What should you know about healthcare and emergencies in Barcelona?
Emergency number
112
Ambulance: 061.
Updated July 2026 · Sources cited: alertcops.ses.mir.es, liveandinvestoverseas.com
Good to know
Good to Know
- 112 is the number to remember by default in Barcelona — it's free, works with a dead SIM or no credit, and connects you to English-speaking operators who route you to police, fire, or ambulance as needed.
- In Barcelona you may see three different police forces: Guàrdia Urbana (local, 092) for everyday city issues, Mossos d'Esquadra (Catalan regional police, 088) who handle most serious policing in Catalonia, and Policía Nacional (091) for national-level matters like passport theft or immigration.
- Installing the free AlertCops app before you need it is worth doing — it lets you silently text-chat with police or send an SOS with your location if calling out loud isn't safe.
- If you're deaf, hard of hearing, or unable to speak, you can send an SMS to 679 436 200, which is monitored 24/7.
- For any life-threatening emergency, call 112 (free, 24/7, multilingual) rather than going straight to a hospital.
- The 061 'CatSalut Respon' phone line offers 24/7 medical advice and can tell you whether you need to go to an ER or a lower-level urgent care clinic (CUAP), which helps avoid long public ER waits for non-critical issues.
- EU/EEA visitors should carry their EHIC/GHIC card for reduced-cost public hospital care; non-EU nomads without a Spanish social security link will generally be billed directly and should have travel/health insurance.
- Hospital Clínic and Hospital del Mar are the most central options for anyone staying in the Eixample, Gothic Quarter, Born or Barceloneta areas.
- Sant Joan de Déu's Barcelona site only treats children — adults should go to Clínic, Sant Pau or Hospital del Mar instead.
- Private hospitals like CIMA are a good option if you have international health insurance and want faster, English-friendly service for non-critical urgent care.
Direct Service Numbers
Police (General/pan-emergency Line)
- Number
- 112
- Notes
- Recommended default if unsure which service is needed.
National Police (Policía Nacional)
- Number
- 091
- Notes
- Handles serious crime, theft, assault, and immigration/passport matters in urban areas.
Local/Municipal Police – Barcelona (Guàrdia Urbana)
- Number
- 092
- Notes
- Handles everyday city matters: traffic incidents, lost property, minor disturbances, noise complaints.
Catalan Regional Police (Mossos d'Esquadra)
- Number
- 088
- Notes
- Catalonia's own police force; in Barcelona and greater Catalonia, the Mossos d'Esquadra handle most policing duties alongside the Guàrdia Urbana.
Civil Guard (Guardia Civil)
- Number
- 062
- Notes
- Mainly rural areas, highways and interurban roads; less relevant within central Barcelona.
Fire Brigade (Bombers)
- Number
- 080
- Notes
- Barcelona's municipal fire brigade line; 085 is used in some other regions for forest-fire emergencies.
Ambulance / Medical Emergencies (Emergencias Sanitarias)
- Number
- 061
- Notes
- Direct line for medical emergencies and ambulance dispatch; can be dialled directly if you're certain it's a medical issue.
Deaf/hard-of-hearing Emergency SMS Line
- Number
- 679 436 200
- Notes
- SMS-based emergency contact, monitored 24 hours a day, for people who cannot make a voice call.
Gender Violence Helpline
- Number
- 016
- Notes
- Free, confidential, and does not appear on the phone bill.
Suicide Prevention Helpline (Ministry of Health)
- Number
- 024
- Notes
- 24/7 staffed support line for suicidal crisis and mental health emergencies.
General Barcelona City Information Line
- Number
- 010
- Notes
- Non-emergency city information line; can redirect callers to relevant municipal services.
Recommended Safety Apps
AlertCops
- Languages
- Spanish, English, French, German, Italian, Russian, Arabic (varies by source; core languages include Spanish, English, French, Arabic)
- Platforms
- iOS and Android, usable throughout Spain
- Publisher
- Spanish Ministry of the Interior (Policía Nacional / Guardia Civil)
- Official Link
- https://alertcops.ses.mir.es/publico/alertcops/en/
- Description
- Official app for fast, discreet contact with police via SOS button, silent text-chat, photo/video evidence sharing, and location sharing with trusted contacts or rescue services.
My112
- Platforms
- iOS and Android, free
- Publisher
- Official Spanish 112 emergency service
- Description
- Calling 112 from inside the app automatically transmits your GPS coordinates, phone number and a short profile to the operator, saving time when you can't clearly describe your location.
Hospitals
Hospital Clínic De Barcelona (Villarroel Centre)
- Type
- Public university hospital — general adult emergencies
- Hours
- Villarroel entrance open 24 hours; Casanova entrance open 7:45am–10:15pm
- Access
- Metro L5, 'Hospital Clínic' station (exits directly outside the emergency building)
- Address
- C/ Villarroel, 170, 08036 Barcelona (Eixample)
- Trauma Notes
- Tertiary, high-complexity referral hospital; the Villarroel A&E centre treats all general adult emergencies and is Barcelona's designated referral centre for sexual assault cases. Spain does not use the US-style 'Level I/II/III' trauma classification, but Hospital Clínic is one of Catalonia's main high-tech/reference hospitals.
Hospital De La Santa Creu I Sant Pau
- Type
- Public university hospital — general emergencies
- Hours
- Open 24 hours a day
- Access
- Metro L4 Guinardó/Hospital de Sant Pau; buses 192, H6, N0
- Address
- Sant Quintí, 87, 08041 Barcelona
- Trauma Notes
- General Emergency Department handling adult emergencies of varying complexity; part of the public Catalan hospital network.
