Barcelona will have nearly 400 climate shelters this summer 

This summer Barcelona will have almost 400 climate shelters, 46 more than last year, with 26 new locations in the 33 neighborhoods most vulnerable to heat. 

The network will also be reinforced in August, when many facilities normally close, with 17 additional shelters open on weekdays (256 in total) and 21 more on weekends (189 in total) compared to the summer of 2024.  

Of these, nine shelters that will open during the week and 12 on the weekend are in the 33 most heat-affected neighborhoods. 

"In this way, a response is provided to the periods of maximum exposure to heat in the most vulnerable neighborhoods," said the first deputy mayor, Laia Bonet.  

Senior citizens' centers are among the new facilities set to open in August. Additionally, to alleviate the shortage, five municipal libraries that are usually closed will remain open. 

These include the Sant Pau Library in the Raval neighborhood, the Francesca Bonnemaison Library in the Ciutat Vella district, the Roquetes-Rafa Juncadella Library in the Les Roquetes neighborhood, the Zona Nord-Mària Sánchez Library in the Nou Barris district, and the Trinitat Vella-José Barbero Library in the Sant Andreu district. 

This year, the shelters have a new look designed to be more visible and easier to find. The network is also expanding, with new features being added, including information officers on the street, with special focus on the elderly. 

According to the city council, 99% of the population will have access to a shelter within a 10-minute walk from home during June and July, and 90% will have access on weekends in August. 

These measures are part of the Barcelona City Council’s Climate Plan, which launches a "preventive phase" for addressing the heat from 15 June to 15 September.