Barcelona

Health & safety

Dangers & annoyances

It cannot be stressed enough that newcomers to Barcelona must be on their guard. Petty theft is a problem in the city centre, on ­public transport and around main sights. Report thefts to the national police. You are unlikely to recover your goods but you will need to make this formal denuncia for insurance purposes. To avoid endless queues at the comisaría (police station), you can make the report by phone (902 102112) in various languages or on the web at www.policia.es (in Spanish; click on ‘Denuncias’). The following day you go to the station of your choice to pick up and sign the report, without queuing. You can also report losses to the Catalan police, the Mossos d’Esquadra (www.gencat.net/mossos, in Catalan). They have a handy (and busy) ­police station (Carrer Nou de la Rambla 80; Paral.lel) near La Rambla. You could also try the Guàrdia Urbana (local police; La Rambla 43).

Check out our Thorn Tree forum for advice from other travellers about safe neighbourhoods in Barcelona.

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While you're there

Medical services

All foreigners have the same right as Spaniards to emergency medical treatment in public hospitals. EU citizens are entitled to the full range of health-care services in public hospitals, but must present a European Health Insurance Card (enquire at your national health service) and may have to pay up front.

Non-EU citizens have to pay for anything other than emergency treatment. Most travel-insurance policies include medical cover.

For minor health problems you can try any farmàcia (pharmacy), where pharmaceuticals tend to be sold more freely without prescription than in places such as the USA, Australia or the UK.

If your country has a consulate in Barcelona, its staff should be able to refer you to doctors who speak your language.

Hospitals include the following:

Hospital Clínic i Provincial (93 227 54 00; Carrer de Villarroel 170; Hospital Clínic)

Hospital de la Santa Creu i de Sant Pau (93 291 90 00; Carrer de Sant Antoni Maria Claret 167; Hospital de Sant Pau)

Hospital Dos de Maig (93 507 27 00; Carrer del Dos de Maig 301; Hospital de Sant Pau)

Some 24-hour pharmacies follow:

Farmàcia Álvarez (93 302 11 24; Passeig de Gràcia 26)

Farmàcia Clapés (93 301 28 43; La Rambla 98)

Farmàcia Torres (93 453 92 20; www.farmaciaabierta24h.com, in Spanish; Carrer d’Aribau 62)

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