Sundrenched plazas, overcrowded beaches, and an influx of humans planning a trip to experience summer in Barcelona comes with its ups and downs. Families escape to their summer homes in the mountains and that leaves us young folk and tourists to survive the heat of the Barcelona summer together. And us seasoned locals are trying to live out our regular lives and tourists are flocking in… here’s how to survive summer in Barcelona. Let’s go!
Sun protection is key.
The city gets roughly 10 hours of sunshine a day in July. That’s a lot. Those UV rays aren’t weak either. They average around 6-9 on the UV index scale.
This means you should steer clear of sitting in the direct sunlight (especially at the beach omg are you crazy), liberally apply sunscreen, wear a hat, and cover up as much as possible.
If the UV index scale is sounding like a foreign language, check this out.
Explore new places in the city.
If you are desperate to escape the tourists, spend some time acquainting yourself with other parts of the city. Wander the wide streets of Poblenou, meander the hilly paths of Gràcia, or rejuvenate yourself with a walk through a park at Montjuïc.
Looking for sites to see? Check out these non-touristy Barcelona secret spots for some things to do in Barcelona this summer.
Get a good-quality fan & stay cool at home.
Most of us who live here don’t have air-conditioning (which I’m happy about because we all know it’s not good for the environment), so invest in a good-quality fan so you can get some rest and attempt to cool down back at home.
Other ways to help stay cool at home would include putting ice in front of your fan to help generate cool air — it’s like a ghetto AC! Also, keep an ice pack or one of those jelly packs for your body in the freezer and use it when you’re feeling super warm. Sometimes I even just put a cool wet towel on my stomach. It helps cool me down instantly.
If I, a super heat sensitive, rosacea-skinned chica, can survive summers in Barcelona AC-free, so can you! Woohoo!
Use a hand fan when walking around the city.
I always have a paper fan in my purse to survive summer in Barcelona. You can find these available at shops throughout the city and they’re around one or two euros. Think bazars, ALE-HOP, Muy Mucho, and similar shops to quickly score a fan. You can even buy those battery powered ones that squirt you with water.
Keep it loose.
Wear loose clothing to help stay cool during summer in Barcelona. The last thing you want is to feel constricted in tight clothing. Instead, let a breeze embrace you and help keep you comfortable and cool while walking in Barcelona in summer.
Linens are your friend! Linen helps keep your skin protected but its still lightweight and cool, making it the perfect fabric to wear in Barcelona this summer. Head to boutique shops in barrios like Born or clothing stores such as Uniqlo or Natura for linen goodies.
See my essential guide on what to wear in Barcelona in summer.
Skip Barceloneta Beach and head outside of the city.
Beaches outside of Barcelona are far nicer and less crowded than those in the city like Barceloneta and Bogetell (says the girl who never goes to the beach).
If I go to a beach near Barcelona, I would go to Castelldefels because the town is cute and the beaches and wide and cleaner than in the city. Montgat Nord is also a great alternative!
Here are some of the best beaches outside of Barcelona.
Those are just a few tips to survive summer in Barcelona. Now don’t forget to look out for pickpocketers because that’s an entire other Barcelona issue. Read all about how to avoid pickpockets in Barcelona (and Europe!)
