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Are you visiting Barcelona in February and want to know what to do? If so, BarcelonaTours has you covered.

February is a great month to visit Barcelona and this year is no different, with lots of activities and things to see and do. The evenings may be cooler, but there’s warm sunshine in the afternoon and bright blue skies for wintery walks – plus plenty to see and do in the city.

Although February is the shortest month of the year (although this year is a leap year), you won’t be short on options for how to enjoy your time! As well as some important festivals and the Barcelona city carnival, the Mobile World Congress is on from Feb 26-29. See our blog about MWC 2024, here. 

To plan events in Barcelona, please visit our Team Building and Activities pages, or see our Executive Services which include airport transfers and Restaurants for Groups.

Llum BCN “Light Arts” Festival 2024

When: Feb 2-4

Where: Poblenou and Glories

Price: Free

This is the unmissable festival of lights that Barcelona holds every year. The neighbourhood of Poblenou lights up for three nights in February in an area originally filled with textile factories. When this industry collapsed, the area suffered greatly, falling into a state of disrepair.

Thankfully, as with many parts of Barcelona, it was the 1992 Olympics that saw some life brought back into this neighbourhood. Renovations, as well as bright and exciting ideas being trialed in the area, revived this “barrio” and it’s now one of the most interesting and creative parts of the city to visit.

This festival focuses on the talent of artists from all over the world, as well as local students, to create immersive experiences with light. As night falls, Poblenou is ignited by lights of every colour, and includes areas with light projections set to music and sound – especially around the Disseny Hub Barcelona (the Design Museum).

Llum festival is held every year, so be sure to make a note for 2025. To learn more, visit this page.

Santa Eulàlia Festival 2024

When: Feb 9-12 (main festival Feb 12)

Where: Around the city centre, mainly in the Gothic Quarter

Price: Free

Also known simply as the Winter Festival, the Festival of Santa Eulàlia (Festes de Santa Eulàlia) celebrates Barcelona’s lesser-known Patron Saint, Saint Eulàlia.

Eulàlia was a 13-year-old girl who, during the 3rd century AD, was punished by the Romans for refusing to recant her Christianity. As the tawdry tale goes, the Romans decided to make an example of her, subjecting the young girl to 13 tortures – one for each year of her life – eventually decapitating her.

One story says that moments after her head was removed, doves flew out of her neck, signifying that God had blessed her. Interestingly, inside the Barcelona Cathedral, which is dedicated to Santa Eulàlia, 13 white geese are kept in the beautiful cloister.

Highlights of the celebration include showcases of popular Catalan traditions, such as Castells (human towers), gegants, correfocs – you can find our full explanation of these traditions in our September blog – and sardanas. A sardana is a traditional dance that involves precise footwork and timing; the steps might look easy but it’s hard to do this perfectly! If you’re not around the weekend of this winter festival, you can see sardanas every Sunday in front of the Cathedral.

The Cathedral, amongst other buildings (such as the Town Hall), opens its doors for free on February 12, the official day of Santa Eulàlia, with the crypt under the Cathedral only opening on that special day. In the crypt, you will find the ornate sarcophagus, carved in the 15th century, supposedly holding Eulàlia’s remains.

To learn more, visit this page and this page.

Barcelona Carnival 2024

When: Feb 8-14

Where: All over the city

Price: Mostly free

Carnival takes place in different countries around the world, with the underlying principle of enjoyment and freedom of expression. The date for Carnival (or Carnaval) changes each year depending on the lunar calendar and is celebrated the week before Lent begins.

This year it falls in February and it will be another colourful spectacular not to be missed. Catch people dressed in traditional carnival costumes, donning masks and creative makeup, parading down the streets. You can take part in various local activities around the city.

Find out more about the festival here. This page (in Catalan) provides more information about the programme.

Since there’s so much on offer, for some event highlights, take a look at this 2023 article from El Naciónal (in English), which tells you the main places to be to catch the best parts of this week-long fiesta. Check back for more updates to the 2024 programme!

Calçots: A Classic Catalan Dish

When: Saturdays & Sundays

Where: All around the city (and outside)

Price: Varies from place to place, but a full menu will include: calçots, a selection of meats, romesco sauce (absolutely delicious!), bread, wine & water.

