoothly.
TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: MEDIUM
Transportation in Madrid is very safe and reliable, even though taxi drivers might try to overcharge their services or demand a tip. Also, be careful on public transport, as it's the place where pickpockets operate.
PICKPOCKETS RISK: HIGH
Madrid, much like Barcelona, is filled with tourists, and naturally, it attracts a bunch of pickpockets so watch out in crowded places such as bus and train stations. There is even a message played on repeat at stations, reminding you to be wary of pickpockets. Be careful when carrying your valuables and never leave them out of your sight.
NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: LOW
There are no threats of natural disasters, apart from an occasional avalanche which can only be a threat when skiing in the Pyrenees.
MUGGING RISK: LOW
There's no need to be afraid of getting mugged or kidnapped in Madrid since it is a rare occurrence here. Still, do not accept any unsolicited help or drinks from anyone you don't know (even though drink spiking is also not an issue in this city).
TERRORISM RISK: MEDIUM
There haven't been recent terrorist attacks in Madrid, but in the light of recent events in Barcelona, they shouldn't be ruled out, so you should remain vigilant and be aware of your surroundings at all times.
SCAMS RISK: MEDIUM
There are a couple of ways to get scammed in Madrid. You should avoid gypsy women offering you some rosemary: they will read your future and ask for some money or pick your pockets with the help of another gypsy woman. Be wary of "trileros" and their "shell game" where you might get ripped off or stolen from. Always check the bill twice in restaurants and bars since the staff may try to overcharge you or charge for something you did not order.
WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW
Women traveling alone should have no problems in Madrid. You should use your common sense, and be careful at night, avoid desert and poorly lit streets, and finding yourself alone with strange people in abandoned areas. Apart from that, you should have no safety problems in Madrid.
So... How Safe Is Madrid Really?
Madrid is a safe city to visit, but it is recommended that you take some basic precautions measures since it is known to be crawling with pickpockets, especially around popular tourist landmarks and larger cities.
There have also been cases of thieves on motorbikes driving by women and grabbing their purses, so keep it tightly by your side at all times.
Be extremely careful in bus or train stations and other similar crowded places, since pickpocketing is so common there that a voice message reminding you of pickpockets is always played on repeat.
Also, exercise caution at the Spanish Flea Market (el Rastro) in Madrid over the weekends.
Here, the pickpockets operate in groups.
Also, be well prepared for people trying to scam you.
This can happen with taxi drivers trying to trick you into paying a fixed price from an airport to a city, even though they have a visible fare table. They may also demand a tip.
Be wary of so-called ‘trileros’ playing the “shell game”.
They will probably rip you off you if you play, and if you stop to see other people play, they’ll probably pick your pockets.
Before paying the bill in bars and restaurants, always check the bill twice since the staff sometimes try to squeeze in a few extra euro by charging for something they did not eat or drink, or just by overcharging.
How Does Madrid Compare?
| City | Safety Index |
|---|---|
| Madrid | 68 |
| Andorra la Vella | 89 |
| Barcelona | 67 |
| Valencia | 69 |
| Seville | 71 |
| Bilbao | 52 |
| Granada | 58 |
| Sofia (Bulgaria) | 73 |
| Siem Reap (Cambodia) | 63 |
| Phnom Penh (Cambodia) | 61 |
| Niagara Falls (Canada) | 87 |
| Calgary (Canada) | 82 |
| Buenos Aires (Argentina) | 60 |
Useful Information
Visas
Most countries do not need a visa to enter Spain for any stays shorter than 90 days. Any longer than that, you will have to obtain a visa. Also, make sure your passport is valid for at least 6 months after your planned date of return. However, if you are not sure about your visa status, visit www.doyouneedvisa.com which will let you know whether or not you need a visa based on your nationality and the country you want to visit.
Currency
Euro is the official currency in Madrid. ATMs are widely available throughout the city, and credit cards accepted in most establishments such as hotels and restaurants. Allow yourself a budget of around 150e per day, including accommodation.
Weather
Spain has three different climate zones, due to its size, but if you go to Madrid, you can expect continental climate, mainly dry and sometimes pretty extreme when it comes to temperature. It has perpetual sunshine and during spring and summer it is mainly sunny, but winters are fairly cold and sometimes you can expect frost and even an occasional snowfall.
Airports
Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport, also referred to as Madrid–Barajas Airport is the main international airport serving Madrid in Spain. It is located merely 9 km from the city's financial district and 13 km northeast of Plaza Mayor, Madrid's historic center.
Travel Insurance
Just like anywhere else, we recommend getting travel insurance when traveling to Madrid, since it covers not only medical problems but also theft and loss of valuables.
