During the Spring of Barcelona you can find religious holidays, beer festivals, and tributes to its design culture. The hardest part is choosing which one to go to.
Are you planning a trip to Barcelona in the spring and are unsure what to do when you get there? Then you are definitely not alone. Visiting a new city can be perplexing to say the least, especially when there are so many great things to do and not enough time to do them all.
Read on to discover the five most unique spring-time attractions that Barcelona has to offer.
1. La Diada de Sant Jordi
La Diada de Sant Jordi simply means St. George’s Day. This beautiful holiday is celebrated in a very similar way to that of Valentine’s Day. Sant Jordi, being the patron saint of Catalonia, held a very prominent role in early Catalonian culture. After his death, each year on April 23rd people come together and celebrate his life with romantic gestures.
If you are visiting Barcelona in late April and want to find ways to completely submerge yourself into the local culture, then make your way over to Rambla street on the 23rd. You will find a lively street filled with flower stalls and Catalan literature for sale. It’s truly an amazing and unique sight to see.
2. Barcelona Design Week
It is no secret that Barcelona is well known for its culture around designing. It is even known as the capital for European design. Every year the city hosts Barcelona Design Week, which includes a plethora of events and workshops held by renowned designers from all over the globe.
This event has become enormous, reaching numbers of over twenty thousand people in years past, this is an event you won’t want to miss.
3. The Night of Museums
Every year in May, the Barcelona museums decide to stay open later than usual and give people the opportunity to see their artifacts in a completely different light. Utilizing around eighty different museums, this night has become a fairly popular celebration of culture and history. Thousands of people from all over can be expected to attend these museums, which in and of itself makes for a different and enjoyable museum experience. Rather than thinking of it as an overcrowded museum, picture it as a history-themed party.
4. Barcelona Beer Festival
Who doesn’t like a good beer festival? Well, Barcelonians do. Being the largest craft beer festival in the entire country, the Barcelona Beer Festival has upwards of four hundred and fifty different beers from all over the world. To attend the event costs about seven euros, from there it all depends on how much you would like to drink.
Most of the tastings will cost you around one euro, and if you are not a self-proclaimed beer aficionado then there is no need to worry. There are educated volunteers stationed all over the place whose jobs are to help point you towards the beers you would like. Beer Snobs shares that it’s a great way to get out, enjoy a lively crowd, and try local and international beers.
5. Semana Santa
Semana Santa, or Holy Week, is a religious holiday that many all over Spain celebrate every year. It doesn’t matter where you are in Spain, people will be celebrating. However, how they celebrate will differ from town to town. In smaller cities, you may find a more traditional approach to this sacred holiday. This can include large ceremonies and friendly neighbors sharing food along the street. While in larger cities like Barcelona, you can expect a more modernized version of the celebration. Either way, there will be great food and great parades.
When to go and what to do
Barcelona is a beautiful city with so much history and culture. It’s especially gorgeous during the springtime. Choosing when to go and what to do are the two main ingredients that can make or break your travel experience. Here are some things you should know when planning your trip.
March
March in Barcelona is still rather cold with highs averaging around fifty degrees Fahrenheit. However, if you don’t mind bringing a jacket this can be the best time to go. There are still plenty of amazing events going on and it statistically has the least amount of tourists than any other month in the year.
April
During April the weather starts to warm up a bit, but you likely won’t need to pack your bathing suit just yet. With temperatures in the upper fifties, you will find that mid-day walks could be just the relaxing thing you need on your trip to the beautiful city.
May
By the time May hits, you will be seeing many more tourists, and for good reason. This is perhaps the most beautiful time of year in Barcelona. Temperatures are typically nearing seventy degrees at this time and the humanity of the summer hasn’t quite settled in yet, making a day on the beach a much more enjoyable experience than in March or April. Plus, there are so many spring events happening in May that you may have a difficult time choosing which ones you want to do.
Store your bags
As you travel, it is important to know about your options for luggage storage in Barcelona. All over the city in popular locations like Barcelona Port, Sagrada Familia, Camp Nou, and many others, there are locations where you can temporarily store your bags. This can make traveling so much easier.
For example, if you wish to purchase a lot of beer at the Barcelona Beer Festival, but have plans for dinner with friends right after. Instead of going back to your room to drop off your bag of beer, you can simply store it at the nearest storage location and enjoy the rest of your evening. It can also be incredibly useful on travel days if you don’t wish to carry your bags all over the city waiting to check in to your room.
Enjoy
Barcelona is a city that has a lot to offer. With beautiful design, vivacious culture, and plenty of celebrations to attend, you may find yourself a bit overwhelmed choosing which things you want to take part in the most. Going with unique options is always a safe bet. If you choose one or all of these five unique attractions, then you are on your way to having a great time in Barcelona.
TravelDailyNews Asia-Pacific editorial team has an experience of over 35 years in B2B travel journalism as well as in tourism & hospitality marketing and communications.