If you haven’t come across the term “celebrity vegetable”, we are not surprised! However, it is possibly the best way to describe calçots, a vegetable that is eaten with great enthusiasm across Cataluña when they are in season (November to April). Try them in Barcelona in February.

The calçot is a type of onion (akin to a big spring onion), with a flavour similar to leeks. They are traditionally barbecued over an open flame until the outside layer of skin is blackened and the insides are soft; you then remove the burnt outer skin, dip the calçot in romesco sauce – traditionally made with nuts such as almonds and hazelnuts, blended with roasted red peppers, tomatoes, and other smoky delights – and lower it into your mouth from over your head.

Wherever you eat these delicious calçots, bibs and gloves are usually provided so this messy treat doesn’t spoil your clothes. People usually down around 15 or so, before the second course of the meal – grilled meats with bread and more romesco sauce.

Locals will buy all the ingredients and head out to the countryside to hold their own barbecues. If you’re on vacation, there are many restaurants across Barcelona in February that offer calçots. But if you want to really get into the spirit of the season, you should visit one of the street barbecues that take place almost every weekend in a different part of the city.

In February and early March, you will find a “calçotada” (the name for these barbecues) in various locations.

This blog was originally posted in January 2019, and updated in February 2020 and 2023 and January 2024.

It’s starting to get chilly out there! But don’t worry, Barcelona in November is still a great time to visit.

Though Barcelona is on the Mediterranean the sea breezes start to turn cooler. However, a blustery walk along the seafront is still good fun!

And while Barcelona still has the odd warm day and the sun still shines, there are also plenty of great activities to keep you entertained, no matter the weather.

Seasonal Food: Three Different Tastes

One of the best things about Catalonia is that every holiday is accompanied by something delicious to eat. This time of year, as the leaves change colour and the temperature drops, three tasty treats can be found on the streets and shelves of the city.

Nuts and Roots

During the autumn and winter months, stalls (which appear as large, closed boxes in the street most of the year) will unlock their wooden doors, and the owners will bring metal containers out onto the pavement. These become the barbeques on which delicious Catalan street food is prepared.

These stalls, called paradas de castanyas, meaining “chestnut stops”, are an intrinsic part of the celebration of All Saints Day, which takes place on November 1, and is a National Holiday in Spain.

While Halloween as a celebration is now common in Barcelona, the parties and foods of All Saints Day are still enjoyed all over Catalunya. The stalls open a week or so before the celebration and stay there for a couple of weeks afterwards, before closing up again for another year.

As their name might suggest, these stalls sell a tasty snack that is common in colder times across Europe – roasted “castanyas” or chestnuts. Wrapped in paper and sold for just a few euros a pack, they are a great way to warm your hands on a chilly evening.

The other delicious offering from the stands is boniatos, or sweet potatoes, which are wrapped in foil and roasted on the coals until soft on the inside, with a naturally rich and buttery taste.

These special huts only pop up at this time of year, so if you’re lucky enough to be visiting in November, make sure to grab these local street snacks.

Dessert Time

You can find this sweet treat in bakeries all over Barcelona and they’re a must-try if you’re in Barcelona in November.

Find a bakery and grab yourself a coffee and a panellet – a sweet ball of patisserie perfection. While there are varying recipes, the traditional version includes ground almonds, sweet potato and pine nuts. Delicious!

Crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside, we think these are the taste of autumn, so grab some to enjoy as you take in the colours of the season.

Here are a few of our favourite bakeries you might like to try

• Baluard Bakery, Carrer del Baluard, 38, 08003
• La Colmena, Plaça de l’Àngel, 12, 08002
• Ideal, Carrer Gran de Gràcia, 207, 08012

All Those Food Market

Another popular food market is All Those Food, which takes place on the grounds of the National Theater of Catalonia on November 11 and 12, 2023.

The autumn edition of this event (which also runs at other times of the year), showcases local gastronomic treats and craft projects.

Get your tickets here.

