Best time to visit Barcelona
The best time to visit Barcelona is March–August, judged on twenty years of weather records and the events worth going for.
Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
°C
mm
- Average daily high and low
- Precipitation
- Good month
- Best month
- Made good or best by an event
| Month | Average daily high | Average daily low | Precipitation | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 12.8 °C / 55 °F | 5.6 °C / 42 °F | 40 mm / 1.6 in | good month |
| February | 13.6 °C / 56 °F | 6.2 °C / 43 °F | 35 mm / 1.4 in | good month |
| March | 15.3 °C / 60 °F | 7.9 °C / 46 °F | 51 mm / 2 in | best month |
| April | 17.4 °C / 63 °F | 10.3 °C / 51 °F | 57 mm / 2.2 in | best month |
| May | 20.6 °C / 69 °F | 13.6 °C / 56 °F | 46 mm / 1.8 in | best month |
| June | 24.8 °C / 77 °F | 17.8 °C / 64 °F | 28 mm / 1.1 in | best month |
| July | 27.5 °C / 82 °F | 20.8 °C / 69 °F | 26 mm / 1 in | best month |
| August | 27.5 °C / 82 °F | 21 °C / 70 °F | 45 mm / 1.8 in | best month |
| September | 24.5 °C / 76 °F | 18.2 °C / 65 °F | 75 mm / 2.9 in | good month |
| October | 21.2 °C / 70 °F | 14.9 °C / 59 °F | 89 mm / 3.5 in | good month |
| November | 16.6 °C / 62 °F | 10 °C / 50 °F | 56 mm / 2.2 in | good month |
| December | 13.6 °C / 56 °F | 6.7 °C / 44 °F | 31 mm / 1.2 in | good month |
Good and best months depend on more than temperature, rain and events. How they are chosen
Each activity on this page has its own good and best months, rated on twenty years of daily weather records. Which measures count, and how much, depends on the activity: humidity for exploring outdoors, wind for the beach, hiking and skiing, snow for skiing alone. Between them, the activities are rated on:
- Daytime highs
- Night-time lows
- How warm it feels
- Humidity
- How much of the day is sunny
- Hours of daylight
- Monthly rainfall
- How many days it rains
- Days of heavy rain
- Wind
- Snowfall and days with snow
- Major events, such as festivals
The chart shows the good and best months for exploring outdoors.
The event icon marks a month that an event lifts to good or best, such as a festival or a natural spectacle. Choose “Weather only” in the toolbar to rate the months on weather alone.
Best months by activity
Exploring outdoors
Mild days and nights, mostly dry and bright. The default for 'when should I go'.
- JJanuary: good
- FFebruary: good
- MMarch: best
- AApril: best
- MMay: best
- JJune: best
- JJuly: best
- AAugust: best
- SSeptember: good
- OOctober: good
- NNovember: good
- DDecember: good
- Best
- March–August
- Good
- September–February
Barcelona is comfortable for walking and sightseeing nearly all year: March through August are best, with only light rain or summer warmth to note, while the dimmer winter months and the wetter September-October shoulder are still clearly good.
Why these months
January · good
In its favour: precipitation 40 mm / 1.6 in, share of daylight that is sunny 82%, wet days 5.9 days, days with heavy rain 1.2 days, average daily low 5.6 °C / 42 °F.
Against: sunshine per day 7.9 h, feels like (high) 10.3 °C / 51 °F, average daily high 12.8 °C / 55 °F, relative humidity 77%.
Also on: Calçotada season, New Year's Eve grape tradition, Three Kings Day parade.
Watch out for: Tourist offices closed (New Year's Day).
February · good
In its favour: precipitation 35 mm / 1.4 in, share of daylight that is sunny 81%, days with heavy rain 0.8 days, wet days 6.3 days, average daily high 13.6 °C / 56 °F, average daily low 6.2 °C / 43 °F, relative humidity 76%.
Against: sunshine per day 8.6 h, feels like (high) 11.1 °C / 52 °F.
