11 Things to Do in Barcelona in October

Your list of things to see and do in Barcelona is surely packed with plans, but there will be even more once you discover everything October has to offer. This month, Barcelona takes on a more local vibe thanks to several traditional local festivals and events steeped in history—though some might give you a bit of a scare.

If you’re looking to explore Barcelona, you’ve picked a great month to visit. The good weather still allows you to enjoy the outdoors at events like Viu Montjuic, but there will also be opportunities to explore the interiors of architecturally significant buildings and discover Catalan cuisine. If you want to know exactly what I mean, keep reading!

Are you thinking about taking a food tour of Barcelona? Without a doubt, food is the best way to get to know a city. If you’ll be there the first weekend of October, you can take advantage of Tast a la Rambla (Taste the Rambla), a major event where the best restaurants in the area offer their dishes as tapas to visitors on Barcelona’s famous street.

With this culinary celebration, the city aims to showcase its culinary offerings. Food stalls stretch along the entire Rambla, though they are mainly concentrated in the area closest to the Columbus Monument. In total, more than 20 restaurants participate.

El Tast de la Rambla is a food event, but it’s surrounded by many other culinary activities, such as workshops and wine pairings. Of course, there are musical performances to liven up the atmosphere. It’s the perfect place to go for lunch or dinner during your stay in Barcelona.

Useful Information

• When: the first weekend of October. Stalls are open from approximately 12:00 PM to 12:00 AM.
• Where: on La Rambla (especially near the Columbus Monument).
• Price: Free admission; food and drinks cost approximately €4.
• Recommended if: you love food and the lively atmosphere surrounding gastronomy.

Also known as Festas del Roser, La Rambla’s annual festival takes place on October 7, though there are plenty of things to see and do in the days leading up to and following the event, when this tourist-filled street takes on a more local feel.

Join in and participate in guided tours, workshops, musical performances, and other scheduled activities (most of which are free). One of the best things about these festivities is that they coincide with the start of mushroom season, so many tastings are organized (especially at the Boquería Market).

No matter your age, you’ll enjoy La Rambla’s annual festival, though if you’re traveling to Barcelona with children, I highly recommend going. There are plenty of activities designed just for them.

Useful Information

• When: the days leading up to and following October 7.
• Where: La Rambla.
• Price: free.
• Recommended if: you’re traveling to Barcelona with kids and looking for family-friendly activities.

Barcelona is one of the cities with the most impressive architecture, so strolling through its streets and admiring the facades from the outside is a treat. But it’s even better to see these places from the inside—something you can do for free if you’re in the city during the last weekend of October, thanks to the Barcelona Architecture Festival.

For 48 hours, the interiors of various houses and buildings are open to the public, with architects and volunteers on hand to lead guided tours. During this event, you’ll discover hidden treasures of Catalan Modernism and other city landmarks such as the Arc de Triomf or the former La Modelo prison. Unfortunately, the Sagrada Familia and Casa Batlló are not part of the Festival, so if you want to explore them in depth, you’ll need to book a guided tour.

Generally, no prior registration is required, though I recommend checking the program beforehand to find out opening hours and how to get to each site. The best way to learn about the secrets and wonders of Catalan architecture is from experts, so it’s also a good idea to visit each building while taking the opportunity to tour Barcelona.

Useful Information

• When: Last weekend in October.
• Where: various locations throughout Barcelona.
• Price: Free.
• Recommended if: you want to get an up-close look at Barcelona’s architecture from experts.

In Barcelona, every neighborhood has a market; in fact, some of them are very famous and could be considered tourist attractions, such as the Sant Antoni Market. To showcase their cultural value, the Mercat de Mercats food fair is held every year in mid-October, with free admission. Of course, you’ll have to pay if you want to take home a culinary souvenir from the many stalls set up around Barcelona Cathedral.

