Things to do during the Fall season in Barcelona
Fall season is perhaps one of the most undervalued times of the year in Barcelona. Moreover, the weather cools to more comfortable temperature range of 18-25ºC; the Mediterranean Sea is at its warmest (averaging 22ºC); the overwhelming crowds of tourists begin to die down and the ‘true’ Barcelona emerges.
Visiting Barcelona in fall will give you a far more authentic experience of the city; and there is certainly not a shortage of things to do! Fall in Barcelona is characterized by an abundance of food, wine and cultural events and the slightly ‘colder’ temperatures. This combined with the lack of tourists, make it the perfect time of year to go sightseeing!
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When you are not really a fan of the warmth during the spring and summer, we can imagine that fall is the perfect moment for you to do a city trip! The beautiful city of Barcelona is also a very good option when looking for the perfect destination for your unforgettable city trip. During summer the city is of course extremely pretty, with all its green trees and the sun shining almost everyday. However, during fall Barcelona might be even prettier, with all the green trees getting the typical fall colors as orange, yellow and red. So, what are the top things to do in Barcelona during fall? Read more, because we have got them all figured out for you!
Food and Wine
# 1 Chestnuts
Towards the end of October, you will begin to notice stalls popping up on nearly every street corner selling traditional chestnuts roasting over an open fire. So be sure to stop by and try some to get yourself in the mood for La Castanyada festival or the chestnut festival!
# 2 Mushroom Foraging
As all foodies will know, the arrival of fall in Catalonia also indicates the start of mushroom season – a staple in Catalan cuisine. There are numerous varieties to be found across the mountains and woodlands of Catalonia so why not take a day trip to a nearby area and join in the prized tradition.
# 3 Moscatel Sweet Wine
fall in Barcelona attracts a large number of wine lovers from across the world to sample some of the finest varieties going at the various wine festivals that take place during October. However, the wine that really encapsulates Barcelona in the fall has to be the Moscatel Sweet Wine, so be sure to grab a glass!
# 4 Go for a picnics
Parc Ciutadella is the place in Barcelona where you should go for a beautiful picnic. During fall , all the colours in the park change massively, which gives a beautiful view. Especially in November the park is a very popular place for a picnic or just a walk in the park! When you are visiting this gorgeous place with kids, the zoo is always a very good option, since it is located in the park itself. So go grab some tasty things to take with you and enjoy some hours in Ciutadella Parc with its beautiful fall colors!
Festivals and National Holidays
La Mercè – Late September
Quite possibly the most important event on Barcelona’s September event calendar. This traditional Catalan festival is a 5 -day street party which features fireworks, concerts, parades and the infamous fire run in honor of the city’s patron saint. It is all completely free so it should definitely be at the top of your bucket list!
La Castanyada – 31st October, 1st November
La Castanyada or the Chestnut Festival is another very traditional Catalan festival, that begins on Halloween and celebrates All Saints Day (November 1st). People traditionally eat chestnuts, panellets – small balls of almond paste coated in pine nuts, sweet potatoes and other traditional fall delicacies. So be sure to grab a bag of roasted chestnuts, a glass of Moscatel and soak up the carnival atmosphere that takes over the streets at night!
On the 1st of November a holiday in Spain is celebrated called All Saints Day (in Spanish El Día de Todos los Santos). This national holiday is in honor and remembrance the dead. Many Spaniards buy flowers before this day to put on their loved ones gravesides during this particular day. But it this day is much more than just that, during this day the people also traditionally eat small round almond cakes called ‘panellets’. Another tradition during All Saints Day is to eat toasted chestnuts, called ‘castanyas’ in Catalan. The ‘castanyas’ are being sold by street hawkers that are popping up everywhere in the city during this holiday, so you can really easily find one and try this typical Spanish tradition. The ‘castanyas’ are being sold during the whole winter, so don’t worry if you are not in Barcelona on the 1st of November!
Hiking Trips
Why not also take advantage of the more temperate weather conditions and visit one of these fantastic destinations and follow one of their hiking trails.
# 1 Montserrat
La Serralada de Montserrat, translated literally as “sawed mountain”; is a 1200m high mountain with multiple peaks and is only an hour’s car ride away! The mountain is also famous for the Santa Maria de Montserrat Abbey that is located near the mountain peak which is stunningly beautiful! There are 3 different hiking paths to choose from between 1-2 hours long with various difficulties so there will be something for suitable for everyone!
# 2 Tibidabo Mountain
Tibidabo is a gorgeous mountain overlooking the city of Barcelona. The mountain is home not only to some great hiking trails but the famous Roman Catholic church that can be seen through the whole city and PARC DEL TIBIDABO, one of the oldest amusement parks of Europe, which opened in 1905 – so it is well worth a visit! There are several hiking trails available on the mountain, with an average time of roughly 3 hours and a difficulty level of easy.
Go see a Flamenco show
The Flamenco dance is one of the most typical traditions we can think of when looking into the Spanish culture. Besides that, the flamenco also has very strong roots in Catalonia; and therefore visiting one is definitely a ‘must-do’ during your trip! During fall, when the evenings and nights are getting colder, we cannot think of an activity more perfect! In Barcelona there are many possibilities to combine a Flamenco show with a tapas tour. These activities run every night and are the perfect combination of two of the most popular traditions in Spain!
Go visit museums
During fall of course the temperature drops, not just during the nights, but also during the day. You will definitely need to bring a jacket; and maybe even a scarf to keep yourself warm during the walks across the city. The perfect activity is then of course to visit one of the beautiful museums in Barcelona. Barcelona has a broad range of different museums; which means that there are plenty of museums that are for everyone. You can for example enjoy yourself in the Picasso museum with more than 4.000 pieces. Also there’s the National Museum of Art the Catalunya; where you can marvel at the Catalan art from the 12th century to the 20th century. Of course, these two are just the beginning! Barcelona has so many other great museums that you can visit during your trip; read more about them in this article.
Enjoy the start of the Christmas season
Of course, Christmas is not celebrated during fall but during the winter; however the preparations already start early! With the official beginning of the Christmas shopping season in Barcelona at the end of November with the shopping night in Barcelona; we can say that this is definitely a must-do during your fall trip in Barcelona. The whole city will be decorated with Christmas lights; that will enlighten the whole city during the evenings and nights. Besides that, all the stores will decorate their shop windows with beautiful creations; and they will provide you with the special Christmas discounts. So all the things you need for a wonderful day of Christmas shopping!
So there are plenty of things to do in Barcelona during fall. However, these are only some of the things you could do during your fall trip in Barcelona. There are many other things that you can do; but make sure that the activities mentioned above are definitely on your to do list! If you are planning a fall trip to Barcelona, let us help you with you accommodation!