Visiting Barcelona in November
Keeping busy when the autumn weather kicks in…
By Jessica Bowler
From film festivals to scoffing toasted chestnuts, there’s plenty of things to do in November, whatever the weather. Travellers can enjoy less crowds at sights such asLa Sagrada Familia, or they might be tempted by day trips to nearby gems, likeGirona and the Dali Museum.
Is November a Good Time to Visit?
November is pretty much nobody’s favourite month back home, especially if you’re from the UK / Northern Europe… so you may as well get away from the pre-Christmas, autumnal gloom and jet out for some sunshine on a Mediterranean city break.
Barcelona in November is warm, sunny and cheerful, with plenty to see and do, and if you would prefer to visit the Catalan capital when there are less tourists then this is one of the best times of year to book your flights, and enjoy some of the city’s attractions without the crowds. It will still be around 18 degrees by day, and culture vultures won’t care that it’s not beach weather when they’re busy admiring the handiwork of genii like Antoni Gaudi, Lluis Domenech i Montaner and Pablo Picasso (more on each below!).
Apart from fewer tourists, you should find prices of hotels and apartments more affordable in autumn, and backpackers should also be able to save a few euros on their hostel beds. Overall this might just be the most economic month to visit.
Events-wise and there’s a mix of traditional celebrations like All Saints Day, and more modern offerings like L’Alternativa Film Festival festival. And while this is not the season of street parties and music festivals, the city’s regular nightlife is stillin full flow, andalcoholicssociable folk can alwayssign up for a pub crawl.
The Weather in November
With the average November high temperature in Barcelona around 18ºC and an average low of 8º, this is usually the month where the temperatures noticeably drop in the city from the summer highs (that can stretch into October), so you’ll need to add a jacket and jumper to your packing list. The lower temperatures aren’t all bad news though; they can make a day of sightseeing considerably less sweaty! And you can still strip down to a T-shirt at midday when you find a nice bar or restaurant in the sun.
Other weather considerations to bear in mind are that the month averages five days of rain (around average in Barcelona), and that the days are also quite a bit shorter, as clocks have gone back by now. In other words, you may have to get up earlier if you want to see all the main attractions in the daylight.
You can keep an eye on the weatherhere.
17 Things To Do in November
As with any time of year, there’s more than enough to keep you occupied in the Catalan capital, day and night. We’ve rounded up a few of our favourite things to do in Barcelona in November to help you plan your trip.
1. Commemorate All Saints’ Day
November starts off with a holiday in Spain – El Día de Todos los Santos, or All Saints’ Day. It’s a national public holiday to honour and remember the dead. Flower vendors line the streets to sell floral displays to people to leave at their dearly departed’s graveside. But it’s not all sombre contemplation; this is also the day when people traditionally eat small round almond cakes called “panellets.” Look out for them on sale at bakeries around the city.
2. Celebrate the “Castanyada”
One of the traditions of All Saints’ Day is to eat hot toasted chestnuts (“castanyas” in Catalan) that come wrapped in newspaper. They start being sold by street hawkers with pop-up roasting stalls around the holiday, and they continue doing brisk business throughout the winter. They also often sell roasted sweet potatoes at the same stalls. Keep an eye for them and don’t be scared to snag a bag!
3. Visit La Sagrada Familia While You Can!
Around 3 million people visit Gaudi’s masterpiece each year, and it’s rarely less than chock-full, especially during the summer months. November is actually one of the best times to visit as its one of the city’s quieter months for tourism, and you should have a bit of breathing space as you marvel at the white forest-like interior of the nave, and possibly even ascend / descend one of the basilica’s epic towers. Check out our page for more info onskip the line tickets, tours and towersor go right ahead orbook a guided tour via Get Your Guide. Every tiny detail of this amazing basilica has a special significance – so exploring with a knowledgeable guide is a must!
THE BARCELONA PASS
For tickets toSagrada Familia, Park Guell, and the Hop on / Hop off Tourist Bus in one convenient purchase, check out theBarcelona Pass via Tiqets.com.
4. Wonder at the Palau de la Musica!
Barcelona’s unique aesthetic comes from the artistic movement known as Modernisme, also known asCatalan art nouveau. Gaudi was just one proponent of the genre (in facthis most famous workstook on a style all of his own), and his contemporaries like Domenech i Montaner and Puig i Cadafalch are held in almost the same esteem by locals for the architectural legacy they left. You can see some of Barcelona’s most beautiful façades when you visit thePalace of Catalan Music, while those with more time might also wish to visitHospital of Sant Pauand theCasa Amatller. A guided tour of the Palau de la Musica Catalana, in particular, is well worth it, as you also get to see the stunning concert hall and inverted golden dome skylight – plus the balcony offers a fantastic Instagram moment.
