Extra municipal services are being laid on until 19 January, including TMB metro and bus services and particularly on public holidays when the shops are open. Cleaning services will be stepped up with 132 staff and 70 cleaning and waste collection vehicles, with more graffiti cleaning services too.
With the arrival of the festive period, Barcelona City Council will have its Christmas operation in place from 1 December 2025 to 19 January 2026. The goal is to ensure that the festive season goes smoothly in all city districts. The operation is part of the Pla Endreça.
It will pay special attention to shopping areas, tourist areas and places that draw crowds, such as the Sagrada Família, La Rambla, Park Güell, Turó de la Rovira, Pg. Gràcia, El Gòtic, Barceloneta and Sant Pere-Santa Caterina-La Ribera.
Greater police presence
Barcelona City Police will be stepping up its presence on the streets as more shoppers are expected around the city’s shopping areas, coupled with more intense use of public space. Proximity and prevention work will be carried out, prioritising the presence of uniformed patrols on foot, in close coordination with the Mossos d’Esquadra corps.
This collaboration allows for mixed patrols to be established. Their presence on the streets will have a dissuasive factor and also enable a swift response to any incidents, unauthorised parties, group binge drinking and excess capacities or opening time infringements at busy spots.
Safe mobility
Similarly, the city’s police force will pay particular attention to enforcement tasks relating to infringements that may affect pedestrian safety and the circulation of public transport. The corps will work to ensure the correct use of personal mobility vehicles (PMV) and bicycles and strengthen road safety with breathalyser and drug-driving tests at strategic points, particularly on the days with more movement.
People are advised to get around on foot or on public transport if they are going to the most central areas of the city or the main shopping areas, and to avoid rush hours and the busiest times, such as Saturday afternoons.
Even so, if opting for private vehicles, the SMOU mobility application enables users to check the availability of vacant spaces at over 300 city car parks. Measures are planned to keep traffic flowing in the main streets and in shopping areas, including the prohibition of works in public streets between 6 December and 6 January in busy areas, plus the activation of variable signs to manage turns at critical points.
Extra public transport
Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona (TMB) is planning to lay on extra metro services from 30 November and during the weekends and weekday public holidays in December when the shops are open. The metro will again be the most advisable option on these days.
The metro service finalises at 11 pm on 24 December, the usual time for this date. On Christmas Day and Boxing Day, service starts at 5 am and runs until 2 am, and on New Year’s Eve there’s uninterrupted service all through the night. Users should bear in mind that improvement work means that the L4 metro line will be out of service between La Pau and Passeig de Gràcia from 6 to 8 December.
The bus network will also increase its transport capacity by using articulated vehicles on some routes.
Cleaning and waste collection operation
From 6 December to 7 January, cleaning and commercial waste collection services will be bolstered in the most significant areas, with a total of 132 staff and 70 vehicles. Work will mainly focus on commercial and collective waste collection, emptying litter bins, sweeping and watering down streets and squares. There’s a special operation on 5 January, owing to the various three kings’ parades around the city.
Graffiti cleaning will also be increased, with three additional teams in the mornings and two in the afternoons. These teams will work in addition to the ordinary services and operate throughout December.