Cathedrals and Churches in November

Europe is known for having some beautiful cathedrals and churches, and Barcelona is no exception. From the grand Barcelona Cathedral in the Gothic quarter with its tranquil cloister and highly decorated insides to the stark shell of Santa Maria del Mar in the medieval Born neighbourhood, a fresh, crisp November day is the perfect time to visit these amazing spaces.

Some you need to pay to get into and others are free, some will hold concerts and all of them have regular masses should you wish to visit (quietly!) during a sermon. Seek out the lesser-known churches such as the one the Plaza de Sant Felip Neri in the Gothic quarter and in Plaza Virreina.

Finally, no visit to Barcelona is complete without a visit to Gaudi’s – almost-finished – masterpiece, Sagrada Familia.

This building, which has taken more than one hundred years to complete, is stunning both inside and out.

Follow the story of its construction as you walk around the outside, where it’s clear which sections were completed long ago and those which have just been created, then head inside to discover Gaudi’s love of nature erected in stone and stained glass. The stained glass windows in the afternoon sun are divinely inspiring.

November is a great time to visit Sagrada Familia as it is less busy and, in low season, special deals on tickets are sometimes offered.

Contact us for a private tour which can be adapted to include a guided visit inside the Sagrada Familia.

Flamenco Show and Dinner

Flamenco is great at any time of the year, but in the low season, it can be even more intimate. Poble Espanyol is a great spot for those who want to see an area most tourists don’t visit.

This often-overlooked reconstruction of Spanish-style houses is an awesome setting to take in some flamenco dancing. It’s located on Montjuic – the hill by the sea – and is easily reached by taxi, bus or on foot.

Interested? Book a flamenco show with dinner or ask us for more information.

If you’re visiting Barcelona in November, we suggest walking if you want to work up an appetite for the show. Sure, you may arrive a little out of breath, but doesn’t that make it all the more satisfying?

Choose from two seating times, and select tapas or a three-course dinner. Then sit back and enjoy the show!

Included with this Flamenco and dining package is a ticket to explore the Poble Espanyol, so arrive an hour or so before your dining time to take a stroll through Spanish architectural history.

This is just the tip of the iceberg of what’s happening in Barcelona this November. If you’re looking for more ideas, get in touch and we will be happy to help.

This article was originally posted on October 28, 2017, updated on October 26, 2018, October 18, 2022 and November 5, 2023.

Tibidabo Amusement Park boasts some of the best views of the city and is a fun and exhilarating addition to any holiday, especially when travelling with children. It is officially Spain’s oldest theme park that is still in operation, and the third oldest in Europe.

Perched atop Barcelona’s highest point, the Tibidabo Amusement Park has an awesome combination of classic and new rides, with great options for kids young and old alike – and of course for the young of heart. Theme parks

The park has options to suit every budget, from the purchase of single tickets for individual rides to wristbands that allow for unlimited access to the park for a day. It’s also a fantastic spot to watch the sunset and you can spend some time relaxing in the “mirador”, or lookout point, admiring what is undoubtedly the best view of the city.

Tibidabo’s Park History

Access to the top of the Tibidabo Mountain was completed in 1901. Should you not feel like walking, you can still use the “funicular” to get up to the amusement park – don’t worry, it has been renovated since the 1900s.

This became the star attraction in the early years of the park as it was such a modern mode of transport for the time. In the first decade of the park’s existence, small attractions such as swings, bowling alleys, and mirror halls were added, providing great amusement to visitors.

Rides and Attractions

Following its opening, it wasn’t long before rides were installed, with an Electric Merry-go Round added in 1910 and the Aerial Railway in 1915.

In 1921 and 1928 respectively, the Look-Out Tower, known as Talaia, and the “Avió” Aeroplane ride were built in the park, two signature rides that still stand today (again, don’t worry, they have been renovated in that time!).

Business understandably slowed during the Civil War (1936-1939) and the Second World War (1939-1945), but the 1950s and 60s saw massive development, and the 1980s was when the park was truly modernised to suit the needs of a modern public.

Throughout the 1990s the park developed even more attractions, such as themed nights, themed shows, and live entertainment for all the family to enjoy. Unfortunately, due to financial issues, the park went into bankruptcy in 1999, however after receiving a cash injection, the park was reborn.

