Barcelona – a city of culture, sunshine and impressive architecture – is becoming a victim of its own success, with residents complaining that they are living in a tourist theme park. With about 32 million visitors arriving each year, locals say daily life is being disrupted, particularly in the high traffic zones, such as around the Sagrada Familia. Streets are covered with tourists, blocking roads, and pushing for the right photo at the expense of residents just trying to get around.
The sidewalks near Gaudi Square and Carrer de la Marina are especially chaotic, with visitors often spilling into the street to take photos of the iconic basilica. This has led to concerns about safety, access and quality of life for the people who reside in the vicinity.
1 month Ago By Oskar Malec
City Fights Back With Designated Selfie Zone
City officials have tried to deal with the chronic problem and recently announced plans to increase the size of a 6,200-square-meter zone for tourist buses at the doorstep of the Sagrada Familia. People will have designated space to take photos without blocking sidewalks or streets. The new area, to be built beginning in the fall, will be available by April 2026, which marks the 100th anniversary of the death of Antoni Gaudí and the beginning of construction of the basilica that he designed.
Jaume Collboni, Barcelona’s mayor, has insisted that the city needs visiting tourism to reinforce its model, not engulf it. The proposed plan is being called a “vestibule,” which helps strike a compromise in favor of tourists as well as locals.
Citywide Efforts to Tame Tourist Crowds
The impulse to build the selfie spot was probably in response to a recent fad on TikTok in which visitors shot video of themselves on an adjacent pair of escalators with the basilica in the background. The recordings were creating jams at metro exits and the authorities clamped down on them.
The selfie zone is one part of an overall attempt to control tourism in the city. In 2024, Barcelona opened a €44 million project to reduce congestion in 16 key tourist areas. This means dispatch more cleaning workers and police for keeping public order.
Besides, the city has also changed its marketing strategy. The long-standing slogan was changed last July from “Visit Barcelona” to “This is Barcelona,” marking a shift toward a narrative that could promote more responsible and sustainable tourism.
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