Easter Holidays in Barcelona

Updated Aug 31 2023

Barcelona is one of the favourite cities for tourists when it comes to the Easter holidays. As they are special dates of the year, it would be useful for you to be armed with information, advice and recommendations, that you should bear in mind during Easter 2024, so that you can make the most of your stay in our city.

Thanks to this, and also thanks to the possibility of reserving your accommodation at the best price and buying your tickets online for the most interesting sights (sometimes including online discounts or priority access), it’ll be much easier for you to organize your Easter holidays in Barcelona. And for those of you who live in Barcelona, you’ll also find various interesting proposals that we hope will help you get to know the city better.

Plan your Easter holidays in Barcelona

Most people, us included, travel when it’s convenient to do so, so it’s logical that during the holidays, especially in the summer months of July and August, Christmas and Easter, there are many more visitors to the city than normal, which can lead to queues for entering the most popular museums, monuments and places of interest.

Barcelona Pass for your Easter holidays in Barcelona

Barcelona Pass

WHAT INCLUDES?
PARK GÜELL VISIT (skip the line)
SAGRADA FAMILIA VISIT (skip the line)
HOP-ON HOP-OFF BUS BARCELONA
10% DISCOUNT on other attractions
APP AUDIO GUIDE BARCELONA +100 attractions

We’re not saying that we don’t recommend visiting Barcelona during these periods, but we’re just warning you that you will find that there are more people in the streets and squares of the most central areas. And this certainly doesn’t take away and of Barcelona’s charm – in fact it makes it all the more dynamic and alive.

The best museums, monuments and visits for your easter holidays in Barcelona

Depending on whether you have already been to Barcelona, or whether your stay will be a chance for you to discover the sights for the first time, the places that you would like to prioritize visiting are of course sure to vary.

Sagrada Familia tickets

La Sagrada Familia

Booking

English language Priority access

Tiqets

Park Güell tickets

Park Güell

Booking

Priority access

Tiqets

Casa Batlló Gold Priority Tickets

Casa Batlló by Gaudí

Booking

English language Priority access

Barcelona Turisme

tickets Recinte Modernista Sant Pau

Recinto Modernista de Sant Pau

Booking

One of the most important modernist complexes

Tiqets

Barcelona Picasso Museum tickets

Picasso Museum with “ArticketBCN”

Booking

Priority access to the six most important museums and art foundations

Barcelona Turisme

Joan Miró Foundation Tickets

Joan Miró Foundation

Purchase

Priority access

Tiqets

tickets Camp Nou Experience

Camp Nou Experience

Purchase

Visit to the F.C. Barcelona Museum and tour of the stadium

Tiqets

The Rooftop Terrace Casa Milà

La Pedrera – Casa Milà

Booking

English language Acceso prioritario

Barcelona Turisme

Above, we have therefore given you a list that includes all sorts of places that will interest you, including museums, monuments and tourist sights that are considered the best, as well as some others that we think will allow you to discover our city in even more detail.

What about if you’re visiting the city with children?

When you have a look through the plans that we’re suggesting, you’ll soon see that a large number of them can easily be done with children. However, we do recommend looking at our “What to do in Barcelona with children” section, where we give you all sorts of suggestions of plans and activities, thinking about keeping the youngest visitors entertained and occupied, which are therefore perfect for families.

Other museums, monuments and sights recommended by irBarcelona

Barcelona views Turó de la Rovira

Búnkers del Carmel

+Info

The best views of Barcelona

irBarcelona

cross pinnacle Torre Bellesguard

Torre Bellesguard

Tickets

English language Una obra de Gaudí poco conocida

Tiqets

Palau de la Música Catalana

Palau de la Música Catalana

Tickets

English language Guided tour of a musical temple

Barcelona Turisme

Santa Maria del Pi bell tower

Santa Maria del Pi bell tower

Tickets

Visit and go up to the top of the bell tower

Barcelona Turisme

A suggestion for your Barcelona sightseeing

Opening hours: Because there are various public holidays (Palm Sunday, Good Friday, Easter Sunday and Easter Monday) during the Easter holidays, it’s possible that the opening hours of some museums, monuments or places of interest might be altered in some way, which could mean an extension or reduction of their opening hours. We therefore recommend that you check on each venue’s official website as to whether their Easter opening hours have changed.

Reserve online in advance: As it’s a time of year at which the number of tourists visiting the city rises dramatically, we really recommend making your reservation online in advance, especially for the most popular and famous sights. This will ensure that you’ll be able to visit the sights that you want to see, when you want to see them, as well as in the majority of cases avoiding the queue to enter, thus saving time. On some occasions you might also benefit from a discount from booking in advance.

