How to Stay Safe in the Major Study Abroad Hubs: Barcelona, Florence, Madrid, and London
Studying abroad is honestly really safe, and these are some of the most student friendly cities in the world. You just want to know a few small things going in, mostly keeping an eye on your stuff and knowing the good areas to hang out. Nothing to stress about. Here's the quick rundown on the four biggest hubs, straight from the guides we give our members when they join.
Barcelona
Barcelona is a gorgeous city and totally fine to walk around, you just want to keep an eye on your stuff in the busy tourist spots. Watch out for pickpockets around La Rambla and on the metro, so keep your phone and wallet in your front pockets and you're good. If someone tries to hand you a friendship bracelet or stops you to sign a petition, just keep walking. At the beach, don't leave your bag while you go for a swim. Eixample and Gracia are the best areas to stay, super safe and great for students, and El Born is a fun spot to go out.
Florence
Florence is the chill one. It's a small, walkable city and you'll feel comfortable even walking home late. Not much to think about here. Just keep an eye on your pockets in the crowds around the Duomo and Ponte Vecchio, and read the bill at the touristy restaurants near Piazza della Signoria. Oltrarno and Santa Croce are great areas to base yourself, both super safe with good bars and food, and Santa Croce is where a lot of students end up.
Madrid
Madrid is one of the most laid back big cities to get around, and you can walk around at night pretty comfortably. Just the normal city awareness. Keep an eye on your pockets around Sol and Gran Via where it gets crowded, and grab an official taxi or Uber at the airport instead of the guys waving you over. Malasana, Salamanca, and La Latina are all great, safe areas to stay, with Malasana being the go to for nightlife and La Latina for tapas.
London
London is a big city, so you stay aware like you would anywhere, but it's very easy to get around and feels safe. The main thing that actually catches students off guard isn't crime, it's the traffic, so look right when you cross because the cars come from the other side. Keep your phone in your pocket while you walk instead of out in your hand near the street, and grab an Uber or a black cab at night instead of random minicabs. Shoreditch, Soho, and South Bank are all great, lively areas to spend your time.
The bottom line
Bottom line, all four of these cities are safe and thousands of students live in them every semester without any issues. A little awareness goes a long way, and honestly just knowing the good areas to stay makes the whole thing easy. Our members get the full guide for their exact city when they join, plus a real person to text if they ever need anything. That's the part that actually matters.