If you’ve never been to amazing Barcelona, Spain, then you might be wondering what time of the year offers the best vacation options. Fortunately, the area’s splendid Mediterranean climate means that it’s always a good time to visit Barcelona, and you’ll find a wonderful assortment of activities, attractions, events and popular pastimes available all year around. Here’s a bit more about the weather conditions and available activities that you may expect to enjoy during each season.
Summer Climate
With a summer season that lasts a full six months, you’ll have plenty of time to enjoy excellent temperatures from May through October. During these months, you’ll find the warmest days in July and August with daytime highs around 82 degrees and evening lows at around 68 degrees. In both June and September, the high temperature during the day is around 77 degrees, and you can expect it to fall to around 59 degrees each evening. Those visiting in May or October will find daytime highs at 70 degrees and evening temperatures that fall to around 55 degrees.
Summer Activities
Barcelona has some beautiful beaches, and you’ll have your choice of the type of beach that best fits your lifestyle. Barceloneta Beach is the area’s most popular beach for visitors. Parents traveling with children often choose the family-friendly Nova Icaria Beach, and those individuals or childless couples looking for something a little different may enjoy the nude bathing area at the San Sebastia Beach. Festivals are also a big part of the summer fun in Barcelona. You may enjoy the festival that is known as the Piknic Electronik, which is a music festival that takes place in the Joan Brossa Gardens on Montjuic Mountain. This is a great family festival that allows for picnicking before the parents start dancing to electronic music while the children enjoy supervised activities. Other popular festivals include the Primavera Sound Festival, the Sonar Festival and the Cruilla Festival. During the summer months, nightlife enthusiasts are sure to enjoy the upbeat party atmosphere that finds its way out of the bars and clubs and into the streets until the early morning hours. You may also like the huge fireworks display during Noche de Sant Joan, which celebrates the summer solstice each July 23, the Sala Montjuic, which offers films projected onto a castle’s walls and a jazz concert and the Festa Major de Gracia, which is a week-long street party that takes place in the neighborhood of Gracia.
Winter Climate
While many European vacation destinations can only offer short, dismal days during the winter season, you won’t have to worry about that in Barcelona. A mild winter season runs from December through February, and you may expect to enjoy an average of 10 hours of sunlight each day. Temperatures normally hit a high of around 57 degrees during the day and drop to around 41 degrees in the evenings.
Winter Activities
Those visiting during the holiday season may expect to enjoy a beautifully decorated city and a festive atmosphere. While both Christmas and New Year’s celebrations are numerous, you’ll also be welcome to participate in a few special Catalan traditions. These include the Feast of the Three Kings and the Celebration of the Epiphany, which are both usually held in early January. You’ll also see several elaborate Nativity scenes in popular spots that include the Sagrada Familia, the Placa Sant Jaume and the Barcelona Cathedral. Barcelona boasts the largest ice-skating rink in all of Europe, and people of all ages flock to the Plaza Catalunya for a bit of skating fun all winter long. Rock climbing is another popular activity in Barcelona during the winter season, and you’ll discover a wonderful climbing experience for all skill levels. The world-famous Sitges Carnival is usually held in February, and you can also enjoy a thermal bath at Aire de Barcelona.
Spring and Fall Climates
March and April are considered the only two months of spring in Barcelona, and November stands alone in representing the season of fall. Average temperatures during the spring months range from highs of about 59 to 62 degrees and lows that range from 46 to 57 degrees. November offers an average high of 57 degrees and lows around 51 degrees. All three of these months sometimes see heavy rains.
Spring and Fall Activities
Rain or not, there’s still plenty of things to do in Barcelona during these months. On clear days, you may enjoy the many cafes that offer outdoor seating, and it’s a great time for sightseeing tours. When the rain pours, you may want to use that time to check out the exceptional museums that are housed in Barcelona. These include the Museo Picasso, the Cosmo Caixa science museum and the Museo d’Historia de Catalunya.
