Realistic risk by place

It is for anyone considering, planning or carrying out a move to Spain. Some people arrive afraid because of headlines about the Costa del Sol. Others assume theft only hits tourists. Both views miss the real picture, which is calmer than the headlines but not risk-free.

Start with "How safe is Spain really for people who live there?". It shows which crimes are rare and which are common, so you can set your expectations before reading about a specific place.

From there, pick the pages that match your plans. There are pages on Barcelona, Madrid, other cities, the Costa del Sol, islands and resort towns, and villages or isolated country houses. If you have children, read the page on whether they can go out alone. To check a particular neighbourhood, use the page on reading local crime statistics.

Key rules

• Children alone: Spanish law sets no fixed minimum age for children to be unsupervised, and guidance only suggests children under about 12 should not be left alone for long periods.
• Violence: Violent crime is low by European standards, so it should not drive your decisions.
• Terror alert level: The alert level of 4 out of 5 has stood since June 2015 and brings visible police, not restrictions.
• Hotspots: Theft clusters in Ciutat Vella, the Eixample, Sants-Montjuïc and on busy metro lines such as L3 and L4.
• Reporting: Report a theft at a Mossos or Guàrdia Urbana station, or online for minor thefts.
• Risk level: Serious crime is low in Madrid, and most problems are petty thefts.

Documents you may need

• Your NIE — What changes in safety advice once Spain is home

• Your passport — What changes in safety advice once Spain is home

• A written rental contract signed before you pay anything — What changes in safety advice once Spain is home

• A nota simple from the Registro de la Propiedad — What changes in safety advice once Spain is home

Realistic risk by place: questions that cross several articles

Is crime in Spain rising, and which crimes are behind it?

Total recorded crime in Spain is at or near record levels, mainly because of cybercrime and also sexual and some violent offences. Ordinary theft, robbery and home burglary are roughly flat or slightly down. Read "How safe is Spain really for people who live there?" for the wider picture.

Where can I find crime figures for my own town?

You can find them in the Interior Ministry's crime statistics portal, which gives data by municipality, province and region. It publishes every quarter and lets you view tables or download them as Excel or CSV. Catalonia and the Basque Country also publish their own figures, so read "How to check how safe a town or neighbourhood really is" before comparing places.

Are Barcelona and Madrid more dangerous than other cities for theft?

Theft is the main problem in both cities, mostly in the centre, on the metro and around stations, while serious violent crime stays low. In Barcelona the centre and the busiest metro stops stand out; in Madrid, the centre and transport hubs. Read "How safe is Barcelona, and how bad is the pickpocketing?" and "How safe is Madrid for residents, and where do thefts cluster?".

Which scams should I expect as a newcomer in Spain?

The most common are fake rental listings that ask for a deposit before any viewing, and fake bank, tax agency or parcel messages asking for urgent payment or codes. Never pay before seeing the home, and never share codes or click links in unsolicited messages. For how routines and housing change your exposure, read "What changes in safety advice once Spain is home".

Do rental scams hit some places harder than others?

Yes, rental scams are reported as most common in Madrid, Barcelona, Málaga and the Balearic Islands, where demand is high. Warning signs are a price far below market, no viewing and pressure to pay fast. Read "What changes in safety advice once Spain is home" and the article for your city.

Check current crime figures for your city with the Interior Ministry's crime portal and local police reports.