Are you wondering what to wear in Barcelona in March? March heralds the start of Spring in Barcelona but it also means to a change to your packing list from Winter. In this guide we will tell you EXACTLY what to pack for the Barcelona in spring for the weather, dress codes, special events and more.
Weather in Barcelona in March
As March is the first month of Spring in Barcelona, you will find the locals transitioning from their Winter capsule wardrobes into their spring ones. But how cold is the weather in Barcelona at this time of year?
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How cold is Barcelona in March?
You will find that there is a real increase in temperatures between March and February in Barcelona. However, March is still not classified as peak season in Barcelona so you will be rewarded with far fewer crowds due to the lower temperatures in March.
Typically speaking the average highs and lows in Barcelona range from 16°C / 60°CF to 7°C / 44°F which is actually pretty pleasant for sightseeing. But what about rain?
Does it rain a lot in March in Barcelona?
Barcelona is not a particularly rainy city and in March you will usually only experience rainfall on around 7 days. However it is still worth packing a compact travel umbrella and maybe even a lightweight waterproof jacket in March.
Note: the weather between months changes quite dramatically in Barcelona and between regions in Spain. Therefore if your trip spans a couple of months then please be sure to check out our other monthly:
- What to wear in Barcelona in April
- What to wear in Spain in March
- What to wear in Seville
Also we always recommend checking the forecast at your destination(s) 7 days out from travel to make sure there are no expected weather fronts i.e. heatwaves or cold snaps.
How do locals dress in Barcelona in March
One of the things I love about Barcelona, is the fact that you will see all sorts of fashion styles on the streets. It is much less prohibitive and harder to look like a tourist in Barcelona for example than it is say in Italy where there are definitely fashion faux pas to be made.
For this reason I recommend packing the clothing and style you feel most comfortable in for the weather before considering what the locals are wearing.
What to Wear in Barcelona in March
So now you know what to expect from the Spring weather and local Barcelona style we will turn our attention to what to wear in March specifically. To make this packing list more navigable we have split this packing list into sections of shoes, women’s and men’s packing list item.
Best Shoes for Barcelona in March
Although I like to pack light, I always find it tempting to overpack on the shoe front. But for Barcelona in March I think you can get away with packing only two pair of shoes. These are:
Sneakers
Sneakers are my top pick for Barcelona no matter the time of year. Any Barcelona vacation involves a lot of walking and there are cobbled stone streets and hills all over the city (I’m looking at you Montjuic). For this reason you are going to need a comfortable walking shoe with good arch support. For this reason we always pack sneakers for Barcelona.
My favorite brand of sneakers for walking are Hoka and AllBirds, however you also can’t go wrong with a plain white sneaker as they go with everything. One of my favorite pairs of white sneakers is the Adidas Cloud Foam shoes.
Ankle Boots or Sandals
Normally, I would determine exactly what shoe to pack as your second pair. However the weather in March changes dramatically from the start to the end of the month. Therefore it is essential you check the weather 7 days out to know whether ankle boots or sandals will be most appropriate.
Also be sure to also check out our what not to wear in Spain guide so you know what to avoid when packing shoes for Spain too.
What to Wear in Barcelona in March for women
So now you know what to expect from the weather and the best shoes to wear, what should women wear in Barcelona in March?
Jacket / Coat
Although the temperatures are starting to warm up in Barcelona in March, you will still want a jacket with you.
has quite mild winters, even by comparison to the rest of Spain. However we still recommend packing a coat or jacket for Barcelona. For early in the month you will want something warmer like a puffer jacket, however by late March you may get away with something like a trench coat instead.
Skirts and dresses
Barcelona is warm enough that dresses and skirts should still be on your packing list for March. You will see all fashion styles in Barcelona, so pack the style you are most comfy in.
However be sure that you have at least one modest outfit for visiting the Sagrada Familia which includes ensuring your shoulders and knees are covered. .
For this reason I usually stick with a maxi dress with a sleeve or a midi length skirt or dress that can be worn with sneakers or with boots and tights depending on the weather.
Trousers
Trousers are also a great pick for Barcelona. In March, the weather is still cool enough to wear jeans comfortably. And as I said before, you can pick the style of jeans you are most comfortable in as locals will wear all styles.
On top of jeans I usually pack a plain black pair of pants too for March for smarter nights out.
T Shirt
T Shirts are great in Barcelona at any time of year but for March you may want to pack a mix of long and short sleeves. But don’t worry about styles again, anything goes in Barcelona.
Blouse
A loose blouse works perfectly for warmer days and cooler nights. For March I usually pack a 3/4 length sleeve blouse.
Layers
For a week in Barcelona I would normally pack 3 types of layers:
- merino wool sweaters for nights,
- a casual hoodie for sightseeing, and
- a caridgan
Click here to shop merino wool sweaters.
Pashmina
A pashmina should be on your Barcelona packing list whatever the month of travel. It is great to add an additional layer on a cold night but also can make outfits more modest for churches.
PJs or Nightie, Underwear and Socks
Goes without saying.
Sunglasses
Sunglasses are essential in Barcelona even in Spring.
What to pack for Barcelona in March for Men
The essentials for men traveling to Barcelona in Spring are:
Jacket
Again a jacket such as a puffer jacket opposed to coat is perfect for Barcelona in March.
Chinos/Jeans
Chinos / dockers and jeans are the perfect weight pants for men visiting Barcelona in March. Click here to shop men’s travel trousers.
T Shirts and Shirts
For March a mix of long and short sleeve tees are a good idea. While shirts may be more serviceable at night.
Layers
Again, I recommend packing 3 types of layers as part of a sudoku wardrobe for Barcelona in March. For example, 1 hoodie, 1 sweater and 1 jumper.
Sunglasses
I pack these for every season in Barcelona.
Underwear, Socks and Pjs
What to Pack for Barcelona in March (non clothing)
So now you know what to pack for Barcelona in February in terms of clothes and shoes, we will turn our attention to non clothing essentials.
- Universal travel Adaptor – For my American readers you will need an EU Type C Country plug adapter to be able to use and charge your electronics in Europe.
- Power Pack / Battery recharger – you will be using your phone a lot of travel, maps and of course photos so it is worth keeping a power pack in your day bag.
- Crossbody bag – Unfortunately Barcelona does have a bit of a pickpocket issue around some of the most famous tourist attractions. To make yourself less of a target we recommend packing a crossbody bag with lots of zips. My favorite brand of travel purses is Travelon.
- Backpack – for storing items on your day trips i.e. to Montserrat.
- Compact Umbrella – essential for Spring
- camera – it is a beautiful city you will want to take lots of photographs
- Toiletries – for our full toiletries packing list check out this post.
- Travel First Aid Kit
- Blister plasters
FAQs about March in Barcelona Packing List
Should I take swimwear for Barcelona in March?
March in Barcelona is still not peak season and hotel outdoor pools may not have reopened yet. Also the sea temperature is still pretty chilly so for many people it will be too cold to go swimming win March. Therefore unless you don’t mind a chilly swim, you can probably leave the swimwear at home.
Can I wear shorts in Barcelona in March?
There are no Spain dress code rules that prevent you wearing shorts in March however I personally find trousers more comfortable to shorts for the weather at this time of year.
Are there special events in Barcelona in March with a special dress code?
There are no events in Barcelona in March which are likely to affect your packing list.
What would you add to this Barcelona March Packing List?