5. Learn to Cook Paella!
You can’t leave Barcelona without trying Spain’s signature dish… but why not go one further and learn how to cook your own rice and seafood feast (vegetarian options also available!)? During this fun and laidback experience your expert chef will take you on a tour ofthe famous Boqueria food market, before heading back to the kitchen to share the secrets of a great paella. As well as contributing to this culinary masterpiece, you also learn how to mix a mean jug of sangria. At just €55 per person, this is a great activity to do instead of a restaurant lunch or dinner.More info here, or hit the button below to reserve your space on Get Your Guide.
6. Visit Girona & The Dali Museum
Girona is one of Catalonia’s finest gems, a large medieval town crowned by a spectacular cathedral that was used to film several famous King’s Landing scenes in Game of Thrones. Meanwhile, the Dali Theatre Museum is one of the world’s most entertaining art museums – showcasing the madcap style of the godfather of Surrealism. Getting to both by public transport is a bit of a pain, but there are several minibus tours that leave from Barcelona on a daily basis. I’d recommendthis one, which features transport, guide, and museum tickets for a pretty reasonable €82 per person. If you have to change your mind Get Your Guide offer free cancellation up to 24 hours before the event.
7. Lock Yourself in an Escape Room
A hot craze in Barcelona right now, and indeed the rest of the world, escape rooms offer participants the chance to pit themselves against the clock in a battle of wits. By solving a series of puzzles, one after another, you have to move closer to finding the key or the code that will allow you to exit the room before the time is up. Each room has its own theme, and you might find yourself doing anything from rescuing Gaudi’s blueprints for La Sagrada Familia to infiltrating a secret society known as the ‘WD’. Read a list ofsome of our favourite rooms here. The perfect activity on a wet autumnal day.
8. Eat Tapas and Watch Flamenco!
An extremely popular activity, the Tapas & Flamenco experience is a great one for fans of Spanish culture who want to sample two of the country’s most typical traditions, both of which have strong roots in Catalonia as well. First you get to watch a passionate 40-minute flamenco concert in a centraltablao, before sampling some authentic dishes served up and down Spain. The activity runs every night and you can findmore info here. To reserve your tickets, click the button-link below.
9.Take a Wine Class with a Sommelier
Spanish wines are both very affordable and extremely underrated. Inthis fun workshop that takes place in the city centre, you will taste five local Catalan wines in the company of an expert sommelier, who will first introduce you to several smell and taste challenges to train your palate. The wines are paired with gourmet cheeses and by the end of the session you’ll leave with a firm appreciation of the local vintages, and a better understanding of wine in general.
10. Sailing & Wine Cruise
Spoil yourself with this two-pronged pleasure cruise that combines sailing with wine tasting at a nearby vineyard! It doesn’t get much better than setting off in a luxury yacht from Barcelona’s Port Olimpic and cruising up the coast to one of the region’s charming urban wineries. Here, in the town of Alella, you get to tour an ecological vineyard and taste three unique wines in the company of a sommelier, together with an array of delicious appetisers. Afterwards a luxury minivan will whizz you back to Barcelona city centre. You can book this activity securelyvia Get Your Guide.
11. Discover Picasso’s Barcelona Legacy
Picasso spent his formative years in Barcelona, and hislegacy in Cataloniais marked bythe museum that bears his name, as well as by a number of places he frequented during his time here. Naturally, you can explore the museum, where 3,500 of his works are exhibited – with a focus on his early life and the evocative Blue and Rose periods – by yourself; however real art aficionados are advised to consider booking a guide tour,such as this one, to get a full insight into the mind and works of the 20th century’s most important artist.
12. Make New Friends on a Bar Crawl
The Catalan capital is as lively by night as it is by day, andtaking a bar crawlof some of the city’s best nocturnal venues is a great way of experiencing the local nightlife. There are several awesome tours to choose from, but pretty much all of them will take you on winding exploration of the old town streets to several charismatic bars, before ending the evening in a late night venue. A great way to meet people, especially if you’re travelling solo.
13. Buff Up on the Year’s Best Films
Both theIn-Edit film festivalfeaturing musical documentary films andL’Alternativa Film Festivalfor independent films typically take place in November in Barcelona. If you like films, this is the perfect time to check out what the city has to offer for cinephiles.
14. Celebrate Thanksgiving in Good Company!
Held on the fourth Thursday in November every year, Americans abroad tend to head straight down tothe nearest Irish barto eattheir traditional Thanksgiving dinner.Flaherty’sdo a great one every year if you’re looking to get your fix of turkey and stuffing for the year with some fellow Statesiders and other good company.
