Visiting Barcelona in November

Keeping busy when the autumn weather kicks in…

By Jessica Bowler Barcelona Life

From film festivals to scoffing toasted chestnuts, there’s plenty of things to do in November, whatever the weather. Travellers can also take advantage of fewer crowds at the likes of La Sagrada Familia, or take day trips to nearby gems, like Girona and the Dali Museum.

Is November a Good Time to Visit?

November is pretty much nobody’s favourite month back home, especially if you’re from the UK or Northern Europe… so you may as well get away from the pre-Christmas, autumnal gloom and jet out for some sunshine on a Mediterranean city break!

Barcelona in November is warm, sunny and cheerful, with plenty to see and do, and if you would prefer to visit the Catalan capital when there are less tourists then this is one of the best times of year to book your flights, and enjoy some of the city’s attractions without the crowds. It will still be around 18 degrees by day, and culture vultures won’t care that it’s not beach weather when they’re busy admiring the handiwork of genii like Antoni Gaudi, Lluis Domenech i Montaner and Pablo Picasso (more on each below!).

The incredible columns and ceiling of Gaudi’s La Sagrada Familia

Apart from fewer tourists, you should find prices of hotels and apartments more affordable in autumn, and backpackers should also be able to save a few euros on their hostel beds. Overall this might just be the most economic month to visit.

Events-wise and there’s a mix of traditional celebrations like All Saints Day, and more modern offerings like L’Alternativa Film Festival festival. And while this is not the season of street parties and music festivals, the city’s regular nightlife is still in full flow, and alcoholics sociable folk will find no shortage of great bars to prop up.

The Weather in November

With the average November high temperature in Barcelona around 18ºC, and an average low of 8º, this is usually the month where the temperatures noticeably drop in the city from the summer highs (that can stretch into October), so you’ll need to add a jacket and jumper to your packing list. The lower temperatures aren’t all bad news though; they can make a day of sightseeing considerably less sweaty! And you can still strip down to a T-shirt at midday, when you find a nice bar or restaurant terrace kissed by the sun.

Other weather considerations to bear in mind are that the month averages five days of rain (which is around average in Barcelona), and that the days are also quite a bit shorter, as clocks have gone back by now. In other words, you may have to get up earlier if you want to see all the main attractions in the daylight.

You can keep an eye on the weather here.

17 Things To Do in November

As with any time of year, there’s more than enough to keep you occupied in the Catalan capital, day and night. We’ve rounded up a few of our favourite things to do in Barcelona in November to help you plan your trip.

1. Commemorate All Saints’ Day

November starts off with a holiday in Spain – El Día de Todos los Santos, or All Saints’ Day. It’s a national public holiday to honour and remember the dead. Flower vendors line the streets to sell floral displays to people to leave at their dearly departed’s graveside. But it’s not all sombre contemplation; this is also the day when people traditionally eat small round almond cakes called panellets. Look out for them on sale at bakeries around the city.

2. Celebrate the “Castanyada”

things to do in barcelona in novemberOne of the traditions of All Saints’ Day is to eat hot toasted chestnuts (castanyas in Catalan) that come wrapped in newspaper. They start being sold by street hawkers with pop-up roasting stalls around the holiday, and they continue doing brisk business throughout the winter. They also often sell roasted sweet potatoes at the same stalls. Keep an eye for them and don’t be scared to snag a bag!

3. Visit La Sagrada Familia While You Can!

Around 3 million people visit Gaudi’s masterpiece each year, and it’s rarely less than chock-full, especially during the summer months. November is actually one of the best times to visit as its one of the city’s quieter months for tourism, and you should have a bit of breathing space as you marvel at the white forest-like interior of the nave, and possibly even ascend / descend one of the basilica’s epic towers. Check out our page for more info on skip the line tickets, tours and towers or go right ahead or book a guided tour via Get Your Guide. Every tiny detail of this amazing basilica has a special significance – so exploring with a knowledgeable guide is a must!

