10 Things to Do in Barcelona in August

Barcelona is a cosmopolitan and versatile city that attracts millions of tourists from all over the world every year. Its rich culture and art, spearheaded by the figure of Gaudí, has energised the Catalan capital and it is especially in summer when you can get the most out of it.

Barcelona has plenty to see and do all year round, but especially during the month of August, when the whole city takes to the streets to enjoy the good weather. Festivals for all tastes, local fiestas, street concerts and an incredible Costa Brava are waiting for you.

During the summer months, Barcelona takes advantage of the good weather to celebrate the main festivals in its neighbourhoods. But without a doubt, one of the most eagerly awaited by all residents, and especially by the neighbourhood's residents, is the Fiestas Mayores de Gracia, an event that takes place on 15 August every year, but which offers events and celebrations during several days in the middle of the month.

During these festivities, the streets are dressed in colour, decked out with all kinds of decorations that cover every corner with flowers, papier-mâché and fanciful shapes. So much so that every year a theme is chosen and you can enter to win the prize for the best decoration of the year.

Music will also be present everywhere, with various open-air concerts, food stalls, emblematic readings and all kinds of activities designed for the little ones.

It is, without a doubt, the most entertaining event to get to know a little more about the essence and the people of this fantastic city.

Interesting facts

• Price: free of charge.
• Place: along the streets of the Gracia neighbourhood.
• Date: mid-August.

Barcelona's beach is one of the most iconic in the whole country and I can't think of a better plan to do in the August heat than to take to the sea and sail one of the boats that go around the Port Vell harbour.

You can find numerous boat trips along the coast of Barcelona. On them, you can go for a 2-hour ride, take some pictures of the panoramic views of the city and enjoy the cool water. We recommend, for example, the sunset sailboat rides around Barcelona or, if you prefer, and you're more of a party person, you can book a boat party and enjoy a few cocktails and a few laughs with your friends.

You can choose to do it during the day, remembering to take a good sunscreen, and then continue the day on the beach or, if you want a more romantic plan, you can choose the sunset mode, ideal for couples.

Interesting facts

• Price: these trips usually cost around €60 for a two-hour trip.
• Place: the boats leave from Barcelona's old port on the Rambla del Mar.
• Date: It is best to do it in August, when temperatures are warm and the water is calm.

If you're travelling with children or friends, this could be the perfect plan. A visit to PortAventura is almost a must if you like thrills and spending a fun family day out. It is listed as the best amusement park in Spain and its facilities, decorations and shows representing the five continents are absolutely marvellous. You can enjoy one of the biggest roller coasters in the world, Shambala, and these tickets also include the Ferrari Land theme park, dedicated entirely to this car brand, one of the stars of Formula 1.

It is located approximately an hour and a half by car from Barcelona, and if you buy your tickets with transfers these are included from Barcelona, as the idea is to spend a whole day enjoying the park. Here you will find all kinds of restaurants with food from all over the world, the Warner characters such as Tweety Bird, Sylvester the cat, Sesame Street or the crazy bird, your mascot! Are you ready for an exciting day out with your loved ones?

Interesting facts

• Price: From 93 €.
• Place: Tarragona (return transfer from Barcelona).
• Date: from April to October, every day until 20h.

If you've decided to go on a day trip during your holidays in Barcelona, I can't think of a better plan to do in August than to visit one of the city's greatest natural attractions: the Costa Brava.

Paradisiacal beaches line the coastline near Barcelona and there are numerous small villages with great heritage interest, which are ideal to visit with the high temperatures of the month.

Due to the large influx of tourists, many excursions are organised from Barcelona to the Costa Brava during the summer months to get to know the whole Costa Brava area for a day with the help of a guide and transport included.

If you prefer, you also have the option of travelling on your own by train and spending the day in one of the many coves in the villages near the city. Welcome to a paradise of crystal-clear waters!

Interesting facts

• Price: the price for a day trip is around 70€.
• Location: the tour passes through different villages of the Costa Brava such as l'Estartit, Pals or Llafranc.
• Date: This is an ideal excursion to do during August as you can enjoy the beach to the full.

I'm not going to lie to you; in August Barcelona can be very hot during the day. That's why for some years now, in the month of August, tours and visits have been organised that take place in the evening to take advantage of the lower temperatures and get to know Barcelona in a different way. One of the most popular places in the city has been the Born.

There are several tours that can be done at night in this historic neighbourhood, but undoubtedly one of the most interesting things to do is to visit and tour the Centre of Culture and Memory at night, with an atmosphere and perspective completely different from that of the day.

You can go deep into the Born of 1700 and visit the ruins and foundations of the first buildings in the area.

In addition, during the nights of August, every year different guided tours are organised with specific themes to show you a very interesting and historical part of a neighbourhood that is nowadays one of the most bohemian in the city.

Interesting facts

• Price: tickets usually cost between €4 and €6.
• Venue: the Centre de Cultura i Memòria del Born, at Plaça Comercial, 12.
• Date: Throughout August.

The ice bar that is located, paradoxically, on the beach of Barcelona is a different plan and above all, refreshing for the high temperatures to which the Spanish, and in particular the Catalans are accustomed to during the month of August.

