We had planned a cruise out of Barcelona in 2012 and wanted to stay three days before. This means arriving Monday September 24th and leaving Thursday September 27th.
I have just heard there is their big Festival-- Festes de la Merce happening every year on September 24th. Does this happen on the same day every year? Or is it the weekend of the 24th?
We will plan to arrive one day earlier on the 23rd to experience the events and avoid the crowds if it is going to take place on the 24th only.
Canadiansnowbird
Barcelona - Festes de la Merce 2012
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It starts on the 24th and lasts several days.
The Mercé festival usualy is held on the weekend nearest 24 sept.
Generaly from the Thursday ubtil the sunday, occasionaly it will run fo an extra day.
It is NOT to be missed, there are so many things going on to see, Barcelona Accion Music (BAM) is held over the same weekend and includes bands and groups for all over the world, with free concerts at many outdoor locacation in Barcelona.
So does that mean if the 24th of sept in 2012 is on my Monday, it will be from Thrus the 20th to Sunday the 23rd?
We're also planning to be in Barcelona near the end of Sept, but we would like to see at least one day of the festival.
Three things you can count on for sure:
1. Hotel rooms prices in Barcelona double during this period. Book WAY ahead.
2. Pickpoketers will be at their peak; everywhere, plentiful and showcasing the latest in tricks and gadgets.
3. Crowds, crowds, crowds.
I've been to Barcelona twice during this festival and think it's a greatntime to visit. My hotel rooms were not double the normal rate - once stayed just off the Ramblas and another time in Born. It was crossed during the planned events but easy to get away from the crowds. I was traveling solo and didn't experience any issues with pickpockets - but exercised good common sense.
Ditto what Cathy wrote.
The crowds are more or less at certain locations where celebrations or concerts are taking place. It's quite easy to avoid if you want. But also fun to join in. Nothing to be scared of.
I was considering going last year but then changed my dates to a week later to avoid it. It might be a good time but the hotel rates are very very expensive during that time, I checked many of them (probably a 10-20) and the rates were at least significantly higher than just a week later. Barcelona hotels are kind of expensive for what you get to begin with, but I finally got a nice 3* hotel for around 170 euro and I think it was at least 250-300 euro during that festival. That was the main reason I wanted to avoid it, plus I just wanted a regular visit.
I HAVE to travel to Barcelona frequently for business and know from years of traveling there that lodging prices during festival(s) (including during El Festival del Libro) do skyrocket, not an exception whatsoever in the last 8 years.
Please read the attached advice on how to deter pickpocketers: http://knol.google.com/k/barcelona-pickpockets#
"Exercising common sense" is a very simplistic way to view a ubiquitious serious professional criminal activity that has earned Barcelona global notoriety as the World capital of Pickpoketers. Don't let your guard down by thinking it is that simple....