THE BARCELONA PASS

For tickets to Sagrada Familia, Park Guell, and the Hop on / Hop off Tourist Bus in one convenient purchase, check out the Barcelona Pass via Tiqets.com.

4. Wonder at the Palau de la Musica!

palau de la musica tour barcelonaBarcelona’s unique aesthetic comes from the artistic movement known as Modernisme, also known as Catalan art nouveau. Gaudi was just one proponent of the genre (in fact his most famous works took on a style all of his own), and his contemporaries like Domenech i Montaner and Puig i Cadafalch are held in almost the same esteem by locals for the architectural legacy they left. You can see some of Barcelona’s most beautiful façades when you visit the Palace of Catalan Music, while those with more time might also wish to visit Hospital of Sant Pau and the Casa Amatller. A guided tour of the Palau de la Musica Catalana, in particular, is well worth it, as you also get to see the stunning concert hall and inverted golden dome skylight – plus the balcony offers a fantastic Instagram moment.

5. Learn to Cook Paella!

You can’t leave Barcelona without trying Spain’s signature dish… but why not go one further and learn how to cook your own rice and seafood feast (vegetarian options also available!)? During this fun and laidback experience your expert chef will take you on a tour of the famous Boqueria food market, before heading back to the kitchen to share the secrets of a great paella. As well as contributing to this culinary masterpiece, you also learn how to mix a mean jug of sangria. At just €65 per person, this is a great activity to do instead of a restaurant lunch or dinner. More info here, or hit the button below to reserve your space on Get Your Guide.

6. Visit Girona & The Dali Museum

Girona is one of Catalonia’s finest gems, a large medieval town crowned by a spectacular cathedral that was used to film several famous King’s Landing scenes in Game of Thrones. Meanwhile, the Dali Theatre Museum is one of the world’s most entertaining art museums – showcasing the madcap style of the godfather of Surrealism. Getting to both by public transport is a bit of a pain, but there are several minibus tours that leave from Barcelona on a daily basis. I’d recommend this one, which features transport, guide, and museum tickets for a pretty reasonable €82 per person. If you have to change your mind Get Your Guide offer free cancellation up to 24 hours before the event.

7. Make Your Own Espadrilles!

Get creative during this fun-filled workshop that is currently the 2nd highest rated activity on Tripadvisor Barcelona! The activity takes place in a downtown workshop, where your young artisans will help you personalise a pair of Spain’s famous espadrilles – the footwear favoured by Salvador Dali and Pablo Picasso. There may be some cava involved as well, but we can’t confirm or deny that! Great fun, and you can book directly on the organisers’s website. Just select Barcelona obviously (they also run in Seville and Puerto Rico!), and a special 5% BARCELONALIFE discount will be applied when you check out via your shopping cart. Just €89.90 per person – or €85.40 with the discount – and you get a new pair of shoes into the bargain!

Barcelona Life readers get a special discount! Enjoy!

8. Eat Tapas and Watch Flamenco!

An extremely popular activity, the Tapas & Flamenco experience is a great one for fans of Spanish culture who want to sample two of the country’s most typical traditions, both of which have strong roots in Catalonia as well. First you get to watch a passionate 40-minute flamenco concert in a central tablao, before sampling some authentic dishes served up and down Spain. The activity runs every night and you can find more info here. To reserve your tickets, click the button below. More options here.

9. Take a Wine Class with a Sommelier

Spanish wines are both very affordable and extremely underrated. In this private workshop that takes place in the city centre, you will taste five local Catalan wines in the company of an expert sommelier, who will first introduce you to several smell and taste challenges to train your palate. The wines are paired with gourmet cheeses and light tapas, and by the end of the session you’ll leave with a firm appreciation of the local vintages, and a better understanding of wine in general. Love wine? Check all our favourite wine experiences here.

