The celebrations will centre around Av. Reina Maria Cristina, with a music and fireworks display combined with the chimes at midnight. In the interests of public safety, the City Police and the Mossos d’Esquadra police corps will be making checks next to the Venetian towers to ensure people don’t enter the area with glass bottles or other dangerous objects.

The central road section in Av. Reina Maria Cristina and the pavement on the side nearest the Besòs will be open to members of the public, while the side nearest the Llobregat will be reserved exclusively for use by emergency services. After the event, people will be able to leave via Av. Reina Maria Cristin and Av. Rius i Taulet, as well as Av. Francesc Ferrer i Guàrdia.

In addition, the City Police and the Fire Service will be activating the drone service, a means of operational support and information to boost safety by offering images in real time (without recording them).

Special operation in the rest of the city

The City Police and the Mossos d’Esquadra will be working in the rest of the city to ensure local people’s hours of rest and keep on top of any illegal activity in public streets. The police have been conducting inspections at nightlife venues in the days leading up to New Year’s Eve and paying particular attention to any infringements involving noise, excess capacities, under-age drinking and compliance with safety conditions.

The City Police will be establishing secure routes to facilitate safe and orderly exits from nightlife areas and enable people to reach public transport, the goal being to prevent sexist and LGBTI-phobic violence. These safe routes come in addition to the permanent ones already in place in different leisure areas in the city.

Road safety will also be strengthened, with breathalyser tests and drug-driving checks at different points around the city to help prevent accidents.

All-night metro service

Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona (TMB) will again be offering people an all-night metro service on New Year’s Eve. In all, 8 lines and 158 stations on the network will be operating from 5 am on the morning of Saturday, 31 December, through to the night of 1 January, when the service closes at midnight.

Those making their way to Av. Reina Maria Cristina are recommended to use the metro. The nearest stop is Espanya (L1 and L3), but to avoid possible crowds, other goods options are the Hostafrancs and Rocafort stops on Line 1 or the Tarragona and Poble Sec stops on Line 3.

For more information check the TMB website.