Your April weather guide
MildWeather in Barcelona in April
April is a good fit for Barcelona if you want mild weather for exploring the city, rather than a beach holiday. Average daytime highs of 17.3°C make walking comfortable, but nights fall to 9.6°C, so pack layers rather than just summer clothes. The sea is cold at 14.3°C, and rain is a real consideration. Go for time outdoors with flexible plans, not for dependable heat or long, comfortable swims.
Long-term climate averages for Barcelona, not a forecast · 1991-2020
Barcelona, month by month
Your snapshot
At a glance
The useful details for Barcelona.
- Average daytime high
- 17.3°C
- 9 in 10 days stay below 21°C
- Average night-time low
- 9.6°C
- coldest 10% of nights: 7°C or lower
- Compared with London
- +3.8°C
- London averages 13.5°C in April
- Sea temperature
- 14.3°C
- year to year: 14°C to 15°C
- Sunshine per day (est.)
- 6.5h
- 50% of 13.1 h of daylight
- Rainy days (1 mm+)
- 9
- 54 mm over the month
- Humidity
- 76%
- Days over 25°C
- 0%
- none over 30°C
- Record high 1991-2020
- 24.3°C
- 2005-04-30
- Record low 1991-2020
- 3.5°C
- 1991-04-21
- Flight from London
- ≈ 2 h 6 min
- 1100 km, short-haul (estimate for a direct flight)
Records are observed extremes within 1991-2020, not typical holiday conditions. Warm-day percentages are shares of days, not day counts.
How April compares
April is the 7th warmest month of the year in Barcelona and ranks 101st of 134 destinations we compare for April - see where else is hot in April. Within Spain it is 79th of 87 (Spain in April). Against London's average high of 13.5°C in April, Barcelona is 3.8°C warmer by day and 4.5°C warmer at night.
Daytime and night-time in April
The typical April day in Barcelona peaks at 17.3°C, but that is an average: the warmest 10% of days reach 20.5°C or more. Days over 25°C are rare. Nights average 9.6°C; one night in ten drops to 7.0°C or lower, so pack a layer for evenings - it is genuinely cool after dark. Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest April day here reached 24.3°C (2005-04-30) and the coldest night 3.5°C (1991-04-21).
Rain in April
Wet (more than 8 rainy days): about 9 days with 1 mm or more, 54 mm in total. Year to year it varies a lot - the wettest April was 2020 with 168 mm, the driest 2006 with 10 mm. Humidity averages 76%.
Sea temperature in April
The sea averages 14.3°C - too cold for most (under 18°c). Depending on the year it ranges from 13.7°C to 15.1°C. For the warmest sea here, come in August (25.5°C).
Sunshine and daylight
Around 6.5 hours of sunshine a day (estimated from cloud cover), 13.1 hours of daylight: the sun rises about 07:12 and sets about 20:31 local time in mid-April. Average cloud cover is 51%.
Is April a good time to visit Barcelona?
April is not the strongest month here: mild days and frequent rain. The best months for Barcelona on our scoring are July, June, August; months averaging 25°C or more: Jul, Aug.
Warmer than London, but still spring
Barcelona's average daytime high is 3.8°C above London's in April: a useful improvement, though not a switch to summer. Mild afternoons suit travellers who prefer walking without strong heat, while the warmest days reach 20.5°C or more. A light top may be enough when it feels warm, but keep a jumper or jacket handy for cooler spells. Evenings need more thought than afternoons, especially if you plan to sit outside. The coldest nights can fall to 7.0°C or below, so trousers and a warmer outer layer are sensible. April suits a city break better than a holiday built around hot weather.
Allow for rain without writing off outdoor plans
Rain is the main catch: April has about 8 rainy days, so a waterproof jacket and shoes you can comfortably wear in wet weather deserve space in your bag. Keep outdoor plans flexible rather than relying on every day being dry. There is still useful sunshine, averaging about 6.5 hours a day within 13.1 hours of daylight, which leaves plenty of daylight for exploring when conditions suit. Those averages do not promise uninterrupted sunshine, though. A mix of outdoor time and indoor alternatives is a better approach than treating April as a reliably dry month. Choose it if occasional wet weather would not spoil your trip.
