Safety, Pickpocket Prevention, Green-Cross Pharmacies (Farmacias) & Calling 112 in Spain

Last reviewed: October 26, 2026 · Prices in Euros (€) are approximate and for orientation only.

Violent Crime Is Extremely Rare; Distraction Pickpocketing Is the Main Risk

Spain is one of the safest countries in the world for solo travelers, women, and families walking home at midnight after late tapas dinners. The primary annoyance in Barcelona (Las Ramblas, Barri Gòtic, Barceloneta beach, Sagrada Família metro) and central Madrid (Sol, Gran Vía, El Rastro) is non-violent sleight-of-hand pickpocketing. Never leave your smartphone or wallet sitting on an outdoor terraza table, never hang a backpack on the back of a café chair, and ignore strangers who spill mustard/bird droppings on your jacket or thrust clipboards in front of your waist.

Green-Cross Pharmacies ('Farmacias') & 24-Hour 'Farmacia de Guardia'

For colds, sunburn, blisters, stomach bugs, or forgotten prescriptions, go first to a neighborhood pharmacy marked by a flashing green neon cross ('Farmacia'). Spanish pharmacists hold clinical degrees and can dispense many medications over the counter at regulated prices (€3–€12). After hours and on Sundays, every neighborhood posts the address of the nearest 24-hour on-duty 'Farmacia de Guardia' on its illuminated door sign.

Emergency Number 112 & the Official Police AlertCops App

Dial 112 free from any phone (even without a SIM card) across all of Spain and the islands to reach multilingual operators for Police (Policía Nacional / Guardia Civil / Mossos d'Esquadra), Ambulance (SAMUR / 061), and Fire. You can also download the Spanish Ministry of the Interior's free 'AlertCops' app for English-language chat and GPS location sharing with police.

Key Takeaways & Local Tips

• Leave your backup credit card and passport locked in the hotel safe on ordinary sightseeing days (carrying a color photocopy or phone photo of your passport, except on Alhambra or AVE train days when physical ID is required).
• On motorway drives, ignore anyone waving from another car pointing at your rear tire ('flat tire / highway pirate trick')—keep driving to a busy, well-lit service station.
• Save 112 in your phone before arrival.