15. Get Brainy at the “Barcelona Pensa” Festival
Barcelona’s very own philosophy festival is held in mid-November every year. It’s promoted by the Department of Philosophy at the University of Barcelona, in a bid to get the city more involved in philosophical thinking. It takes place at multiple locations around the city and features talks, presentations, workshops, and debates (naturally). You may need to brush up on your Catalan though to make the most of it.
www.barcelonapensa.cat
16. Visit The Camp Nou…
…eitherto watch the mighty FC Barcelona in action, or if not then you can still sign up for the Camp Nou Experience, when you’ll take a tour of the legendary 99,000 seater stadium, pitch, dressing rooms and of courseFC Barcelona Museum– with one whole room to dedicated to Messi! Tickets cost €28 and you can reserve them in a couple of clicks on Get Your Guide. Just hit the button-link below.
17. See the Start of the Christmas Season
In late November,the first signs of the Christmas seasonstart to appear on the streets of Barcelona, like holiday markets and festive lighting displays. The exact dates vary from year to year, but you’ll definitely start to notice some of the Christmas cheer descending on the city by the month’s end. Catalonia has some frankly bizarre traditions at this time of year, so read up about thecaganerand grab yourself a celebrity pooper at one of the markets.
More Autumn Inspiration!
So there you go… plenty of things to see and do this November! But if for some reason you haven’t filled your agenda yet then check out thislong list of fun and unusual activities.
About the Author
Jessica was born in England and grew up in California before moving to Seville to study Spanish. She now lives here in Barcelona, where she works in communications, studies for her masters and still finds time to update her award-winning blog Barcelona Blonde – as well as being a regular contributor to Barcelona Life!
Kay
嗨Jessica
We arrive in your beautiful city on a Sunday, stay on Monday and All Saints Day (2022).
Are local attractions and restaurants closed on All Saints Day?
Thank you.
Duncan
嗨Kay
All Saints Day is a public holiday meaning banks, offices and most shops will be closed. The majority of restaurants will remain open, as they want to do business, but you should check with any specific restaurant you plan on visiting.
景点像明智的。大部分的私立学校(which includes most Gaudi buildings) will stay open, but you might want to check the websites of specific attractions if you’re visiting any public museums for example.
Leila
Hello dear, my name is Leila from Seattle and coming to visit Barcelona with my boyfriend on November 28th…
I’m so excited but not sure if it’s a good timing for visiting Barcelona…
Any advice?
Duncan
嗨Leila, I think it’s a nice time to visit right now. Covid cases are very low now, situation is relaxed around the city. But there are less tourists than usual at all the main attractions, which makes for a better experience.
Apart from reading this page, you might want to look at our Romantic things to do suggestions:
//www.jbmobil.com/barcelona/romance
Have fun!
Faizal
hi
we are a family of 7 , including my parents of 79 and 77 years .
the rest of us are between 25 and 50 years of age.
we arrive in Barcelona on the evening of the 22nd Nov and depart for Seville on the morning of the 25 th of Nov.
For our 2 days stay in Barcelona ,what can you suggest for activity and food , considering
1. we don’t fancy museums and art
2. preferably Halal or vegetarian places to eat.
can you also please suggest the most cost effective way to get to our accommodation which is STAY TOGETHER BARCELONA APARTMENTS in Ronda Sant Pau 1 which is opposite the Paral lel Metro Station.
Duncan
嗨,想要
For vegetarian restaurants my friend Ben wrote a good article on his blog.
https://www.driftwoodjournals.com/best-vegetarian-and-vegan-restaurants-in-barcelona-an-inside-guide/
Also have some options here
//www.jbmobil.com/search/vegetarian-options
For non-cultural activities, you could check out the Aquarium, Zoo, Magic Fountain show, or go sailing. Or Camp Nou Stadium Tour if you like football. Lots more suggestions here:
//www.jbmobil.com/barcelona/things-to-do
Good mix between speed and cost would be to take the Aerobus to Placa Espanya (first stop), then hop on the metro (green line) to Parallel. I think it’s two stops only.
Cheers
Duncan
Erica and Geoff
嗨Jessica, We, husband and I will be in your lovely city from 30/10 – 9/11 2019 then boarding a ship, thanks so much for your wonderful information even though we are 80 & 87 yrs will try to do many of the things we have read. Have been to Spain 4 times over the past 10 yrs but only for a few days at a time so now have 10days hopefully will take day trips by the trains out into the countryside any help and advice will be helpful . Two Old Australians.
Duncan
嗨guys, great, 10 days should give you plenty of time to see some of Catalonia’s countryside. You might be interested in this article as well:188app彩票 Hope you have an amazing trip!
Inga
嗨!
Do you know any shops/galleries in Barcelona where it’s possible buy posters from The New Yorker?
