Barcelona to offer 350 climate shelters this summer, 120 more than last year

Barcelona will have 350 climate shelters this summer, 120 more than last year, the city council announced on Monday.  

All the shelters will have at least shaded areas, drinking fountains and seating. 

For the first time, the shelters will include public swimming pools. But even though the shelters are free, there will be a fee for the pools. 

"There will be a public fee, but there will be discounts for the most vulnerable. As we have said and reiterated, there will be no citizen who will not have access to it for economic reasons," explained deputy mayor Laia Bonet. 

The measures are part of the city council's plan to cope with the high temperatures this summer, which began on Saturday and will last until mid-September. 

The shelters will operate during the normal opening hours of each facility, which may vary depending on the location.  

Bonet emphasized that the city's goal is to ensure that by 2025, the entire population has a climate shelter within ten minutes of their homes. 

 Currently, according to Bonet, 98% of Barcelona residents have a shelter within ten minutes, and 68% within five minutes.  

On Sundays in August, when most shelters are closed, 89% of citizens have a shelter within ten minutes of their home. 

 To locate shelters and their opening hours, the city council has created an online map available in the 'Barcelona a la Butxaca' app.