When does Easter Fall in 2024?

Easter week doesn’t fall on fixed dates each year – the dates vary according to the year. Palm Sunday always falls on the first Sunday with a full moon after the spring equinox (the moment at which spring starts, which is 20th or 21st March). Palm Sunday can therefore vary greatly depending on the moon, falling any time between 22nd March and 25th April.

2024 Easter Calendar

* Palm Sunday: 24th March
Maundy Thursday: 28th March
* Good Friday: 29th March
Easter Saturday: 30th March
* Easter Sunday (Resurrection): 31st March
* Easter Monday: 1st April

* public holiday in Barcelona and Catalunya

The best hotels, apartments and other accommodation for your Easter Holidays in Barcelona

Due to the great demand for accommodation around the Easter holidays in Barcelona, we think it’s really necessary to start thinking about your accommodation a few weeks in advance. You’ll therefore be able to find the best hotels and apartments, bearing in mind your own likes and priorities, and you’ll spot a good offer when it comes up.



Booking.com

Above you’ll find a search tool that will show the best accommodation in Barcelona (from hotels to youth hostels, including hostels, apartments and bed & breakfasts), based on reviews from guests who have stayed there in the past.

A suggestion for when you book your accommodation

Many accommodation options offer good deals and promotions several weeks before Easter, whereas others wait until just a few days before the start of the holidays to lower their prices, which allows them to maximise their selling power.

Here at irBarcelona we recommend that if you see a good offer, you should reserve your accommodation without thinking it over too much, because demand is always high and you may run the risk of missing out on the offer if you wait.

If you do miss out, don’t worry and keep looking, because sooner or later you’ll find another good offer, and there are usually last-minute cancellations that you can benefit from.


The best tourist and / or transport cards

If you buy a suitable tourist and / or travel card when you visit Barcelona at Easter, you’re likely to save a considerable amount of money. Below we have given you a list and a brief description of the most beneficial tourist and transport cards, as well as the chance to buy them online in advance. If you spend a little time planning your journey and looking at this information, we’re sure that you’ll find it easy to find the card that works best for you.

Park Güell + Sagrada Familia Combo Tickets

Gaudí Bundle

WHAT INCLUDES?
SAGRADA FAMILIA (skip the line)
PARK GÜELL (skip the line)
APP AUDIO GUIDE PARK GÜELL
APP AUDIO GUIDE BARCELONA +100 attractions
10% on your next booking
Barcelona Card + Gaudí bundle

Barcelona Card + Gaudí Bundle

WHAT INCLUDES?
FREE PUBLIC TRANSPORT
PARK GÜELL (skip the line)
SAGRADA FAMILIA (skip the line)
+25 ATTRACTIONS INCLUDED
APP AUDIO GUIDE BARCELONA +100 attractions
DIRECT DISCOUNTS
10% DISCOUNT on other attractions
purchase Barcelona Card

Barcelona Card (2, 3, 4 or 5 days)

Buy

Access to various museums and places of interest, discounts and public transport

-10% online

Barcelona Turisme

Hola Barcelona Travel Card

Hola Barcelona Travel Card (2, 3, 4 or 5 days)

Buy

Daily vouchers for getting around Barcelona through the use of unlimited public transport

48H | 72H | 96H | 120H option

Getyourguide

purchase ArticketBCN Passport

ArticketBCN

Buy

Art Museums: Joan Miró Foundation + Picasso Museum + Tàpies Foundation + CCCB + MACBA

It includes the visit to the most important six museums and art foundations in Barcelona

Barcelona Turisme

buy Barcelona Card Express

Barcelona Card 2 days

Buy

Discounts for accessing museums, places of interest and unlimited public transport

-10% online

Barcelona Turisme

How to pick the best tourist and / or transport card?

Places that interest you: You might find it helpful to sit down with your family or friends for a while to talk about your trip, and decide which places you’d like to visit, as this will help you decide which tourist or transport card will offer you the best advantages, as well as the best savings.

Use of public transport: Depending on the sights you want to see and the location of your accommodation, it would be helpful for you to do an approximate tally of the number of journeys by public transport (metro, bus, tram) that you’re planning on doing each day. This will give you an idea of which transport card, or tourist card that includes transport, would be best for you.

Tourist activities in Barcelona during the Easter week

When it comes to planning your Easter holidays in Barcelona, we recommend doing some of the tourist activities that we mention below. You’ll be able to find, amongst many other proposals, the usual and practically essential tourist bus route, the possibility of hiring a scooter or mini-car that will allow you to see the city at your leisure, or a trip on the cable car, with some spectacular panoramic views of Montjuïc mountain.