My partner and I are visiting Barcelona for the second time, but first time with a four month old baby. If you have any heads up or advice, that would be greatly appreciated!
Thank you for a great article.
Matt
嗨Jessica/Duncan
We are travelling to Barcelona on the 8th to 10th November 2019. With the current unrest and general election over that weekend, do you believe there will be much disruption during our visit and are there any particular places you would recommend to avoid?
Thanks
Duncan
嗨Matt, hard to predict. Things usually kick off in the evening, so during the day even if you see a protest there shouldn’t be any violence or uproar and you should be able to move around pretty much as normal. From 7 or 8pm, I’d avoid Placa Catalunya and the Gran Via and Diagonal avenues, and just try to circumvent any large gatherings you see, or move quickly through them. The protestors are non violent, but you might see some fires and the thing you need to avoid is the police charging at protestors while you’re in the way. Protests started two days ago more or less, and with a bit of luck things will die down in the next few days and you won’t experience any disruption.
Matt
Thanks Duncan – will keep an eye on this
Evieb
嗨Jessica, just came across your excellent article and will be visiting Barcelona for 5 nights towards the end of November. I will certainly partake of some of your great suggestions, but also am very interested in design and specifically interior design and lighting. I have a small shop selling handcrafted Mid Century and Contemporary lighting on Etsy. Do you have any recommendations of where to go or even where to look up design centric info? Many thanks in advance:-)
Duncan
嗨Evie, Duncan here, the Editor…. hmmm, bit out of my area of expertise, however you might be interested in the Design Museum, which also has a light display on the square outside. (Torre Glories also has spectacular nighttime lighting and is next to it).http://ajuntament.barcelona.cat/museudeldisseny/en
凯文·艾伦•李
I have 5 days in Barcelona, starting Tuesday November 26th 2019, what is a good itinerary for my family. We have two kids, 13 and 15 years old together with us. Thanks!
Duncan
嗨Kevin
Maybe something like this…
Day 1
Gaudi+Gothic Quarter
Day 2
Montjuicincluding Poble Espanyol and Magic Fountain
Day 3
Montserrat Day Trip
Days 4 & 5
Try for somethinga bit different!
Bailey
嗨Jessica!
We have three college girls traveling to Barcelona (maybe a day in Madrid) and your article is super helpful! Any additional advice for us regarding transportation, activities, food, etc? We will be there the first week of November.
Thanks so much
Duncan
嗨Bailey, Duncan here (the editor!). For transport I recommend getting a T10 card at any metro station. It costs 10 euros or so, and is valid for 10 journeys. That way you can use the metro for an average price of 1 euro per journey (instead of 2, if you buy single tickets each time). They are also transferable, so you can share them.
Regarding activities you can check out this longer list of things to do here://www.jbmobil.com/barcelona/things-to-do
Food, you can check out our eat section://www.jbmobil.com/restaurants
Or article on tapas and tapas bars://www.jbmobil.com/barcelona/tapas
For low key, affordable tapas I like this place://www.jbmobil.com/elisabets
Have fun, and let me know how you get on!
Ruby Rodriguez
Hello,
I am traveling to Barcelona with my family and I wanted to learn how to cook Paella as you mentioned in your article. Can you provide additional information for example: website, contact information? Thank you in advance,
Duncan
嗨Ruby,一般人应该给我发邮件(info@barcelona-life.com) with their dates and number of people, and I’ll put them in direct touch with the organisers. In your case I’ve already done that, so just sit back and wait for an email with full details. Keep an eye on your spam folder in case the email arrives there! Enjoy!
gert
hi! i arrive the 25th november in barcelona. where to meet nice people, locals, other tourists. i have 2 appointments and so lots of spare time. i am 40, male and looking for nice company, to walk, talk, bike, eat and drink something. no dating. do you have suggestions for me?
Duncan
嗨,哥特,是的满足人们尝试见面,这是very active in Barcelona. Use the calendar view to find what’s going on while you’re here…https://www.meetup.com/cities/es/barcelona
Duncan
嗨Abhishek, if you go to main menu and ‘Find a Place’ you will find our Restaurants section and our Bars / Clubs section.
These articles might also prove useful:
//www.jbmobil.com/barcelona/catalan-cuisine
//www.jbmobil.com/barcelona/tapas
//www.jbmobil.com/barcelona/cocktail-bars
//www.jbmobil.com/barcelona/beer
There’s a lot to try! Tapas is the main form of eating, but it can be modern or classic. The above should keep you informed…
Best
Duncan
Abhishek
嗨Jessica
I am travelling Barcelona in November this year. Was searching for the best places to visit and things to do in Barcelona.
Your article is very useful.
Can you also suggest some popular local food and drinks?
Thanks.