Barcelona is set to shut down two of its cruise-ship terminals next year as part of an ongoing effort to tackle the city’s growing overtourism crisis.
This decision will reduce the number of operational terminals at the Port of Barcelona to five.
The closure forms part of a newly announced agreement between the city council and port authorities, unveiled in a statement released Friday.
Included in the agreement is funding for a research initiative aimed at tracking how cruise passengers navigate the city.
According to the council, this study will lay the groundwork for crafting a sustainable mobility plan for tourists.
The deal also calls for significant upgrades to port facilities to make cruise operations more eco-friendly.
One of the key improvements will allow docked vessels to hook up to green onshore electricity, letting them power down their engines and significantly cut emissions.
According to the council’s announcement, the initiative will see a combined public and private investment of €185 million (approximately $216 million).
This is the latest in a string of measures to address the strain of mass tourism in Barcelona, a city that has seen mounting pushback from residents in recent years.
In July 2024, the tension hit global headlines when protestors took to the streets and sprayed tourists with water pistols in a symbolic show of frustration.
The root of the backlash lies in a range of issues, including congestion in public spaces and rising housing costs, as more apartments are converted into short-term vacation rentals.
Barcelona, home to Europe’s busiest cruise port, welcomed 1.6 million transit cruise passengers in 2024.
Most of these visitors disembark in the morning to explore the city before returning to their ships by late afternoon, according to a March statement from the Barcelona Tourism Consortium press office.
Popular tourist hotspots such as La Rambla and the nearby Gothic Quarter often become clogged with these day-trippers, further fueling local resentment.
The recent agreement continues a trend of restricting cruise activity in central areas.
In October 2023, the city closed its northern port terminal to cruise traffic, relocating ships to more distant berths following discussions with local authorities.
That measure built upon a 2018 agreement between the port and city council to shift cruise operations away from the urban core, with the goal of making them “more sustainable,” the port said at the time.
One of the first outcomes of that earlier agreement was the closure of the Maremagnum terminal, which has since been transformed into a vibrant waterfront hub featuring restaurants, bars, a marina, a sailing club, an aquarium, and a shopping complex.
