When it comes to fall travel, many people tend to look for destinations with epic foliage, lower prices, fewer crowds, and endless things to do no matter the weather.
Luckily, Europe provides many places to tick all these boxes, from bustling capitals to small towns and villages.
One popular European city that is great in any weather, especially in the fall season, is Spain’s trendy Barcelona.
As the second largest city in Spain, Barcelona is easily the most visited and most popular with tourists from all over. With epic landmarks such as the Sagrada Família and Las Ramblas, this is definitely a bucket list destination.
Much like many other hotspots across Europe, Barcelona gets very hot and crowded in the busy summer months, so good news for those who have waited until the shoulder season of fall to visit: now is the best time for many reasons.
Here’s Why Fall Is the Best Time To Visit Barcelona:
Great Weather
With average temperatures in the high to low 70s, the weather in the fall is perfect for exploring all Barcelona has to offer. From the views at Park Guell to the trendy neighborhoods such as Garcia, wandering around in the fall is much more bearable than the scorching summer.
You can plan for bright and sunny days, but remember to bring a layer for when the sun goes down and the air starts to chill.
One thing to keep in mind is that this can be considered the rainy season, so always pack your umbrella, although it seldom means more than a drizzle here and there, making it the perfect time to duck inside a museum or tapas restaurant.
@hulkie.thenomad Prettiest time to visit Barcelona✨Tag your friends & start planning the trip #barcelonatips#barcelonatraveltips#barcelonatravelguide#barcelonaguide#barcelonaspain#barcelonatravel#barcelonatravels#traveltips#travelinspo#budgettraveltips#traveltok#barcelonaturismo#beautifuldestinations
Fewer People and Lower Prices
While there are around 27 million visitors each year, Barcelona will never be completely crowd-free. However, a visit in the fall will certainly have much fewer tourists than in the summer.
One thing to think about with European travel is that recent changes in the weather have led more and more people to put off their travels until the fall when many European destinations are at their best.
This means this shoulder season could potentially become less budget-friendly in the future. However, fall deals on accommodation and flights are still available this year, so make sure to take advantage of this while you still can.
@drewmtillman Fall in Barcelona is lovely, this was filmed in late November. The intense summer heat had waned but it was still warm, esp compared to Paris and Amsterdam. We wore shirts during the day and a light layer at nifht. Crowds were mild, even at the most popular spots. And hotel rates seemed more reasonable. #barcelona #winterinspain #barcelonatips #europetrip
♬ Ghibli-style melancholy, sad, beautiful orchestra(1162569) – MaSssuguMusic
Seasonal Delicacies
Throughout Barcelona’s surrounding Catalonia region, fall marks the harvest season for many local foods. Apple picking and cider making is a fun fall activity here, with any places offering tours and experiences to try your hand at Mediterranean cider making and tasting.
The numerous local wineries also harvest their grapes in the fall, and festivals around this time celebrate the wine production of the region, so be sure to check out where and when things are going on to take part in this activity.
Another food that is in full swing in the fall in Catalonia is mushrooms. Everything from foraging tours to tasting tables celebrates the regional delicacies of the season; this is an unmissable thing to experience if you are here in the fall.
@whereisangiee 5️⃣ FALL EXPERIENCES YOU CANT MISS | Save for later ✨ 1️⃣ Visit the medieval towns in Cataluña. Personally, I recommend: Pals, Peretallada, Mura, Monells, Siurana, Tossa de Mar, and Besalu. The easiest way is renting a car but public transportation options are also available by train or bus (see Sarfa and Teisa bus companies). Let me know if you want more info, 👇🏼 below! 2️⃣ Visit a cider house and go for a Catalan cider tasting! Go to Mooma for an amazing, local experience. They care deeply about being sustainable and promoting locally-grown products and I HIGHLY recommend doing the restaurant + tour package (and don’t skip out on deserts 😉) 3️⃣ Get outdoors and go hiking! Cataluña has some of the most beautiful areas to hike in all of Spain and while in the summer this may not be feasible, fall is a great time to go! I recommend checking out: Montseny, Val d’Aran, Garraf, Vall de Nuria, la Garrotxa, Aiguestortes and Montserrat (which is one of my top recommended places to visit and a great hike to do both up to the monastery and around it) 4️⃣ Visit the Greek and Roman ruins! In the summer time, I don’t recommend visiting due to the lack of shade and hot sun – but fall is the perfect time to check them out. There are many places to go but I would recommend starting with Tarragona and Empuriès. 5️⃣ Go for a wine tasting. It’s never a bad time to taste some wine and fall is a beautiful moment with the changing leaves to admire the outdoors. I recommend Pontons Castle for an incredible local experience – wine tasting and tour – and don’t miss their menu made of delicious local ingredients! Which one would you do? ✨ Enjoy and follow @whereisangiee for more travel tips and guides! ✨ #catalunya #barcelona #travel #thingstodoinfall
Epic Day Trips
The fall is a great time to get out of the city and explore some of the region’s fantastic day trip opportunities, all easily reachable from Barcelona by train. Some favorite options include Salvador Dali’s birthplace and namesake museum in charming little Figueres, not far from the border with France.
The medieval city of Girona is another must-see day trip destination; wandering around the stone streets and marveling at all the real-life backdrops for Game of Thrones, and don’t miss sampling some of the region’s famous Pintxos with a glass of cava while you people watch.
Another very famous and seriously stunning Barcelona day trip is to the nearby monastery of Montserrat, and this mountainous landscape is even more beautiful in the fall.
@mataharidharma One Day #Itinerary to #Montserrat from #Barcelona *screenshot at the end* #catalunya #catalonia #spain #foryou #daytrip #tiktravel
Late Season Beach Days
Another reason to stay a bit longer in the Barcelona area is that the sea is often warm enough for swimming until late October (even longer for those who don a wet suit or are feeling brave).
The area surrounding Barcelona has some pretty stunning and sprawling beaches, and even if you don’t fancy a dip, the stretches of sand will give you time to work on your tan or just lounge with a book and a sea view.
Castelldefels is a popular option and an easy train ride from the city, and if you have time, stay a while and enjoy its quaint little main street and castle with a view before heading back to the hustle and bustle of the city.
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