Also on: Calçotada season, Carnival.
March · best
In its favour: precipitation 51 mm / 2 in, share of daylight that is sunny 84%, feels like (high) 13.2 °C / 56 °F, average daily high 15.3 °C / 60 °F, days with heavy rain 1.6 days, average daily low 7.9 °C / 46 °F, relative humidity 75%.
Against: wet days 8.1 days.
Also on: Calçotada season, Carnival.
April · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 16.4 °C / 62 °F, precipitation 57 mm / 2.2 in, share of daylight that is sunny 83%, average daily high 17.4 °C / 63 °F, days with heavy rain 1.6 days, average daily low 10.3 °C / 51 °F, relative humidity 77%.
Against: wet days 8.3 days.
Also on: Sant Jordi.
May · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 20.9 °C / 70 °F, average daily high 20.6 °C / 69 °F, precipitation 46 mm / 1.8 in, share of daylight that is sunny 88%, days with heavy rain 1.2 days, average daily low 13.6 °C / 56 °F, relative humidity 76%.
Against: wet days 8 days.
Also on: Corpus Christi dancing egg, Night of Museums.
June · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 26.5 °C / 80 °F, average daily high 24.8 °C / 77 °F, precipitation 28 mm / 1.1 in, share of daylight that is sunny 88%, wet days 5.7 days, days with heavy rain 0.7 days, average daily low 17.8 °C / 64 °F, relative humidity 74%.
Also on: Corpus Christi dancing egg, Primavera Sound, Revetlla de Sant Joan, Sónar music festival, Spanish Grand Prix (F1).
Watch out for: Revetlla de Sant Joan.
July · best
In its favour: precipitation 26 mm / 1 in, share of daylight that is sunny 91%, average daily high 27.5 °C / 82 °F, wet days 5.2 days, days with heavy rain 0.6 days, average daily low 20.8 °C / 69 °F, relative humidity 74%.
Against: feels like (high) 30.2 °C / 86 °F.
Also on: Pride Barcelona.
August · best
In its favour: precipitation 45 mm / 1.8 in, share of daylight that is sunny 90%, average daily high 27.5 °C / 82 °F, days with heavy rain 1.1 days, wet days 7.1 days, average daily low 21 °C / 70 °F, relative humidity 75%.
Against: feels like (high) 30.3 °C / 87 °F.
Also on: Festes de Gràcia (Festa Major de Gràcia), Festes de Sants.
Watch out for: August shop and restaurant closures.
September · good
In its favour: feels like (high) 26 °C / 79 °F, average daily high 24.5 °C / 76 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 84%, average daily low 18.2 °C / 65 °F.
Against: wet days 10.4 days, days with heavy rain 2.3 days, precipitation 75 mm / 2.9 in, relative humidity 77%.
Also on: Festes de la Mercè.
Watch out for: August shop and restaurant closures.
October · good
In its favour: feels like (high) 21.4 °C / 71 °F, average daily high 21.2 °C / 70 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 82%, average daily low 14.9 °C / 59 °F.
Against: wet days 9.6 days, precipitation 89 mm / 3.5 in, days with heavy rain 2.9 days, relative humidity 80%.
Also on: Barcelona Jazz Festival.
November · good
In its favour: feels like (high) 15.1 °C / 59 °F, precipitation 56 mm / 2.2 in, share of daylight that is sunny 80%, average daily high 16.6 °C / 62 °F, days with heavy rain 1.8 days, average daily low 10 °C / 50 °F.
Against: wet days 8.1 days, sunshine per day 7.9 h, relative humidity 77%.
Also on: Barcelona Fringe Festival, Barcelona Jazz Festival.
December · good
In its favour: precipitation 31 mm / 1.2 in, share of daylight that is sunny 81%, wet days 4.9 days, days with heavy rain 0.7 days, average daily high 13.6 °C / 56 °F, average daily low 6.7 °C / 44 °F.
Against: sunshine per day 7.5 h, feels like (high) 11.5 °C / 53 °F, relative humidity 78%.
