Is Las Palmas safe?
Safe city with normal care. Petty theft near the port and beach, and sea conditions, are bigger concerns than violence.
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 Las Palmas at a glance
| What to expect | |
|---|---|
| Overall | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Crime | Pickpocketing around Santa Catalina, Mesa y López and Las Canteras, plus thefts from beaches and occasional bag snatching at night. |
| At night | Las Canteras promenade stays busy and feels safe until late. Port-side side streets are quieter; use a taxi or app after midnight. |
| Solo women | Comfortable for solo women. Occasional catcalling near the port; watch drinks in busy bars and use taxis late at night. |
| Other risks | Rip currents at Las Canteras; Calima dust and wind; Trade-wind gusts on the seafront |
Scams, areas and local laws
Common scams
- Distraction thieves near Parque Santa Catalina
- Unlicensed taxi touts at the cruise terminal
- Fake petitions on busy shopping streets
Take care
- La Isleta and parts of the port late at night: dark, quiet streets
- Las Canteras: rip currents; obey flags
- Beach at night: opportunistic thefts
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 Las Palmas 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 Las Palmas safe for solo female travelers?
Comfortable for solo women. Occasional catcalling near the port; watch drinks in busy bars and use taxis late at night.
Is Las Palmas safe at night?
Las Canteras promenade stays busy and feels safe until late. Port-side side streets are quieter; use a taxi or app after midnight.
What is the crime rate in Las Palmas?
Pickpocketing around Santa Catalina, Mesa y López and Las Canteras, plus thefts from beaches and occasional bag snatching at night. Nationally, Spain records 0.7 homicides per 100,000 people a year (2023).
What number do I call in an emergency in Las Palmas?
Police 091 · Ambulance 112 · Fire 112 · All emergencies 112.
More about Las Palmas
Going to Las Palmas solo?
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Sources
- US State Department travel advisory
- Guaguas Municipales
- Global (Gran Canaria buses)
- Gran Canaria Airport (Aena)
- Turismo de Gran Canaria
- 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.