Shelter 307

Shelter 307 is one of the best-preserved air-raid shelters in Barcelona, carved into a hillside in the Poble Sec neighbourhood. Dug during the Spanish Civil War, it is now the only shelter of its kind in the city that opens regularly to visitors.

Why did Barcelona need shelters like this?

Barcelona was among the first cities in the world subjected to sustained aerial bombing of a civilian population, with the earliest raids hitting the city in February 1937 and continuing intermittently over the following months. Residents responded by digging more than a thousand shelters across the city, often with their own hands and little help from the authorities. Shelter 307 stood out from the rest for its scale and the quality of its construction.

What is inside?

The shelter is a network of narrow, curving tunnels cut directly into the rock, running for roughly 200 metres. The passages stand just over two metres tall and vary between 1.5 and 2 metres wide — the winding layout was designed to absorb a shockwave in case of a direct hit above ground. Traces of the original facilities remain along the route, including a former water point, a room set aside for children, and remnants of a makeshift ventilation system. At the height of the bombing campaign, the shelter could hold several thousand people from the surrounding streets during an air-raid alert.

How do you get there?

The entrances sit on Carrer Nou de la Rambla, right in the middle of Poble Sec. The easiest approach is by metro to Paral·lel station, served by lines L2 and L3, followed by a short uphill walk of a few minutes. It's an easy add-on to a walk down Avinguda del Paral·lel or a visit to nearby Montjuïc hill.

How do you visit Shelter 307?

The site belongs to the MUHBA network (Barcelona's history museum) and can only be visited on a guided tour booked in advance — there is no self-guided access. On Sundays, fixed tours run in three languages: 10:30 in English, 11:30 in Spanish, and 12:30 in Catalan. Other days of the week, including Saturday afternoons, groups are received by reservation as well. Entry itself is free, though booking ahead is mandatory, and a combined ticket covering other MUHBA sites is also available.

When is the best time to go?

Because each tour has a limited number of spots, it's worth booking a few days ahead, especially in summer and on weekends when demand peaks. The temperature underground stays steady year-round, so the shelter makes sense to visit in any season — and it's a solid backup plan on a rainy day when outdoor sightseeing isn't an option.

Frequently asked questions

Can I visit Shelter 307 without a reservation? No. Entry is only possible as part of a guided group booked in advance — there's no walk-in access for individual visitors.

How long does the visit take? A guided tour through the main tunnels, with the story of the shelter's history, takes roughly an hour once you factor in getting to the entrance.

Is the shelter accessible for visitors with limited mobility? The narrow, uneven tunnels and lack of a lift make the visit difficult for wheelchair users — it's worth checking directly when booking.

What's the nearest public transport? The closest metro stop is Paral·lel on lines L2 and L3, a few minutes' walk from the entrance on Carrer Nou de la Rambla.