Madrid Weather Averages (Temperatures)
Average High/Low Temperature
| Temperature / Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °C | 10 | 12 | 16 | 18 | 22 | 28 | 32 | 31 | 26 | 19 | 13 | 10 |
| Low °C | 3 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 11 | 16 | 19 | 19 | 15 | 11 | 6 | 4 |
| High °F | 50 | 54 | 61 | 64 | 72 | 82 | 90 | 88 | 79 | 66 | 55 | 50 |
| Low °F | 37 | 39 | 43 | 46 | 52 | 61 | 66 | 66 | 59 | 52 | 43 | 39 |
Spain - Safety by City
| City | Safety Index |
|---|---|
| Alicante | 77 |
| Andorra la Vella | 89 |
| Barcelona | 67 |
| Bilbao | 52 |
| Cadiz | 74 |
| Canary Islands | 81 |
| Granada | 58 |
| Ibiza | 82 |
| Las Palmas | 74 |
| Madrid | 68 |
| Malaga | 76 |
| Murcia | 83 |
| Palma de Mallorca | 57 |
| Pamplona | 81 |
| Salamanca | 59 |
| San Sebastian | 56 |
| Seville | 71 |
| Valencia | 69 |
| Zaragoza | 79 |
Calle Montera
Stay away from Calle Montera, especially after dark and if you are male. The street that links Puerta del Sol and Grand Via is filled with aggressive prostitutes who you will usually hear making clicking noises or staring directly at you. The Grand Via end of this street also has gangs of African prostitutes. The Police regularly patrol this area on segways and undercover, so the best bet is to not engage with anyone on this street.
Thank you for the tip! Do you know of any good hotels on Puerta del Sol?
Hotel Europa- I’ve stayed here twice –
Great value and location is perfect
Madrid is NOT safe
My friends and I, a group of 6, decided to stop for brunch it the city on our way to the airport to catch our flight home. We put our cases next to us in a little cafe and when we came to leave mine had gone!
Apparently someone did see a couple of young “ladies” walking out with it but thought nothing of it. Thankfully I had all my documents including passport in my handbag but it was a really traumatic experience to say the least. Trying to get the insurance company to pay up was also a nightmare. They did everything they could to get out of it and even tho most of my clothes were new because I’d bought them for the holiday they classed them as second hand and gave me 10%. They also wouldn’t pay out on anything at all without a receipt.
Please be aware and keep your belongings in your line of sight at all times.
I’m sorry to hear that Elaine. Similar thing happened to me in New York and Chicago, where I’ve been dozens of times, and I consider both cities fairly safe. Bad experiences doesn’t mean a city is “unsafe” means you’ve been unlucky. I am happy to live in Madrid and I really consider that it is a safe and friendly city.
Rebuttal
Just because nothing happened to you, doesnt mean it’s safe. You just got lucky. Be more empathetic towards victims. They arent stupid.
I’m Irish and I lived in the centre of Madrid for 5 years. It is a highly ‘safe’ city. You must watch your belongings in any city in the world and getting a case stolen and labelling a city as ‘unsafe’ is dramatic. A victim is someone who gets hurt, you are careless if you get something stolen in city. Did the thief use magic to steal the case? Keep an eye on your belongings no matter where you go. I know Belfast, Dublin and some of the cities in England well and I can assure you Madrid is by far the safest. Have visited NYC, Chicago, San Diego and San Francisco. Have been afraid at times in each city. Not once in Madrid did I encounter a problem in 5 years. Of course you need to avoid certain areas but the people of Madrid are friendly and generally very helpful towards extanjeros 🙂 Madrid having a similar safety rating to new york makes this website absolutely redundant.
A junior in college, my daughter travels to Madrid for a semester abroad starting January, 2023. Any tips? It will be her first time abroad.
RACIST
I HAVE TRAVELED TO MANY COUNTRIES AND NEVER FELT LIKE SOME IMMIGRATION OFFICER TRIED TO INTIMIDATE ME. MY FIRST-CLASS TICKET IS WORTH MORE THAN THESE PEOPLE MAKE IN 4 MONTHS. THE OFFICER WAS SO RUDE, HE JUST MADE IT A POINT TO BE A JERK. HE HAD SOMEONE CALL THE MANDARINE – RITZ HOTEL TO VERIFY IF I WAS REALLY GOING TO STAY THERE. HE ASKED ME IF MY BAG AND MY WATCH WERE REAL. I JUST LAUGHED THE WHOLE TIME. IT WAS SO BAD ANOTHER OFFICER APOLOGIZED.