Staying safe on a night out in Spain

Terms used

• ALERTCOPS — ALERTCOPS is a free official police app that sends alerts with your location to the Policía Nacional and Guardia Civil.
• Denuncia — A denuncia is the official police report you file after a theft, needed for insurance and replacing documents.
• Punto Violeta — Punto Violeta is a venue safety protocol where staff help people who feel unsafe or harassed.
• Botellón — Botellón is drinking alcohol in the street, which is banned or fined in most towns.

Key rules

• Emergencies: Call 112 first if you are unsure: it is free, answered 24 hours and routes you to medical, police or fire services.
• Drinks: Never leave a drink unattended and never accept one from a stranger.
• ID: Carry a copy of your ID on a night out, not your passport.
• Drinking age: You must be 18 to buy or be served alcohol in Spain.
• Gender-based violence: 016 is the free, confidential helpline for gender-based violence, open 24 hours in many languages.

The short version

Spanish nights are long and social. Most problems come from three things: a drink left alone, a phone or bag within easy reach of a thief, and getting separated from your group. A few habits fix all three. The checklist below gives a plan to agree with friends before you go.

How the night runs

Dinner is usually between 21:00 and 22:30. It is earlier midweek and later on weekends, in summer and in the south. Bars fill up from about 23:00 to midnight, and drinks go on until 2:00 or 3:00.

Clubs (discotecas) open around 00:00 or 1:00 but only fill after 2:00 or 3:00. On Fridays and Saturdays they close around 5:00 or 6:00, and some stay open later. Midweek, bars close earlier, around 1:00 or 2:00, and clubs are quiet or shut. University towns are the exception: Thursday is a big student night.

Closing hours are set by each region and town. Madrid and Barcelona run later than smaller places. Many people finish with chocolate con churros at dawn. Plan your way home for that hour, not for midnight.

Drinks

Drinking is paced over a long evening, usually with food such as tapas. Eat before you go out and start slowly. Spirits with mixers (copas) come late and are often poured generously.

In a group, one person buys a round and the others take turns, or everyone pays into a shared kitty (bote). You can always say no. Ordering a soft drink or an alcohol-free beer is fully accepted. Being visibly drunk in public is frowned on more than steady drinking.

You must be 18 to buy or be served alcohol. Drinking in the street (botellón) is banned or fined in most towns.

Protect your drink

• Never leave a drink unattended. If you lose sight of it, finish with it or throw it away.
• Do not accept drinks from strangers, and watch your own being poured.
• Prefer bottles or cans that you open yourself, and do not share drinks.
• If you feel sudden dizziness, confusion or drowsiness, tell a friend or venue staff at once.
• Many venues use a safety protocol called Punto Violeta. Ask staff for help if you feel unsafe.

Drink covers or testing strips are sometimes offered. They do not detect every substance, so do not rely on them.

Protect your belongings

The usual thefts are pickpocketing in crowded bars, clubs and the metro, phones taken from terraces and tables, and "helpful" strangers who bump into you as a distraction. Thieves on motorbikes also snatch phones in the street. Big cities and tourist areas such as Barcelona, Madrid, Palma and Málaga have the highest rates.

• Carry only what you need.
• Use inside or front pockets, or a zipped cross-body bag worn in front.
• Never leave a phone on a table or hang a bag on a chair.
• Keep your phone away from the street edge of the pavement.
• Keep a card or some cash separately from your wallet.
• Turn on phone tracking and a screen lock.
• Carry a copy of your ID, not your passport.

If something is stolen, file a police report (denuncia) with the Policía Nacional or Guardia Civil. You need it for insurance and to replace documents.

Friends and getting home

Agree a meeting point, a check-in time and a way home before you go out. Nobody should leave alone, or with a stranger, without telling the group. The checklist below covers this.

Who to call

Call 112 first if you are unsure. It is free, answered 24 hours and routes you to medical, police or fire services. Other numbers:

• 091 is the Policía Nacional.
• 062 is the Guardia Civil, mainly for rural and some coastal areas.
• 061 is the health emergency service. In some regions it is routed through 112.
• 092 reaches the local police (Policía Local) in many towns.
• 016 is the free, confidential helpline for gender-based violence, open 24 hours in many languages. It leaves no trace on the phone bill, though the call stays in your phone's call log.

ALERTCOPS is a free official app that sends alerts with your location to the Policía Nacional and Guardia Civil. It also has a silent alert for gender-violence victims. Register before you go out with your name, ID or passport number and mobile number. A code is sent to verify the phone. It works with a foreign phone, but needs mobile data or wifi and location services.

Documents you need

• A copy of your ID to carry on a night out, instead of your passport.

• Passport or ID number, needed to register on ALERTCOPS, the free police alert app, along with your name and mobile number.

• A copy of the police theft report (denuncia) from the Policía Nacional or Guardia Civil, needed for insurance claims and replacing stolen documents.

A night-out safety plan to agree with friends

• Charge every phone before you leave and bring a power bank.

• Share your location with at least one friend and save 112 in your phone.

• Install ALERTCOPS, the free police alert app, and register with your name, passport number and mobile number before you go out.

• Agree a meeting point in case you get separated, and a time to check in with each other.

• Agree that nobody leaves alone or with a stranger without telling the group.

• Agree drink rules: watch each other's drinks, never leave a drink unattended, and do not accept drinks from strangers.

• Eat before you go out and pace your alcohol.

• Choose the way home in advance: a licensed taxi, a ride-hailing app, the night bus or metro, or a sober driver, and share your journey with a friend.

• Carry your ID, some cash and the address of your accommodation.

• Ask venue staff for help, or go to a Punto Violeta (a venue help point), if you feel unsafe.

Frequently asked questions

What time do clubs in Spain open and close?

Clubs usually open around 00:00-1:00 but only fill after 2:00-3:00, and on Fridays and Saturdays they close around 5:00-6:00. Some stay open until 6:00-7:00 or later. Closing hours are set by each region or town, and midweek bars close earlier, about 1:00-2:00.

What is the difference between 091, 062 and 061?

091 is the Policía Nacional, 062 is the Guardia Civil (rural and some coastal areas) and 061 is the health emergency service in most regions. Some regions route 061 through 112.

Can I say no to a round of drinks?

Yes, you can say no to a round, because nobody expects you to drink more than you want. Ordering a soft drink or an alcohol-free beer is fully accepted. In groups, people often take turns buying or pay into a shared kitty (bote).

What should I do if my phone or bag is stolen on a night out?

Report the theft to the Policía Nacional or Guardia Civil and ask for a copy of the report (denuncia). You need it for insurance and to replace documents. If you turned on phone tracking and a lock beforehand, use them straight away.