{"id":78543,"date":"2016-09-15T14:37:59","date_gmt":"2016-09-15T12:37:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.shbarcelona.com\/blog\/en\/?p=78543"},"modified":"2021-10-13T18:51:21","modified_gmt":"2021-10-13T16:51:21","slug":"off-season-trip-barcelona","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shbarcelona.com\/blog\/en\/off-season-trip-barcelona\/","title":{"rendered":"Why You Should Consider an Off-Season Trip to Barcelona"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">When people say <strong>Barcelona<\/strong>, the image that comes to mind is a long stretch of sandy\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.shbarcelona.com\/blog\/en\/barcelona-beach\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>beach<\/strong><\/a> and bathing in the <strong>summer<\/strong> sun against a backdrop of bright blue skies.\u00a0Internationally, the Catalonian capital is a famed summertime destination, boasting\u00a0soaring temperatures and a coastline to die for. However, this wonderfully diverse city is still alive and buzzing after the <strong>tourist\u00a0season<\/strong> is over. In reality, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shbarcelona.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">visiting Barcelona<\/a> during the <strong>off-peak months<\/strong> comes with\u00a0its own benefits and is worth considering!<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Related article: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shbarcelona.com\/blog\/en\/budget-travel-on-the-budget-in-barcelona\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Budget travel: On the budget in Barcelona<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_17 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-grey\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class=\"ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1\"><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.shbarcelona.com\/blog\/en\/off-season-trip-barcelona\/#Low_Costs\" title=\"Low Costs\">Low Costs<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.shbarcelona.com\/blog\/en\/off-season-trip-barcelona\/#More_Space\" title=\"More Space\">More Space<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.shbarcelona.com\/blog\/en\/off-season-trip-barcelona\/#Winter_Festivals\" title=\"Winter Festivals\">Winter Festivals<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.shbarcelona.com\/blog\/en\/off-season-trip-barcelona\/#Tepid_Temperatures\" title=\"Tepid Temperatures\">Tepid Temperatures<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.shbarcelona.com\/blog\/en\/off-season-trip-barcelona\/#Local_Adventures\" title=\"Local Adventures\">Local Adventures<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Low_Costs\"><\/span><strong>Low Costs<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<div id=\"attachment_78569\" style=\"width: 310px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-78569\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-78569\" src=\"https:\/\/www.shbarcelona.com\/blog\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/2-low-angle-view-of-airplane-in-clouds-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"Photo via Visualhunt\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-78569\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo via Visualhunt<\/p><\/div>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">For most, opting for an off-season trip is a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shbarcelona.com\/blog\/en\/enjoying-barcelona-on-a-budget\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>budget<\/strong><\/a> decision. While this is not the\u00a0only reason why you should visit the city out of the summer months, it is a substantial\u00a0benefit.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">As a general rule, <strong>flights<\/strong> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shbarcelona.com\/blog\/en\/cheapest-hotels\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>hotels<\/strong><\/a> drop their prices once the main tourist flock has\u00a0gone home. This means you could even splurge and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shbarcelona.com\/short-term-rentals\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" class=\"broken_link\">treat yourself to an apartment<\/a>\u00a0for the trip. When booking your flights and hotels, use a <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Virtual_private_network\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\"><strong>Virtual Private Network<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0(VPN), particularly on aggregate sites such as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kayak.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\"><strong>Kayak<\/strong><\/a>. A VPN can open you up to a\u00a0whole range of potential savings. There are many varieties of this software available,\u00a0so simply do some research and find the best for you.<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"More_Space\"><\/span><strong>More Space<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">An <strong>off-season trip<\/strong> gives visitors the chance to enjoy Barcelona\u2019s spectacular <strong>sights<\/strong>\u00a0without drowning in a sea of tourists. Wander <a href=\"https:\/\/parkguell.barcelona\/en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\"><strong>Parc G\u00fcell<\/strong><\/a> in solitude or investigate\u00a0the hidden beauty of the <span class=\"removed_link\" title=\"https:\/\/www.tripadvisor.com\/Attraction_Review-g187497-d190162-Reviews-Gothic_Quarter_Barri_Gotic-Barcelona_Catalonia.html\"><strong>Gothic Quarter<\/strong><\/span>. Not only will this make for a more\u00a0enjoyable experience, it will provide spectacular <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shbarcelona.com\/blog\/en\/barcelona-for-photography-lovers\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>photo<\/strong><\/a> opportunities.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">However, there is a word of warning. Due to the reduced traffic, many of the <strong>main\u00a0attractions<\/strong> vary their opening times during the colder months. For example, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shbarcelona.com\/blog\/en\/antoni-gaudi\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Gaudi<\/strong><\/a>\u2019s\u00a0famed cathedral masterpiece, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.sagradafamilia.org\/en\/opening-hours\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">La Sagrada Familia<\/a>, closes a few hours earlier in\u00a0spring and autumn and is only open for half the day during winter.<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Winter_Festivals\"><\/span><strong>Winter Festivals<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<div id=\"attachment_78568\" style=\"width: 310px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-78568\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-78568\" src=\"https:\/\/www.shbarcelona.com\/blog\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/6556126661_cbbce28571_z-300x205.jpg\" alt=\"Photo by MiquelGP54 via Visualhunt\" width=\"300\" height=\"205\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-78568\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo by MiquelGP54 via Visualhunt<\/p><\/div>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Winter<\/strong> in Barcelona offers a whole host of <strong>events<\/strong>, <strong>festivals<\/strong> and <strong>local celebrations<\/strong> that\u00a0will be the cherry on top of your Spanish adventure.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The <strong>Sagrada Familia<\/strong> is home to a beautiful <strong>Christmas fair<\/strong> in December, with over\u00a0100 stalls selling great gifts and decorations. For even more choice, head down to\u00a0the <strong>Catedral de Barcelona<\/strong> and explore the whopping 300 stalls of the festive market\u00a0in its surrounding squares.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The winter season also sees the cities famed center square, <strong>Pla\u00e7a de Catalunya<\/strong>,\u00a0turn into a sparkling ice rink where winter visitors can skate with the locals.