When to Go

When to Go

Summer can be uncomfortably hot in Barcelona, and many of the finest restaurants and musical venues are closed. On the other hand, El Grec, the summer music festival, is a delight, and the August Gràcia Festa Major is a major block party, while the whole city becomes an extension of the Barceloneta beach, which is not without its attractions. October through June is the time to come to observe Barcelona's daily hum, with mid-November-early April pleasantly cool and the rest of the time ideally warm. Late September's Festa de la Mercé is a fiesta not to miss; winter's Carnaval and calçot (long-stemmed onions) season are spectacular and delicious, and April and May are best of all: the Sant Jordi lovers' day on April 23 and the Sant Ponç celebration of natural produce on May 11 are among the most magical moments of the year.