10 Things to Do in Barcelona at Holy Week

One of the most positive aspects of big cities is that there can be different cultural events going on at the same time due to the fact that there is an infinity of realities coexisting in the same city. For this reason, the things to see and do in Barcelona are entertaining and changing throughout the year and at Easter you can find both religious and conventional activities for all kinds of people.

For this reason, I recommend that you continue reading this publication, as this way you will find out all the details you need to know to make the most of the days of Easter in the Catalan capital. Thanks to this you will be able to make the most of your time and plan an appropriate budget for the type of trip you want to make.

One of the most interesting Catalan Easter traditions is the blessing of the palms on Palm Sunday. The origin of this custom has to do with the fact that on the arrival of Jesus Christ in Jerusalem he himself was received by his followers with palms and flowers that were blessed.

In reality you have to bear in mind that this is a tradition that is not exclusive to Barcelona and Catalonia, but the truth is that around most of the churches in this city you will find many of the faithful who are looking for the blessing of palms that they will then take home to feel protected under their religious beliefs.

Something that distinguishes this tradition in Catalonia and Barcelona from the rest of the Spanish cities is the way in which people get the palms. If it is a girl then the palm has to be pretty and decorated while if it is a boy then it has to be a tall and heavy palm.

Either way, this is quite an interesting tradition to see and you can take a walk around any of the churches in the city during the afternoon of Palm Sunday. You should also know that this is an ideal time to enjoy one of the guided tours of Barcelona, as the number of tourists will still be a little lower than during the rest of the week, so you'll be able to explore the city with a guide at your leisure.

One of the most interesting gastronomic traditions of Catholicism takes place in the run-up to Easter. From Ash Wednesday to Maundy Thursday it is customary to avoid eating meat as it is Lent. For this reason, each of the Spanish regions tends to have characteristic recipes that arose from the need to eat more fish and vegetables during these 40 days that mark the change between winter and spring.

So calçotada is one of the great protagonists of the Catalan culinary world at this time of year. It is a recipe in which a specific variety of onions called calçots are seasoned and roasted with a few spices. They are then dipped in romesco sauce. The recipe comes from the province of Tarragona, but over the decades it has become a regular Easter dish throughout Catalonia.

Similarly, you should know that taking part in one of the best gastronomic tours of Barcelona is a recommendable plan if you want to find out a little more about Lent and Easter dishes in this part of Spain, as it has culinary customs that are quite different from the rest of the country, making it a universe of flavours worth discovering.

A good way to combine tourist exploration of the city with this interest in tasting calçotada is to take part in a private tapas and wine tour. Especially as these tours are accompanied by a local guide who takes you to restaurants that would probably go unnoticed if you explored on your own.

Another of the most interesting Easter traditions in Barcelona is organised by the city's Chocolate Museum. For the past couple of years, this institution has been planning different activities to celebrate the arrival of Easter in the sweetest possible way. Some plans have to do with learning about the history behind Easter eggs while others have to do with preparing chocolate eggs.

The specific date of these workshops changes every year, but they are usually held from Maundy Thursday to Easter Sunday and there are usually different opportunities to take part throughout the day. The best way to book is to do it directly on the website of the Barcelona Chocolate Museum and it is best to book well in advance to make sure you can do it on the date and time you want.

Similarly, this is one of the best things to do in Barcelona with children during Easter and at the same time if you don't have the opportunity to attend the workshop, you can still visit the museum and buy some chocolate eggs that will be just as special for your children, nephews, nieces or younger siblings.

Barcelona is one of the most multicultural cities in Europe and at the same time has an impressive number of museums that have nothing to envy to the art and history institutions of Madrid, Paris, London or Berlin. You should also know that during Easter week it is common for many of these sites to have extended opening hours due to the high tourist season. This means that if you plan properly, in a couple of days you could see an impressive number of museums in this city.

The Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art, the Picasso Museum of Barcelona, the Joan Miró Foundation, the Museum of the History of Catalonia and the Barcelona Maritime Museum are just some of the sites that make up the extensive list of the best museums in Barcelona. So if exploring the cultural and artistic heritage of this city is something that appeals to you, you should know that Easter is an ideal time of year to do so.

In this context, buying a pass that offers you a combined ticket for the city's museums is a good way to save money. Especially if you want to spend a good part of your trip visiting these sites at your leisure to get as much information as possible about the past that distinguishes this modern Catalan metropolis.

