Halloween in Barcelona!
Another spooky time of year is upon us! Halloween in Barcelona is quickly becoming another widely celebrated event as more and more activities pop up all over town.
I’m sure there are late night parties or dinner events, but my experience is squarely in the family friendly space, so here are my recommendations!
Poble Espanyol or Spanish Village for some scary Halloween fun is a spot easily accessible by public transit. There are a few ways to get there from Placa Catalunya. You can either go to the Placa Espanya train stop or Montjuic. Or, if you’re on a short trip, just take the hop on hop off bus. They will drop you off right in front.
As well, each section of the village represents a region in Spain. The architecture, decor, and colors of each area. Whether it’s the charm of the north or the flower pots and painted window shutters of the south.
If you don’t have time to visit all of Spain – spend an afternoon in the Spanish village in Barcelona!
We have visited the Poble Espanyol on many occasions at different times of the year or for some of their children’s events.
They often have live bands play at night and food trucks and markets set up, so it’s definitely worth checking out the website.
Last year, they had a haunted house, scary outdoor play areas, and loads of pumpkins, ghoulish masks, and tombstones everywhere.
It actually wasn’t that scary, which is good. Our son was little. But it definitely got us in the Halloween Spirit.
As well, shops like Vicens had lots of tasty festive chocolates. It’s not always easy to find vegan chocolate, but dark chocolate seems to be popular in Spain, so we managed.
The front entrance area is always colorful with canopies for every season. Autumn leaves draped between buildings for Halloween, but sometimes you’ll find umbrellas or Christmas garlands hanging seemingly from the sky.
Nothing says Halloween like a cup of dry-leaf tea without water and a glow-in-the-dark skeleton sweatsuit. This was a few years ago but I seem to get a new skeleton costume or shirt every year.
This year my son is going as a mummy or Iron man depending on the event. My husband and I are unsure of what to wear. We either go big for the photos and memories or just find a funny hat or eye mask.
And of course what to eat? Although I don’t have an official Halloween meal, I did make Jack-o-lantern carrot/raisin muffins for the past few years. Very tasty!
Portaventura Our home away from home! The only place we visit where everyone is super happy and grateful -lol! We stayed at Portaventura for two Halloweens in a row and had the best time. So many spooky decorations, treats, and costumes.
There are lots of great activities for kids. They include magic and bubble shows. There’s also a haunted house. Staff members walk around in scary costumes.
I don’t usually go out at night. Therefore, walking around the spooky amusement park in the ghoulish darkness was liberating and fun.
There are dinner shows and dances on random stages. People are everywhere. There is plenty to eat and lots of great souvenirs to buy. As well, quite a few rides were still operating after dark. I thought people were nuts to ride the condor by day, but at night is another level!
We usually stay two nights and three days. The first night is exciting with Halloween festivities. It is also super busy.
I think a lot of people come in from all over just for the night. So, my advice is to stay an extra day before or after to enjoy the decorations and rides in a quieter, less crowded environment.
Lots of spooky delicious treats on the hotel buffets. I don’t think there was much for vegan besides fruit but for anyone else it was a true sugary paradise. Super creative and festive!
If you are interested in staying at Portaventura, check out my posts here and here for more information.
We have visited the park four times. During these visits, we stayed at four different hotels. So, we have quite a bit of insider info. I will say that they hire the best staff. No hotel was better or worse than another. Each had just a different vibe or decorative theme.
Tibidabo Amusement Park Is another great spot to celebrate Halloween. Whether you go in the day or night, the decorations and vibes are always fun and festive!
As well, there are a couple of good places for vegan and vegetarian food. A Pizza place and a new food court that offers poke bowls and pasta. I’ll tell you more later!
This year, we are heading out of the city for a completely different type of Halloween experience. First, we are staying at a gorgeous resort near the medieval city of Vic, Spain.
After enjoying our vegan breakfast overlooking the beautiful views of a massive reservoir, we will visit the nearby towns to experience their Halloween and local La Castanyada events.
I’ll be sure to write about our experiences, as I have a feeling it’s going to be fantastic! Or should I say, phantom-tastic??
