Month guide · Barcelona · Spain
Barcelona in August
What August is really like in Barcelona: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Paul Hermans, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
August is a shoulder-season month. Expect average highs of 29°C (84°F), lows of 23°C (73°F), about 4 rainy days and roughly 13.8 hours of daylight. The warmest, most humid month and peak holiday season; some local businesses close for part of August.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 29°C (84°F) / 23°C (73°F)
- Rainy days
- About 4
- Daylight
- About 13.8 hours
- Sea temperature
- 25°C (77°F)
- Crowds
- Very busy
- Hotel prices
- Highest
Weather in August
August is the 2nd-warmest month in Barcelona: days average 29°C (84°F) against a yearly average high of 21°C (70°F), and nights fall to about 23°C (73°F). Rain falls on roughly 4 of its 31 days. Compared with July (29°C (84°F)), August is about as warm; by September highs drop to around 26°C (79°F).
- Sunrise (15 August)
- About 07:01
- Sunset (15 August)
- About 20:51
- Daylight
- About 13.8 hours
- Sea
- 25°C (77°F)
Summer (June–August). Hot, humid beach season with Sant Joan fireworks, music festivals and neighbourhood fiestas, but the biggest crowds and highest prices.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, August rates 5 for crowds (the peak is June at 5) and 5 for hotel prices (highest in June). Book accommodation early: August is one of the pricier months.
Events in August
- Festa Major de Gràcia — decorated streets and concerts (usually mid-August)
- Festa Major de Sants (late August)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in August
Mild, settled days suit walking, viewpoints and time outdoors.
Architecture · Sant Pau
Sant Pau Recinte Modernista
Domènech i Montaner's hospital complex, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a garden city of Modernista pavilions with tiled domes linked by underground tunnels.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Architecture
- Off the beaten path
- History
- Photo spot
Architecture · El Raval
Palau Güell
Use the audio guide for the basement stables and the rooftop, and pause in the main hall to look up into the dome.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Architecture
- History
- Rainy day
- Off the beaten path
Architecture · Gràcia
Casa Vicens
Gaudí's first house, built in 1883–1885 as a summer home in Gràcia, is covered in green-and-white tiles patterned with marigolds, and its interiors mix Moorish-style ceilings with painted birds and plants.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Architecture
- Art
- Off the beaten path
Museum · Sant Gervasi
CosmoCaixa science museum
Pair it with Tibidabo on the same day, as both sit on the northern edge of the city.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Nature
The sea averages 25°C (77°F) — warm enough to swim. Best beaches near Barcelona.
What to pack
For highs near 29°C, lows near 23°C and 4 wet days: light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen; comfortable walking shoes.
Is August a good time to visit Barcelona?
A shoulder-season month, with 2 notable events on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, May–June and September–October are better overall. Compare every month.
Barcelona in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is August a good time to visit Barcelona?
It is a shoulder-season month. The warmest, most humid month and peak holiday season; some local businesses close for part of August.
+How warm is Barcelona in August?
Average highs are around 29°C (84°F) and lows around 23°C (73°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Barcelona in August?
Expect rain on about 4 days of the month, so it is usually dry.