In Barcelona, markets are much more than just places to buy and sell. They’re gathering spots for neighbors, and the city government always strives to highlight their value and encourage shopping there, thereby promoting fresh, local produce.

In addition to selling, vendors also organize other activities, such as cooking workshops, cocktail-making sessions, or even wine tastings. To do this, they enlist the help of local chefs, who prepare dishes you can enjoy on the spot.

Useful Information

• When: Mid-October.
• Where: Barcelona Cathedral and surrounding area.
• Price: free admission.
• Recommended if: you want to try fresh products from Catalonia and feel like a true Barcelonian.

During the month of October in Barcelona, specifically in the middle of the month, Viu Montjuic takes place, an opportunity to experience this mountain and the entire surrounding area. The entire site is utilized, featuring various buildings and leisure venues (such as gardens, museums, and theaters), to host a variety of recreational activities. In total, there are 22 venues that open to the public for two days in October to offer a series of workshops, conferences, and musical and theatrical performances.

For example, this area is home to some of Barcelona’s best museums, such as the Archaeology Museum, the National Art Museum of Catalonia, and the Caixaforum, as well as historic buildings like the Olympic Stadium.

This event is also a great opportunity to visit places that are usually closed to the public, such as the Espai Bombers, or to explore sites of great beauty and cultural interest, such as the Botanical Garden or the Teatre Lliure. Exhibitions and guided tours are organized at all of these venues.

Useful Information

• When: Mid-October.
• Where: Montjuïc.
• Price: free admission, though you may need to register in advance via the event’s official website.
• Recommended if: you’re interested in culture and want to visit some museums for free.

One of Barcelona’s most iconic races is the Cursa de Bombers (Firefighters’ Race), held on a Sunday in late October. It’s a 10-kilometer course with mostly flat terrain and no significant elevation changes, making it more accessible and popular—which is why thousands of people gather for it every year.

Of course, firefighters participate in this race, dressed in their uniforms, but so do amateur and professional athletes. On their website, they describe this event as a running festival—something you’ll see for yourself when you go (whether to run or just to watch). At the starting line, a stage with a screen is set up so no one misses a thing, and there’s music playing to cheer on the runners and the crowd.

If you like to travel with your running shoes, I recommend signing up for the Cursa de Bombers. You don’t have to be a professional (in fact, the elite athletes start separately). Plus, it’s a great way to explore Barcelona, as you’ll pass through Plaza Cataluña, Via Layetana, La Rambla, and the Ciutadella Park.

Key Information

• When: A Sunday in late October.
• Where: Downtown Barcelona.
• Price: registration as a runner for approximately €17 (access for spectators is free).
• Recommended if: traveling and exploring cities means running through them for you.

Very close to Barcelona, about an hour away by public transportation, lies Sitges. This coastal town is a great place for a getaway. The first half of October also marks the Sitges Film Festival. If you like horror and fantasy films, you have to attend a screening, as the best international films are shown there.

In addition to the films, other activities are organized that fill the city with zombies. This happens especially during the Sitges Zombie Walk, a parade of people in very elaborate costumes who look a bit scary and march through much of the city.

The Sitges International Horror and Fantasy Film Festival has been held since 1968. Over time, it has become a world-renowned event, attracting many film lovers and stars. Why not take a trip from Barcelona to check it out?

Key Information

• When: first half of October.
• Where: Sitges.
• Price: approximately €10–€15.
• Recommended if: you like fantasy and horror films.

Thinking of going to Port Aventura from Barcelona? It’s always a great time to take a day trip and enjoy this theme park, which is just an hour from the capital, but in October it’s even better. Why? Because the entire park gets ready to celebrate Halloween.

Haunted houses, attractions themed and decorated to be extra scary, concerts, and shows… That’s what Port Aventura looks like all through October, though obviously the big day is the 31st. Of course, it’s the event of the year at the park, so it’s usually very crowded; if you want to go, buy your tickets well in advance.

