10 Reasons to Visit Barcelona in the Autumn

1. Strolling along the beach becomes a pleasant experience again.

The crowds & the heat have faded and Barcelona´s left with that cooler but almost perfect heat. You can walk along the beachfront & maybe even stop to soak up the sun. The beaches feel cleaner & quieter and you feel like you have Barcelona back to yourself again. The walk from Barceloneta to the W hotel is relaxing & beautiful with a guaranteed coffee stop at the end in Gallito.

2. New Autumn Fashion 

The messy sale racks full of old season´s clothes are gone and the shops are freshly decked out with the A/W 2015 colours of deep wine and cool mustards. We can move on from flip flops and sandals and get glamourous again with more tailored, thick fabrics and shiny new heels. And there are plenty of places to show off your new style...like a cocktail with friends in the very glitzy El Nacional.

3. Chocolate and churros  

One of Barcelona´s best and most indulgent traditions is chocolate and churros. And seeing as it´s not summer anymore, you don´t need to worry about getting into a bikini! So ingulge in some delicious sugary dougnut style pastries with thick hot chocolate while sitting on a terrace in the late afternoon sun. One of my favourite places to do this is on the terrace at El Cercle in the centre of town.

4. Hotels are cheaper

Of course they are!...and the sun´s still out so it´s the perfect time to visit, stay in luxury for a couple of nights and wander the backstreets of the Gothic Quarter in a much more bearable heat. Try the comfort of the gorgeous new boutique, Margot House on Passeig de Gracia or the hip Yurrban Hotel, with its stunning rooftop terrace and 360 views of the city.

5. Parks and Woodland

The Fageda in Catalunya is the most beautiful place to visit in the autumn. Fageda (which refers to the Beech trees) is a forest in a national park located just over 100km (1.5hrs drive) from Barcelona. The dappled light coming through the autumn beech leaves is incredible and with horse and cart rides for the kids and picnic spots, it´s worth the daytrip.

6. The smell of roasted Chestnuts on the streets

When the evenings get darker & a little colder, they´re accompanied by the warm, comforting smell of castañas (chestnuts) & sweet potatoes being roasted on street corners. A little white pack of these in your hands makes wandering around the city a really romantic and cosy experience. The backstreets of the Born or the Gothic Quarter are perfect for these moments. And when it´s time to stop for a glass of wine, there are plenty of twinkly-lit small bars to keep you warm.

7. Eating outside on a terrace 

The humidity and searing heat has left the city, and the locals head back out to the terraces to eat lunch, drink coffees or beers and chat with friends. Be impressed by the terrace & 25 euro menu at the luxurious Cotton House Hotel or enjoy fresh fish by the sea at Agua.

8. Music and film Festivals

Not only is September home to the biggest festival the city has, La Mercè, but autumn brings the Sitges film festival to its many fans as well as the city´s famous Jazz Festival.

9. Ski season starts

Cosy hotels, drinks by the fire, happy but achy legs. The ski season starts around the end of November and with La Molina only 2 hours away by train, it makes it easy to do a daytrip skiing with friends or family. Try Grandvalira in Andorra for a bigger resort and plenty to do, or Baqueira for a touch of luxury. Get the skibus from Barcelona to La Molina from 38 euros (adult day ski pass included).

10. The autumn light

When you step outside on a sunny autumn morning in Barcelona, it´s hard not to be taken aback by the light falling through the trees and onto the street below. It´s beautiful, photo-worthy and makes you appreciate nature even if it´s just for a moment.

 

(Photos courtesy of Pinterest / web & @lascallesdebcn)

This is not a sponsored post.