10 Things to Do in Barcelona at Holy Week

One of the most positive aspects of big cities is that there can be different cultural events taking place at the same time due to the fact that there is an infinity of realities coexisting in the same city. For this reason, the plans to see and do in Barcelona are entertaining and changing throughout the year and at Easter you can find both religious and conventional activities for all kinds of people.

For this reason, I recommend you to keep reading this publication, because this way you will find out all the details you need to know to enjoy the most of the days of Easter in the Catalan capital. Thanks to this you will be able to make the best use of your time and plan an appropriate budget for the type of trip you want to make.

One of the most interesting Catalan traditions of Holy Week is the blessing of the palms during Palm Sunday. The origin of this custom has to do with the fact that at the arrival of Jesus Christ in Jerusalem he himself was received by his followers with palms and flowers that were blessed.

Actually you have to keep in mind that this is a tradition that is not exclusive to Barcelona and Catalonia, but the truth is that in the surroundings of most of the churches of this city you will find many faithful who are looking for the blessing of palms that they will then take home to feel protected under their religious beliefs.

Something that distinguishes this tradition within Catalonia and in Barcelona from the rest of the Spanish cities is the way in which people get the palms. If it is a girl then the palm has to be pretty and decorated while if it is a boy then it has to be a tall and heavy palm.

Either way, this is quite an interesting tradition to see and, for that reason, you can take a walk around any of the churches in the city during the afternoon of Palm Sunday. You should also know that this date is ideal to enjoy one of the guided tours of Barcelona, since the tourist influx will still be a little lower than in the rest of the week and, therefore, you can tour the city with the accompaniment of a guide with more tranquility.

During the dates prior to Easter one of the most interesting gastronomic traditions of Catholicism takes place. From Ash Wednesday to Maundy Thursday it is customary to avoid eating meat because it is Lent. For this reason, each of the Spanish regions usually have characteristic recipes that arose from the need to consume more fish and vegetables during these 40 days that mark the change between winter and spring.

So the calçotada is one of the great protagonists of the Catalan culinary world at this time of year. It is a recipe in which a specific variety of onions called calçots are seasoned and roasted with the accompaniment of some spices. These are dipped in romesco sauce. The recipe comes from the province of Tarragona, but over the decades it has become a regular Easter dish throughout Catalonia.

Similarly, you have to know that participating in one of the best gastronomic tours of Barcelona is a recommended plan if you want to know a little more about the dishes of Lent and Easter in this part of Spain, as it has culinary customs quite different from the rest of the country that make it a universe of flavors worthy of being known.

A good way to combine the tourist exploration of the city with this interest in tasting calçotada is to participate in a private tapas and wine tour. Especially because in this type of tour you are accompanied by a local guide who takes you to restaurants that would probably go unnoticed if you explore on your own.

Another of the most interesting traditions of Easter in Barcelona is organized by the Chocolate Museum of the city. For the last couple of years, this institution has been planning different activities to celebrate the arrival of Easter in the sweetest way possible. Some plans have to do with learning the history behind Easter eggs while others have to do with the preparation of chocolate eggs.

The specific date of these workshops changes every year, but the most common is that they are held from Holy Thursday to Easter Sunday and there are usually different opportunities to participate throughout the day. The best way to book is to do it directly on the website of the chocolate museum in Barcelona and it is best to do it some time in advance to make them on the date and time you want.

Similarly, this is one of the best things to do in Barcelona with children during Easter and at the same time if you do not have the opportunity to attend the workshop, you can still visit the museum and buy some chocolate eggs that will be just as special for your children, nieces, nephews or younger siblings.

Barcelona is one of the most multicultural cities in Europe and at the same time has an impressive number of museums that have nothing to envy to the art and history institutions of Madrid, Paris, London or Berlin. You also have to know that during Easter it is common that many of these sites have extended hours because it is a busy tourist season. This means that if you plan properly, in a couple of days you could see an impressive number of museums in this city.

The Museum of Contemporary Art of Barcelona, the Picasso Museum of Barcelona, the Joan Miró Foundation, the Museum of History of Catalonia and the Maritime Museum of Barcelona are just some of the sites that are part of the extensive list that makes up the best museums in Barcelona. So if the cultural and artistic exploration of the heritage of this city is something that calls your attention you should know that Easter is an ideal time of the year to do it.

In that context, buying a pass that offers you a combined ticket for the museums of the city is a good way to save money. Especially if you want to allocate a good part of your trip to visit these sites at your leisure to get as much information as possible about the past that distinguishes this modern Catalan metropolis.

