With the arrival of winter, the city has up to 301 climate shelters where people can shelter from the cold. The network consists of municipal facilities and various public and private spaces, such as libraries, sports centres, markets, museums and places of worship, offering stable temperatures and areas to rest in.

Conceived specifically for people with difficulty maintaining warm temperatures at home, these spaces function all year round to combat the cold weather or intense heat. At present, 95.5% of people have a shelter within ten minutes of their home, and over half of them have one within five minutes.

New microshelters

One of the main new options this season are the 53 microshelters: small local establishments offering an indoor space free of charge where people can pause when temperatures are at their coldest.

Despite their reduced size, they guarantee suitable temperatures and seating, and in some cases offer water or the use of toilets free of charge. Pharmacies, bookshops, food stores, herb stores and premises operated by organisations have joined in thanks to campaigns by information staff, particularly in areas where there is less cover.

Where to find them

The municipal website has a full map with the location of shelters, their opening times and the services they offer, as well as filters to find accessible spaces, with toilets or pet-friendly places. All facilities maintain their usual uses and are duly identified at the entrance.

Barcelona has the largest network of this type in the Spanish state. It is still being added to, particularly in vulnerable neighbourhoods, the goal being that everybody has one of these spaces within five minutes of their home by 2030.