Barcelona Holiday Weather Overview
Spain's second city Barcelona is a vibrant, avant-garde city famed for its gothic quarter, its art collections and its main tree-lined street, La Rambla. Tourists and Spaniards alike flock to Barcelona throughout the seasons, as there is always something going on in this cultural hub, and always plenty to see and to do.
Barcelona is Spain's most cosmopolitan city and one of the Mediterranean's busiest ports. In Barcelona you will find the greatest collection of Modernista (Art Nouveau) architecture on the planet, an artistic legacy of similar calibre, some wonderful beaches, and arguably the best nightlife on the mainland. Therefore, Barcelona is a perfect holiday destination for people looking for a modern city with a strong sense of tradition.
Barcelona has been famous for art, architecture and style since the late 19th century. La Sagrada Familia, a Giant Temple designed by the master architect Antonio Gaudi is one of the main attractions in Barcelona. Another attraction in Barcelona is the La Pedrera - Casa Mila, another Antonio Gaudi's creation. This building used to be called Casa Mila, but nowadays it is more commonly known as La Pedrera which means "quarry".
A holiday in Barcelona also offers plenty for your family. The Barcelona Aquarium is a popular attraction for kids and young ones. The city also has a stunning waterfront full of restaurants stretching from Port Vel (old port) to Port Olimpic and of course the lovely Barcelona beaches.
When is the best month to visit Barcelona?
Barcelona is such an interesting city that whatever the weather there is no bad time to visit. While it is most beautiful in the summer, if you come properly prepared for the cold and wet in the cooler seasons you are sure to enjoy yourself. However, the most popular time to visit Barcelona is during the summer that is between June and September.
Climate in Barcelona
Situated in the northeast of Spain on the Iberian coast, Barcelona enjoys a Mediterranean climate, with warm summers and cooler winters but no extremes of temperature or weather. This makes it an ideal year round destination - although this stretch of coastline is called Costa Brava because of its at times tempestuous weather, so the weather in Barcelona is less predictable than the rest of Spain.
Spring in Barcelona
From March until May, Barcelona gradually warms up. Average daily temperatures in March hover at around 12°C but by May it's a considerably warmer 17-18°C. Evenings remain relatively cool until late May, however, so you'll want to bring a shawl or something with long sleeves. It can be a little foggy on some spring days, but more often than not the sunshine breaks through - unless it's raining. Expect around 5 or 6 wet days each month.
Easter celebrations in Barcelona are breathtaking, with elaborately decorated floats and city-wide parties, and there are also many major cultural events and exhibitions at this time of year.
Summer in Barcelona
June, July and August are the peak months for tourism in Barcelona, and the city can become very crowded, particularly in August. The weather is warm to hot, but cooler than other Mediterranean resorts due to the city's elevation and sea breezes. In fact, the winds can be quite strong throughout the summer, but this makes Barcelona's beach very attractive for watersports enthusiasts.
Summer sees average temperatures of around 25°C, but regular heatwaves will push the mercury up over 30°C. Balmy nights of 18-20°C are normal, but with very little rain humidity is low so the nights are not uncomfortable.
Summer visitors to Barcelona are well placed to make the most of the city's architectural and cultural sights and its vibrant street life.
Autumn in Barcelona
September remains warm, but temperatures begin to drop in October and November in Barcelona. By November, highs of 12°C are normal, and nights can be a chilly 5-6°C. October is the wettest month of the year, and you can expect around 7 rainy days that month. Fog rolls in from the sea regularly, which can give quite an eerie atmosphere to the city's sights in the early mornings.
Music and food festivals are plentiful in Barcelona's autumn months, and visitors can also enjoy the spectacle of Catalan Day in September.
Winter in Barcelona
Barcelona winters are chilly for the Mediterranean, with day time highs of around 11°C and overnight temperatures struggling up to around 4°C. There are only around 7 days of rain each month in December, January and February, but these typically come along several days at a time, so if you're unlucky you could hit a very overcast and grey week.
Nevertheless, winter is an excellent time for walking Barcelona's sights, including the cathedral, the Gothic quarter and Gaudi's quirky Parc Guell architectural complex.
What to pack and wear in Barcelona?
The weather in Barcelona is very hot during the day time in summer. Therefore, you should wear light fabric pants, skirts and capris. As the temperature during night time can drop by 20 °C, it is better if you have a sweater or jacket on hand while going out at night. You should note that you will not be allowed in some cathedrals in sleeveless clothing.
Best months to visit Barcelona?
May and June are the best month to go for holiday or travel to Barcelona. The weather averages gathered from Barcelona weather forecast and Barcelona weather history also forecast these months temperature to be around 21°c and average of 267.7333 hours of sunshine in a month.
Coldest months of Barcelona?
January and February are the coldest months with temperature at around 6°c.
Which months receive most rainfall in Barcelona?
October and September receive most rainfall with precipitation count of 101.62mm.
Travelling to Barcelona? Check out our Weather averages of Barcelona to better plan your holiday or travel.
If you would just like to know what the weather was for a past dates for research or education or you are just curious then visit our historical weather of Barcelona section.