Also on: Barcelona Jazz Festival, Fira de Santa Llúcia Christmas market, New Year's Eve grape tradition.
Watch out for: Tourist offices closed (Christmas Day).
Beach and swimming
Hot, dry and sunny. Penalises the monsoon hard.
- JJanuary: neither
- FFebruary: neither
- MMarch: neither
- AApril: neither
- MMay: neither
- JJune: good
- JJuly: best
- AAugust: best
- SSeptember: good
- OOctober: neither
- NNovember: neither
- DDecember: neither
- Best
- July–August
- Good
- June, September
Barcelona's beach season is short: June through September are warm enough with a warm sea, with July and August best; the rest of the year is too cold in both air and sea for swimming, and October adds the year's heaviest rain on top.
Why these months
June · good
In its favour: precipitation 28 mm / 1.1 in, share of daylight that is sunny 88%, average daily high 24.8 °C / 77 °F, feels like (high) 26.5 °C / 80 °F, days with heavy rain 0.7 days, wet days 5.7 days, wind (daily max) 16 km/h / 10 mph, average daily low 17.8 °C / 64 °F.
Against: sea temperature 22.4 °C / 72 °F.
Also on: Corpus Christi dancing egg, Primavera Sound, Revetlla de Sant Joan, Sónar music festival, Spanish Grand Prix (F1).
Watch out for: Revetlla de Sant Joan.
July · best
In its favour: average daily high 27.5 °C / 82 °F, precipitation 26 mm / 1 in, share of daylight that is sunny 91%, feels like (high) 30.2 °C / 86 °F, days with heavy rain 0.6 days, wet days 5.2 days, average daily low 20.8 °C / 69 °F, wind (daily max) 17 km/h / 10 mph.
Also on: Pride Barcelona.
August · best
In its favour: average daily high 27.5 °C / 82 °F, precipitation 45 mm / 1.8 in, share of daylight that is sunny 90%, feels like (high) 30.3 °C / 87 °F, days with heavy rain 1.1 days, wet days 7.1 days, average daily low 21 °C / 70 °F, wind (daily max) 16 km/h / 10 mph.
Also on: Festes de Gràcia (Festa Major de Gràcia), Festes de Sants.
Watch out for: August shop and restaurant closures.
September · good
In its favour: share of daylight that is sunny 84%, average daily high 24.5 °C / 76 °F, feels like (high) 26 °C / 79 °F, average daily low 18.2 °C / 65 °F, wind (daily max) 15 km/h / 9 mph.
Against: wet days 10.4 days, precipitation 75 mm / 2.9 in, days with heavy rain 2.3 days.
Also on: Festes de la Mercè.
Watch out for: August shop and restaurant closures.
An activity is listed only where it applies: skiing at ski destinations, beach and swimming at beach destinations. The nearest ski area is Estació d'esquí Port del Comte, 99 km away.
Weather averages
Monthly averages over twenty years, 2006–2025. Highs, lows and precipitation are in the chart at the top.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feels like (high) | 10.3 °C | 11.1 °C | 13.2 °C | 16.4 °C | 20.9 °C | 26.5 °C | 30.2 °C | 30.3 °C | 26 °C | 21.4 °C | 15.1 °C | 11.5 °C |
| Days with heavy rain | 1.2 days | 0.8 days | 1.6 days | 1.6 days | 1.2 days | 0.7 days | 0.6 days | 1.1 days | 2.3 days | 2.9 days | 1.8 days | 0.7 days |
| Time rain usually falls | 12 am | 2 am | 4 pm | 4 pm | 4 pm | 4 pm | 3 pm | 9 am | 4 am | 12 am | 4 pm | 2 pm |
| Sunshine per day | 7.9 h | 8.6 h | 10.1 h | 11.1 h | 12.7 h | 13.3 h | 13.4 h | 12.4 h | 10.4 h | 9.1 h | 7.9 h | 7.5 h |
| Relative humidity | 77% | 76% | 75% | 77% | 76% | 74% | 74% | 75% | 77% | 80% | 77% | 78% |
Sea temperature
Averaged over a shorter period (2022–2025) than the twenty-year averages above.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sea temperature 2022–2025 | 14 °C | 13.5 °C | 14.1 °C | 15.7 °C | 18.5 °C | 22.4 °C | 26 °C | 27.4 °C | 25.4 °C | 22.4 °C | 17.9 °C | 15.5 °C |
| Sea temperature (daily max) 2022–2025 | 14.1 °C | 13.7 °C | 14.2 °C | 16 °C | 18.9 °C | 22.7 °C | 26.2 °C | 27.6 °C | 25.6 °C | 22.5 °C | 18 °C | 15.6 °C |
- Very cold 10 °C or less
- Cold 10 to 15 °C
- Cool 15 to 20 °C
- Comfortable 20 to 25 °C
- Warm 25 to 28 °C
- Very warm over 28 °C
The words describe how the water feels to swim in. They are ours, not an official standard.