If you dare to book your tickets to visit this bar you can enjoy a drink at 5 degrees below zero, and to overcome shower temperature the same place will lend you a coat and gloves, how about the experience? Best of all, you'll also be able to admire the ice sculptures with characters from some of our favourite films such as E.T., Jurassic Park, Star Wars and King Kong. The atmosphere of the bar is usually renewed every year and you can stay as long as you want, but you should know that after 45-60 minutes the cold starts to become noticeable.

• Price: Tickets are usually around €19.
• Place: Entrance from the beach, Pg. Marítim de la Barceloneta, 38A, Barcelona.
• Date: Throughout the month of August.

Summer is synonymous with festivals and without a doubt one of the most inclusive and eagerly awaited by the LGTBIQ+ community is the Circuit Festival, an all-out party that takes place for a week in mid-August and has everything you need to have a great time. DJs from all over the world, a water stage where you can dance and cool off, several international concerts and a first-class atmosphere.

Everyone is welcome at this festival, which has been called one of the biggest gay events with water attractions in the world. The programme and the days change from year to year but they always know how to outdo themselves.

If you want to have an unforgettable party and dance to techno beats in a huge pool, just buy your festival ticket and let yourself go at the Circuit Festival.

Interesting facts

• Price: the day ticket is around 40€, the general ticket is around 300€.
• Venue: The event is held at Illa Fantasia, on the Mas Brassó estate.
• Date: The event lasts for a week at the beginning of August.

If you want to get away from the tourist crowds in the centre of Barcelona and enjoy good music and beautiful beaches, you have to attend the Arts d'Estiu festival.

This event is organised every year on the coast of Barcelona and brings together great artists to give concerts over several days.

Is there anything better than jumping with your favourite artists? Doing it with a view of the sea. During the days of this well-known festival, not only can you attend concerts by artists from all over the world at night, but you can also take part in different classes and workshops during the day.

You can also spend the day on the beach and go and have a look at all the craft stalls that are set up on the festival site, have a bite to eat at the food trucks and have a cool beer. Can you think of a better plan?

Interesting facts

• Price: entrance to the festival site is approximately 10€. Concert tickets are separate and usually cost around €30.
• Venue: the venue is located right on the beach in the Espai Marítim ARTS d'Estiu.
• Date: Throughout the month of August.

Who doesn't enjoy a good film? It's clear that cinema is one of the most popular pastimes for people but, what would you say if I told you that in Barcelona in summer the movies come out in the street and you can enjoy them sitting on the grass or even on the sand of the beach?

The city has several cinema proposals during August but Cine a La Fresca and Cine Libre en las Playas are two of the most famous ones.

Cinema a la Fresca

Bring your blanket or rent a deckchair and come and enjoy the cool grass in the moat of Montjuic Castle and watch some of the premieres and award-winning films of each year.

Cine a la Fresca was born as a proposal to create a different kind of summer cinema and nowadays it is expected to come every year. All you have to do is choose a film from the programme and come and enjoy the open air and the huge screen installed.

Cinema on the beaches

If you're more of a beach person than a mountain person, you've probably thought more than once about how nice it would be to be able to lie on the sand and watch a good film.

This is possible in August in Barcelona, as the event Cine Libre en las Playas (Free Cinema on the Beaches) organises days of independent films that you can see on different beaches around the city. Don't miss it!

Interesting facts

• Price: passes for each film are usually around the same price as at the cinema, around €8.
• Venue: Cine a la Fresca is held at Montjuic Castle and Cine Libre at different beaches near the centre of Barcelona.
• Date: During several weeks in August.

One of the most entertaining interactive museums in Barcelona is the CaixaForum, a space designed for all ages and with exhibitions ranging from nature, science, culture or historical heritage.

Well, during the month of August, in addition to having all these panoramas during the day, the museum opens its doors in the evening to offer a series of concerts, recitals and workshops to enjoy when the temperatures begin to travel.

If you want to find out about new trends in music and culture and take part in this popular event, you should know that you have the whole month of August to enjoy it. Just check each year's programme to see which days there are activities and come to the CaixaForum.

Useful information

• Price: admission is around 6€.
• Place: CaixaForum is located at Av. de Francesc Ferrer i Guàrdia, 6-8.
• Date: starts at the end of July and lasts the whole month of August.

I guess you've probably guessed it. Barcelona is a very popular city and thousands of people come to visit it in August. It is special, during this month you will notice a large influx of tourists because every week the cruise ships from Europe dock and hundreds of tourists come to see the city centre.

Even so, that should not take away the desire to come during this month to visit Barcelona. The only thing I recommend is that you get organised in advance and remember to book all the tickets you want in advance to avoid long waits at the ticket office or queues when entering major monuments.

I also recommend that you check the opening times of the main attractions, such as the opening times of Park Güell or the opening times of the Sagrada Familia, as there are times when there are fewer people, such as early in the morning, midday or late in the afternoon.

If this doesn't suit you, you always have the option of getting on one of Barcelona's tourist buses to see the city comfortably without so many people and with air conditioning.

If you're looking for a destination for your August holidays, don't think twice and travel to Barcelona. Its people, its rhythm and its summer panoramas will make you fall in love with it.