Barcelona weather

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Barcelona weather

Barcelona can get very hot in the summer, otherwise the city has a pleasant climate in most months of the year. That, and a wide range of attractions, make it a good year-round city to visit. If it does rain there are plenty of world-class museums to shelter in.

The climate is typically Mediterranean - hot dry summers and mild, damp winters. Most of the rainfall is in the winter months.
In the winter average temperatures tend not to dip too far below 10°C (50°F), and it very rarely snows. July and August are the hottest, averaging 30°C (86°F).

The highest recorded temperature in the city itself is 38.6°C but the Fabra Observatory, situated above the city on Tibidabo, has recorded an even higher temperature of 39.8°C (103.6°F).

The winter can, on occasions, bring storms but most months will see many warm, sunny days. As with many Mediterranean cities, the best times to visit are the spring and autumn, when you will normally be able to enjoy warm, sunny weather without extremes of temperature.

Check out the Barcelona When To Travel guide on Weather2Travel.com

Barcelona festivals and events

January As in most of Spain, Christmas presents are exchanged on Epiphany (January 6), just as the Christmas trees are coming down in Britain. The night before, the Cavalcada deis Reis Magis, or Parade of the Three Kings, attracts children and families with its floats and music, with sweets thrown to the eager youngsters.

February Barcelona's Carnival is a great attraction. Nearby, Sitges hosts a gay carnival that's a huge party with gaudy parades.

March/April Easter features a procession from the Església de Sant Agustí in El Ravel with a float featuring the Virgin of the Macarena. Barefoot penitent women drag crosses and chains through the streets - as you do. St George's Day, (he is Barcelona's patron saint) is celebrated by men giving women a rose - the men receive a book as Book Day shares the same date.

May The Feast of Corpus Christi - 53 days after Easter Sunday on a Thursday - is marked by the Dancing Egg tradition, an empty egg shell bobs up and down on the fountain in the Cathedral's cloister - not to be missed.

Late May, and possibly early June, sees the Primavera Sound event when DJs and musicians provide the entertainment.
June: Barcelona's Sónar is Europe's largest celebration of electronic music. Dia de Sant Joan (June 24) is celebrated with dancing, bonfires and fireworks.

June/July/August - The Festival del Grec brings theatre, dance and music to the city, particularly the open air Teatre Grec on Montjuïc.

August The Gràcia district holds a competition for the best dressed street in the Festa Major de Gràcia with lots of music and drinking.

September Barcelona's biggest party, the Festas de la Mercè, features fire, folk dancing, concerts and even dragons. It's a four-day event in the third week of September. Human castle builders, standing on each other's shoulders, are an amazing sight, sometimes reaching 10 tiers before collapsing.

November The Barcelona Jazz Festival extends through much of the month with many free performances.

December A winter version of the Primavera Sound event helps to brightens up the month.