Urban Planning, Ecological Transition, Urban Services and Housing

Weekend opening hours are likely to lead to an increase in mobility and more crowding in the city’s main shopping areas, which is why people are recommended to get around on foot and on public transport, particularly the metro.

This weekend is included in the period when shops will be allowed to open on Sundays and public holidays. The days established for 2023 are: 3,6,8,17,24 and 31 December.

Members of the public are likely to be out shopping and engage in more free time activities on these dates, meaning larger volumes of people in the city’s main shopping areas.

Because of this, people are recommended to get around on foot, on public transport or by bike if they are going to more central parts of the city. At the same time, it’s a good idea to choose different times to go shopping, avoiding rush hours and the busiest times, such as Saturday afternoons.

Transport Metropolitans de Barcelona (TMB) will be boosting metro and bus services on lines going through the centre on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, to facilitate mobility. Up to eight additional trains will be in service, depending whether it’s the off-peak hours in the afternoons (from 1 pm to 5 pm) or rush hour (5 pm to 9 pm), particularly on the L1 and L3 services. Extra staff and security will also be laid on at stations near shopping areas.

Where shoppers have no other option than to use private vehicles, they are recommended to use the SMOU mobility app, which allows them to check parking availability in advance at a hundred city car parks. This enables people to simplify and plan their routes, cutting the time spent looking for parking, and reducing traffic, occupancy of public space and pollution.