Top Things To Do In Barcelona This Fall

While any time of year is the right time to be in Barcelona, the fall brings with it a special line-up of festivals, performances, exhibitions and concerts. Whether you’re a sports fan, art enthusiast, foodie, music lover, or local, these events are worth noting on your calendar this season.

1. Go to a Soccer Game at Camp Nou

Go to a Soccer Game at Camp Nou

Fall in Barcelona can only mean one thing: the return of soccer season and with it the most beloved team in Catalunya – FC Barcelona. Even if you’re not a big fan of soccer or even sports in general, there is nothing quite like watching a live game at Camp Nou with some 99,000 other spectators singing in an incoherent mix of Spanish and Catalan. While tickets may be a bit on the expensive side for the budget traveler, it’s a quintessential Barcelona experience.

Camp Nou, C. Aristides Maillol 12, Barcelona, Spain, +34 902 18 99 00

Eat Castañas and Boniatos on the Street

One of the best things about Spain in the fall is the smell of chestnuts (castañas) and sweet potatoes (boniatos) roasting on an open fire. Okay, it might not exactly be an open fire, but you can find this traditional treat on any number of street corners in Barcelona for a low price. Cracking hot chestnuts and adding them to a warm sweet potato can be tricky at first, but it’s worth the effort once you’re indulging in this snack that’s best enjoyed in the chilly fall air.

2. Celebrate Halloween at PortAventura

Celebrate Halloween at PortAventura

Halloween may be considered American in origin, but its popularity is spreading throughout the world and this fall, one of the best places to celebrate is at the PortAventura amusement park just outside Barcelona. From September 26th to November 15th this year you can experience all the thrills of the usual attractions plus the added chills of monsters and haunted rides. Costumes are optional, fun is guaranteed.

Avinguda de l’Alcalde Pere Molas, km 2, 43840 Vila-seca, Tarragona, Spain, +34 902 20 22 20

3. View Unexpected Art Exhibits

View Unexpected Art Exhibits

This fall the Centre de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona (or CCCB) will be the host of several overlapping temporary exhibits: Piso Piloto, HUMAN+, and Mexican Lucha Libre Wrestling: Family Portraits. Photographs by Lourdes Grobet. Piso Piloto (June 4th – October 25th) highlights the housing crisis around the world by focusing on the comparably-sized cities of Barcelona and Medellín, Colombia while HUMAN+ (October 6th – April 10th 2016) looks even further into the future to speculate on what the effects of technology on humanity will be, and the collection of family photos by Lourdes Grobet explores the identities and family life of the wrestlers behind the masks of Mexico‘s traditional sport.

Centre de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona, Montalegre 5, Barcelona, Spain, +34 933 06 41 00

4. Enjoy the Sunset from Turó de la Rovira

Enjoy the Sunset from Turó de la Rovira

Opened officially in 2011, the Turó de la Rovira located high above the city is just one of many sites that make up the Museu d’Història de Barcelona (MUHBA). This mirador with a 360˚ view of the city make it one of the most popular spots to take in the sprawling streets of Barcelona and watch the sunset.

Carrer de Marià Lavèrnia 30, Barcelona, Spain +34 932 56 21 22

View from Turó de la Rovira | © Mislav Marohnić/Flickr

5. See "Mamma Mia!"... in Spanish

See “Mamma Mia!”… in Spanish

Yes, you heard right: you can enjoy this beloved musical featuring the songs of ABBA translated into Spanish this fall at the Teatre Tívoli in Barcelona. Opening at the November 26th and running all the way through the end of February, this performance of Mamma Mia! will delight fluent Spanish-speakers and beginners alike.

Teatre Tívoli, Carrer de Casp 8, Barcelona, Spain +34 934 12 20 63

Catch a Concert at the International Jazz Festival

This fall marks the 47th annual Voll-Damm Festival Internacional de Jazz de Barcelona with an incredible line-up of artists at venues throughout the entire city. Beginning September 26th and continuing through the end of November, artists including Diana Krall, Béla Fleck and Abigail Washburn, Paula Rojo, Iron & Wine, Chucho Valdés, and many, many more will be performing at locations ranging from L’Auditori to the Palau de la Música Catalana and various other spaces, both indoors and out. Throughout the months of October and November there will also be a number of free events, master classes for musicians, and events for the whole family.

Go to a Trade Show at Fira de Barcelona

Fira Barcelona is an institution that has been hosting trade shows, conventions, and exhibitions at its two Barcelona locations since the 1930’s with subjects ranging from weddings to economics to construction. The fall calendar this year includes two of Fira’s most popular events; the Barcelona Tattoo Expo, from October 4th to 2nd, and the Manga Fair, from October 29th to November 1st. Both draw thousands of fans to the city every year and with tickets starting at just €8,00 for some of the exhibitions, it’s a great place to spend a few hours or the entire weekend.

Fira de Barcelona, Montjuïc Venue, Av. Reina Maria Cristina s/n, Barcelona, Spain +34 932 33 20 00

Fira de Barcelona, Gran Via Venue, Av. Joan Carles I 64, L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain +34 932 33 20 00

6. Sitges Film Festival

Sitges Film Festival

From the 9th – 18th of October this year, the Sitges Film Festival will be celebrating its 48th year the world’s best fantasy film festival. What began in 1968 as the 1st International Week of Fantasy and Horror Movies has exploded into the highly-anticipated event it is today with visitors from around the world coming to view dozens of movies in this small beach town. With films ranging from just a few minutes long to full-length features, this festival is sure to please every type of movie-goer.

Festival de Cine Fantástico, Carrer de Sant Honorat 32-34, Sitges, Spain +34 938 94 99 90

Sitges Film Festival | © Dani Armengol Garreta/Flickr

48h Open House Barcelona

If history, architecture, and design are what you seek in your travels, then the 48h Open House Barcelona weekend-long event is exactly what you’ve been looking for. From October 24th – 25th this fall, over 150 doors will be open to those who have purchased a passport, as well as personalized itineraries based on interests, activities and conferences throughout the weekend. This behind-the-scenes look at buildings and homes in Barcelona that are usually closed to the public began in 2010 and is still going strong in its 6th year thanks to the architects, designers, and volunteers who continue to help plan and organize the event.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.