10. Sailing & Wine Cruise

Spoil yourself with this two-pronged pleasure cruise that combines sailing with wine tasting at a nearby vineyard! It doesn’t get much better than setting off in a luxury yacht from Barcelona’s Port Olimpic and cruising up the coast to one of the region’s charming urban wineries. Here, in the town of Alella, you get to tour an ecological vineyard and taste three unique wines in the company of a sommelier, together with an array of delicious appetisers. Afterwards a luxury minivan will whizz you back to Barcelona city centre. You can book this activity securely via Get Your Guide.

11. Discover Picasso’s Barcelona Legacy

picasso museum tickets barcelonaPicasso spent his formative years in Barcelona, and his legacy in Catalonia is marked by the museum that bears his name, as well as by a number of places he frequented during his time here. Naturally, you can explore the museum, where 3,500 of his works are exhibited – with a focus on his early life and the evocative Blue and Rose periods – by yourself; however real art aficionados are advised to consider booking a guide tour, such as this one, to get a full insight into the mind and works of the 20th century’s most important artist.

12. Lock Yourself in an Escape Room

A hot craze in Barcelona right now, and indeed the rest of the world, escape rooms offer participants the chance to pit themselves against the clock in a battle of wits. By solving a series of puzzles, one after another, you have to move closer to finding the key or the code that will allow you to exit the room before the time is up. Each room has its own theme, and you might find yourself doing anything from rescuing Gaudi’s blueprints for La Sagrada Familia to infiltrating a secret society known as the ‘WD’. Read a list of some of our favourite rooms here. The perfect activity on a wet autumnal day, or for after dark.

13. Buff Up on the Year’s Best Films

Both the In-Edit film festival, featuring musical documentary films, and L’Alternativa Film Festival, for independent films, take place in November in Barcelona every year. Autumn is the perfect time to check out what the city has to offer for cinephiles, with both festivals featuring international films, screened in their original language.

14. Celebrate Thanksgiving in Good Company!

Held on the fourth Thursday in November every year, Americans abroad tend to head straight down to the nearest Irish bar to eat their traditional Thanksgiving dinnerFlaherty’s do a great one every year if you’re looking to get your fix of turkey and stuffing for the year with some fellow Statesiders and other good company.

15. Get Brainy at the “Barcelona Pensa” Festival

Barcelona’s very own philosophy festival is held in mid-November every year. It’s promoted by the Department of Philosophy at the University of Barcelona, in a bid to get the city more involved in philosophical thinking. It takes place at multiple locations around the city and features talks, presentations, workshops, and debates (naturally). You may need to brush up on your Catalan though to make the most of it.
www.barcelonapensa.cat

16. Visit The Camp Nou!

*Unavailable in 2023, as Camp Nou undergoes refurbishment (matches takes place at the Olympic Stadium)*
Obviously, the best way to experience Camp Nou is to watch the mighty FC Barcelona in action, or if not then you can still sign up for the Camp Nou Experience, when you’ll take a tour of the legendary 99,000 seater stadium, pitch, dressing rooms and of course FC Barcelona Museum, with its gleaming trophy room. Tickets cost €28 and you can reserve them in a couple of clicks on Get Your Guide. Just hit the button-link below.

17. See the Start of the Christmas Season

In late November, the first signs of the Christmas season start to appear on the streets of Barcelona, like holiday markets and festive lighting displays. The exact dates vary from year to year, but you’ll definitely start to notice some of the Christmas cheer descending on the city by the month’s end. Catalonia has some frankly bizarre traditions at this time of year, so read up about the caganer and grab yourself a celebrity pooper at one of the markets.

More Autumn Inspiration!

So there you go… plenty of things to see and do this November! But if for some reason you haven’t filled your agenda yet then check out this long list of fun and unusual activities.

Or shop for tours and tickets below…

About the Author

Jessica was born in England and grew up in California before moving to Seville to study Spanish. She now lives here in Barcelona, where she works in communications, studies for her masters and still finds time to update her award-winning blog Barcelona Blonde – as well as being a regular contributor to Barcelona Life!

26 Comments

  • Kelly

    Hello! I am planning a trip to Barcelona late November. Do you think I need to make advance reservations for things I want to do/see or is the crowd low enough at that time to book day before or day of?

