San Juan night in Barcelona: enjoy the most magical festival of the year between bonfires and beaches.

If we had to choose in LOCK & enjoy! a party that is a real spectacle of fire, music and energy, without a doubt it would be the night of San Juan in Barcelona. Therefore, you have an appointment on June 23rd at any of the city’s beaches, as they are transformed into a real party. Are you ready to enjoy the shortest and most vibrant night of the whole calendar? For this, we have prepared a guide for you to live the experience to the fullest and with total freedom.

What is the origin of the night of San Juan in Barcelona?

Its exact origin is unknown, but it is known that it has very deep roots, being a mixture of pagan rites, but also with Christian traditions. Popular legends tell that fire, the main protagonist, purifies and drives away evil spirits. In addition, it is the festival that kicks off the summer. However, the music, the joy of the people and the firecrackers are also a fundamental part of this celebration. In many parts of Spain it is also celebrated, but only at night as, for example, in Alicante or Valencia. On the other hand, the feast of San Juan in Barcelona begins long before sunset. For example, in some neighborhoods, verbenas are held during the day or concerts until nightfall, as this is when the party takes on a more special character.

Where to experience the night of San Juan in Barcelona?

The city of Barcelona is immense and, in addition, in every neighborhood there are activities scheduled for this day, but there are a number of places that are very popular during the night of San Juan. The epicenter of the party is the Barceloneta and Sant Sebastià beaches. These places are where thousands of people gather to dance, swim at midnight or watch the fireworks. We would like to point out that it is a celebration that knows neither age nor borders because there are old and old people, and even children. Before going to the beaches, leave your valuables in one of our lockers in Sagrada Familia. Lockers in Sagrada Familia or in the Lockers in Barcelona Sants.. However, if you are one of those who prefer a quieter plan, we recommend that you choose any of the neighborhoods that there are, as popular lunches and dinners are organized by the neighbors. The best of all is that they are in the street, creating a more local and familiar atmosphere. We recommend the ones in Poble- sec, Eixample or Gràcia. On the other hand, keep in mind that this night is magical. Therefore, you can also take the opportunity to organize a romantic evening with your partner and that the magic will also infect you. In LOCK & enjoy! we advise you to climb Montjuïc or the bunkers located in the Carmel district to contemplate the best views of the city.

What to do in San Juan in Barcelona

In the city of Barcelona there are numerous activities to do during this day, but in LOCK & enjoy! we have prepared a small itinerary that can be very useful if it is your first day of vacation:

1. It is recommended that you start your day without any load (backpacks, suitcases, valuables, etc.). For this reason, you have Lockers in Barcelona to rent a Luggage storage for as long as you need.
2. An evening with a view? The good weather is here, so go up to a terrace in the Born or Raval area to enjoy a drink. For example, in the Born you have the terrace El Jardinet del Born and in the Raval the Hotel Barceló.
3. At dinner time you can choose any of the restaurants in the area. However, it is very common to prepare a picnic to dine directly on the beach. We also recommend you to buy in one of the bakeries of the city, the famous coca de Sant Joan, a typical Catalan sweet.
4. Around 11:00 p.m. go to the beach to enjoy the atmosphere, as there is no written script. The vast majority of people are with their friends or partner dancing around a bonfire or just enjoying one of the first summer nights. Do you also dare to bathe at night? It is a ritual that is also part of the festivity.

If you have energy and desire to continue, keep in mind that June 24 is an official holiday throughout Catalonia. Therefore, most pubs and nightclubs are open until the wee hours of the morning.

Tips to enjoy

The first thing is to wear comfortable shoes because, although it is summer, it is not the time to wear heels or shoes. The night of San Juan in Barcelona is very uninhibited, so wear the most comfortable shoes possible. Don’t be too confident about the temperature, since even though it is officially summer on June 23rd, it gets cooler at night on the coast. Therefore, take some thin long sleeves if you are going to be on the beach for a long time. On the other hand, keep in mind that during this holiday it is common to throw firecrackers. Therefore, if you go with children be cautious and always follow the safety measures. Enjoy the Night of San Juan in Barcelona! If you do not end up too tired, the next day you can take advantage of the holiday and hire any of the tourist activities in Barcelona.