A little perspective
Barcelona through the year
April is highlighted. See how it compares with the rest of the year.
| Month | Day | Night | Sea | Sun/day | Rain mm | Rainy days | Days 25°C+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 12.5°C | 5.1°C | 13.5°C | 4.8 | 41 | 6 | 0% |
| February | 13.2°C | 5.4°C | 12.9°C | 5.4 | 35 | 6 | 0% |
| March | 15.5°C | 7.4°C | 13.2°C | 6.0 | 41 | 7 | 0% |
| AprilSelected | 17.3°C | 9.6°C | 14.3°C | 6.5 | 54 | 9 | 0% |
| May | 20.6°C | 13.2°C | 17.0°C | 6.9 | 46 | 7 | 7% |
| Junebest | 24.6°C | 17.2°C | 20.7°C | 8.9 | 36 | 6 | 44% |
| Julybest | 27.2°C | 20.2°C | 24.0°C | 10.0 | 23 | 5 | 83% |
| Augustbest | 27.4°C | 20.8°C | 25.5°C | 8.3 | 40 | 7 | 85% |
| September | 24.0°C | 17.8°C | 24.0°C | 6.1 | 79 | 11 | 36% |
| October | 20.5°C | 14.3°C | 21.0°C | 4.8 | 92 | 10 | 4% |
| November | 16.0°C | 9.4°C | 17.4°C | 4.6 | 61 | 8 | 0% |
| December | 13.1°C | 6.2°C | 14.9°C | 4.5 | 42 | 6 | 0% |
Day = average daytime high, night = average night-time low, 1991-2020.Sun is hours per day; rainy days count 1 mm or more.
Day, night and sea
Monthly average temperatures, 1991-2020
- Day
- Night
- Sea
Best months here
On warmth, low rainfall and sunshine, start with these.
Keep exploring
Similar in April
Closest matches on daytime temperature, sea temperature and sunshine, in other countries.
A little more detail
Barcelona in April FAQs
Plain answers, grounded in the averages.
Is Barcelona hot in April?
Barcelona is mild in April: the average daytime high is 17.3°C and nights average 9.6°C. Days over 25°C are rare in April.
Can you swim in the sea in Barcelona in April?
The sea around Barcelona averages 14.3°C in April, which is cold for swimming without a wetsuit. Between 1991 and 2020 it ranged from 14°C to 15°C depending on the year.
How much does it rain in Barcelona in April?
Barcelona sees about 9 rainy days (1 mm or more) and 54 mm of rain in a typical April. The wettest April between 1991 and 2020 was 2020 (168 mm) and the driest was 2006 (10 mm).
How sunny is Barcelona in April?
Barcelona gets around 6.5 hours of sunshine a day in April out of 13.1 hours of daylight (estimated from average cloud cover).
How does Barcelona compare with the UK in April?
Barcelona is on average 3.8°C warmer than London by day in April (17.3°C against 13.5°C).
What is the hottest April on record in Barcelona?
Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest April day in Barcelona reached 24.3°C on 2005-04-30, and the coldest night dropped to 3.5°C on 1991-04-21.
Is the sea warm enough for swimming in April?
At an average of 14.3°C, the sea is cold rather than comfortably swimmable. If relaxed swimming is central to your holiday, April is not a good match. Time by the water is a more realistic plan than lingering in it.
Should I choose April or go later for warmer weather?
Choose April if mild days appeal more than heat and you can work around rain. For a warmer-weather trip, consider June, July or August instead: these are Barcelona's best-rated months overall. April makes more sense for comfortable city exploring than a summer-style holiday.
About these averages
ERA5-Land climate reanalysis via Open-Meteo (11 km grid) and NOAA Coral Reef Watch 5 km sea temperatures, 1991-2020
Averages computed from daily values at Barcelona. Sea temperature from the nearest 5 km sea cell, 2 km from that point. Sunshine hours are estimated from average cloud cover.Records are the highest and lowest daily values in that 30-year period, not all-time records. These are climate averages, not a forecast for your trip. How we measure holiday weather
- Hot · 25°C+
- Warm · 20°C to below 25°C
- Mild · 15°C to below 20°C
- Cool · below 15°C