Barcelona

 

EU citizens can get free or reduced cost medical treatment on presentation of an EHIC card and passport.

Hospital Clinic I Provincial De Barcelona

reporting crimes

If you need to report a crime for example, to claim on travel insurance, be prepared for the reality that in the downtown police station, officers may not speak English, despite that fact the official theft report form is in both English and Spanish. The police station most often used to report theft is the one underneath Plaça Catalunya beside metro station, they have got translators for English, French, etc.

pickpockets

Barcelona is Europe's pickpocketing capital. As always, be alert in crowded places, such as public transport, train and bus stations, La Rambla and Raval. People may approach you asking for change, or to change money. Just ignore them. If you are asked to change money, then official looking police may approach you afterwards to 'check' your wallet for ID, etc. These are not police, so be at your most vigilant or you might find they have taken a few cards or cash upon returning your wallet.

Pickpockets use the football trick as the local specialty. At certain tourist hotspots, there are people who will try to show you a 'magic trick'. This involves tying a piece of string around your finger. While you are distracted and your arm is effectively disabled, an accomplice will pickpocket you. It is also possible that criminals will pose as tourists and ask directions to approach their victims. Keep your distance and be careful in tourist places.

The subway is a hotbed for pickpocketing activity, which can range from simple opportunistic thefts to coordinated attacks. Be especially wary on the subway platforms at Sants train station and Sagrada Família. A group of men will come out of seemingly nowhere while you attempt to enter a subway car and block your entrance and exit in a coordinated manner, effectively pinning you against the doors while they close. They will act as if the car is just crowded and they are trying to get on as well, but, in reality, they have already gone through your pockets.

Once they take stuff, they quickly return to the platform and walk off calmly while you are trapped in the departing subway as they make sure they exit just before the doors cannot be reopened. Violence in these situations is rare, and in most cases the goal of the thieves is to rob you undetected.

Never keep your wallet, cash or important documents in trouser pockets or in bag pockets: a money belt is an easy and inexpensive way to prevent being robbed.

Stay vigilant: do not leave anything in a back trouser pocket except maybe a map of the city. Hold on to your bag or purse at all times. Do not leave anything unattended while you sit in a cafe or restaurant.

One guy acted like reading newspaper and about to go into the subway gate he's scanning target. While you inserted the subway card to enter and before the gate opens, that guy immediately entered his subway card also which will cause the gate to jam and alarm sound. Immediately 3-4 other people appear and while acting like trying to help pointed to the gate telling you 'the door is jam', then will try to snatch your backpack or wallet while you are still surprised. Check and make sure no one tailgate on you, or simply let the guy go first.

cars

Tourist drivers may attract special attention, such as Red light bag snatch or Flat tire scams