Hop-on Hop-off Bus Barcelona

Buy

English language Online Discount

Tiqets

Hiring a scooter in Barcelona

Hiring a scooter

Booking

-10% online

Barcelona Turisme

Las Golondrinas boat tour tickets

Boat trip along Barcelona’s coastline

Booking

Boat tour along the coast of Barcelona

Barcelona Turisme

Tickets Tibidabo Amusement Park

The theme park at Tibidabo

Tickets

Online discount

Barcelona Turisme

tickets Aquarium of Barcelona

Visiting Barcelona’s aquarium

Buy

The best aquatic animals are waiting for you

Tiqets

Aeri del Port from ground

Aeri del Port cable car

Tickets

Incredible views of the coastline from above (priority access)

Tiqets

GoCar Barcelona

Discovering the city in a mini-car

Buy

English language Audioguía

Barcelona Turisme

Montjuïc Cable Car

Montjuïc Cable Car

Tickets

Panoramic views

Barcelona Turisme

Montjuïc Magic Fountain show

Going to the Montjuïc Magic Fountain show

Info

Musical and light show of the Magic Fountain of Barcelona

Logo irBarcelona

Are you in the mood for going out at night?

If you’re not tired from the visits and walks that you’ve done during the day, or if you’ve managed to rest a little in your hotel or apartment, we recommend going out to see Barcelona by night, as you’ll enjoy the different night life that’s on offer and will have the opportunity to discover a different side to the city than you’ve seen during the day.


If you feel like dancing and experiencing some of the best nightclubs in the city, below we’ve given you some information about the clubs that you shouldn’t miss out on.

Barcelona at night: + info (Soon online).
Barcelona’s nightclubs: + info.

Walks around the districts and most central areas of Barcelona

If you have just a few days to discover the city, it’s likely that you won’t have much time for a rest in between all your visits. We therefore suggest that you at least reserve a morning or afternoon slot for walking at your leisure through one of the most central districts of Barcelona.

For this, take a look at the information we’ve given you (in the articles about each district that you can find below), in order to find out where the most interesting places can be found in each district, such as historic streets and squares, shops located in historic buildings, beautiful facades of modernist, baroque or gothic buildings that you might not find in many of the guide books, and top quality bars and restaurants where you can stop for a drink or something to eat, thus enjoying the typical Catalan and Spanish gastronomy.

By doing this you’ll have a rest from all the tourist visits, whilst continuing to discover the city. Following this advice, we’re sure that it won’t take long for you to realise that sooner or later you’ll need to return to Barcelona in order to continue to discover other charming areas, such as the ones you’ve already seen.

When to eat well, and at a good price?

Depending on the district or area of Barcelona in which you find yourselves, the bars and restaurants vary considerably. In each of the specific sections about the various districts and areas of Barcelona that we’ve included above, you’ll find a selection of the best bars and restaurants where you can have a drink, or stop for lunch or dinner.

If you’d also like to discover more about our gastronomic culture, we recommend that you take a look at the article that we have written about it.

Selection of a few guided tours of the city

Walking tour Gothic Quarter

The Gothic quarter tour

Buy

English language / idioma español Bilingual

-10% online

Barcelona Turisme

The modernist tour

The modernist tour

Buy

English language / idioma español Bilingual

-10% online

Barcelona Turisme

The old town tour and tapas

The old town tour and tapas

Buy

English language

Barcelona Turisme

The literary tour

The literary tour

Buy

/ idioma español Bilingual

-10% online

Barcelona Turisme

Bespoke tours: ideal for groups

If you are travelling as a group and you’d like to organize a private tour of the city, we recommend reserving a completely bespoke guided tour, with plenty of advance notice, and with an official guide. The advantage of this is being able to see the area or areas of the city that you really want to see.


Also, and again by booking in advance as it needs to be pre-arranged, you can go on a guided tour of some of the most popular tourist attractions, such as the Casa Batlló, the Sagrada Familia, Park Güell and the Modernist grounds of Sant Pau. This will allow you to discover for yourself a huge amount of historical facts and anecdotes about each place of interest.

More information and reserving a private tour here.

An escape to a coastal town during the Easter week

The luckiest visitors will have the chance to spend four or more days in Barcelona. If you fall into that category, and if the sun and the nice temperatures are on your side, we recommend going on a day trip to one of the lovely coastal towns near Barcelona, Tarragona or Girona.

