Things to do in May in Barcelona

The month of May is an exciting time in Barcelona. The days are getting longer, the temperatures are rising and those lazy summer days are just a few weeks away.

Add to that a whole host of amazing events and you’ve got a very special time of the year. Need some tips on what to do this month? Here’s our pick of the events and activities during May in Barcelona. 

The Night of the Museums

Known locally as La Nit del Museus, Barcelona’s Night of the Museums is a nocturnal culture-fest during which 74 museums and spaces across Barcelona open their doors to the public, free of charge. Many of the venues are closed all year round, opened solely for this special night, which brings an air of magic to the whole evening.  

If you’ve got the patience, join the queues and visit the city’s star attractions, including the MNAC (National Art Gallery of Catalonia) and the Picasso Museum. If you’re on the lookout for lesser-visited gems, head to Montjuïc Castle or the Sant Pau Recinte Modernista building.

The Night of the Museums takes place on Saturday 16th May, running from 7pm until 1am.

Spanish Grand Prix

 

The biggest show in the world of motorsport skids into town from the 20th to 22nd May. Taking place at the Circuit de Barcelona race track, the world’s best drivers will compete for the podium, as the punters enjoy a few too many cervezas and bask in the Spanish sun. If cars are your thing, it’s hard to compete with the Spanish Grand Prix for sheer thrills and high octane fun.

Tickets are selling out faster than a Hamilton home straight, so snap yours up before you’re left in the dust.   

Postcards from Other Worlds

Why gaze at the stars when you can walk among them? For those who prefer kicks of the cosmic variety, CosmoCaixa’s jaw-dropping Postcards from Other Worlds exhibition invites us to take an incredible journey to outer space. With the help of detailed photography of the planets of our solar system and CosmoCaixa’s ‘fulldome’ projection, Barcelona’s premier science museum offers us a new perspective on these distant worlds. 

From giant volcanoes on Mars and frozen deserts on Europa to methane lakes on Titan and mud geysers on Triton, the interstellar settings make this an unmissable exhibition. Entry is €6 and Postcards from Outer Worlds runs until mid-June.

Temps de Flors

Okay, so we’re veering away from Barcelona territory here. But Girona’s sensational Temps de Flors is too good to leave out. While Girona may be renowned as a filming location for Game of Thrones, the real reason you should visit this ancient city is this spectacular show of colour. An annual event showcasing hundreds of handmade floral displays, Temps de Flors is a celebration of colour, nature and artistry – the perfect way to open the garden gate to the summer season.

Of course, Girona is pretty as a picture all year round. But when the whole town is adorned with flowers of every colour under the sun, it’s simply sensational. Temps de Flors runs from 7th to the 15th May and you can get there via the high-speed AVE train, with regular departures from Barcelona’s Sants Station. 

The Magic Fountain

Finally, it’s back! After a two year hiatus, Barcelona’s famed Font Mágica returns to bring a little magic into our lives once more. A mesmerising mixture of music, light and colour, the Magic Fountain never fails to take the breath away – whether you’re aged 8, 80, or somewhere in between. Located between Plaça d’Espanya and the MNAC (the National Art Gallery of Catalonia), it’s a free event that’s the perfect way to end a day exploring this wonderful city.

Shows run from 9pm to 10pm, Thursdays to Saturdays, and should continue throughout the summer.