Is Fuerteventura safe?
Very safe. Strong wind, rip currents, long drives and rental-car theft are bigger concerns than violent crime.
Key facts
- SoloSquare safety rating: 4/5, safe with normal care.
- US travel advisory: Level 2: Exercise increased caution, updated 2025-05-11.
- Homicide rate in Spain: 0.7 per 100,000 people (2023, UNODC via World Bank).
- Road deaths in Spain: 3.9 per 100,000 people a year (2019, WHO).
- Emergency numbers: Police 091 · Ambulance 112 · Fire 112 · All emergencies 112.
Safety in Fuerteventura at a glance
| What to expect | |
|---|---|
| Overall | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Crime | Theft from rental cars at beaches and viewpoints, petty theft in resort bar streets and occasional bag snatching. |
| At night | Resorts are lively until late; everywhere else is very quiet after dark. A car or pre-booked taxi is essential. |
| Solo women | Comfortable for solo women. Resorts are friendly; avoid empty beaches after dark and book taxis at night. |
| Other risks | Strong trade winds and gusts; Rip currents on open beaches; Sun and UV exposure year-round |
Scams, areas and local laws
Common scams
- Timeshare touts offering free gifts or meals in resorts
- Unofficial taxi offers at the airport
- Overpriced sunbed rentals on beaches
Take care
- Beaches with strong currents: Cotillo, Sotavento and Papagayo
- Rental cars at viewpoints: leave nothing visible
- Long unlit roads at night with strong gusts
Calmer areas to stay
Laws visitors break by accident
- Drinking alcohol in the street is banned in many cities, with on-the-spot fines.
- Wearing swimwear or going shirtless away from the beach is fined in Barcelona and many resorts.
- Police can ask for photo ID at any time and hold you until it's confirmed; carry it.
How Fuerteventura compares in Spain
| Place | Safety |
|---|---|
| San Sebastián | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Bilbao | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Córdoba | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Menorca | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Toledo | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Santiago de Compostela | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Salamanca | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Barcelona | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Madrid | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Seville | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Valencia | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Málaga | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Mallorca | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Ibiza | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Tenerife | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Gran Canaria | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Granada | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Palma | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Las Palmas | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Lanzarote | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Alicante | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Fuerteventura | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Marbella | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Cádiz | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Benidorm | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Maspalomas | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Sitges | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
Quick answers
Is Fuerteventura safe for solo female travelers?
Comfortable for solo women. Resorts are friendly; avoid empty beaches after dark and book taxis at night.
Is Fuerteventura safe at night?
Resorts are lively until late; everywhere else is very quiet after dark. A car or pre-booked taxi is essential.
What is the crime rate in Fuerteventura?
Theft from rental cars at beaches and viewpoints, petty theft in resort bar streets and occasional bag snatching. Nationally, Spain records 0.7 homicides per 100,000 people a year (2023).
What number do I call in an emergency in Fuerteventura?
Police 091 · Ambulance 112 · Fire 112 · All emergencies 112.
More about Fuerteventura
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Sources
- US State Department travel advisory
- Fuerteventura Airport (Aena)
- Turismo Fuerteventura
- Cabildo de Fuerteventura
- World Bank: intentional homicides (UNODC)
- World Bank: road traffic deaths (WHO)
Safety ratings are SoloSquare's editorial judgment from official advisories, crime data and local reporting. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.