Best time to visit the Barcelona

The best time to visit Barcelona for a beach holiday is during July and August, when the weather is hot and sunny with little or no rain.

However, anytime during spring from mid-April to mid-June is good for a range of outdoor activities; September, too, is good but with some rainfall.


Barcelona weather

Barcelona enjoys a Mediterranean climate with hot, sunny summers and mild, relatively rainy winters.

Capital of the autonomous community of Catalonia, Barcelona is located on the northeast coast of Spain facing the Mediterranean Sea.

Winter, from December to February, is mild but sunny, with occasional rain showers. The average temperature in January is around 10°C (50°F).

Spring, from March to May, is mild and sunny with wet and cool spells during March and April. The average temperature climbs to a high of 22°C (71°F) in May, as the weather warms.

Summer, from June through August, is hot and sunny, with sea breezes tempering the heat, which average a high of 29°C (84°F), but can soar beyond 30°C (86°F).

Summer sea temperature peaks in August at 25°C (77°F).

Autumn, from September to November, is pleasantly warm initially before gradually becoming colder. This is the wettest season of the year, with October receiving the most rainfall of the year; although temperatures are mild.


What is the best month to visit Barcelona?
June, July and August are the best months to visit Barcelona – the climate is perfect with hot, sunny weather and little or no rainfall.

However, the months of May and September are also good for a range of outdoor activities.

July and August are especially popular, since this is the peak tourist season in Barcelona with greater crowds and higher prices.

Which is the hottest month in Barcelona?
The hottest month of the year in Barcelona is normally August, with an average daily high temperature of 29°C (84°F), with high heat and humidity, and a low of 21°C (69°F)

However, on the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 33°C (91°F).

The hot summer season lasts from mid-June to mid-September, with an average daily high temperature above 25°C (77°F).

What is the humidity in Barcelona?
Barcelona experiences little seasonal variation in perceived humidity, with approximate average relative humidity calculated at between 71% – 74% over the course of the year.

What do the humidity conditions feel like in Barcelona?
We derive the humidity comfort level – what conditions feel like – from the dew point temperature, which measures moisture content in the atmosphere: a higher dew point feels more humid, while a lower dew point feels drier.

Meteorologists agree that dew point temperature is a more consistant indication of 'absolute humidity' than relative humidity, which fluctuates with temperature.

The average annual dew point in Barcelona is 11°C (52°F), and varies over the course of the year from dry at 4°C (39°F) to mainly comfortable at 19°C (66°F). 

The more humid time of year in Barcelona lasts from mid-June through September, when you can expect the comfort level to be humid on average 15% of the time.

The month with the highest humidity in Barcelona is August, when 17 days can be humid on average.

November through May experiences no humidity.

Which is the coldest month in Barcelona?
The coldest month of the year in Barcelona is January, with an average high of 14°C (57°F) and a low of 5°C (41°F).

The cool winter season lasts from mid-November to late-March, with an average daily high temperature below 16°C (60°F).

Which is the sunniest month in Barcelona?
The sunniest time of year in Barcelona is usually July with an average of 10 hours of sunshine per day; that's on average 67% of daylight hours.

When is the sea warmest in Barcelona?
The sea is usually at its warmest in Barcelona in August when the water temperature reaches 25°C (77°F), which is warm enough for swimming.

The time of year with warmer water lasts from July through September, with an average temperature above 22°C (71°F).

Which month has the most rain in Barcelona?
October is usually the wettest month in Barcelona with 100mm (4in) of rainfall on average. There are normally seven days in October with some rain.

The rainy period of the year lasts from September to early-June, with a greater than 15% chance of a given day being a wet day.

There's little or no rainfall from early-June through to late-August. July has the least rainfall.

Which is the windiest month in Barcelona?
The windiest month of the year in Barcelona is December, with an average hourly wind speed of 13 kilometres per hour (8 mph; 7 knots).

The windy part of the year lasts from early-October to late-April, with average wind speeds of more than 12 kilometres per hour (7.5 mph; 6.5 knots).

The less-windy time of year lasts from late-April to early-October. The calmest month of the year in the Barcelona is July, with an average hourly wind speed of 11 kilometres per hour (6 knots; 8 mph).

The predominant average hourly wind direction varies throughout the year in Barcelona.


Barcelona Weather Averages

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Average high temperature (°C)
14 14 16 18 22 25 28 29 26 22 17 14
Average low temperature (°C)
5 6 8 10 14 18 20 21 18 14 9 6
Average daily sunshine (hrs)
5 6 6 7 8 8 10 9 7 6 5 4
Average daily daylight (hrs)
9 10 12 13 14 15 14 13 12 11 10 9
Comfort level – heat
Very cold Very cold No heat & humidity No heat & humidity Low heat & humidity icon Low heat & humidity icon Moderate heat icon Moderate heat icon Low heat & humidity icon Low heat & humidity icon No heat & humidity Cold & humidity
Comfort level – humidity (#muggy days)
- - - - - 5 15 17 9 2 - -
Average dew point temperature (°C)
4 5 7 9 13 16 19 19 17 14 8 5
Average relative humidity (%)
73 72 73 73 74 72 71 71 73 76 73 73
UV Index (max)
2 3 4 6 7 9 9 8 6 4 2 1
Average days of rainfall (≥1mm)
4 4 5 5 5 4 2 5 5 7 5 5
Average monthly rainfall (mm)
40 40 35 40 55 30 20 65 85 100 65 40
Average wind speed (km/h)
13 13 13 13 11 11 11 11 11 13 13 13
Average sea temperature (°C)
13 13 13 14 17 20 23 25 23 20 17 15
Barcelona, Spain

Holiday seasons

Peak season: August is the major vacation month for most Europeans, with many hotels booked out. Traffic, restaurants and beaches are at their most congested.

High season: June and July; not quite as bad as August for crowds and general congestion.

Low season: Spring and autumn when prices are competitive, with minimal foreign visitors and Spanish tourists, while the temperature is still warm and pleasant.


Barcelona weather by month


Source: Meteorological data for Barcelona is based on weather statistics gathered for the period 1991 to 2020 by Agencia Estatal de Meteorología (AEMET) – Spain's meteorological agency – from the closest weather station: Josep Tarradellas Barcelona–El Prat Airport (BCN), also known as Barcelona-El Prat Airport, located 15km (9mi) southwest of Barcelona centre.

Advice on the best time to visit a particular destination is based on average local weather statistics, when the weather conditions are generally better than at other times of the year. We consider high and low temperatures, risk of rain (and thunderstorms, etc.), amount of sunshine and sea temperature. For general outdoor activities we favour clear, rainless days with a temperature range between 18°C (64°F) and 27°C (80°F); and for hot-weather activities we favour clear, rainless days with a temperature range between 24°C (75°F) and 32°C (89°F). Often, the best times to visit correspond to high season and therefore involve higher prices.


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Latest update: Best time to visit Barcelona: 10 June, 2024


Disclaimer: The information on this site is provided as is, without any assurances as to its accuracy or suitability for any purpose. Weather data and conditions at any given location and time are unpredictable and variable. We assume no responsibility and can not be held legally responsible for any decisions made on the basis of the information presented on this site.



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