Visiting Barcelona in April

Is April A Good Time To Visit?

T.S. Eliot may have said “April is the cruelest month”, but that could be because he never made it to Barcelona this time of year (at least as far as we know). The city has usually said a firm “adiós” to winter by the time April rolls around, and it starts to show its sunny side. It’s still not the height of the tourist season for a couple of months, so you can enjoy the great weather without the insane crowds of high summer – although for sure they’ll be quite a bustle of people, Barcelona has a year-round appeal as a city break destination.

The city has usually said a firm “adiós” to winter by the time April rolls around, and it starts to show its sunny side.

Aside from its perennial attractions, there are also a slew of events that happen throughout April, so just about any time you arrive during the month you’ll have some interesting stuff to go see, on top of the classic sights. We’ve tried to combine a bit of both on this page, and we’ve confident you’ll want to take up at least one of the suggestions we have listed below… you’d be crazy not to!

What’s the Weather Like in April?

You might not want to pack your swimsuit (the sea is probably still too cold for a proper swim, though there are always a few brave souls who give it a go anyway), but do expect lots of nice sunshine. The average high in April is just over 19 ºC (66 ºF), though you’ll want something to wear in the evenings, which get down to around 13 ºC (55 ºF).

The chances of getting a few showers in April are a bit higher than in the rest of the year, with an average of around 8 rainy days during the month. But don’t worry even if it does rain, because there’s lots going on both indoors and outdoors.

Festivals & Things To Do

Here are our top picks for what to do in Barcelona in April…

1.扬帆在地中海

Think private cruises on the Mediterranean sound like something only for the rich and famous? While they’re definitely enjoyed by plenty of A-listers, you can get your own taste of the luxury life with aprivate sailing tripalong Barcelona’s coast for just €350. Sail off on the deep blue sea to get some truly unforgettable views of the city skylines, made only better by the scent of the sea breeze. If hiring your own boat and skipper is a bit too expensive, check outour feature length article on sailing tours,如有年代ome amazing options starting at just €39 per person.

THE BEST SAILING TOURS

2.Enjoy a Walk at Parc Güell

Barcelona is home toplenty of masterpieces by eccentric architect Antoni Gaudí, but none are better enjoyed on a spring day than Parc Güell. This whimsical park features some of his signature ceramic work, as well as a couple of great vantage points to take in sweeping cityscapes. It was designed to be a housing development, but the idea never really took off. Still, you can still see a couple of houses in the park today, including a pretty pink one where Gaudí himself lived for twenty years. If you’re planning on visiting Parc Güell, we highly recommendbooking advance tickets on Get Your Guide, as the park limits the number of visitors per day and it’s not unusual for it to be fully booked. Another option is to cycle up to the gardens via electric bicycle withGaudi Bike Tours。

BOOK PARK GUELL TICKETS

3. Celebrate Easter and Holy Week

Although Barcelona isn’t home to massive Easter celebrations like in other parts of Spain, you can still see glimpses of the traditions in action, if you knowwhere to look。一些游行发生在整个城市,通用电气nerally in the historic city centre. The Raval has La Burreta procession on Palm Sunday (commemorating Jesus entering Jerusalem on a donkey) and another procession on Good Friday. The Gothic Quarter also has one on the Friday. If you’re not interested in the religious side of the holiday, you might be interested in the culinary side. Bakeries do a roaring trade around Easter and sell treats like chocolate eggs, the “mona de Pascua” cakes with their elaborate decorations, andbuñuelos de Cuaresma(literally “Lent fritters”, which are fried balls of dough sometimes filled with cream or chocolate). Lots of shops will be closed around Easter Sunday, so make sure to make your shopping plans accordingly! They also tend to close both on Good Friday and the Monday after Easter.

4.Visit Gaudi’s Casa Vicens

The last of Gaudí’s works to welcome the general public, Casa Vicens is a stunning mansion inspired by architecture from all over the world, including Arabic influences and orientalist touches. Opening as an attraction as late as 2017, the secret isn’t fully out about this place yet, meaning you can avoid the queues you often find at other Gaudí sites. The house sits on the edge ofthe bohemian Gràcia neighbourhood, which makes a nice stop for a coffee or meal after visiting the house, and is also near tothe aforementioned Park Guell。Moreinfo and tickets here, or grab yoursvia Get Your Guide。

BUY CASA VICENS TICKETS

5. Helicopter, Sailing and Walking Tour

Yep, you read that right! It’s three experiences in one, during this top-rated tour that gives you three very different perspectives of Barcelona. You’ll start by exploring the Gothic Quarter on your own two feet, on a guided tour with an expert guide, before you go rising high into the skies for a bird’s eye view over the city, in a thrilling helicopter ride. The tour ends with a relaxing boat cruise along the coast. You can securelybook the activity via Get Your Guide, which also has a free cancellation policy. The tour is great value at €129.99 per person.

BOOK LAND, SEA, AIR TOUR!

6. Celebrate Sant Jordi’s Day (April 23)

Often described as the Catalan equivalent of Valentine’s Day,the Diada de Sant Jordi(Saint George’s Day to us) is not just a romantic celebration but also a truly local one. Saint George is the patron saint of Catalonia, so the romance gets mixed in with a bit of local pride as well. It coincides with World Book Day, so traditionally men receive books and women receive roses (although today, almost everybody gets a book!). The streets fill with stalls selling books, roses, and all kinds of items adorned with the red and yellow stripes of the Catalan flag. Coupled up, or going solo, take a stroll around the streets of Las Ramblas and the Passeig de Gracia to see plenty of happy smiles, accompanied by the scent of fresh roses.

