World Guide

Barcelona

City in Spain

Barcelona
Photo: dronepicr, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Barcelona is a city in Spain with a population of about 1.7 million. Located 506 km from Madrid, it attracts visitors to its numerous UNESCO World Heritage sites, museums, and sports venues.

What to see

Barcelona features several UNESCO World Heritage sites, including the Sagrada Família, Park Güell, Casa Batlló, Palau de la Música Catalana, Hospital de Sant Pau, Palau Güell, Casa Vicens, and the Church of Colònia Güell. The city also hosts the Museu Picasso and the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya. Architectural and public landmarks include La Rambla, the Barcelona Cathedral, Santa Maria del Mar, the Barcelona Pavilion, and the Torre Glòries. Outdoor and sporting locations include Parc de la Ciutadella, Camp Nou, and the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys.

When to go

The city experiences mild winters with daily highs of 12 °C to 13 °C and lows of 7 °C to 8 °C. Temperatures rise in the spring, reaching 19 °C in May. Summer months are warm, with daily highs of 23 °C in June and 26 °C in July and August. Rain is distributed throughout the year, with the highest precipitation occurring in September and October, which see 75 mm and 88 mm respectively. June and July are the driest months, recording 33 mm and 21 mm of rain.

Getting there

The nearest airport is Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport, located 13 km from the city center.

Top sights in Barcelona

  1. Sagrada FamíliaSagrada Família
  2. Camp NouCamp Nou
  3. Casa BatllóUNESCOCasa Batlló
  4. Park GüellUNESCOPark Güell
  5. Estadi Olímpic Lluís CompanysEstadi Olímpic Lluís Companys
  6. Barcelona CathedralBarcelona Cathedral
  7. La Rambla, Barcelona
  8. Barcelona PavilionBarcelona Pavilion
  9. Torre GlòriesTorre Glòries
  10. Palau de la Música CatalanaUNESCOPalau de la Música Catalana
  11. Hospital de Sant PauUNESCOHospital de Sant Pau
  12. Palau GüellUNESCOPalau Güell
  1. Casa VicensUNESCO
  2. Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya
  3. Parc de la Ciutadella
  4. Santa Maria del Mar, Barcelona
  5. Church of Colònia GüellUNESCO
  6. Museu Picasso

Weather by month

The warmest month is August, with an average high of 26 °C. The wettest is October, with about 88 mm of rain.

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Average high, °C121315161923262624201613
Average low, °C77911141821221916118
Rainfall, mm484242485433215275886247
Rainy days5588886810984

Temperatures and rainfall: 1981–2010 averages for Barcelona (4 km grid), from CHELSA. Rainy days: 2015–2024, NASA POWER.

Also worth a look

  • Aquarium Barcelona
  • Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art
  • Barcelona Zoo
  • FC Barcelona Museum
  • Fundació Joan Miró
  • La Pedrera, Barcelona
  • Maritime Museum of Barcelona
  • Museum of the History of Barcelona
  • Plaça d'Espanya, Barcelona
  • Plaça de Catalunya
  • Poble Espanyol
  • Royal Square

Other cities in Spain