For many people, the thought of Barcelona automatically conjures up images of the Sagrada Familia. This iconic church, which has been under construction for several decades and is one of the masterpieces of the city's most important architect, Antonio Gaudí, is a place you shouldn't miss during a time as religious and linked to Catholicism as Easter.

Contrary to what you might imagine, the influx of visitors will not be so significant, as it is not usual for all the processions in the city to go to this church as it is a favourite tourist destination in Barcelona. So getting tickets for the Sagrada Familia with a guided tour is something you can enjoy if you take care to find a suitable time for it.

Ideally, you should visit it during the first days of the week because between Good Friday and Easter Sunday the number of people arriving in Barcelona could be higher. There are also guided tours with fast-track access that will save you the inconvenience of queuing to see some of the nooks and crannies of this modern marvel of Catalan Art Nouveau architecture.

Easter is also a perfect time to inaugurate beach trips as temperatures are high enough to enjoy this type of natural environment. For your convenience, the areas around Barcelona are an excellent coastal destination within the Spanish Mediterranean. So the Costa Brava, spread across the province of Girona, is an excellent place to look for entertainment over Easter.

Exactly how you decide to enjoy this area is up to you, as you could head to one of the towns such as Cadaqués or Platja d'Aro for a night's stay or simply spend the whole day and then return to Barcelona as soon as the sun goes down. Similarly, a guided excursion can be a good way to avoid the logistical planning and just worry about enjoying the experience.

My recommendation is that you opt for one of those excursions to the Costa Brava from Barcelona that offer you the possibility of kayaking in some of the coves near the metropolitan area of Barcelona as well as the possibility of snorkelling. All in all, it's a great way to spend your time and money if you're looking for a day at the beach in the middle of Easter, with spring weather included in the equation.

The Barcelona Cathedral is a Gothic building that is also the seat of the archbishopric of Catalonia and is known for being one of the greatest architectural and religious treasures of the whole city. It is distinguished by its location within the Gothic Quarter, which is an area that also boasts some of Catalonia's other major tourist attractions.

Without a doubt, this is a site that should not be missed in your tourist exploration of Barcelona and is one of those places that must be visited on a three-day trip to Barcelona, which is usually the average length of a visit to the city during Holy Week.

The simple fact that it is the most important Catholic church in the city makes it an important site within the cultural framework of Holy Week. Moreover, the fact that all kinds of important events are held here at this time of year makes the idea of walking through the narrow streets of this neighbourhood to reach the interior of the cathedral all the more recommendable.

The processions organised by the different religious congregations in the city of Barcelona are not really something so characteristic of Catalan culture. However, over the centuries, some of the city's neighbourhoods, such as the Gothic Quarter, have been able to boast a full itinerary of religious processions. These are events that take sacred images through the city on Good Friday and Easter Sunday.

These types of experiences are a good way to become familiar with the religious traditions that have developed within the cultural identity of this city. And at the same time they are an excellent way to visit the same sites that form part of the guided tours of Barcelona's Gothic Quarter.

However, if you are interested in witnessing a Catalan procession at its best, then it would be advisable to visit the neighbouring city of Hospitalet del Llobregat. This is because they organise much larger events there, where large crowds gather during the Good Friday processions.

Monas de Pascua (Easter cakes) are another element representative of the fact that Catalan culture differs in terms of traditions from the rest of Spain. This is a sweet that is accompanied by various chocolate figures, including the famous Easter eggs. It is a peculiar tradition due to the fact that it is a cake that is given to children on Easter Monday, a date that is known locally as the Day of the Mona.

For this reason it is common to find Easter cakes in different bakeries and many establishments are dedicated to preparing this type of cake with as many decorative elements as possible. My advice is to buy one if you're still in town, as this culinary tradition is one of the best things to do in Barcelona during the spring and it's certainly one of the local highlights of Easter.

Barcelona is a favourite party destination in Europe. So it's not surprising to learn that young and old alike take advantage of the short spring break at Easter to go out for a couple of drinks in some of the city's most vibrant nightlife areas.

Las Ramblas, the promenade of Barcelona's Olympic Village, the Eixample and the Ciutat Vella are just some of the places in the city where you can party with the thousands of people who flock to this Spanish city to celebrate Easter on their own terms. Also, going out for a few drinks is a must for the simple fact that it's one of the best things to do in Barcelona at night all year round.