Air quality
Averaged over a shorter period (2022–2025) than the twenty-year averages above, and not counted towards good or best months.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air pollution (PM2.5) 2022–2025 | 11.2 µg/m³ | 14.5 µg/m³ | 12.1 µg/m³ | 13.5 µg/m³ | 13.7 µg/m³ | 14.7 µg/m³ | 12.3 µg/m³ | 13.2 µg/m³ | 10.5 µg/m³ | 11.5 µg/m³ | 9.5 µg/m³ | 11.2 µg/m³ |
| Air pollution (PM2.5, daily peak) 2022–2025 | 17.9 µg/m³ | 22 µg/m³ | 19 µg/m³ | 20.9 µg/m³ | 20.6 µg/m³ | 21.3 µg/m³ | 16.5 µg/m³ | 18.3 µg/m³ | 14.7 µg/m³ | 17.1 µg/m³ | 14.5 µg/m³ | 18 µg/m³ |
- Good 15 µg/m³ or less
- Fair 15 to 25 µg/m³
- Moderate 25 to 37.5 µg/m³
- Poor 37.5 to 50 µg/m³
- Very poor 50 to 75 µg/m³
- Extremely poor over 75 µg/m³
Each figure is compared with the World Health Organization's guideline for a day's air, 15 µg/m³ or less, and with its interim targets above that. The words are ours: the WHO does not name its steps. The figures are modelled monthly averages, so single days can be well above them. The daily peak is the average of each day's highest hour, shaded on the same scale.
Events and seasons
What the weather records cannot show. A major event can lift a month to good or best. The warnings are there to help you plan, and never count against a month.
Reasons to go
- Calçotada season
January, February and March
- New Year's Eve grape tradition
31 December–1 January
- Three Kings Day parade
5 January
- Carnival
February and March, dates vary from year to year
- Sant Jordi
23 April
- Corpus Christi dancing egg
May and June, dates vary from year to year
- Night of Museums
May
- Sónar music festival
15–21 June
- Primavera Sound
June
- Revetlla de Sant Joan
20–23 June, dates vary from year to year
- Spanish Grand Prix (F1)
12–14 June, dates vary from year to year
- Pride Barcelona
July
- Festes de Gràcia (Festa Major de Gràcia)
August
- Festes de Sants
August
- Festes de la Mercè
September
- Barcelona Jazz Festival
1 October–31 December
- Barcelona Fringe Festival
1–10 November
- Fira de Santa Llúcia Christmas market
2–23 December, dates vary from year to year
Worth knowing before you go
- Tourist offices closed (New Year's Day)
1 January
- Revetlla de Sant Joan
20–23 June, dates vary from year to year
- August shop and restaurant closures
1 August–10 September
- Tourist offices closed (Christmas Day)
25 December
World Heritage sites nearby
UNESCO World Heritage sites within 25 km, nearest first.
- Palau de la Música Catalana and Hospital de Sant Pau, Barcelona
1 km away