Hospital Del Mar
- Type
- Public university hospital — general and trauma emergencies
- Hours
- Open 24 hours a day, every day of the year
- Access
- Metro L4 Ciutadella/Vila Olímpica or Barceloneta; several bus lines stop outside
- Address
- Passeig Marítim, 25-29, 08003 Barcelona (Barceloneta)
- Trauma Notes
- Runs a dedicated polytrauma protocol (Priority 0/1 patients managed jointly with Intensive Care; Priority 2/3 led by General Surgery). Central, coastal location makes it a key emergency point for the old town/beach area.
Hospital CIMA (Sanitas, Private)
- Type
- Private hospital — general and trauma emergencies
- Hours
- Emergency/A&E department open 24 hours; outpatient hours Mon–Fri 8am–8pm
- Access
- Sant Gervasi/Les Corts area
- Address
- Pso Manuel Girona, 33, 08034 Barcelona
- Trauma Notes
- Private multidisciplinary A&E handling adult and paediatric medical/surgical emergencies, trauma and gynaecology/obstetrics care; useful for nomads with private international health insurance who want shorter waits than the public system.
SJD Barcelona Children's Hospital — Barcelona A&E
- Type
- Private/mixed pediatric hospital — pediatric emergencies ONLY
- Hours
- 24 hours a day, 365 days a year
- Access
- Sants/Les Corts area, central-west Barcelona
- Address
- C. Numància, 9-13, Barcelona
- Trauma Notes
- Emergency care restricted to children and adolescents; not for adult trauma cases.
Vall d'Hebron University Hospital
- Type
- Public hospital complex — major regional trauma & specialist referral centre
- Hours
- Emergency department open 24 hours
- Access
- Metro L3, 'Vall d'Hebron' station
- Address
- Passeig de la Vall d'Hebron, 119-129, 08035 Barcelona (Horta-Guinardó)
- Trauma Notes
- One of the largest hospital campuses in Catalonia and a principal referral site for major trauma, paediatrics and maternal care in the region. Located further from the city centre (roughly 20-25 minutes by metro from Plaça Catalunya), but included here because it is a key regional trauma facility that nomads should know about for serious emergencies.
Hospital Universitari De Bellvitge
- Type
- Public hospital — major regional trauma & emergency referral centre
- Hours
- Emergency department open 24 hours
- Access
- Metro L1, 'Bellvitge' station; entrance to A&E via the rear of the hospital grounds
- Address
- c/ Feixa Llarga, s/n, 08907 L'Hospitalet de Llobregat (Barcelona metro area)
- Trauma Notes
- One of the largest hospitals serving the whole of Catalonia for accident and emergency care, with a dedicated Technosurgical Building for trauma and critical care. Located in L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, outside the immediate city centre, but noted here as a major regional trauma resource.
Public System
- Description
- Government-funded, free at point of use for residents and social security contributors. Long waiting times but high-quality care.
Convenio Especial
- Coverage
- Most medical services, though specific treatments and prescriptions have limitations
- Eligibility Months
- 12
- Description
- Voluntary public healthcare program for non-working expats after 12 months of residence. Provides access to most services with some limitations.
Major Hospitals
Vall d'Hebron
- Phone
- +34 934 89 30 00
- Specialties
- Large multi-specialty hospital
English Speaking Support
- 112 Operators
- 112 operators can assist in over 50 languages including English.
- Police Headquarters English Line
- +34 932 903 000 (Via Laietana 43) — English-speaking police officers for filing reports.
Universal Emergency Number
- Number
- 112
- Description
- The single, free, pan-European emergency number covering police, fire and ambulance. Works 24/7 from any phone, including mobiles with no SIM credit or a foreign SIM, and does not require a prefix.
Dental
- Payment
- Dentists typically require upfront payment
- Coverage
- Not covered by public system (except annual check-up/cleaning for children under 18). Must pay out-of-pocket or use private insurance.
Barcelona has a highly-regarded healthcare system with both public and private options. The public system (Sistema Nacional de Salud) requires residency/social security contributions; digital nomads typically use private insurance to meet visa requirements.
Emergency
- Access
- Public healthcare provides free emergency care regardless of residency or insurance status. Dial 112 for emergency services.
Private Insurance
- Requirement
- Mandatory for Digital Nomad Visa applicants. Must have zero copayments, zero waiting periods, and cover both inpatient and outpatient care.
- Key Providers
- DKV, Asisa, Sanitas, MAPFRE, AXA, Adeslas, ASSA
- Cost Range Per Month
- €50
- Typical Cost Per Month
- €50
- Cost Range High Per Month
- €200
- Note
- Barcelona consulate strictly enforces Spanish-regulated carriers only; international/travel insurance rejected as of 2026
Self Employed AutóNomo
- Social Security Contribution Per Month Min
- €230
- Note
- 2026 progressive bracket system based on net income
- Description
- After registering as self-employed, you can switch to Social Security contributions for public healthcare access.
Pharmacies
- Availability
- Widespread network throughout Barcelona, with regular hours and some 24/7 locations
- Special Feature
- Spanish pharmacists can provide medical advice and write prescriptions without doctor's consultation (unique compared to many countries)
- Medication Costs
- Often cheaper than US; many available without prescription
- Note
- farmacias is the Spanish term
AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026
Sources cited for this category
These are the sources cited in this emergencies research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.
- 1.alertcops.ses.mir.es
- 2.liveandinvestoverseas.com
- 3.barcelonaexpatlife.com
- 4.movingtospain.com
- 5.healthinsuranceforspanishvisas.com
- 6.heniam.es
- 7.barcelonaexpatlife.com
- 8.bancsabadell.com
- 9.lusalegal.es
- 10.pocketbarcelona.com
- 11.immigrationspain.es
- 12.suitelife.com
- 13.barcelona.cat
- 14.tradingeconomics.com
- 15.mtfxgroup.com
More About Barcelona
Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.