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Related article: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shbarcelona.com\/blog\/en\/winter-season-barcelona-discover-the-natural-beauty-of-barcelona\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Discover the natural beauty of Barcelona in winter<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Tepid_Temperatures\"><\/span><strong>Tepid Temperatures<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<div id=\"attachment_78570\" style=\"width: 310px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-78570\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-78570\" src=\"https:\/\/www.shbarcelona.com\/blog\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/18395818651_5d96158336_z-300x188.jpg\" alt=\"Photo by AlexDROP via Visualhunt\" width=\"300\" height=\"188\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-78570\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo by AlexDROP via Visualhunt<\/p><\/div>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The main concern most have when considering an off-season trip is the <strong>weather<\/strong>.\u00a0While you won\u2019t need sunscreen and bikinis during a winter trip to Barcelona, the\u00a0<strong>temperature<\/strong> stays pleasant all year round, averaging 60 degrees Fahrenheit (15\u00baC) at its\u00a0coldest. This means you can still wander the streets without worrying about having to\u00a0wrap up, and evening strolls on the beach can be a great way to enjoy the city\u2019s famed\u00a0coastline.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Visiting at this time of year also allows you to explore the surrounding <strong>mountains<\/strong>.\u00a0The hike up <strong><a class=\"zem_slink\" title=\"Montju\u00efc\" href=\"http:\/\/maps.google.com\/maps?ll=41.3641666667,2.15805555556&amp;spn=0.1,0.1&amp;q=41.3641666667,2.15805555556 (Montju%C3%AFc)&amp;t=h\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"geolocation noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Montju\u00efc<\/a><\/strong> is much more appealing when you don\u2019t have to battle the\u00a0sizzling heat, and the views it provides over the city are equally as beautiful.\u00a0Similarly, the <strong>Tibidabo amusement park<\/strong> is infinitely better with a cool breeze on your\u00a0back and is much less busy in winter; however, beware the variation in opening times.<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Local_Adventures\"><\/span><strong>Local Adventures<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Without the push for tourism that floods summertime in Barcelona, off-peak visitors\u00a0are offered an incredibly exclusive luxury. There\u2019s far more chance of experiencing\u00a0the <strong>local culture<\/strong> when you aren\u2019t distracted by the thriving summer holiday industry.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">At this time of year, <strong>restaurants<\/strong> are brimming with natives, so it\u2019s easy to find local\u00a0favorites by simply judging the lines at the door. Similarly, without the rush of <a href=\"http:\/\/www.catalannewsagency.com\/life-style\/item\/tourism-boom-in-barcelona-strengthening-the-economy-or-troubling-local-residents\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">alco-tourism<\/a> that descends on Barcelona every summer, it\u2019s easy to find the intimate,\u00a0cultural <strong>bars<\/strong> that are true hidden gems to uncover.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">In these venues, you are sure to chat with native Catalonians and find\u00a0recommendations of their favorite things to do. Visiting Barcelona in this way is\u00a0bound to ensure you a truly authentic and unique experience you wouldn\u2019t find in\u00a0even the best travel guides.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">So what are you waiting for? This year, why not step outside the box, and book a\u00a0<strong>winter trip<\/strong> to this fantastic European hotspot of culture, architecture and beauty!<\/p>\n<div style=\"display: none;\"\n    class=\"kk-star-ratings kksr-valign-bottom kksr-align-left \"\n    data-id=\"78543\"\n    data-slug=\"\">\n    <div class=\"kksr-stars\">\n    <div class=\"kksr-stars-inactive\">\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\" data-star=\"1\">\n            <div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 25px; height: 25px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\" data-star=\"2\">\n            <div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 25px; height: 25px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\" data-star=\"3\">\n            <div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 25px; height: 25px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\" data-star=\"4\">\n            <div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 25px; height: 25px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\" data-star=\"5\">\n            <div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 25px; height: 25px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n    <div class=\"kksr-stars-active\" style=\"width: 150px;\">\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\">\n            <div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 25px; height: 25px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\">\n            <div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 25px; height: 25px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\">\n            <div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 25px; height: 25px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\">\n            <div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 25px; height: 25px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\">\n            <div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 25px; height: 25px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n    <div class=\"kksr-legend\">\n            <strong class=\"kksr-score\">5<\/strong>\n        <span class=\"kksr-muted\">\/<\/span>\n        <strong>5<\/strong>\n        <span class=\"kksr-muted\">(<\/span>\n        <strong class=\"kksr-count\">1<\/strong>\n        <span class=\"kksr-muted\">\n            vote        <\/span>\n        <span class=\"kksr-muted\">)<\/span>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When people say Barcelona, the image that comes to mind is a long stretch of sandy\u00a0beach and bathing in the summer sun against a backdrop of bright blue skies.\u00a0Internationally, the Catalonian capital is a famed summertime destination, boasting\u00a0soaring temperatures and a coastline to die for. However, this wonderfully diverse city is still alive and buzzing [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":104,"featured_media":78573,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[4473],"tags":[176,6386,6385,6387,6389,6388],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shbarcelona.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/78543"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shbarcelona.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shbarcelona.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shbarcelona.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/104"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shbarcelona.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=78543"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/www.shbarcelona.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/78543\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":110609,"href":"https:\/\/www.shbarcelona.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/78543\/revisions\/110609"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shbarcelona.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/78573"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shbarcelona.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=78543"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shbarcelona.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=78543"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shbarcelona.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=78543"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}