The service, managed by Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona (TMB), closed 2025 with 2.74 million passengers, a figure that represents one million fewer than in 2023 and is far from the 4.3 million recorded before the pandemic. This decline means a 26% loss of users in just two years.

After the sharp decline caused by the health crisis, the Bus Turístic began a recovery that reached its peak in 2023, with 3.74 million travelers. However, the trend was broken, and in 2024 passengers dropped to 3.26 million, continuing the fall to 2.74 million in 2025.

To try and reverse this situation, the Barcelona City Council will reinstate the Plaça Catalunya stop this week, one of the most strategic points for this type of transport. According to a spokesperson for Turisme de Barcelona, the removal of this central stop, especially attractive to international visitors, could be one of the main causes of the passenger decline.

The Barcelona Bus Turístic, operating since 1987, is the city's official tourist service. It offers the possibility to hop on and off freely at any of its stops, in addition to audio guides in 16 languages, free Wi-Fi, and onboard tourist information. It has two main routes: the Blue Route, which connects Plaça Catalunya with the Camp Nou and passes through places like Passeig de Gràcia and Park Güell, and the Red Route, which runs from Plaça de Catalunya to the Arc de Triomf, including stops at Plaça d'Espanya and the Sagrada Família.