How Safe Is Valencia, Really?
How Safe Is Valencia, Really? A 2025 Guide for Families & Expats
By Amanda Chigbrow | LaVidalencia.com
Let’s Talk About Safety—Because It’s the First Thing Everyone Asks
“But is it safe?” That’s one of the first questions we got when we told people we were moving to Spain. And honestly, it’s a fair one—especially as a mom of two young daughters and two very curious little dogs. When you’re uprooting your life and moving across the world, you don’t just think about sunshine and sangria. You think about bedtime walks. School routes. Your kid carrying a backpack through a plaza at dusk.After nearly two years of living here, I can say this with confidence:Valencia feels safer than anywhere we’ve lived in the U.S.
What "Safe" Means Here: Violent Crime vs. Petty Theft
First, the facts. Spain, and Valencia in particular, has very low rates of violent crime. The kinds of headlines that dominate news cycles in the U.S.? You just don’t see them here.But:petty theft is real. Pickpocketing, bag snatching, unlocked bikes disappearing—it happens, especially in crowded areas and festivals. But these are crimes ofopportunity, not violence.We’ve learned the rhythm: zippered bags, phones not on café tables, and bike locks you can’t snip with kitchen scissors. Stay aware, not anxious. Chill, not careless.
Safety by the Numbers: Valencia vs. U.S. Cities
According to the 2025 Numbeo Crime Index, here’s how Valencia stacks up against major American cities:
| City | Crime Index | Safety Index |
|---|---|---|
| Valencia 🇪🇸 | 35.5 | 64.5 |
| New York | 48.3 | 51.7 |
| Los Angeles | 53.5 | 46.5 |
| Seattle | 54.3 | 45.7 |
| Chicago | 65.8 | 34.2 |
| Philadelphia | 62.7 | 37.3 |
Interpretation:Valencia is statistically one of the safest urban areas in the Western world. The safety index is substantially higher than U.S. cities—including family-oriented ones like Boston (57.5) or Miami (47.7).
What Feels Different as a Mom
I don’t second-guess letting Frances run ahead to the bakery. Evelyn plays in the plaza with other kids while Cory and I finish our cortados. And it’s not unusual to see toddlers out with parents at 10:30pm in summer, walking home through well-lit streets.That’s what safety feels like—not just the absence of danger, but the presence of peace.
Police Presence: Visible and Reassuring
Here’s something I didn’t expect to love: the visibility of the police. In Valencia, officers walk the beat. You see them near schools, in plazas, at markets—not hidden in patrol cars but part of the scenery. It’s a subtle but powerful contrast from what we knew in the U.S. It doesn’t feel like surveillance. It feels like presence. And that presence builds trust.
Safety for Kids, Teens, and Solo Expats
For younger kids, the city is full of enclosed playgrounds and plazas that function like outdoor living rooms. For tweens and teens, the Metro and EMT bus system are safe, clean, and predictable. Frances takes the Metro with friends now—and I don’t white-knuckle my phone waiting for a check-in.Solo travelers, especially women, often report feeling safe walking home late. I do too. That doesn’t mean I’m reckless—but I’m also not constantly on high alert. That matters.
Real Talk: What We Do to Stay Safe
Use zippered crossbody bags and keep phones off tables in public
Lock bikes with a serious chain (U-locks recommended)
Be mindful in festivals like Fallas or in super touristy zones
Teach the kids their address, local words for help (“ayuda,” “emergencia”)
Save the local emergency number: 112
External Links for Peace of Mind
Amanda’s Final Take
Safety isn’t just about data. It’s about how your shoulders feel when you walk home at night. It’s the calm you carry when your kid rides the bus alone or your teen heads to language class. Valencia gives you that kind of safety—not the kind that fences you in, but the kind that frees you up to live.We moved here for a better lifestyle. Safety was part of that dream—and in Valencia, it’s part of our daily reality.
In Gratitude,
Amanda Chigbrow
Founder of LaVidalencia
@LaVidalencia | LaVidalencia.com