Why September in Barcelona is the Best Month to Visit

Last Updated on March 12 , 2024 by acrossthewaterwithchelsita

When planning the perfect trip to Barcelona, you may wonder when the best time is to visit. Whilst there’s something interesting happening all year round, whether it’s the onion orgies in winter (also known as Calçotadas), the vast array of music festivals that begin in spring, or the Festes Majors in summer, if I had to choose an ideal time to visit, I’d pick September, for the following reasons.

1. Wonderful Weather

After the usually scorching month of August when temperatures can easily surpass 30+ and the high humidity turns you into a sticky mess, the slightly cooler yet still warm and summery weather of September is a welcome relief. With temperatures usually ranging between 17-26℃, you can still go to the beach and spend pleasant evenings on outdoor terraces but you won’t be uncomfortably hot. However, do take a light jacket as rain can never be totally ruled out, especially during La Mercé (more on that later).

2. It’s Less Crowded

Secondly, while there are always plenty of tourists in Barcelona, in September many are returning to school and work, meaning the city gets a little less crowded as the peak season ends. Take advantage and enjoy the beach, the city’s many museums, and bars and restaurants with a little more space to yourself and a little less queueing (find out how Spaniards queue here). This is especially the case if you can get out and about midweek when everyone else is at work or school.

3. La Diada

To the great joy of anyone dreading the return to work after the long summer holidays in Catalonia, September extends the vacation vibe with two holidays to look forward to. The first of these is La Diada, the Catalan National Day, held every year on the 11th September. This is an interesting holiday as it actually commemorates the defeat rather than the victory of Catalonia during the War of the Spanish Succession and the subsequent loss of Catalan laws, institutions, and Catalan as an official language. The history surrounding this day is too complex to even attempt to explain in this article, but if you are interested I would strongly recommend learning more about its history in this local newspaper article (English).

Whilst La Diada has become increasingly politically charged since the recent controversy over Catalonia’s right to vote on independence, this day can still be enjoyed without getting involved in any political protests.

One of the great things about La Diada is that many museums such as the Catalan History Museum, Antoni Gaudí’s Palau Güell and buildings which are otherwise out of bounds such as El Palau de la Generalitat are free and open to the public.  

Plus, this is a great occasion to see the most Catalan of traditions: Castellers.

This impressive Catalan tradition consists of building human towers in various formations and competing to build the tallest and most interesting structures. The bottom levels are held together by burly men and the upper levels are made up of the lighter but surprisingly strong women and it’s the young children, some no older than 7, who clambour to the very top of these towers which can reach heights of 12m (49ft).

There are obviously some very brave children and parents out there! I love this tradition as it serves as a powerful reminder that you can achieve great things when you work together and that effort of every member of the community – big, small, young, old, male and female – is essential to achieve success.

4. La Mercè

On the 24th September and the days leading up to it, you have the opportunity to experience Barcelona’s biggest annual festival, La Mercè. This centuries-old tradition dates back to the Middle Ages when Barcelona suffered a plague of locusts. According to the tale, La Mare de Déu de la Mercè, (Our Lady of Mercy) managed to deliver the city from the plague and was then named patroness of the city. However, in gaining this title she stripped Santa Eulalia of her title of sole patroness of the city. Consequently, the rainfall which is habitual during La Mercè is said to come from the tears of the miffed Eulalia.

Some of the oldest traditions to celebrate this Roman Catholic feast day include parades of gegants and capgrossos which are essentially impressive papier machė giants and huge heads which people wear as they parade around the city to the delight of young and old.

You will probably also have the chance to see the Sardana performed in front of the cathedral. Catalonia has many fantastic traditions but this particular traditional Catalan dance is about as exciting as olive oil and salt flavoured crisps (which sadly take up about 90% of the snack aisle in Spanish supermarkets).

