10 Things to Do in Barcelona in August

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

Barcelona has a lot to see and do throughout the year, but especially during the month of August, when the whole city takes to the streets to enjoy the good weather. Festivals for all tastes, festivals, 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 major festivals of its neighborhoods. But undoubtedly, one of the most anticipated by all residents, and especially by the residents of the neighborhood, are the Fiestas Mayores de Gracia, an event that takes place specifically on August 15 each year, but offers events and celebrations during several days in the middle of the month.

During these parties, the streets are dressed in color, adorned with all kinds of decorations that cover every corner with flowers, papier-mache and fancy shapes. So much so, that every year a theme is chosen and you can participate in order to win the prize for the best decoration of the year.

In addition, music will be present everywhere, with several outdoor concerts, food stalls, emblematic readings and all kinds of activities designed for children.

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 neighborhood of Gracia.
• 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 heat of August than to jump into the sea and sail one of the boats that go around the port of Port Vell.

You can find numerous boat trips along the coast of Barcelona. In them, you can take a ride of about 2 hours, 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 are more of a party person, you can book a boat party and enjoy some cocktails and 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 tours usually cost around 60€ for a two-hour trip.
• Location: the boats leave from the old port of Barcelona on the Rambla del Mar.
• Date: it is preferable to do it in August, when temperatures are good and the water is calm.

If you make your trip with children or with friends it can be a perfect plan. Going to PortAventura is almost a must if you like strong emotions and spend a fun day with your family. It is ranked as the best amusement park in Spain and its facilities, decorations and shows representing the five continents are absolutely wonderful. You can enjoy one of the largest roller coasters in the world as Shambala and, with these tickets, will also be included the Ferrari Land theme park, dedicated entirely to this car brand, one of the protagonists of Formula 1.

It is located about an hour and a half drive from Barcelona, and if you buy your tickets with transfers these are included from Barcelona, since the idea is to spend a whole day enjoying the park. In it you will find all kinds of restaurants with food from around the world, the protagonists of Warner such as Tweety Bird, Sylvester the cat, Sesame Street or the crazy bird, your mascot! Ready to live an exciting day with your family?

Interesting facts

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

If you've decided to take a day trip during your vacations in Barcelona, I can't think of a better plan to do in August than to visit one of the biggest natural attractions of this city; the Costa Brava.

Paradisiacal beaches border the entire coast near Barcelona and has many villages with a 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 organized from Barcelona to the Costa Brava during the summer months to know with the help of a guide and transport included throughout the area of the Costa Brava for a day.

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

Interesting facts

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

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 are organized that take place in the afternoon-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 neighborhood, but certainly one of the most interesting things to do is to visit and tour its Center of Culture and Memory at night, with an atmosphere and perspective completely different from the one you breathe during the day.

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

In addition, during the nights of August, every year different guided tours with specific themes are organized for you to get to know a very interesting and historical part of a neighborhood that today is one of the most bohemian in the city.

Interesting facts

• Price: tickets are usually between 4€ and 6€.
• Place: it is the Center of Culture and Memory of the Born, in Plaça Comercial, 12.
• Date: during the whole month of 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 are accustomed, and in particular the Catalans 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 do you like the experience? Best of all, you can also contemplate their ice sculptures with characters from some of our favorite movies like E.T., Jurassic Park, Star Wars or 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 be felt considerably.

• Price: tickets are usually around 19 €.
• Place: entrance by the beach, Pg. Marítim de la Barceloneta, 38A, Barcelona.
• Date: During the whole month of August.

Summer is synonymous with festivals and undoubtedly one of the most inclusive and awaited by the LGTBIQ+ community is the Circuit Festival, a party in style 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 that has been listed as one of the largest gay events with water attractions in the world. The program and the days change from year to year but they always know how to improve.

If you want to attend an unforgettable party and dance to the rhythm of techno in a huge pool, just buy your festival voucher and let yourself go at the Circuit Festival.

Interesting facts

• Price: the voucher per day is around 40€, the general voucher is around 300€.
• Place: the event is organized in Illa Fantasia, in the Mas Brassó estate.
• Date: it lasts a week in early August.

If you want to escape a little from the tourist crowds in the center of Barcelona and enjoy good music and dreamy beaches, you have to attend the Arts d'Estiu festival.

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

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

In addition, you can spend the day on the beach and go to take a look at all the craft stalls that are organized on the festival grounds, snack in their foodtrucks and have a cool beer, can you think of a better plan?

Interesting facts

• Price: the entrance to the festival is approximately 10€. Concert tickets are separate and usually cost around 30€.
• Place: the enclosure is located on the beach in the Espai Marítim ARTS d'Estiu.
• Date: during the whole month of August.

Who doesn't enjoy a good movie? It is 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 movies go 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.

Cine a la Fresca

Bring your blanket or rent a sun lounger 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 emerged as a proposal to create a different summer cinema and today it is expected to come every year. All you have to do is choose a movie from the billboard and come and enjoy the open air and the huge screen installed.

Cinema on the beaches

If you are more of a beach person than a mountain person, surely more than once you have thought how nice it would be to be able to lie on the sand to watch a good movie.

This is possible in August in Barcelona as the event Cine Libre en las Playas organizes days of independent cinema that you can see in different beaches of the city, don't miss it!

Interesting facts

• Price: passes for each film are usually around the same prices as in the cinema, about 8€.
• Location: Cine a la Fresca is organized at the Montjuic Castle and Cine Libre at different beaches near the center 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 temperatures begin to travel.

If you want to know the new trends in music and culture and participate in this popular event, you should know that you have the whole month of August to enjoy it, just check the program each year to see which days there are activities and come to CaixaForum.

Interesting facts

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

I guess you have imagined it. Barcelona is a city with a great popularity and thousands of people come in August to visit it. 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 center of the city.

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

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

If this does not convince you, you always have the option of getting on one of the tourist buses in Barcelona to comfortably see the city without so many people and with air conditioning.

If you are looking for a destination for this August vacations, do not hesitate and travel to Barcelona. Its people, its rhythm and its summer panoramas will make you fall in love with it.