For many people thinking about Barcelona is something that automatically leads them to imagine the Sagrada Familia. And is that this iconic church that has been under construction for several decades and is one of the masterpieces of the most important architect of the city, Antonio Gaudi, is a place you should not miss during a time as religious and linked to Catholicism as Easter.

Contrary to what you might imagine, the influx of visitors will not be so significant, since it is not usual that all the processions of the city are directed to this church because it is a favorite tourist destination in Barcelona. So getting tickets for the Sagrada Familia with the accompaniment of a guided tour is something you can enjoy if you take care to find an appropriate schedule for it.

Ideally, you should visit it during the first days of the week because between Good Friday and Easter Sunday the number of people arriving in Barcelona could be larger. Similarly, there are also guided tours with quick access that avoid the uncomfortable situation of having to queue to see some of the corners of this modern wonder of Catalan modernist architecture.

Easter is also a perfect time to inaugurate beach excursions due to the fact that temperatures are high enough to enjoy this type of natural environment. For your convenience, the areas near Barcelona are an excellent coastal destination within the Spanish Mediterranean. So the Costa Brava, spread along the province of Girona, is an excellent place to look for entertainment throughout Easter.

Exactly how you decide to enjoy this area is up to you, as you could head to one of the towns like Cadaqués or Platja d'Aro to stay overnight or simply spend the whole day and then return to Barcelona as soon as the sun sets. Similarly, there is the issue that a guided excursion can be a good way to avoid logistical planning to only have to worry about enjoying the experience.

My recommendation is that you opt for one of those excursions to the Costa Brava from Barcelona that offer you the possibility of having a kayak ride through some of the coves near the metropolitan area of Barcelona as well as giving you the possibility of snorkeling. This knowing that at the end of the day it is an excellent way to invest your time and money if you are looking for a day at the beach in the middle of Easter, with spring weather included in the equation.

The Cathedral of Barcelona is a Gothic building that is also the seat of the archbishopric of Catalonia and is known for being one of the greatest architectural and religious treasures of the whole city. The same is distinguished by its location within the Gothic Quarter, which is an area that also has other major Catalan tourist attractions.

Undoubtedly this is a site that should not be missing in your tourist exploration of Barcelona and is part of one of those sites that must be known in a three-day trip to Barcelona, which is usually the average duration of a visit to the city during Holy Week.

The simple fact that it is the most important Catholic church in the city makes it an important site within the cultural framework of Holy Week. In addition, the fact that all kinds of important events are held at this site during this time makes the idea of walking through the narrow streets of this neighborhood to reach the interior of this cathedral even more recommendable.

The processions organized by the different religious congregations in the city of Barcelona are not really something so characteristic of the Catalan culture. However, over the centuries, it has been achieved that some neighborhoods of the city as the Gothic Quarter have a full itinerary of religious steps. These are acts that take sacred images to tour the city during Good Friday and Easter Sunday.

These types of experiences are a good way to become familiar with the religious traditions that have developed within the cultural identity of this city. And at the same time they are an excellent way to visit the same sites that are part of the guided tours through the Gothic Quarter of Barcelona.

Anyway, if you are interested in witnessing a Catalan procession in its greatest splendor then it would be advisable to visit the neighboring city of Hospitalet del Llobregat. This is because there they organize much larger events in which large numbers of people gather during the Good Friday processions.

The monas de Pascua are another representative element that the Catalan culture differs in terms of traditions with the rest of Spain. This is a sweet that is accompanied by several chocolate figures among which are the famous Easter eggs. It is a peculiar tradition due to the fact that it is a cake that is given to children during Easter Monday, a date that is known locally as the Day of the Mona.

For that reason it is common that along different bakeries you will find the Easter monas and many establishments are dedicated to prepare this type of cake with as many decorative elements as possible. My advice is to buy one if you are still in the city, as this culinary tradition is one of the best things to do in Barcelona during the spring and is undoubtedly one of the local distinctions of Easter.

Barcelona is a favorite party destination in Europe. Therefore, it is not surprising to know that young and old take advantage of the short spring vacations of Easter to go out for a couple of drinks in some of the areas with more nightlife in the city.

Las Ramblas, the promenade of Barcelona's Olympic Village, the Eixample and the Ciutat Vella are just some of the corners of the city where you could have fun along with the thousands of people who come to this Spanish city to celebrate Easter on their own terms. Besides, going out for a few drinks is something you can't miss for the simple fact that it is part of the best things to do in Barcelona at night all year round.