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Personal Safety In Granada - Enjoy Your Time There Without Worry or Upsets
"Be Sure and Be Safe."
Safety in Granada is often only thought about after an incident. And why not? After all, holidays should be all about enjoyment and fun, not worry and upsets.
But I certainly wouldn't want anyone coming to Granada thinking that crime is an issue here. It certainly isn't.
Where personal safety around Granada is concerned, your experiences are most likely to be of a shopkeeper or waiter chasing you to return a camera or handbag you left behind, or a taxi driver going by the shortest route to get you there quicker... not of people trying to take advantage of you.
But times are changing and with approximately 237,000 people in the city centre, it stands to reason that there will be some bad people amongst the many good, and so a few personal Granada safety pointers could well come in useful.
In our experience there are two main types of people to watch out for. These are sneak thieves who will be found where tourists go, and there are "rosemary tricksters" who walk their "patch" around the cathedral and the Alhambra.
Here are some pointers to help your holiday go smoothly.
Safety In Granada
- The theft in Granada tends to be opportunist and non violent, but don't leave your handbag or camera where it can be tampered with or "snatched" easily. Leaving your valuables out on a table, behind you on the back of a chair, or on the floor where you cannot see them, is not advisable.
- Carry a photocopy of your passport with you and keep the original safe in your hotel or our b&b accommodation (if you are staying with us). Remember, it is a legal requirement to have your identification documents with you all the time in Spain (although the police will normally be tolerant with holidaymakers).
- Don't keep all your valuable items (credit cards, passport, money) in one place. Divide them up and carry them on different parts of your person.
- Keep your handbag closed and, if it is convenient, carry it strap on shoulder and the bag under your arm or across your chest.
- Put your wallet in a zippered or secured pocket.
- Be aware when in crowded areas. If something suddenly happens nearby to attract your attention, be careful, as it may be a diversion to distract you. Thieves often work in pairs, one to get your attention, the other to go through your pockets or bag.
A different type of problem can be experienced around the cathedral area and the Alhambra. Remember "safety around Granada" because here you will invariably get gypsies with their "lucky" sprigs of rosemary or myrtle.
Some rosemary ready to be offered near the Cathedral
The typical operation will be something similar to this..
You will be offered a sprig of rosemary or myrtle to take as if it is a gift. You take it and then you will be asked for money for the "gift".
The solution, if you are approached, is just to say "no". Don't engage in conversation. Just walk on by. You won't be followed or pestered, they will just wait for someone else to come along....
Remember, Granada is a safe place to be, much safer than many other cities, but in the most unlikely event that something does happen, you will probably be surprised at how passers-by will actually stop to help you, rather than just passing by as they do in many other places.
Below are phone numbers and addresses to help in various situations.
Emergency Information for Safety in Granada
- National Police telephone : 091
- Local Police telephone : 092
- Reporting theft (English and Spanish spoken)
telephone : 902 102 112
- Ambulance telephone : 958 282 000 or 061
- Police Station telephone : 965 148 888
- City Police telephone : 092
- Civil Guard telephone : 062
- Fire telephone : 080
- Emergencies (several languages available) telephone : 112
To cancel your credit card :
- Visa: 900 974 445
- MasterCard: 900 971 231
- American Express: 915 720 303
British Consulates
- Malaga telephone : 952 352 300
- Madrid telephone : 915 249 700
Chemists are on most street corners in Granda
Click on this link to find a 24 hour chemist, but here are two that are fairly central...
- Calle Recogidas, 48 - telephone: 958 251 290
- Puerta Real, 2 - telephone: 958 263 113
Hospitals
There are many hospitals throughout Granada, but for most accident and emergency needs go to
- Hospital Clínico Universitario San Cecilio, Avenida Doctor Oloriz, 16, telephone: 958 023 000. Emergency telephone 958 023 259
- Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves, Avenida de las Fuerzas Armadas 2, telephone: 958 020 000. Emergency telephone 958 020 002
Remember to prefix telephone numbers with (0034) if you are ringing from a phone which is not Spanish based.
Enjoy your time here. Think safety in Granada and help your holiday go smoothly and happily to give you many happy memories to take back home with you.
If you have ever had an experience concerning personal safety or theft of belongings please let us know about it...
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