With the winter season coming to a close and the holidays now far behind us, February is the perfect time to give yourself a well-deserved break, and with so much going on, Barcelona is a great place to visit at this time of year.
Besides the sun, sea and beautiful architecture, Barcelona is going to be bursting with exciting events for you to experience this February. From costume parties on the beach, to fire-runs, to the future of communication, Gaudí´s city has plenty to offer tourists and locals alike, saying goodbye to winter with a bang! Read on to find out why you should visit Barcelona in February…
Sitges Carnival
You may have heard of the loud and bright Carnival in Rio de Janeiro, but you don´t have to go all the way to Brazil to get a taste of this fantastic festival! Carnival is celebrated across the city of Barcelona, but the biggest fiestas take place in Sitges, a picturesque beach town on the outskirts of the city. Only a 30-40 minute train ride from Barcelona, Sitges is renowned for its gay community, and lights up during the month of February with parties on the beach, parades, processions, music and dances in one of the biggest events of the year. Don’t forget to bring your costume!
When: 16 – 22 February, 2012 – parades taking place on Sunday 19th and Tuesday 21st of February.
Where: Sitges, near Barcelona
How to get there: Renfe trains from Passeig de Gràcia, Sants or Plaça Catalunya to Sigtes run frequently
Accommodation: Stay one of many Sitges apartments or an apartment in Barcelona and take a short train ride
GSMA Mobile World Congress
Towards the end of February, Barcelona will be buzzing with excitement (literally) as the largest mobile phone exhibition comes to town. Featuring the most advanced technology, the GSMA Mobile World Congress is an event where industry leaders, fanatics, experts and interested observers come together to display, demonstrate and discuss all in the field of mobiles. No longer just a means of communication, mobile phones today are our tour guides, books, entertainment and much more.
With around 60,000 people expected to attend this year, you could be among the first to take part in app competitions, and see what’s coming next in the mobile world.
When: 27 February – 1 March, 2012
Where: Fira de Montjuïc, Barcelona
How to get there: Metro stop – Espanya (L1 & L3)
Accommodation: Find a range of Barcelona apartments in the city centre and close to the Mobile World Congress
Cirque du Soleil – Corteo 2012
Head over to Barcelona this February and experience the most fantastic circus show in the world: the Cirque du Soleil. The adventure this year takes us into the imagination of a clown as he visualizes his own funeral taking place in a festive carnival atmosphere. The show features a variety of colorful characters, amazing stunts and laugh-out-loud sketches. Filled with passion, comedy, spontaneity and, of course, incredible talent, the Cirque du Soleil is one of life’s “must-see” performances.
When: 20 January – 26 February, 2012
Where: Grand Chapiteau at Plataforma Zoo Marino, Barcelona
How to get there: Metro stop: Selva de Mar or Maresme-Fòrum (L4)
Accommodation: Choose one of the many Barcelona beach apartments, close to the venue
Barcelona Children’s Festival – Festes de Santa Eulàlia
Also known as La Laia, this festival is arguably the biggest event for children in Barcelona as it celebrates the life of one of the city’s patron saints – Santa Eulàlia. Eulàlia was merely a teenager when she refused to recant her Christianity, which brought upon her a series of horrible tortures, including being rolled down a hill inside a knife-filled barrel.
The Festes de Santa Eulàlia feature over a hundred activities in locations all across the city, from public squares to museums. Included in the celebrations are many Catalan traditions such as, correfocs (fire-runs), sardanes (folk dancing) and castellers (human towers), as well as puppet shows and workshops. Although it is known as a children’s festival, this particular event is fun for all and promises a great opportunity to experience some fantastic culture in Barcelona.
When: 11 – 12 February, 2012
Where: Plaça Sant Jaume (Gothic Quarter) and various venues across the city including museums and the Montjuïc Castle – click here for more info on daily activities (Catalan)
How to get there: Metro stop – Jaume I (L4) for Plaça Sant Jaume
Accommodation: Choose from one of many central Barcelona apartments for excellent access to any of the participating venues
So, grab yourself some cheap flights to Barcelona and head on over to the Catalan capital this February to enjoy these fantastic events, as well as all the other sights that this beautiful city has to offer!
