Is Barcelona dangerous?

[johnnysneakers]

I am going there soon, and I keep hearing that it is a dangerous city. Lots of swarmings. Pick pockets. People getting mugged. How true is all this. Also are there any strip clubs? What is the scene like, or is all the action in the baths?

[Guest MrB]

No, it's not dangerous at all. No, there are no strip clubs. No, not all of the action is in the saunas... the whole city is cruisy and you can pick guys up most anywhere... streets, discos, bars.

 

Have fun!

 

 

MrB

[trilingual]

Ditto! Who on earth spreads these stories? Barcelona is wonderful. It fulfills my stereotype of what a great European city should look like more than other I've visited, with an ancient old town (the Barri Gotic), the handsome 19th Century "new town" (the Eixample) with its modernista architecture and grand boulevards, and exciting new buildings by many of the world's great contemporary architects. Barcelona is also a great center for music, especially if you like opera. From a safety standpoint, I've never had the slightest problem in Barcelona, day or night. That being said, it's a big city and you should keep your head about you, as you would in any other large urban area.

 

Some of the bars may have strippers, although not every night. Check the local bar paper "Nois" to see what may be happening. The Spartacus lists a couple of bars with an R (rentboy) symbol, like Espai Magic and EA-3, but I haven't tried them. If you go, please let us know what they're like and if they're worth going to. As with most of Spain, the bars aren't likely to get going until around 11:00, at the earliest. People hang around until around 1:00 or so and then head off to the dance clubs or discos.

 

The Thermas on c/Diputació, 46 (metro Rocafort) is certainly a hot spot. Friendly, and you can eat there, too. Last time I was there the majority of the guys were Brazilian or Moroccan, although there was one spectacular Russian hunk, Dima, who was commuting between Barcelona and Moscow. Blond, very muscular and very good looking, not to mention extremely obliging! This is good beginning around 5:00 p.m. and lasting until around 9:00. After that it seems to thin out. I suppose they go home to rest up before going out again later to the bars/clubs. Going rate is about US$30; don't spoil things for everyone else, including the locals, by paying more!

 

Special tip: If you're into museums and like Art Nouveau/Modernisme, you MUST visit the Museum of Modern Art in the Parc de la Ciutadella (?) just east of the old town. Modern in this context means "modernisme" and, among other things, the museum contains some truly spectacular displays of art nouveau furniture from the great modernista houses of Barcelona. If you want to know what the furnishings of some of Barcelona's modernista wonders looked like, this is the place! Even though it's close to the center of town, it's not that well known and unlikely to be very crowded. However, it's very much worth the visit. But then, the whole city is! Have lots of fun and report back on your discoveries!

[johnnysneakers]

Thanks for all the advice. I have rented an apt rather than pay the extortionist prices for hotels. I have started doing this in other European cities with great success. I am so glad to hear that Barcelona is no more dangerous than any other city, esp as I believe most American cities are very dangerous, esp Buffalo where I got bet up many years ago.

 

Will give you a full blow by blow report when I return.

 

JJJJJ

[trilingual]

Let us know how the apartment is, with name and rates, if it's worthwhile. Living on the U.S. economy, I didn't find Barcelona expensive. I stayed at the Hotel California, very gay friendly, in the heart of the Barri Gotic. My recollection is that it was pretty reasonable for a comfortable room with private bath and continental breakfast included. If you need to stock your apartment, have a look at La Boqueria, the big public market with an entrance on the Ramblas. It's worth a visit for a view of all the mouthwatering goodies on display. Some of the customers and vendors aren't entirely shabby, either!

 

If you'll be there for a bit, you also might check out the escort services/male bordellos that advertise in the Spartacus and in the local gay resources, like Nois, Shangay, or Mensual. There's American Boys, Neron and Staus, among others. I haven't tried them, but if you find time to try them, let us know what you find.

[Guest MrB]

I remember Hotel California... it was only $15 a night just a couple of years ago, private bath and air, clean enough but *extremely* noisy. Found it in Spartacus originally, I believed. Never went back because I got addicted to my private whirlpool :-) and of course one likes to get *some* sleep

 

Have fun

 

 

MrB

[Guest Alexander]

Don't forget Sitges, a town just 30 minutes from Barcelona. The Spanish call Sitges 'the gayest place on earth' - and it's easy to see why. It has everything, attracting gays from all over Europe. Great beaches, fabulous swimming and a nightlife guaranteed to keep you awake almost until dawn. The action in the bars and clubs throbs with excitement right through the night, only winding down to rest as the sun comes up. When it does, then less than 30 minutes walk from the town centre is Sitges' exclusively gay beach. A glorious expanse of beach, beautifully golden men. This is one of the cruisest parts of town, right throughb the day and into the early evening.

[trilingual]

Some rooms at Hotel California ARE noisy (the ones on the street) but there are some others with no view that are quiet. Mention that when you check in, if you should stay there. The hotel is well-located in the Barri Gotic, and being gay-oriented, has all the local gay mags, etc. in the lobby so you can start getting oriented right away! There's nothing glamorous about the hotel, but it's clean and well-located and the rooms have private baths, which counts for something now that I've reached that age where I sometimes need to pee several times a night and would rather not have to go fumbling down a dark hallway trying to find a shared toilet!

 

I didn't mention Sitges, which is also wonderful, just because I don't know where there are escorts. It's certainly worth visiting in season! Are there any bars where boys for rent hang out?

[johnnysneakers]

Just back from Barcelona, and I can now answer my own question and confirm the good advice I received from all of you. No it is not really dangerous, esp if you carry yourself confidently. However, I heard of several women have their purses stolen and one gay friend of mine who was walking alone one night in the Gothic quarter who was accaused. But I too walked the Gothic at night, and never had the slightest problem.

 

Its a great city, but damn hot this time of year. Even after a 30 min session in one of the Thermas' rooms, it is even hotter!!! I highly recommend the Thermas, but it closes early on weeknighs, esp for Spain. I went around midnight several times and it was reasonably busy. I gather it is extremely busy between 6 and 9pm.