Help! I'm hearing that it's a bad idea to go to Barcelona in August because it's a ghost town and hot.

I'm having a hard time believing that 1.5 million people just leave for holiday. And heat doesn't bother me so much, (I live in Arizona--it is very hot here.)

I have my heart set on Barcelona and would like to know just how much is true, or alternatives for what to do.

Regarding the heat... I have been in Barcelona in late July and it wasn't unbearable, just very warm. But yes, August is vacation month in Spain and many Spaniards flee the cities to the beaches, etc. It will not be a ghost town though. If that is the time you have to travel go ahead. You might find some restaurants closed, that kind of thing, but aatractions are open.

Being on the coast, Barcelona's summer tends to be rather humid, and the summer heat is tempered by sea breeze. Expect a daily high of around 85-90F/30-32C. It's certainly more bearable than the intense heat of Andalucia, of 100F plus.
As for being a ghost town, you won't believe it if you go to the centre - still packed with locals and tourists. All sights are open, and you can always join the locals on the beach in town or, better still, somewhere like Sitges (40 min by commuter train). Only some shops and high-end restaurants close for part of August, as well as some neighborhood stores in residential areas, so won't affect your enjoyment, unless you set your heart on daily gourmet experience.

I would have to agree with the two above posts.

But the first thing you should know is that it would be virtually impossible for Barcelona to become a ghost town. There are simply too many locals and tourists within the city to allow for a ¨ghost town¨ to occur. And although, some locals do close down for the month of August and head further north or south of the coast to relax, many tourists do come during this month as it is Barcelona after all.

So if your heart is set on Barcelona, is still highly recommend to visit this amazing city as your experience will not be hindered.

OHcharlotte

(OH-Barcelona)

Thanks so much for all of the valuable input! I am thrilled to leave the U.S. and can't wait to explore!