Barcelona La Merce Festival 2012

[We_like_to_cruise]

Hello all.

It looks like the La Merce Festival may be held the weekend we return from our cruise. Our ship docks on Sunday, Sept. 23 and we will fly home early on Monday, Sept. 24.

How will this affect our sightseeing on Sunday and transportation Sunday and Monday?

We are not sure if we should be thrilled or not so thrilled that the festival is being held while we are in town

Thanks.

[English_in_Spain]

Yes, that is the weekend of La Merce.

Barcelona will be very crowded. Hotels will be full (and expensive). Have you booked your hotel?

I would say, as you are there that weekend, is to take advantage that you are there in the most popular weekend of the year and enjoy the festivities.

It is a bit like being in Rio during Mardi Gras. You will not be able to ignore it so just enjoy it.

Search on the internet to see what is going on and when and choose what you want to join in.

Just one word of warning. The Correfoc (Fire Runs/fireworks) at best is very noisy, at worst can get quite dangerous. Often powerful sparkler fireworks are sprayed into the crowds. There is a tamer version designed for children which is probably better unless you are prepared for it.

[Chloe1500]

The festival ends on Sunday night, so transportation such as cabs and buses should be back to normal on Monday.

[KristinTravels]

We are leaving on 22nd this same weekend. I hope friday night is not too bad.

[English_in_Spain]

Originally Posted by Chloe1500

The festival ends on Sunday night, so transportation such as cabs and buses should be back to normal on Monday.

The actual day of the fiesta is the 24th which is the Monday. Although the celebrations are on the weekend nearest the 24th, if the 24th is a Monday then it often carries over until then.

If you are flying out on Monday, allow extra time. Even if there are no events held over until Monday, you will not be the only people trying to leave Barcelona

[celie1110]

We are due to fly into Barcelona On the morning of the 21st. I have a tour picking us up at the airport, do a short 4 hour tour and then drop us at the hotel.
I have 3 questions.
1) Will we be able to do all the sightseeing things easily? Or will major sites be closed?

2) Will taxi's/cabs/ship shuttles be able to pick people up from the airport/hotels to drop them at the pier easily?

3) I am staying in Las Ramblas- does the festival take place right there or all over Barcelona?

TIA

[We_like_to_cruise]

Thanks for the advice, Carol.

We will be staying a day before our cruise (the week before) in a hotel downtown. We will try to do most of our sightseeing then.

We are also staying one day post cruise (Sunday the 23rd) and have a reservation in a hotel near the airport. Hopefully that location will not be impacted so much by the festivities

[2Canucks]

Will "La Rambles" be over crowded on the evening of Sept 24, 2012 due to the Le Merce Festival? Our flight arrives in Barcelona in the early evening and we are staying at the Hotel 1898. I'm wondering if we're going to have trouble getting to the hotel due to crowds.

Thank You for any info you can share with us.

Pat

[We_like_to_cruise]

It looks like the La Merce schedule has finally been posted online:

http://merce.bcn.cat/en


This website also has more info including pdfs of the events scheduled:

http://www.barcelonayellow.com/point...ival-barcelona

Looks like a crazy time to be in Barcelona

[riffatsea]

The Festival is a wonderful experience!
You can pick and choose which events you'd like to attend.
You can stay away from the ones that don't interest you.
There are musical venues all over the city.
The wine tasting is down near the port.
The corre foc mentioned above is at night and won't affect you if you are not staying nearby. I thought it was a very exciting event to see. It is a parade of monster floats/dragons and such with fire coming out of their mouths and drummers marching with them. They take the "beasts" through the "gates of hell"(archway at the end of the parade).
I'd suggest that you stay somewhere above Placa Catalunya not right along Las Ramblas or right along the streets nearby during this event.