With a rate of only 33.4 crimes per 1000 inhabitants, the Basque Country has one of the lowest crime rates in Europe.
Crime rates can, however, vary significantly between rural and urban areas, though urban areas are still not particularly dangerous. Avoid the San Francisco area, however. Violent crime is extremely rare, but the usual precautions will keep you out of trouble.
It is advisable not to wear any Spanish symbols. Spain national football soccer tops, Spanish flags or Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid club paraphernalia are best avoided. Alhough no assaults on people wearing them have been recorded, some people might be upset about them. It is also best to avoid referring to the Basque Country as Spain.
Take into account that inhabitants of the Basque Country are divided between those who support independence or autonomy from Spain and consider themselves primarily or entirely Basque the majority, at 51% and others who consider themselves primarily or entirely Spanish a 49% minority. Within these currents, there are further subdivisions of opinion ranging from supporters of the Terrorist Group ETA at one end to those who supported the fascist regime of General Franco at the other though most people fall somewhere in between these extremes.
These political issues have dominated life in the Basque Country for generations and you will still find coverage of them in news media across the Basque Country every day. Also certain bars will have a distinctly Basque nationalist clientele such bars will generally have posters and slogans on the walls where pro-Spanish opinions will be unwelcome. If speaking to strangers, bear these divisions in mind and try not to cause offence.