Would you rather stay in Barcelona but still have a good time on Halloween night? All the city’s nightclubs host themed parties (for which I recommend dressing up). Additionally, Poble Espanyol (an open-air museum depicting a life-size village) is also decorated and themed for the occasion.

Useful Information

• When: Throughout the month of October (especially on Halloween night).
• Where: Port Aventura.
• Price: approximately €50.
• Recommended if: you’re looking to experience a unique and all-encompassing Halloween.

Whether your heart beats for Barça or you simply love soccer and don’t want to miss the experience of watching one of the world’s greatest teams play in their own stadium, Spotify Camp Nou, October is a great month to do it.

In October, La Liga is roughly halfway through the season, so the excitement is palpable in the air. The fact is, Spanish first-division teams aren’t just competing for the title (by the way, Barça already has 27 league titles under its belt), but the top teams also secure a spot in the following year’s European competitions.

My advice is that if you’re traveling to Barcelona in October and dream of watching your favorite team play, book your tickets as far in advance as possible and always through official websites, because tickets sell out fast and scams are rampant. Oh, and if you want to save a little money, choose a less prominent opponent (for example, tickets for El Clásico are significantly more expensive) and look for the more affordable sections.

Useful Information

• When: In October, La Liga is halfway through the season.
• Where: Spotify Camp Nou.
• Price: starting at €70.
• Recommended if: your heart is Blaugrana and you’re passionate about soccer.

Do you like jazz? Then you’re in luck, because the Voll-Damm Jazz Festival kicks off in Barcelona this October— a premier festival featuring major artists who are leaders in the genre.

This event, which lasts several weeks, brings together the best international musicians, who perform in the city’s major venues and theaters. Ticket prices vary, but generally cost around €20. That said, they tend to sell out, so be sure to keep an eye out to buy them.

Generally, most of the venues are in Barcelona and are, in fact, important landmarks within the city’s artistic culture (such as the Sala Apolo, the Sala BARTS, or even the Palau de la Música). However, the theater in Sant Cugat is also used—a nearby town that can be reached in less than an hour.

Useful Information

• When: throughout the month of October.
• Where: various locations and venues in Barcelona.
• Price: approximately €20.
• Recommended if: you love jazz and live music.

That’s right, the beer festival is coming to Barcelona too. Barcelona’s Oktoberfest is one of the biggest celebrations in October. For two weeks, the Montjuïc fairgrounds fill up with liters and liters of beer, long tables, Bavarian cuisine, and German music.

Admission is free, though a one-liter mug of beer costs approximately €10. Note that although the venue is very large (about 5,000 square meters), it tends to fill up, so I recommend reserving a table online.

As if that weren’t enough, there are also attractions for both adults and children, ensuring the fun never stops.

Useful Information

• When: Throughout the month of October.
• Where: Montjuic Fairgrounds.
• Price: free admission (drinks cost approximately €10).
• Recommended if: you like beer and the atmosphere of big festivals.

Some say the weather is always nice in Barcelona, and they’re partly right. In October, temperatures still reach 20°C (and higher) during the day, though it cools down at night (around 15°C) and you’ll need a jacket. In any case, the weather is perfect for being out and about.

That said, the rainy season begins, and it’s more than likely you’ll need an umbrella or a raincoat during your trip.

As for daylight hours, you’ll get about 10 per day; keep in mind that the clocks change at the end of the month, so daylight hours will drop to around 8.

Although the weather remains quite nice in October, you can tell that the summer season has ended in Barcelona, so the city is quieter and there aren’t as many tourists. This means you’ll be able to take advantage of deals and lower prices on hotels and flights.

Even though there are fewer people on the streets of Barcelona, it’s still a very popular destination, so it’s not a good idea to wait until the last minute to make reservations (especially for major tourist attractions like Park Güell or the Sagrada Familia).

What plans are you not going to miss during your trip to Barcelona in October? I hope I’ve given you some ideas.