Calella de Palafrugell

Calella de Palafrugell

Tossa de Mar

Tossa de Mar

Cadaqués

Cadaqués

Besalú y Castellfollit de la Roca

Besalú and Castellfollit de la Roca

Peratallada, Pals, Begur y Monells

Peratallada, Pals, Begur and Monells

Logo irBarcelona

Montserrat

Logo irBarcelona

Gerona

Logo irBarcelona

Tarragona

Logo irBarcelona

Figueras and l’Estartit

Another option is to see some of Catalunya’s towns that are more inland, that have an artistic, cultural or historical significance, for example Figueres, in which you’ll find the museum dedicated to the artist Salvador Dalí’s work, or Montserrat with its spectacular monastery. And if on the other hand you’re after a fun day out, you could make the most of a lively day in the Port Aventura World theme park.

Is it best to go to a nearby town, or find somewhere a little further from Barcelona?

The nearer the town you choose, the more time you’ll have to enjoy everything it has to offer. However, some of the most charming towns can be found somewhat further away from Barcelona (between an hour and an hour and a half away), so it might be worth getting up early in order to make the most of the day, and have time to wander a few hours through their charming narrow streets, walk along the seafront and eat in one of the best bars and restaurants.

It all depends on the type of day trip you’re after and how amenable you are to an early start, of course, but whatever you decide, we’re sure that the memory of your trip will stay with you forever.

Easter 2024: Processions and other events

What is celebrated during Easter week?

Easter is a series of holy days that form part of the Catholic Liturgical Calendar. During the week various events are celebrated, the most significant being the entry of Jesus to Jerusalem (Palm Sunday), as well as his death (Good Friday) and subsequent resurrection (Easter Sunday).

Blessing of the Palms

Palm Sunday (24th March 2024)

Varies according to the church

In all the churches

Free of charge

“Cristo de la buena muerte” procession

Good Friday (29th March 2024)

From the Santa Anna church

18:30

Free of charge

“La Burreta” procession

Palm Sunday (24th March 2024)

Streets throughout the El Raval district (departure from the pl. Sant Agustí)

10:00 – 14:00

Free of charge

“Pontificada y Real Hermandad de nuestro padre Jesús del gran poder y María Santísima de la Esperanza Macarena” procession

Good Friday (29th March 2024)

Streets throughout the El Raval district (departure from the pl. Sant Agustí)

17:00

Free of charge

Suggestions, traditions and other information of interest

Easter week opening hours

The opening hours of shops and businesses are also usually affected during some of the days over Easter. You may find that some shops close on the afternoon of Maundy Thursday, but these are usually those that are less centrally located, in the areas of the city that aren’t so frequented by tourists.

Good Friday, Palm Sunday and Easter Monday are public holidays in Barcelona and in Catalunya, so the shops and businesses close (which isn’t the case for bars, restaurants and various tourist services, which do remain open).

Having said that, throughout the Easter public holidays you’ll find the shops open in the Maremagnum shopping centre. Situated in the harbour area of the city, which is popular with tourists, the shops therefore remain open. A few other shops and businesses in Barcelona do also open their doors at Easter, but these tend to be in the most central areas.

Will we be able to go to the beach at Easter?

We’re sure that many of you will ask this question when you start to plan your Easter holidays in Barcelona. As the dates of Easter are variable (between the end of March and the end of April), the later Easter falls, the more chance you’ll get of having the best weather, and it could even be quite warm towards the end of April.

Although the beach season doesn’t officially start until the month of June, you’ll usually find many people sunbathing on the beach a few weeks before, on the warmest days.

We therefore recommend keeping up to date with the weather forecast, as it’s quite possible that there will be a warm, sunny day during your stay in Barcelona, when you’ll be able to enjoy some time on the beach. Having said that, we should warn you that the sea temperature is likely to be rather too cold to have a pleasant dip in the sea.

La Mona de Pascua (The Easter “Mona”)

One of the nicest Easter traditions in Barcelona is that of eating together as a family on Easter Monday. On this day, godfathers give a gift of the Mona de Pascua, a sweet Easter dessert to their godchildren. “Mona” is a word of Arabic origin that means “reward”, or “gift”. The Mona de Pascua is a typical dessert which dates back to the 15th century. Over time, it’s changed quite considerably.

From the original, which was made with dough and later with cake and eggs, the current version has developed, in which the chocolate, the interesting shapes and designs (from fairytale houses to lorries and rockets) and the figurines (normally characters from cartoons or films, or football players) are what everyone wants to see.

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