Barcelona will face major traffic and public transport changes from Tuesday, June 9, to Thursday, June 11, as Pope Leo XIV visits the city. The main impact will be in Ciutat Vella, Eixample and Sants-Montjuïc, with residents advised to plan ahead and use the metro where possible.
The Pope is due to arrive at Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport at around 12:25 on Tuesday. His schedule includes meetings at Barcelona Cathedral, a prayer vigil at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, a visit to Brians 1 prison, a stop at Montserrat monastery and a meeting with charity groups at Sant Agustí parish in the Raval.
The main event will be a mass at the Sagrada Família, where the Pope will bless the Tower of Jesus Christ. That ceremony also marks the centenary of Antoni Gaudí’s death. The Barcelona City Council says walking or using the metro is the best way to get around during the visit.
Traffic and parking restrictions start in the Cathedral area from 07:00 on Monday, June 8, until 10:00 on Thursday, June 11. In the Raval, streets around Sant Agustí church and Plaça de la Gardunya will be closed on June 9 and 10, with access controls and pedestrian management in place at busy times. Parking will also be banned from Tuesday evening until late Thursday on Carrer Hospital, Carrer Arc de Sant Agustí and nearby streets.
The Eixample will also be heavily affected. Nine streets will close from 07:00 on Wednesday, June 10, until 02:00 on Thursday, June 11, while the area around the Estadi Olímpic and the Olympic Ring in Sants-Montjuïc will be restricted from June 8 to June 10. Only Montjuïc residents will be allowed in that zone, with proof of residence required at police checkpoints.
Transport operator TMB will add extra metro services, staff and shuttle buses. On the afternoon of June 9, it will add four extra trains on Line 1, two on Line 3 and two on Line 5, with around 150 extra staff deployed across 32 stations. A shuttle bus will run between Plaça d’Espanya and the Estadi Olímpic, and the funicular will run more often. Several bus routes crossing Montjuïc will be diverted, while Sagrada Família station will close all day on Wednesday, June 10.
Rodalies de Catalunya will also add staff and extra capacity at Barcelona Airport and major stations including Plaça Catalunya, Arc de Triomf and Passeig de Gràcia. For the Montserrat part of the visit, FGC plans three trains per hour from 06:00 towards Monistrol de Montserrat, with each train able to carry 900 people.