Five new rides were then added, including Catalonia’s first free-fall rollercoaster, and the park has gone from strength to strength since then.

A Blend of Modern and Traditional

One of the wonderful things about the Tibidabo Amusement Park is how the modern and traditional rides are side-by-side. You can feel the history of how this park developed.

It would have been easy to knock down the old rides and replace them with modern ones, but the rides themselves are an important part of the park and you can imagine how it would have felt to step into one of them when theme park attractions were a relatively new concept.

The park also has new rides which are fun for all the family, we suggest visiting the Tibidabo website for a full list and to help you plan your day there.

The Church of the Sacred Heart

When you’re wandering the streets of Barcelona, you may also notice the shape of an impressive building up on the highest hill. From below, the silhouette of this building against the sky, with the Ferris wheel at its side, is reminiscent of the castle at Disneyland Paris.

However, it’s actually a church, called the Church of the Sacred Heart, and, while it’s not technically part of the park and there are no rides inside, it’s well worth a visit when you’re at the top of Tibidabo.

Food and Drink at Tibidabo

When it comes to dining on the mountain, you’re not going to find anything particularly refined (unless you head over to the terrace of the Hotel La Florida which is also located on the mountaintop), but there’s a canteen with the usual theme park lunch menus of burgers and chips, plenty of candy floss and popcorn, and the local favourites, churros dipped in chocolate for a sticky, indulgent dessert.

For Mum and Dad, or just the grown-up theme park lovers, you will find “jamón” (Spanish ham) for sale with glasses of cava or vermouth, perfect for if you’re on the mountain on a warm afternoon.

How To Get There

The “funicular” is still running and will take you up the side of the mountain (when it is out of service for maintenance, a substitute bus service is provided).

Please see the list below for the options:

Shuttle bus (T2A) from Plaça Catalunya

• Location: corner of Plaça Catalunya and Rambla Catalunya, in front of the Desigual shop
• Schedule: runs from 10am up until 30 minutes after closing, approximately every 20 minutes every day that the Amusement Park is open.
• Shuttle bus (T2A) price: €3 /person (one way ticket).

Shuttle bus (T2B) from B:SM Sant Genís parking lot

• Location: Paseo de la Vall d’Hebron, 138-176, just in front of the Vall d’Hebron hospital complex.
• Schedule: from 11 am to 30 minutes after closing, every 30 minutes every day that the amusement park is open.
• Shuttle bus (T2B) price: Free when you have bought your Amusement Park ticket from the office in the Sant Genís parking lot.
• Sant Genís Parking lot price: 4.20 € / day.

Funicular (or substitute bus)

• Location: Dr Andreu Square (Funicular station)
• Schedule:
  • Park: from 10:30 p.m. until 15 minutes after the Park closes. Frequency: every 30 minutes
  • Panoramic Area: from 11:15h until 16:15h. Last rise to Tibidabo at 2:35 p.m. Frequency: every 30 minutes
• Price: free when you have tickets to the park or the Panoramic area.

Tibidabo Timetable

• From March to December: weekends and holidays
• July: from Wednesdays to Sundays
• August: every day
• January: from the 2nd to the 5th

Closed: From the 6th and the 31st of January and the whole of February.

Panoramic Area

Open every day except:

• 1st January
• From the 6th and the 31st of January
• 25th and 26th December

February: open at weekends only

Tibidabo Prices

Tibidabo Amusement Park

• General entrance tickets  – 28.50 €
• Children’s entrance ticket (under 1.2 m in height)  – 10.30 €
• Children’s entrance ticket (< 0,90 m height) – Free

Panoramic Area

• General entrance ticket  –  12.70 €
• Children’s entrance ticket (under 1.2 m in height) –  7.80 €
• Children’s entrance ticket (< 0,90 m in height) – Free

Once you’ve scaled the mountain, why not relax on the sea? A Private Catamaran Charter or Private Yacht Charter in Barcelona will help you kick back and you’ll feel any stresses melt away – the kids will love it too!

Published, March 10, 2019, updated in 2023.