    04.10.2023
  • Kay

    Hi Jessica
    We arrive in your beautiful city on a Sunday, stay on Monday and All Saints Day (2022).
    Are local attractions and restaurants closed on All Saints Day?
    Thank you.

    18.08.2022
  • Leila

    Hello dear, my name is Leila from Seattle and coming to visit Barcelona with my boyfriend on November 28th…
    I’m so excited but not sure if it’s a good timing for visiting Barcelona…
    Any advice?

    22.11.2021
  • Faizal

    hi
    we are a family of 7 , including my parents of 79 and 77 years .
    the rest of us are between 25 and 50 years of age.
    we arrive in Barcelona on the evening of the 22nd Nov and depart for Seville on the morning of the 25 th of Nov.
    For our 2 days stay in Barcelona ,what can you suggest for activity and food , considering
    1. we don’t fancy museums and art
    2. preferably Halal or vegetarian places to eat.

    can you also please suggest the most cost effective way to get to our accommodation which is STAY TOGETHER BARCELONA APARTMENTS in Ronda Sant Pau 1 which is opposite the Paral lel Metro Station.

    12.11.2019
  • Erica and Geoff

    Hi Jessica, We, husband and I will be in your lovely city from 30/10 – 9/11 2019 then boarding a ship, thanks so much for your wonderful information even though we are 80 & 87 yrs will try to do many of the things we have read. Have been to Spain 4 times over the past 10 yrs but only for a few days at a time so now have 10days hopefully will take day trips by the trains out into the countryside any help and advice will be helpful . Two Old Australians.

    25.10.2019
  • Inga

    Hi!

    Do you know any shops/galleries in Barcelona where it’s possible buy posters from The New Yorker?
    My partner and I are visiting Barcelona for the second time, but first time with a four month old baby. If you have any heads up or advice, that would be greatly appreciated!

    Thank you for a great article.

    🙂

    16.10.2019
  • Matt

    Hi Jessica/Duncan

    We are travelling to Barcelona on the 8th to 10th November 2019. With the current unrest and general election over that weekend, do you believe there will be much disruption during our visit and are there any particular places you would recommend to avoid?

    Thanks

    15.10.2019
      • Matt

        Thanks Duncan – will keep an eye on this

        22.10.2019
  • Evieb

    Hi Jessica, just came across your excellent article and will be visiting Barcelona for 5 nights towards the end of November. I will certainly partake of some of your great suggestions, but also am very interested in design and specifically interior design and lighting. I have a small shop selling handcrafted Mid Century and Contemporary lighting on Etsy. Do you have any recommendations of where to go or even where to look up design centric info? Many thanks in advance:-)

    10.10.2019
  • Kevin Alan Lee

    I have 5 days in Barcelona, starting Tuesday November 26th 2019, what is a good itinerary for my family. We have two kids, 13 and 15 years old together with us. Thanks!

    26.09.2019
  • Bailey

    Hi Jessica!

    We have three college girls traveling to Barcelona (maybe a day in Madrid) and your article is super helpful! Any additional advice for us regarding transportation, activities, food, etc? We will be there the first week of November.

    Thanks so much 🙂

    25.09.2019
  • Ruby Rodriguez

    Hello,

    I am traveling to Barcelona with my family and I wanted to learn how to cook Paella as you mentioned in your article. Can you provide additional information for example: website, contact information? Thank you in advance,

    19.09.2019
  • gert

    hi! i arrive the 25th november in barcelona. where to meet nice people, locals, other tourists. i have 2 appointments and so lots of spare time. i am 40, male and looking for nice company, to walk, talk, bike, eat and drink something. no dating. do you have suggestions for me?

    12.11.2018
  • Abhishek

    Hi Jessica

    I am travelling Barcelona in November this year. Was searching for the best places to visit and things to do in Barcelona.
    Your article is very useful.
    Can you also suggest some popular local food and drinks?

    Thanks.

    24.09.2018

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