Best Things To Do In Barcelona In March

Barcelona is a cosmopolitan city that stands out for its art and architecture, as well as for its festivities during all months of the year.

Carmen Navarro

Carmen Navarro

9 min read

Best Things To Do In Barcelona In March

Road to Barcelona | ©Mario Cuadros

Its large number of attractions makes planning what to see and do in Barcelona quite simple. However, it is not always so easy to find specific activities for the different months of the year. In the case of March, visitors to the Catalan capital will not be disappointed.

For many, Barcelona is a city that never sleeps, something that is no different in March. In these dates you will find outdoor music, carnivals and various festivals of all kinds to complete the classic visits to the city.

1. Taste the typical seasonal dishes

Calçots| ©Kio LoSa
Calçots| ©Kio LoSa

With the arrival of March you start to notice that the gastronomy changes with the weather and with it some typical dishes. Here I mention some so you do not overlook this activity that can not miss if you are visiting Barcelona and you want to take a gastronomic tour of the city.

  • The cream of Sant Josep. It is basically a Catalan sweet made with eggs, sugar and milk. It was typically eaten on March 19 in ancient times, but nowadays it can be eaten whenever you want. It is also called cremada.
  • Calçots: They are originally from Catalonia and are onions that measure between 15 and 26 cm long. They are consumed by roasting them over an open flame. They are common in March calçotadas among family and friends, although you can also find this dish in many restaurants in the city or if you make an excursion from Barcelona to nearby towns.

Book a gastronomic tour in Barcelona

2. Take advantage of the good weather in March to take a boat trip.

Boating in Barcelona| ©Jorge Franganillo
Boating in Barcelona| ©Jorge Franganillo

Another of the essential plans in Barcelona is to relax in one of the boat trips along the Catalan coast, certainly a great idea in the month of March when the good weather is opening along the Mediterranean Sea. Imagine being able to sail aboard a sailboat enjoying the long days of this time of year.

There are tours that take you from the port along the beach of Barceloneta, from where you can see the best views of the city. But you can also book excursions along the Costa Brava that include activities such as kayaking or snorkeling and others for travelers eager to have fun in which a real party is organized on the boat.

Book a boat trip in Barcelona

3. Take a trip to Figueres, Dali's hometown

Dali Museum, Figueres| ©Jason Weaver
Dali Museum, Figueres| ©Jason Weaver

Anhour and a half from Barcelona is the town of Figueres, birthplace of the great surrealist painter and sculptor Salvador Dalí. Of great tourist interest, this beautiful town in the Alt Empordà region has a walled historic center in which medieval corners are still preserved. In addition to other attractions such as the castle of San Ferran or the Rambla, the city is home to the Dalí Theater-Museum, the main destination of the excursions to Figueres from Barcelona and whose entrance is included.

In this essential museum you will find very important works of the genius of surrealism as 'The first days of spring' or 'Composition satirical'. Undoubtedly, a dreamlike experience that you can not miss on your visit to Barcelona.

As if that were not enough, in this type of excursions that include transfers and a guide specialized in art, you can also visit Cadaqués, one of the most beautiful villages of the Costa Brava that I recommend. In addition, at this time of the year when there are fewer tourists than in summer, you will enjoy even more the charm of its cobbled streets on the shores of the Mediterranean.

Book an excursion to Figueres and Cadaqués

4. Visit the museums of Barcelona

Courtyard of the Picasso Museum in Barcelona| ©sue seecof
Courtyard of the Picasso Museum in Barcelona| ©sue seecof

The cultural agenda of Barcelona is quite extensive. From concerts, festivals, sports events to exhibitions and of course the museums of the city. There are many museums that you should not miss in Barcelona but if one of the days of your trip in March is a bit rainy it is not a bad idea to visit some of the most important ones. Here is a selection of the most important ones:

  • Picasso Museum: discover the life and work of the genius from Malaga and his time in Barcelona.
  • Joan Miró Foundation: another of the essential collections of contemporary art with the highlights of Miró.
  • National Art Museum of Catalonia: a tour of more than a thousand years of Catalan art with Gaudí at the head.
  • Museum of the Spanish People: fundamental for understanding Spanish culture and tradition.
  • Mies van der Rohe Pavilion: if you are interested in architecture you cannot miss this German pavilion inaugurated for the 1929 Barcelona International Exposition and key to understanding the Modern Movement in the city.

Book tickets for museums in Barcelona

5. Enjoy a Barça game at the Camp Nou

Seats at Camp Nou| ©hakolal
Seats at Camp Nou| ©hakolal

Whether you are a soccer fan or not, you will agree with me that experiencing a match in one of the biggest stadiums in the world and watching the greats of European soccer is a motivating plan. FC Barcelona is one of the best teams to experience the soccer atmosphere in its impressive stadium, the Spotify Camp Nou.

You can choose to get your ticket to see the players fight for a point in one of the league matches, which also acquires a special interest at this time as the end of the competition is near. I leave you our post in which I tell you how to buy tickets for FC Barcelona.

Or, if your trip does not coincide with any of these matches or tickets are sold out, you also have the possibility to visit the stadium and its museum with the Camp Nou Experience. You can access the impressive complex to visit from the locker room to the field of play through its museum, which houses trophies and objects that illustrate the sporting career of the great blue and white club.