Over the years many more traditions have been added and now you can expect to see the city come alive with music, dance, street theatre, parades, correfocs*, castellers and some impressive fireworks displays. Each year Barcelona also invites a guest city to showcase its culture and artists. This year’s city is Beirut so we can look forward to some great examples of Lebanese theatre, street art, dancing and cinema.

*Correfoc is literally a “fire run” where people dress up as devils and run through the streets with fireworks wizzing around their heads. British health and safety rules would never allow for this and I am still shocked everytime I see a four-year old throwing fire rockets into crowds of people completely unsupervised. Oh Spain and your love for pyrotechnics.

Watch this music video from one of my favourite Catalan bands to see the Correfoc in action as well as more Castellers and Capgrossos:

Moreover, even more so than La Diada, on the 24th of September many museums have free entry; a great excuse to go and discover somewhere new. Why not take the chance to check out the Picasso Museum and discover some of the seminal artist’s earliest works, learn more about contemporary art and culture in the CCCB, or be wowed by the most beautiful Modernist hospital you have ever seen in El Recinte Modernista de Sant Pau?

With millions of visitors and hundreds of events (most of which are free) spread throughout Barcelona’s streets, museums and parks, La Mercè, is reminiscent of Edinburgh’s Fringe Festival, but packed into five days. This year’s festival dates are 20-24th September, the 24th being a local holiday. Make sure not to miss it!

5. Wine Harvest Season

This final reason will excite fellow wine lovers; September is the start of the wine harvest season and there are plenty of events to mark the occasion. 

In conjunction with La Mercè, Barcelona holds a wine and cava festival (20th-24th September). The 39th edition of Barcelona’s largest wine festival will see over 70 regional wineries showcasing their best wines; a fantastic opportunity to taste and learn more about the local vi, as well as traditional Catalan food.

A curious tradition to look out for is La Trobada d’Intercanvi de Plaques de Cava Diada; an event where collectors of cava bottle tops, “chapas de cava”,meet to trade with other avid collectors of these illustrated, sometimes intricately detailed insignias that adorn the top of cava bottle corks. You can’t get much more Catalan than that! 

This wine festival is always a real highlight of the year for me as the wines are inexpensive and of incredibly good quality. You are usually poured a very generous measure to “sample”, and the atmosphere is very relaxed. Every year I go with my friends “just to try a few” and we invariably have a fantastic time and end up staying until the very end before we wobble home merrily.

When: 20th-24th September 12pm – 8pm

Where: Ronda Sant Antoni

How to get there: Metro Sant Antoni (L2 Purple Line)

Aside from the wine events in Barcelona, there are also a tonne of activities in the nearby wine growing towns, a popular family favourite being grape treading. Last year I did this for the first time at the vineyard of Vilarnau in Sant Sadurní d’Anoia and I could not recommend it enough. For the very reasonable price of just €15 you get a 1.5 hour tour of the vineyard, complete with (gorgeously generous) wine tasting and grape treading.

When: September

Where: Vilarnau, Carretera d’Espiells, Finca Can Petit, 08770 Sant Sadurní d’Anoia, Barcelona

How to get there: Take the R4 train from Plaça Catalunya (direction Sant Vicenç de Calders) to Sant Sadurní d’Anoia. The train journey takes just under an hour. Then take a 10 minute taxi ride to the vineyard. 

More information and booking here: https://www.vilarnau.es/en/experiencies/visites/grape-treading-tour

Treading aside, a simple visit to one of Catalonia’s many vineyards combined with a tasting is a must in September. If any of that has piqued your interest stay tuned for next week’s post to find out the Top 5 Wineries Near Barcelona.

So there you have it, 5 reasons I think September is the best time to visit Barcelona!  

Have you been to Barcelona in September? If so, what did you think? What’s your favourite month in Barcelona? I would love to hear from you in the comments section below and please don’t hesitate to get in touch if you are thinking of visiting and would like some advice about what to see or do. 

As always, sending you positivity and sunshine from Barcelona!