Weekend in Barcelona

By Robert Heaney
Guests dining outside a restaurant on Plaça Reial

Barcelona is one of Europe’s top city break destinations, and makes for a pretty great weekend getaway. Between its famously thriving nightlife scene and its wealth of central cultural attractions, a couple of days is more than enough to see plenty of what the city has to offer.

No matter your preferences, no matter the weather, a weekend in Barcelona is sure to be a fantastic city break. Offering everything from intimate evening dining and electric seafront parties to a vast wealth of cultural sites and classic retail therapy spots, Barcelona has something for just about everyone.

Visiting at the Weekend

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Depending on when in the year you choose to visit, the conditions surrounding your trip will vary quite significantly. Visiting during the summer will mean peak weather conditions but also the largest crowds throughout the city. The spring and fall shoulder seasons are considered ideal times to visit, with often milder weather and more bearable crowds. And of course, winter is therefore the quietest but also coldest period.

No matter the season, however, a general rule of thumb is to expect weekends to be busier than their weekday counterparts. On one side, Barcelona is a particularly popular weekend city break destination, as evidenced by the fact you’re reading this article right now. On the other, many locals tend to visit the city over the weekends while off work or school.

The increase in throughput at the weekend naturally means that attractions, museums and restaurants tend to be significantly busier than throughout the week. What’s more, you should expect hotel rates to increase somewhat over the weekend, often becoming fairly expensive in busier months.

For many, though, this is exactly the appeal of visiting over the weekend. As a city renowned for its bustling atmosphere, this is when Barcelona thrives most. Bars and restaurants see more local clientele, offering a more authentic ambience, and the nightlife scene in particular truly comes to life with tourists, students and locals alike letting loose at the end of the week.

Things To Do

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A weekend in Barcelona is more than enough to see many of the city’s top sights. While seeing absolutely everything would be a stretch and hardly worth the strain, you can put together as extensive or relaxing an itinerary as you’d like and get a great experience either way.

Top Attractions

Most trips to the Catalan capital would be incomplete without ticking off some of the city’s most famous attractions. The Sagrada Familia and Park Güell are Barcelona’s most visited attractions, by merit of their fantastically photogenic architecture. If you have the spare time, Montjuïc is also well worth a visit, as the park is home to a huge selection of iconic landmarks and cultural sites.

Architectural Marvels

If you’re keen on exploring the city’s famous diversity of architecture, many of the city’s most celebrated Gothic and Modernist structures can be discovered one after another on foot, or can be crossed off even quicker using the transport links between each key location. You can also join onto a guided tour of the Gothic Quarter and the best works of Antoni Gaudí.

Cultural Hotspots

For your fill of history and culture, Barcelona is also home to a huge selection of fantastic museums and art galleries. History buffs should be sure to check out the Museu d'Història de Catalunya and the Museo de Historia de Barcelona, while art enthusiasts are bound to enjoy the likes of the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya, the Museu Picasso and the Fundació Joan Miró.

Retail Therapy

And of course, a European city break destination is nothing without its fair share of shopping opportunities. Spread across the city, you’ll find a wide range of boutique stores, local retailers and shopping centers. One of the most notable outlets is Las Arenas, built into a former bullfighting ring and offering panoramic views of the city, alongside El Triangle Centre Comercial and the Mercat de la Boqueria.

Weekend Nightlife

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Some of Barcelona’s greatest appeal comes from its internationally renowned nightlife scene. Replete with a healthy selection of delightful restaurants, hip bars and classy seaside clubs, the city brims with life in the evenings. And this is never more true than at the weekend.

Historical Plazas

For some great local cuisine and an intimate evening drink, the Gothic Quarter has a wealth of charming traditional squares filled with local bars and restaurants. Most popular among these are Plaça Reial, Plaça del Rei and Plaça de Santa Maria. Grab yourself a hearty meal and a glass of local cava to finish your day in style, or to set the mood for the evening to come.

Beachfront Spirits

If you’re looking to keep up spirits into the night, then your best bet is to take yourself down to the seafront. There, you’ll find the likes of La Barceloneta lined with stylish tapas bars and clubs. If the weather seems up to par, then why not also join many of Barcelona’s youth and the many tourist groups partying on the beach?

Cocktails With a View

Alternatively, if you’re looking for more of a high-class evening with less of the rowdy partying, Barcelona is also host to a great number of chic rooftop bars. Some of the most popular among these include the Grand Central Hotel SkyBar, 83,3 Terrace Bar and El Cel de Gaudí. In summer, you can even book for special rooftop events atop the likes of La Pedrera and Casa Batlló.

