Barcelona City Council has activated its operational plan for the Pope’s visit, with traffic closures and parking restrictions in place from 9 to 11 June. The main affected areas are Ciutat Vella, Eixample and Montjuïc, according to officials.
First Deputy Mayor Laia Bonet and Security Councillor Albert Batlle presented the measures alongside the Catalan government’s Interior and Public Security Minister, Núria Parlon, and Justice and Democratic Quality Minister, Ramon Espadaler. Bonet said the aim is to make the visit compatible with daily life in the city, and urged people to use the Metro where possible.
Metro lines 1, 3 and 5 will run with a 23% increase in service, with more than 20 extra trains and extended operating hours. The council said municipal services, including cleaning, urban services and security, will also be reinforced in the most affected districts. For more local updates, see our news coverage.
The Pope is due to arrive in Barcelona on 9 June and visit the Episcopal Palace, with initial events at Barcelona Cathedral and the Olympic Stadium. On 10 June, he is scheduled to visit the Church of Sant Agustí and the Sagrada Família.
Traffic and parking restrictions around the Cathedral and the Episcopal Palace will run from 7am on Monday, 8 June, until 10am on Thursday, 11 June, between Plaça Antoni Maura and Plaça Nova. Parking will also be banned from late Tuesday until late Thursday on Carrer Hospital, from La Rambla to La Rambla del Raval, and on Carrer Arc de Sant Agustí, from Carrer Hospital to Carrer Sant Pau.
In Eixample, nine streets will be closed from 7am on Tuesday until 2am on Thursday, covering the area from Plaça Cinc d’Oros to Carrer Lepant and between Carrer Provença and Carrer Còrsega. Access and parking around the Olympic Stadium will be restricted from 8 to 11 June, while residents of Montjuïc will be exempt if they can show proof of residence at police checkpoints.
For people travelling to Montserrat, Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya (FGC) plans to run three trains per hour from 6am towards Monistrol de Montserrat, each with space for 900 passengers. The last return train will leave at 8.45pm. FGC will also introduce a single fare of €7.50, valid for both the Aeri cable car and the Cremallera rack railway for ascent and descent. Rodalies will add customer service staff at Barcelona Airport and at major stations expected to see higher passenger numbers, including Plaça Catalunya, Arc de Triomf and Passeig de Gràcia.
