Autumn is the nostalgic season par excellence. The sun sets earlier, the weather gets colder and it seems we should start sheltering below a blanket in the sofa… ShBarcelona wants you to escape from the blanket and proposes 5 things to do in autumn in Barcelona!
Chestnuts and sweet potatoes
You will have surely seen the chestnuts stands in lots of streets and corners in Barcelona. Typical from the 31st of October, when the castanyera comes and starts selling the chestnuts, the stands will remain all autumn and winter. Today the kinds of sellers are quite varied (you will find more variations to the traditional lady selling the chestnuts), but the stands keep its traditional essence. Served in a newspaper cone, hot chestnuts can be a delicious (and cheap) treat to enjoy while walking around. And remember they also sell boniatos (sweet potatoes). You can find a list with all the stands here.
Get inspired
Autumn is also one of the most beautiful and photogenic times of the year. Take your camera or phone and capture the beauty of the leaves falling on the streets or in the parks. If you prefer a more natural stage, Barcelona has many parks you can discover and photograph (Ciutadella, Turo Park or Parc Central del Poblenou are just some examples). You can also try the Montjuich hill, which also hosts some parks and flower gardens or if you feel like escaping a bit from the city (but not too far away) take the Ferrocarrils to Collserola (stops Vallvidrera, les Planes, la Floresta, Valldoreix or Sant Cugat).
Take shelter in a nice cafe
Now that the weather is colder and afternoons darker, finding a nice and comfy cafe to enjoy a hot cup of coffee or tea is more than a pleasure. The choices in Barcelona are overwhelming: from the hipster and colourful spots in Sant Antoni (Federal is a classic, but you have a bit of everything, even a Wes Anderson-themed cafe!), to the always busy corners of Gotic and Born or the peaceful oasis of Enric Granados street (in the heart of Eixample). If you are more into tea, don’t miss our selection of tea places, and if you want a great combination of atmosphere, beautiful decoration and live music shows don’t miss Artte. If what you need is wifi, check these cafés!
Churros con chocolate
If you are looking for something more consistent and energetic try a traditional churros con chocolate. Perfect to raise your spirits and now you can afford the extra calories! There are lots of traditional churrerias where you can buy them, or don’t risk and try Granja La Pallaresa in Petritxol street (one of the classics in Barcelona). If you want a more modern touch try La Xocolateria by Oriol Balaguer in Born (they even invented a take away system for churros con chocolate).
Picking mushrooms
Going back to nature and outdoor activities, picking mushrooms is one of the favourite seasonal activities by many people and it can be really fun. If you don’t have a car or don’t want to rent one to look for routes near Barcelona, you can try Vallvidriera by ferrocarrils (Baixador de Vallvidriera stop can be a good start). Be careful though, you should go with someone that knows the kinds of mushrooms that can be picked, since some of them are toxic…
