Ash
Written by Ash

Weather in Barcelona in October

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Fact: Barcelona spoils residents and tourists alike with its humid subtropical climate.

But at what time of year do we knock off the beach tourism and focus on the cultural offerings?

Simply put, the weather in Barcelona in October can be tricky.

You may not know what to go for so make sure you come prepared with all the weather info you need to pack your bags and maximize your holiday – with this handy October weather guide!

REMEMBER: please hit me up in the comments below if you need any help planning your trip 🙂

BARCELONA OCTOBER WEATHER

By October things have cooled down to a pleasant warmth.

In all you’ll get a mixed bag. While it’s not exactly time to break out the heavy coats it’s clear that the best beaches in Barcelona have been put on hold for another season.

You can still go swimming early but the days to do so are dwindling.

At any rate it’ll be warm and sunny and better than pretty much anything in Europe.

  • Average daily high: 22°C (72°F).
  • Average daily low: 11°C (51°F).
  • Average sea temperature: 22°C (72°F).
  • Daily sunshine hours: 8.

Day lengths continue to decrease in October with October 1st averaging 10.2 hours of daylight while October 31st has 11.4.

As the long days of winter in Barcelona approach you may find yourself more at Barcelona’s top museums than taking a dip in the Med.

BARCELONA WEATHER IN OCTOBER – PROBLEMS

The problem with the weather in Barcelona in October is the unpredictability.

Especially in early parts of the month October can bring summer-like heat pushing 25-28°C. On the other hand October is one of the wettest months of the year with a 30% chance of precipitation on any day of the month.

October traditionally brings 10 days of rain and you can expect moderate rain with the odd thundershower.

In all 3 inches of rain fall during October – little for the UK or Pacific Northwest, but a lot for Spain.

Locals tend to unpack their autumn attire but keep a t-shirt or two handy.

There’s a median cloud cover of about 43% so you should get clear skies more than half the time.

For humidity you should know that relative levels range from 57% (mild) to 92% (high) and rarely go below the comfortable level of 40%. If you’re sensitive to humidity I suggest the following:

  • Wear loose, light clothing made from natural fabrics like cotton.
  • Pass on doing any exercise outside.
  • Drink lots of water.
  • Stay away from too many alcoholic and sugary drinks.
  • Book a hotel or hostel that has air conditioning.

Moderate winds range from 8 mph to 14 mph – if you want surfing or windsurfing this (or any time) isn’t your time of year – you may want to head north to the Basque Country for that.

sagrada familia passion façade under construction sagrada familia passion façade under construction
Save up to €30 on your Barcelona holiday right from the couch.

PACKING FOR BARCELONA WEATHER IN OCTOBER

The weather in Barcelona in October is a mixed bag and that’s exactly what your suitcase is gonna be.

Make sure you take a bit of everything save heavy winter jackets.

If you’re coming to Barcelona on low-cost airlines to El Prat, Girona, and Reus airports make sure you wear your heavier items on board so they don’t count against your 10 kg limit: this could save €30.00 or more.

When coming to Barcelona in October make sure you pack:

  • A light jacket/windbreaker.
  • T-shirts and shorts.
  • Loose fitting natural fabric shirts for humid days.
  • A pair of long pants.
  • A sweater for evenings.
  • Sunglasses.
  • Flip flops and swimsuit (if coming early in the month)

Again, these are only suggestions and I suggest you check the weather forecast before leaving.

Barcelona Weather in October Activities

October in Barcelona marks the shift from outdoor activities to the indoors.

Sure, sunny days are still a great time to explore Barcelona’s beaches, learn at historic Montjuic Hill, or take in the city’s best view from Turo de la Rovira but when temperatures drop and the clouds roll in you need to get cultural.

The changing of the seasons marks a great time to check out La Boqueria Market. Not only will you find the classic Spanish hams (try Joselito) and cheeses (try manchego o cabrales) but the seasonal fruits like mandarins and pomegranates are almost candy-like.

Heck, you really can’t go wrong at any of Barcelona’s best markets.

With the summer crowds thinning out October is the perfect month to take in Barcelona’s architectural gems. You’ll be so thankful for having more peace in quiet to take in places like the Sagrada Familia basilica and Casa Batllo.

The lack of sweltering temperatures mean it’s more comfortable to visit Europe’s greatest urban park: Park Guell – you’ll be happy to see it at 22°C instead of 32°C when you’re taking that walk uphill.

October also means the return of football season: and what better place to mark the occasion than having a tour at one of football’s most legendary stadiums Camp Nou?

You may also want to take in a game and watch Leo Messi and Neymar live checking the schedule here.

Still Need Barcelona October Weather Info?

If you’re somehow still not an expert on the weather in Barcelona in October then make sure you ask me about any missing information in the comments below.

Also, if you’ve got any constructive criticism for the blog I’m always looking for ways to improve so please fire way!

Have a nice October 🙂

  • October 21, 2019 at 5:03 pm
    Ernesto
    Hello! so I will be in Barcelona for six months and I was wondering what my packing list should look like. I'm from America and it looks like Europe has more of a classy fitted look than Americas unorthodox looks.
    • October 22, 2019 at 8:28 am
      ashley
      Team Member
      Ash
      Ha! Well... I certainly wouldn't consider myself a style guru of any sort but yes. Europeans tend to wear more fitted clothing and most wouldn't be caught dead wearing running shoes on a day to day basics as Americans do. Other than this I'd just say... come as you are! There are all types of people in Barcelona and you'll find a place to fit in :)
  • September 19, 2019 at 3:02 pm
    Tabita Toth
    Thanks for your advices - I will consider these when packing for our short visit on 4-7th October. I really hope that this early October time will be nice to us and let us swim a bit in the sea as well :)
  • September 16, 2019 at 4:35 pm
    Rosalie Laurencio
    These are great tips. We will be in Barcelona Oct 25-30. Then to Granada and Seville for several days. Looking for your recommendations here.
  • August 19, 2019 at 10:46 pm
    Sylvia Badolato
    We will arrive in Barcelona mid October, and will heed your comments about the weather, only hoping for sunshine most of the time! You have an interesting site that we will be exploring. We have only one day in Barcelona before we pick up our tour on a small ship cruise. So, want to make the most of that one day One of our absolutes is the La Familia. Can you please advise if we are okay to assume we can get into the church without purchasing tickets before leaving the U.S. High tour season should be winding down, so hope we are okay. Thank you for your help.
    • September 11, 2019 at 6:32 pm
      Tammy
      Heading on Oceania by chance? We get on the Sirena on Friday October 11th!!
    • August 20, 2019 at 9:38 am
      ashley
      Team Member
      Ash
      Hi Sylvia, Not to worry... the weather is still great in October so you should be fine :) About the tickets I would not risk it even in low season since the Sagrada is so popular... it would be a shame to have to line up or be asked to come back at a much later time slot and throw off your whole day. Rule of thumb for this attraction is always purchase in advance. Cheers, Ash
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