April: Sant Jordi, the best day of the year
If there's one perfect day to be in Barcelona it's April 23: Sant Jordi turns the city into a giant book-and-rose party, with signings on every corner and half a million people in the street.
La Diada de Sant Jordi
Books and roses: the ramblas and promenades fill with book stalls and rose stands, writers sign from midday and landmark buildings open their doors. Book-and-rose is the tradition — take part.
Holy Week
With serious processions in El Born and the Raval and the holiday market: dates move each year, but the city fills with tourists that week — book ahead.
Cultural April
April 23 is also International Book Day, and the whole city takes part: libraries, publishers and pastry shops with rose and book in the window. The whole week breathes festive.