Robert Heaney
Go City Travel Expert

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Barcelona in April

Springtime is thought by many to be the best time to visit Barcelona. With the city still slumbering somewhat in the absence of peak-season tourists, its streets and attractions are usually relatively quiet and uncrowded. Throw in temperatures averaging between 50°F and 65°F alongside near-constant sunlight, and you can be certain a trip to Barcelona in April is sure to be a pleasant one. Tourism in April April serves as somewhat of a transition month for Barcelona as far as tourism concerned. It marks the boundary between the low-season winter and early spring months and the shoulder-season months leading up to summer. With that, tourism rates tend to rise gradually throughout the month. This is what makes the spring season ideal for many visitors. While the city has yet to be bombarded by the waves of summer tourists, there are still plenty of people around to give Barcelona its trademark buzz. You’re sure to be able to visit your attractions and restaurants of choice without too much hassle, but you can also depend on the nightlife to be booming. Take this opportunity to take a casual tour of Gaudí’s masterpieces, not last of all the Sagrada Familia and Park Güell. Walk in the footsteps of soccer legends at Camp Nou. Take a quiet stroll through Barcelona’s many famous markets, or sit back and enjoy a whirlwind tour of the city’s best attractions atop a Bus Turístic. Easter Weekend While Easter Sunday may sometimes fall at the end of March, it’s typically considered an April celebration. And as such, it serves as one of the best reasons to visit Barcelona in April. Visitors are welcome to join the locals in celebrating the long weekend and attending the many processions and masses taking place throughout the city. Throughout Semana Santa, or Holy Week, the streets tend to be thriving with festivity. Alongside the religious processions, many retailers, chocolate stores and bakeries will be stocked up on festive treats and various types of Easter fare. Just be sure to note that the Friday and Monday either side of Easter Sunday are public holidays, meaning many stores, bars and restaurants are likely to be closed. However, businesses will still typically operate under regular weekend hours on Saturday and Sunday. Fira per la Terra (Earth Festival) Held in conjunction with Earth Day, celebrated globally on April 22, Barcelona hosts la Fira per la Terra, or the Earth Festival. Spread across two days, the event sees locals and visitors alike come together in Parc Central de Nou Barris in celebration of the little green planet we call our home The eco-fair typically offers an open market, live music and a host of environment-focused talks and events. Many stalls will showcase environmentally friendly products, whether locally produced, recycled, ecological or all of the above, in an effort to encourage attendees to live a more sustainable lifestyle. There’s often quite the atmosphere throughout the festival, with attendees all sharing in their common passion to fight climate change and protect the environment. For those more activism-oriented or any visitors simply interested in attending a very wholesome event, this is not a festival to be missed! Diada de Sant Jordi (Saint George’s Day) Spain loves both its saints and its feast days, so the calendar is packed full of religious holidays and festivals throughout the year. Barcelona is no stranger to its own celebrations and, in many ways, likes to take each event up a step. So it should come as no surprise that the patron saint of Catalonia, Sant Jordi, is honored in a very big way indeed. The Diada de Sant Jordi is not a public holiday, so the vast majority of stores and restaurants will remain open. And that’s just as well, because it’s also Catalonia’s answer to Valentine’s Day. Sometimes referred to as the Book and Rose Day, it’s customary for locals to gift each other – you guessed it – books and roses. While the exchange of roses is an internationally recognized gesture of love, the swapping of books serves as a celebration of culture. On this day, La Rambla and its adjoining streets can typically be found lined with stalls offering all manner of books and flowers. While the books at these stalls will typically be offered in a wide array of languages, the city takes this opportunity to encourage the protection and promotion of the Catalan language in particular. This annual festival continues to bring well-deserved international attention to Catalan authors and publishers, and typically sees a massive boost in their output. It’s no coincidence that April 23 is also host to World Book Day – it was this exact festival that led the UNESCO General Assembly to declare it so! When visiting Barcelona in April, book lovers and couples alike should make their way to La Rambla to share in the city’s celebration of love and culture. Feria de Abril (April Fair) While the more famous Feria de Abril is held each year in Seville, Barcelona’s own celebration can easily hold a candle to its bigger brother. Typically held in Parc del Forum for around a week at the end of April, the festival offers a range of activities for all ages, often alongside live music and performances. For younger visitors and families, the event offers a fairground area housing the obligatory Ferris wheel alongside various other rides, game stalls, food stands and similar amusements. The other side of the fair is composed of the casetas, a host of marquee tents housing various organizations, political parties, merchants and food stands. The largest caseta, Caseta de la Fecac, is run by the event’s organizers and offers a series of free events and concerts by top artists and performers from around the country. If you’re in Barcelona in April and enjoy the atmosphere of a classic fair, be sure to pencil the Feria de Abril into your itinerary. Wrapping Up For many, Barcelona in April is nothing short of idyllic. With just enough crowds to give the city its renowned bustling atmosphere without clogging up the top attractions, visitors can be sure they’ll be getting the very best of both worlds. And with such engaging events taking place throughout the month, there’s certainly no shortage of festivity. Whether you’re looking for a quieter time to explore the city’s famous architecture, an opportunity to stroll through its many famous parks in pleasant weather or simply the chance to let loose in the evening, April could be the perfect time to plan your trip to Barcelona.
Robert Heaney
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Barcelona in December

