What scams should I watch out for in Barcelona?
Pickpocketing is the real threat, not elaborate cons. La Rambla, the Gothic Quarter, and the L3 metro line (especially Drassanes and Liceu stations) are where most incidents happen, and the method is almost always distraction: someone bumps you, spills something on you, or asks you to sign a petition while an accomplice lifts your phone or wallet. Wear a crossbody bag with the clasp facing inward, keep your phone in a front pocket, and never put anything on a café table you're not actively holding. The "friendship bracelet" hustle near Sagrada Família involves someone tying a bracelet onto your wrist before you can refuse, then demanding payment — just keep walking. Taxi drivers occasionally run the meter via the airport highway to inflate fares from El Prat; the flat rate into the city center is legally fixed at around €39, so state that before the car moves. Card skimming at ATMs happens too — use machines inside bank branches rather than standalone street units.
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