What scams should I watch out for in Madrid?
Pickpockets are the dominant threat, concentrated on the Metro (lines 1 and 10 near Barajas, and the Sol-Gran Vía corridor), the Rastro flea market on Sundays, and around the Prado and Reina Sofía. The technique is almost always distraction: someone bumps you, spills something on you, or a group crowds you at a turnstile while a partner works your jacket. Keep your phone in a front pocket and use a crossbody bag worn in front in these areas. The "rosemary sprig" trick around La Latina involves a woman pressing herbs into your hand as a "gift," then demanding payment aggressively. The "friendship bracelet" version operates similarly near Retiro. Unlicensed taxi touts outside Atocha station quote flat rates that are two to three times the meter fare; licensed cabs are white with a diagonal red stripe and always run the meter from the airport. Restaurant menus near Plaza Mayor occasionally bury a "bread and cover" charge of €2-4 that was not mentioned verbally — check the printed menu before ordering.
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