Book tickets to see Barça

6. Escape to the Jazz Festival in Terrassa

Terrassa Jazz Festival| ©Xavier Caballe
Terrassa Jazz Festival| ©Xavier Caballe

If you are a lover of good jazz, you have to go to the Terrassa Jazz Festival which takes place in the Catalan town of that name, in the province of Barcelona.

This event promotes the development of emerging artists who are lovers of this musical genre, although there is never a lack of figures of high international prestige.

The Terrassa Jazz Festival has been held since 1982. Over time, it has been consolidating as a very emblematic event with more and more strength. It is an occasion for you to delight yourself with the exclusive interpretations of first line. At the closing of the festival the Jazzterrasman award is given.

Practical information

  • Where: Different venues in Terrassa.

  • Price: Depends on the performance, but the cheapest ones are usually no more than 3 €.

  • Approximate dates: From approximately the 10th, with a duration of a couple of weeks.

Take a cruise with jazz music

If you like this musical style among all the boat trips offered by the coast of Barcelona, maybe you will be convinced by the one that takes you on a catamaran with live jazz music. For an hour and a half you will sail along the Olympic Port or the Barceloneta beach enjoying the relaxing sound of the saxophone on board. Doesn't it sound good?

Book a jazz cruise in Barcelona

7. Sant Medir: the sweetest party of March in Barcelona

Treats| ©Javier Muñoz
Treats| ©Javier Muñoz

The festival of Sant Medir, which is celebrated around March 3, takes place in the village of Gràcia and is known for the large amount of sweets and candies that are thrown to the public.

If you travel to the city in March it is one of the best things to do in Barcelona's Passeig de Gràcia, one of the most famous in the city.

It is considered a very important celebration for Barcelona. According to legend, the peasant Medir was imprisoned and tortured to death in 303 under the Roman rule of Diocletian, who ordered the persecution of all Christians.

It is a festival where you can participate on horseback, in floats and even in trucks. The music animates the whole day. As many sweets are thrown from the floats, you should not miss a good umbrella to receive them.

If you want, you can participate in the parade of colles with which the activity begins, culminating in the hermitage of Sant Medir, in Collserola, where he pays tribute to the saint through a mass.

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8. International Vintage Car Rally Barcelona

International Vintage Car Rally| ©Núria
International Vintage Car Rally| ©Núria

Going back to the past is possible at the International Vintage Car Rally in Barcelona, where in addition to seeing classic cars, you can dress up in period costume and give it a unique and different touch.

It is the occasion to invite your family or closest friends and share a pleasant and fun time.

It is listed as a national holiday and of tourist interest and attracts thousands of fans who parade with their cars full of history. Even if you don't have one of these cars, you will be able to enjoy watching cars divided into two categories: vintage cars built before 1921 and cars built before 1928.

The drivers of these cars wear clothing from the vehicle's era, something you can also do if you feel like it.

It is a plan that you can program for the whole weekend because there are also exhibitions and other cultural activities.

Practical information

  • Where it is: This Rally leaves from the Plaza San Jaime in Barcelona and arrives at the seafront of Sitges.
  • Price: to see the cars is totally free
  • Approximate dates: second half of March, around the 19th or 20th.

Book a guided tour of Barcelona

9. Feast of Sant Josep Oriol is one of the most important religious festivities in Barcelona

In Sant Josep de Talaia| ©Camilo
In Sant Josep de Talaia| ©Camilo

This celebration is also known as the Festa Major of the neighborhood of Pi. It is a religious festivity and, in addition, it is full of cultural activities, where people of all ages can attend.

The festival takes place in Sant Josep de Talaia and is also attended by people from surrounding villages, as well as foreigners who want to know a little more about the culture of Barcelona, as this celebration involves a very attractive cultural, gastronomic and musical program.

This festival begins with a double of bells and the departure of four giants who are native of Pi. Then Sant Josep Oriol is represented transforming a radish into gold coins, an act that is repeated every year.

In the afternoon, the Castellers de Barcelona castle festival is celebrated. This festivity has its origins in 1995 when the merchants decided to remember the saint who lived in the city.

Practical information

  • Where: Pi district, near the basilica of Santa Maria del Pi.

  • Price: free

  • Approximate dates: the weekend closest to March 23rd.

10. Celebrate St. Patrick's Day as if you were in Dublin

St. Patrick's Day| ©Michael C
St. Patrick's Day| ©Michael C

March 17 commemorates the death of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland and even if you are not in that country, you can celebrate that day in the streets of Barcelona, as the holiday has become, in practice, international.

In general, people gather and enjoy a good beer in a pub in the city, as well as good food and excellent company.

Clubs, bars and stores also organize activities related to St. Patrick's Day. On this date it is common to see Irish flags, shamrocks and green decorations in Barcelona, although it is not an Irish invasion.

It is very common to see people wearing green attire, which according to tradition brings prosperity and good fortune. On this special day there are dances typical of the Irish region at the Centre Artesa Traditionarius, which gives a plus and makes you transport you to another country.

Weather in Barcelona in March

Park Güell| ©Denise Jones
Park Güell| ©Denise Jones

In general the March weather in Barcelona is good and it is an excellent time to make outdoor plans such as visiting Park Güell.

Towards midday the heat is mild in the first days of the month and then it can increase a little. It often rains at night and therefore the temperature tends to drop and it is necessary to have appropriate clothing. Temperatures can be between 17 degrees and 10 degrees Celsius, with variations as the month progresses.

To be on the safe side, I advise you to check the weather forecast when your trip to Barcelona is coming up.

Book tickets for Park Güell