Barcelona in December sees the coming together of two different cities; the famous Catalan metropolis and a festive holiday wonderland. Experience all that Barcelona has to offer year-round matched with all the spectacle and warmth of the holiday season. Winter in Barcelona With winter well and truly in swing, Barcelona has long since waved off the torrents of high-season tourists. While you can always expect plenty of visitors throughout the year, tourism rates are typically halved come December. What this means for you, should you choose to visit in this period, is a totally different side to Barcelona than you might see in summer. Aside from the much more bearable weather averaging around a mild 60°F, you’ll find the city far less crowded than during its peak. Where you might have had to book long in advance to visit top sites like the Sagrada Familia and La Pedrera, quick and easy admission to just about any attraction should now be no difficult feat. Due to the later sunrise in winter, typically taking place around 6:30 in December, a popular start to the day is to visit Park Güell to watch the sun come up. Naturally, this means that not getting there early enough will likely make it hard to find a good spot, so be sure to plan accordingly. Barcelona Ski Season December also marks the early days of the Barcelona ski season, with avid skiers often passing through the city on their way to the Pyrenees. Should skiing be your thing, there are 14 fantastic alpine ski resorts within range of the city. With most of these resorts reachable within four hours by car, they’re perfect for visiting for a day or two before returning to the city once again. Note that a number of these resorts cross over into Andorra and France, with Andorra only accessible by car. Día de la Constitución Visiting Barcelona in December does come with one slight caveat, though. On December 6, Spain celebrates Día de la Constitución (Constitution Day), in commemoration of the approval of the Spanish Constitution in 1978 and the subsequent return of Spanish democracy. As a public holiday, most schools and workplaces will take the day off, and many will flock to Barcelona to celebrate. Locals refer to this as a ‘mini high-season’, and for good reason. You can expect restaurants, bars and attractions to be crammed with visitors once again, perhaps even more so than during summer. Should Constitution Day fall either side of a weekend, the festivities are likely to last the full three days. Christmas Markets We’d be remiss to discuss a trip to Barcelona in December without expanding on the city’s many holiday festivities. From the final weeks of November, the city of Barcelona evolves into somewhat of a winter wonderland. The streets are adorned with all manner of festive decorations and lights, which are truly a sight to behold in the evening. But where the holiday spirit really shines through is the city’s many Christmas markets. Europe is world famous for its holiday markets. While Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic are some of the most renowned destinations, Barcelona can more than hold a candle to them with its own spirited selection of merry merchants. Throughout the city, you can explore a multitude of markets selling all manner of festive fare, from mulled wine to roasted chestnuts. Local artists also take the holiday season as an opportunity to sell their crafts, baked goods, artisan wines and spreads, homemade candies and Christmas ornaments, among a wide selection of other things. You’ll find plenty of different markets dotted around the city, but the largest and most famous is Fira de Santa Llúcia. Found on Avinguda de la Catedral, this market dates back over 200 years to 1786. Given its history and popularity, it’s wise to give yourself plenty of time to visit should you want to pick up some souvenirs from your trip, as crowds are almost inevitable. Caga Tió Neither Spain nor Catalonia in particular are shy about their traditions, and this is never more true than at Christmas. Early in December, the Caga Tió makes an appearance in many Catalan homes. The Caga Tió or Tió de Nadal is a relatively small wooden log with two front legs and a jolly face, often adorned with a traditional Christmas hat. Children are given the responsibility of taking care of the Tió throughout the season. This typically involves putting a blanket around the little log and feeding it fruit, nuts, bread and candy, much like kids elsewhere might leave out milk and cookies for Santa Claus. Should you ever be fortunate enough to spend Christmas with a Catalan family, you’ll then get to see the true colors of the Tió. Translated literally as the ‘poop log’, children will beat (yes, beat) the Tió in hopes of having it ‘poop out’ gifts, which they should then find hidden beneath the blanket. El Caganer The toilet-humor traditions don’t end with the Caga Tió, though. Wandering through the Christmas markets dotted throughout Barcelona in December, you’re likely to come across a common figure on display. Often depicting various celebrities, public figures and fictional characters going number two, El Caganer is a staple of Catalan Christmas. Originally depicted between the 17th and 18th Centuries as a young peasant caught short between the three wise men in the nativity scene, many families now adorn their own scenes with their choice of Caganer. Contrary to the apparent profane nature of the display, El Caganer is viewed as a sign of good luck to the people of Catalonia. Harking back to ancient pagan ideas, the Caganer’s ‘deposit’ is supposed to represent the fertilization of the soil and high productivity for the year ahead. You’ll find both Caga Tió and El Caganer throughout Barcelona in December, and you can even pick up your own from just about every market stall. Why not bring both home and enjoy your very own Catalan Christmas? Wrapping Up Should you choose to visit Barcelona in December, you’re sure to be rewarded handsomely. Not only will you be able to see all that the city has to offer without all of the high-season crowds, but you’ll also be able to indulge in many of the region's winter festivals. Explore the city at your leisure without having to plan too far ahead, and finish each day with a merry glass of mulled wine and a relaxing jaunt throughout the festively-lit streets and various Christmas markets stretching throughout.
Robert Heaney

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