WE EXPLAIN THE BEST PLANS TO ENJOY EASTER IN BARCELONA
Beautifully woven palm fronds for sale in the center of town. One of Barcelona’s most stunning tourist attractions covered in beautiful rays of light. Awe-inspiring processions at a beautiful cathedral. And football players made of chocolate in bakery displays around the city. If you’re going to be in Barcelona around Easter, you picked a spectacular time to go; you’ll see all these things and more! Here’s your one-stop guide to all the special things Barcelona has to offer during Easter time, as well as some tips to help you make the most of your stay.
BUY A PALM FROND ON PALM SUNDAY
Traditionally, in Barcelona, godparents give their godchildren palm fronds on Palm Sunday, the Sunday before Easter. This is because of the biblical narrative that, on this day, Jesus entered Jerusalem and the inhabitants of the city laid out palm fronds in front of him. The priests even bless all the palm fronds after each mass this Sunday! You can buy palm fronds for yourself, along with sweets, small toys, and many other cool finds, in markets near Sagrada Familia and on the street Rambla de Catalunya, near Carrer de la Diputació and Carrer Aragó. In 2024, the market by Sagrada Familia is open from March 20 to March 24, and the market on Rambla de Catalunya is open from March 20 to March 23.
GOOD TIPS:
- Keep an eye on your belongings if you’re going to La Sagrada Familia.
- Sant Jordi Hostels Rock Palace is a 3 minute walk from the market on Rambla de Catalunya, and is also near Casa Batlló, Las Ramblas, and many other must-see attractions!
SEE THE LIGHT DISPLAY AT LA SAGRADA FAMILIA
The stunning La Sagrada Familia Basilica is sure to amaze visitors at any point of the year. The basilica is uniquely beautiful, however, at certain times during the evening at the beginning of Holy Week, when a 30-minute musical light show is projected onto its Passion Facade to tell the story of Jesus’s crucifixion. In 2024, this display will be taking place on March 24, March 25, and March 26, with two showings per day, one at 8pm and one at 8:45pm.
GOOD TIPS:
- You can get to the Sagrada Familia easily by taking the L2 (Purple) or L5 (Blue) lines to the Sagrada Familia metro station.
- If you’re staying at Sant Jordi Hostels Sagrada Familia, the church is just a 10-minute walk away!
- Keep an eye on your belongings.
CHECK OUT THE PROCESSIONS AT THE CATHEDRAL OF BARCELONA
The Friday before Easter is the day that Christians around the world remember the death of Jesus. In Barcelona, there are many religious processions on this day, with floats that show religious figures and moments from this story. They all go to the Cathedral of Barcelona, so, in order to see the processions, go to the cathedral in the early evening.
GOOD TIPS:
- Keep an eye on your belongings.
- The closest metro station to the cathedral is Jaume I, which you can reach on the L4 line.
ENJOY LA MONA DE PASCUA–A TRADITIONAL EASTER DESSERT
Another traditional thing for godparents to give to their godchildren is La Mona de Pascua, a dessert eaten on Easter Monday. La Mona de Pascua is a delicious cake topped with chocolate, but not just any chocolate! The chocolate that tops La Mona always has an amazing design, and it can be anything from chocolate eggs and chicks, to chocolate movie characters, and even chocolate FC Barcelona stars! Throughout Holy Week, you’ll see all kinds of spectacular chocolate creations in window displays of bakeries throughout Barcelona. You’ll definitely want to buy one of these cakes for yourself after seeing all the displays!
GOOD TIPS:
- It’ll be hard, but remember to follow tradition and wait until Easter Monday to enjoy this delicious treat!
TIP TO KEEP IN MIND: SHOP CLOSURES
On Good Friday, Easter Sunday, and Easter Monday, many shops and restaurants are closed, including the La Boquería market. If you’re going to be in Barcelona during Holy Week, make sure to plan ahead of time where you want to eat, and what day you want to experience La Boquería. The other tourist attractions will be open, which leads us to…
TIP TO KEEP IN MIND: BOOK AHEAD!
Easter time is an amazing time to visit Barcelona–you’ll experience great weather and see so many cool things! However, this is a very common vacation week in Europe, and thus, the tourist attractions are going to be crowded. Make sure to book ahead to ensure that you see all the cool spots, like Parc Güell, La Sagrada Familia, Casa Batlló, and La Pedrera!