7.Learn To Cook A Paella!

We don’t need to tell you that the paella is Spain’s most famous dish, and like any classic cuisine it tastes better when it’s home-cooked, than served up in a restaurant. During this fun activity, you’ll first go shopping for the secret ingredients required to make the perfect paella at the legendary La Boqueria Food Market, before heading back to a large kitchen to help your local chef prepare the dish. Once the rice has soaked up all the seafood flavour (vegetarian option also available!), and the crispy bottom layer ofsocarratis forming, it’s time to turn off the flame and tuck in to your delicious Spanish dish. At just €55 per person, this is a great activity to do instead of lunch or dinner. You can reservevia Get Your Guide。

BOOK PAELLA EXPERIENCE

8. Take a Day Trip to Cadaqués

A couple hours north of Barcelona, the Costa Brava is famed for its beautiful wild beaches, pretty white villages and world-class cuisine. The jewel of the coastline is Cadaqués, a small town that sits on a picturesque bay. Famous artists have summered here through its history (most notably Dalí, who had a house a short walk away; Picasso, Miró, Duchamp, and more have also passed through). The town makes a perfect place for a quick break, or as the first stop on your way up to visit other towns on the Catalan coast. It’s a bit tricky to get to via public transport, but you can hire a car, or else sign up for a tour. The one below is great value and includes a trip to the Dali Museum in Figueres.

DALI & CADAQUES TOUR

9. Visit the Feria de Abril

The April Fairis a week-long (or more) festival that usually takes place inthe expansive Parc del Forum。The festival is traditionally from Andalusia, so you’ll see traditions from southern Spain (including traditional clothing, dances, drinks and food) along with a good dose of the fiesta spirit (concerts, carnival rides, late nights and plenty of fun). Entrance is free, so round up a group of friends and see if you can master the elaborate art of flamenco – or if not, at least have a good laugh trying. The dates for 2023 have yet to be confirmed, but the place to check them will be on theFederation of Andalusian Culture in Catalonia’s website。

10. See a Flamenco Show at Tablao Cordobes

If your trip to Feria de Abril got you hankering for all things from southern Spain, then satisfy your urges with a visit to one of Barcelona’s professional flamencotablaos。One of the best is undoubtedly Tablao Cordobes, which throws on three performances a night, together with a sumptuous Spanish buffet (or just a drink, if you’re already made dinner plans). You canbuy tickets for Tablao Cordobesby clicking the purple button below. For more options, check188188金宝搏 。

RESERVE FLAMENCO TICKETS

11. See Sharks at the Aquarium

如果你和孩子一起旅行,或预测for the next few days says rain, then fear not… Barcelona’s Aquarium is an awesome attraction that showcases over 450 species of marine life, including three species of shark. Their biggest tank is called the Oceanarium and features a glass tunnel system that brings you nose to nose with some of the sea’s most impressive creatures. You can find the aquarium in Port Vell (the Old Port), towards the bottom of Las Ramblas. Given its popularity, you’re probably best offbuying advance tickets on Get Your Guideto ensure you don’t get caught in a queue!

SKIP-THE-LINE AQUARIUM TICKETS

12. Take a VIP Nightlife Tour

Party like a rock star, or a movie star, or a football star – whatever kind of star you’d love to be – onthe VIP Nightlife Tour, which gives you access to Barcelona’s most exclusive clubs. With stops (and drinks) in the city’s top choice of bars, you’ll be whisked around the glamorous side of Barcelona in luxury transport, skipping the queues in true VIP style. Every Friday and Saturday night starting in the spring, this is the perfect way to know you’re getting to see the premium side of the city’s nightlife with a fun group of party people. For more party options (including pub crawls and boat parties) be sure to readour nightlife guide。

13. Rock Out At Telegrocesca Music Festival

帕洛阿尔托研究中心的混凝土丛林del论坛让the perfect urban setting for events throughout the year in Barcelona, and April sees theTelegrocesca music festivalcome to town. This is the biggest university festival in Spain with lots of young and up-and-coming groups featured on stage. Tickets come in at student-friendly prices, starting from around €25, with a drink included. While the crowd is young, you don’t have to be a student to go, and it can be a fun chance to hear lots of local music on the cheap.

14. Check the Indie D’A Film Festival

Taking place in March / April each year, D’A Film Festival is a film fest firmly focused on independent and original cinema (think Sundance more than Hollywood productions), most of which are premiering in Spain for the first time. There are always plenty of fascinating, creative movies – the “D’A” stands for “d’autor”, i.e. “auteur cinema” in Catalan.The official websiteis your point of reference for checking the programme, with most screenings taking place in venues around the Raval district, such as the Filmoteca Catalunya and CCCB.

15. Enjoy the Return of Brunch Electronik

Barcelona’s got a reputation as a hedonistic city, and there are few better parties to enjoy in the spring thanBrunch Electronik, which runs from midMarchtoJune, and is in full swing during the whole of April. This open-air electronic music event brings together music lovers from around the world to dance all day long every Sunday. Despite a distinct hipster vibe, it manages to be a relaxed, fun event where you’ll see people of all ages and get to hear music from both local and international artists. Tickets typically sell out a couple of weeks in advance.

Keep Reading…

That’s it for our favourite things to do in Barcelona in April! You can also seewhat we recommend in Februaryandthe best events in Marchif you happen to be in town a bit earlier, andour guide to visiting in Mayif you’re here later in spring.

And whenever you’re coming to Barcelona, don’t miss out on our list offun and original things to doany time of the year.