Festivals and Events
-
Cavalcada des Reis
The Three Kings parade through the streets throwing sweets to the children.
-
Carnival
It’s not as big here as in other parts of Spain, but there’s a great party atmosphere just the same.
-
Barcelona Marathon
Starts and finishes at Avenida Maria Cristina below the steep green hillside of Montjuic.
-
Sant Jordi
Festival of the patron saint of Catalonia when lovers traditionally exchange gifts.
-
Spanish Grand Prix
Formula One racing at the Circuit de Catalunya, just outside the city.
-
Primavera Sound Festival
A massive line-up of top-class live acts and DJs in the Waterfront area.
http://www.Primaverasound.com -
Barcelona Summer Festival
Popularly known as the ‘Grec Festival’ – the city’s most important cultural event.
http://www.barcelonafestival.com -
Barcelona Book Market
Numerous stands of antiquarian and second-hand books at Passeig de Grácia.
-
Gay and Lesbian Film Festival
Mostly at Mercat de les Flors .
http://www.gaybarcelona.net -
Orquestra Simfonica del Valles
Annual season of premier classical music at the Palau de la Musica Catalunya.
http://www.palaumusica.org -
Noche Vieja
Street parties and celebrations. Big club nights – with high prices.
Theatre, Cinema and Opera
In the arts, as in almost everything else, Barcelona is at the cutting edge. Challenging contemporary music, dance and theatre are plentiful and there are a number of excellent annual events. A night at the beautiful Liceu opera house or a rousing performance by the Orfeo Catala at the Palau de la Musica are unforgettable experiences – and surprisingly affordable. Jazz is very strong in the city and Latin and African music are too – due to the large immigrant population. Spanish cinema has enjoyed a high profile over the past decade or so, thanks to the success of directors like Pedro Almodovar, and there are several arthouse cinemas where you can catch cult movies. Prices are low in comparison with London and New York. Another good listings magazine for theatre, cinema and opera is the free English-language Guide Out To Barcelona, which can be found in shops and hotels.
Museums and Galleries
There are at least 37 museums and galleries to explore in Barcelona including homages to the city’s two artistic giants – Gaudí (the Casa Museu Gaudí) www.casamuseugaudi.org and Miró (Fundació Miró) www.miroshop.com. There is also a natural history museum, a science museum and, for the quirkier taste, museums dedicated to shoes, chocolate and sex.
For Children
Barcelona is a great place to visit with children, with fairy-tale buildings, beaches and plenty of child-friendly activities from sailing ships to mountain-top funfairs. The Spanish love children and they’ll be treated indulgently wherever they go. Most museums offer reduced admission for children between 4 and 12. Public transport is free for those under 4. There are six beaches stretching from Barceloneta out past the Port Olimpic and the city council organises children’s sports and activities there between March and May. There’s an Aquarium with an interactive centre for very young children, and the science museum has a special section for the under-fives. Older children might enjoy the tour of the vast Nou Camp stadium, home of Barcelona FC. The mountain-top funfair is the Tibidabo Parc d’Attraciones, which is reached by funicular railway.
