Operating Hours

Barcelona Metro Operating Hours

Barcelona Metro Operating Hours: Complete Guide for 2024

The Barcelona Metro is one of the most efficient ways to move around the city, but its timetable varies by day of the week, season and special events. This guide compiles the most up‑to‑date, factual information available from official and authoritative sources to help you understand Barcelona Metro operating hours and plan your journeys accordingly.

Overview of the Barcelona Metro Network

The Barcelona Metro (known locally as “Metro de Barcelona”) is operated by Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona (TMB). It consists of 12 lines (L1–L5, L9–L11 and others such as L8 operated by FGC) and more than 150 stations. TMB confirms that the metro runs every day of the year, with different timetables depending on the day and date, and runs continuously on Saturday nights and on specific public holidays or festival nights, such as the eve of Sant Joan and some local celebrations. You can read TMB’s full timetable policy on their official Metro timetables page on the TMB website.

Standard Barcelona Metro Operating Hours

The core Barcelona Metro operating hours are defined by TMB and summarised as follows (all times refer to the start of service and the time of the last departure from termini, not when trains arrive at every station):

According to the official timetable information published by Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona on its Metro schedule page:

  • Monday to Thursday
  • Friday
  • Saturday
    • Service starts at 5:00 am and runs non‑stop through the night until Sunday night.
  • Sunday
    • Continuous service from Saturday continues through Sunday, and the service ends at midnight (12:00 am) on Sunday night (i.e. the night from Sunday to Monday).

These same operating hours are repeated and explained in English by Barcelona’s official tourism website, VisitBarcelona, on its dedicated Getting around by metro page, which states that the metro opens at 5:00 am every day and closes at midnight on weekdays, 2:00 am on Fridays, and runs non‑stop on Saturdays and on the eve of public holidays such as 23 June (Sant Joan) and New Year’s Eve, as published on Barcelona Tourism – Metro.

Night Service and 24‑Hour Operation

One of the key features of Barcelona Metro operating hours is the 24‑hour service on certain days:

  • Every Saturday night
    TMB confirms that metro trains run continuously from 5:00 am on Saturday until midnight on Sunday, which effectively provides 24‑hour service on Saturday nights, as described on the TMB metro schedule information.

  • Eves of certain public holidays
    According to the same TMB page and corroborated by the official tourism portal Barcelona Tourism – Metro, the metro usually offers all‑night service on:

    • New Year’s Eve (31 December)
    • Eve of Sant Joan (23 June)
      and often on some other major city festivities. Exact dates and possible changes are always listed on the timetable section of the TMB official website.

Because special nights may vary from year to year (especially local festivals), TMB recommends checking its official website shortly before your travel date.

Public Holidays and Special Dates

On most public holidays, the Barcelona Metro operating hours are similar to Sunday or Saturday schedules, depending on the specific holiday and whether there is an associated “eve” (vigília) with extended hours.

According to TMB’s explanations on Metro timetables – TMB and the tourism board’s information on Barcelona Tourism – Metro:

  • Many public holidays that fall on weekdays operate like Sundays, closing at midnight.
  • Some key holiday eves, such as New Year’s Eve and Sant Joan, receive continuous all‑night service (24‑hour operation) similar to Saturday nights.

Because the list of holidays with extended hours is updated annually, travellers should confirm specific dates on the TMB website before relying on overnight service.

Line Variations and Last Train Considerations

While the general timetable (first and last departures) is common across the network, exact last train times at individual stations can differ. TMB notes in its timetable details that the indicated closing time is when the last trains leave their termini, not necessarily the time they pass every station. Specific last‑train times for each line and direction can be checked on the interactive journey planner and line timetables on the TMB journey planner and timetables section.

This means:

  • If the official closing time is midnight, the final trains may pass intermediate stations a few minutes after midnight.
  • If you are far from a line terminus, your last feasible boarding time will usually be a little earlier than the end of service.

For precise planning, TMB provides real‑time service information and custom timetables on the TMB website’s route planner.

Frequency of Trains During Operating Hours

While the question of Barcelona Metro operating hours focuses on opening and closing times, understanding frequency helps you plan better, especially at night.

According to Barcelona’s official tourism board on the Metro information page Barcelona Tourism – Metro:

  • During peak hours on weekdays, trains typically run every 2–4 minutes on the busiest lines.
  • Outside peak hours and late at night, frequencies can be longer, typically between 7–10 minutes or more, depending on the line and time of day.

Exact current frequencies by line and time are continuously updated and can be viewed on the TMB real‑time metro information and timetables.

Airport Metro Operating Hours (Line L9 Sud)

If you are visiting Barcelona by air, Line L9 Sud of the metro connects Barcelona–El Prat Airport (Terminals T1 and T2) with the city’s metro network.

The airport line follows the standard Barcelona Metro operating hours. According to airport access information published by TMB on its page about getting to the airport and metro connections, and reflected in tourism guidance on the Barcelona Tourism – Metro:

  • First trains: start around 5:00 am.
  • Last trains: at midnight Sunday–Thursday, 2:00 am on Friday night, and 24‑hour service on Saturday night and certain holiday eves, as part of the general network timetable.

For travellers catching very early or very late flights, TMB and AENA recommend verifying the exact first and last train times shortly before travel using the TMB route planner and airport access information.

Where to Check Current Barcelona Metro Operating Hours

Because timetables and special night services may change due to works, events, or policy updates, the most reliable way to confirm current Barcelona Metro operating hours is through official channels:

  1. Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona (TMB) – Official Website
  2. Official Barcelona Tourism (Turisme de Barcelona)
    • Metro overview and visitor guidance: Barcelona Tourism – Metro
      This site summarises hours, explains ticketing and zones, and is particularly useful for visitors planning their stay.

Practical Tips for Using the Barcelona Metro

Based on the official information from TMB and Barcelona Tourism:

  • Always allow extra time at night: since last‑train times refer to departures from termini, try to be on the platform 10–15 minutes before the official closing time.
  • Check for works or disruptions: TMB lists planned engineering works and temporary closures in the service status section of its official site, which may occasionally affect late‑night or early‑morning services.
  • Use the official journey planner: For the most accurate combination of routes and real‑time schedules, the TMB route planner and apps (linked from tmb.cat) are the best tools.
  • During festivals or major events: Before assuming 24‑hour service beyond standard Saturday nights, confirm on the TMB metro timetable page, as only specific holiday eves have guaranteed all‑night service.

Summary: Barcelona Metro Operating Hours at a Glance

Based on the current official data from Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona and Barcelona Tourism (TMB metro schedules and Barcelona Tourism – Metro), the Barcelona Metro operating hours can be summarised as:

  • Monday – Thursday: 5:00 am – 12:00 am (midnight)
  • Friday: 5:00 am – 2:00 am (Saturday)
  • Saturday: 24‑hour service (from 5:00 am Saturday through to Sunday)
  • Sunday: Service ends at 12:00 am (midnight from Sunday to Monday)
  • Special eves (e.g. New Year’s Eve, Sant Joan): usually 24‑hour or extended night service, as announced each year by TMB.

For any journey, and especially late‑night or early‑morning travel, always verify details directly on the official TMB website at tmb.cat to ensure you have the most accurate, up‑to‑date timetable information.

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