Monday 12 October is a public holiday, so we get a three-day weekend, Saturday 10 to Monday 12. Saturday and Sunday are packed with plans, but Monday is a different story: part of the city opens as on a Sunday, part of it closes, and some museums change their hours because it is a holiday.
Here is what opens, what doesn’t and where to eat on Monday.
12 October basics
Shops may open, it is an authorised trading holiday · Shopping centres open
Municipal markets probably closed · Museums many open, some mornings only
Metro 5 am to midnight · Weather average highs around 20 °C in October
Shops may open, but not all of them do
12 October is one of eight holidays in 2026 on which shops may open across Catalonia, along with 4 January, 15 August, 29 November and the four Sundays in December. Opening is optional, so in practice:
- Westfield La Maquinista opens its shops and Carrefour from 9 am to 9 pm, and its restaurants and cinema every day.
- Maremagnum, in Port Vell, opens every day from 10 am to 9 pm.
- Glòries, Diagonal Mar and L’illa opened on 12 October in recent years, and they normally do again.
- Small neighbourhood shops usually close.
- Supermarkets work roughly as on a Sunday: many Condis, Carrefour, Dia, Caprabo and bonÀrea stores open, but not all.
If you are heading somewhere specific, such as El Corte Inglés on Plaça de Catalunya, check its website first, because each chain sets its own hours.
Markets, better another day
La Boqueria, Sant Antoni and Santa Caterina open Monday to Saturday, but on public holidays they are normally closed: Boqueria stallholders voted in 2022 not to open on Sundays or holidays. For markets, go on Saturday; I list them all in the best markets in Barcelona.
What does open is the Fira Nova d’Artesania craft fair on Rambla de Santa Mònica, with more than 60 stalls. It stays on after the Festa del Roser, which ends on Sunday 11.
Museums and monuments open on Monday 12
Many Barcelona museums close on Mondays, but open when Monday is a holiday, sometimes only in the morning.
| What | Open on the 12th | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CaixaForum | Yes | 10 am to 8 pm |
| CosmoCaixa | Yes | 10 am to 8 pm |
| CCCB | Yes | 10 am to 8 pm |
| MNAC | Yes, because it’s a holiday | 10 am to 3 pm |
| MACBA | Yes | 10 am to 3 pm |
| Sagrada Família | Yes | Until 7 pm, book online |
| Park Güell | Yes | Last entry 7.30 pm |
| Casa Batlló and La Pedrera | Yes | All day |
| Poble Espanyol | Yes | 10 am to 8 pm |
| Zoo | Yes | 10 am to 6 pm |
| Montjuïc cable car | Yes | 10 am to 7 pm |
| Picasso Museum, Fundació Miró and MUHBA | Check first | Usually closed on Mondays |
CaixaForum has just opened “Una fuerza del pasado”, which runs until 2 January 2027. If you’d rather skip the ticket on another day, here are the free museums in Barcelona.
Tibidabo, for a day with kids
The Tibidabo amusement park opens at weekends and on holidays, and posts special hours for 12 October on its website. The Panoramic Area, with the classic rides and the views, opens every day. With children, it is the Monday plan; for more ideas see Barcelona with kids.
A trip to Sitges for the film festival
The Sitges Film Festival runs from 8 to 18 October, so there are screenings on the holiday Monday. Single tickets start at 11,50 €, and even if you skip the films, the atmosphere in town during the festival is worth the trip. Take the R2 Sud Rodalies line, which has resumed service after the Garraf works. Check the holiday timetable on the Rodalies website before you leave.
Everything else on over the long weekend is in what to do this weekend, 9 to 12 October.
Where to eat on Monday 12
Monday is the day off for many restaurants, and with a holiday on top it pays to play it safe. These open every day, Monday included.
| Restaurant | Where | Why go |
|---|---|---|
| Can Lluís | Carrer de la Cera 49, Raval | Catalan cooking at a historic casa de comidas |
| 7 Portes | Passeig d’Isabel II 14 | Rice dishes and Catalan food, open 1 pm to midnight |
| Els Quatre Gats | Carrer de Montsió 3 | The modernista café where Picasso exhibited |
| Bar Cañete | Carrer de la Unió 17 | Bar counter and tapas, 1 pm to midnight |
| Cervecería Catalana | Carrer de Mallorca 236 | Non-stop tapas from the morning |
| Flash Flash | Carrer de la Granada del Penedès 25 | Tortillas in a 1970s dining room |
| Pötstot | Carrer de València 204 | Vegan and gluten-free paella |
| Veganashi | Carrer de Lleida 33 | Vegan sushi, lunch and dinner |
Can Lluís opens on Monday from 1 pm to 4.30 pm and 8 pm to 11.30 pm. If vegan food is your thing, the rest of the options are in the 10 best vegan restaurants in Barcelona. Watch out for Can Culleretes, Can Solé and El Xampanyet, which close on Mondays.
On a holiday everyone goes out to eat at the same time, so book wherever you can, especially at lunchtime.
Getting around on the 12th
The metro runs on the holiday timetable, from 5 am to midnight, and buses run a holiday timetable, less frequently and with some lines not running. On Sunday 11, as the eve of a holiday, the metro closes at midnight, not at 2 am as on a Saturday.
And for what else is coming up this month, see Barcelona in October.
Know a place that opens on the 12th and isn’t here? Message me on Instagram @barcelonainspira and I’ll add it.
Frequently asked questions
Is 12 October a holiday in Barcelona
Yes. In 2026 the 12th of October falls on a Monday and is a public holiday across Catalonia, so the weekend of 10 to 12 October is a three-day long weekend.
Are shops open in Barcelona on 12 October
They can be. 12 October is one of eight holidays in 2026 on which the Catalan government allows shops to open across Catalonia. The big shopping centres usually do, such as Westfield La Maquinista from 9 am to 9 pm and Maremagnum from 10 am to 9 pm. Small neighbourhood shops decide for themselves and many close.
Which museums are open on 12 October in Barcelona
CaixaForum and CosmoCaixa open from 10 am to 8 pm, the CCCB from 10 am to 8 pm, and MNAC and MACBA from 10 am to 3 pm because it is a holiday. The Sagrada Família, Park Güell, Casa Batlló, La Pedrera, Poble Espanyol, the Zoo and Tibidabo amusement park are also open.
Is La Boqueria open on 12 October
Probably not. Municipal markets open Monday to Saturday, but Boqueria stallholders voted in 2022 not to open on Sundays or public holidays. If you are nearby, the Fira Nova d’Artesania craft fair will be on Rambla de Santa Mònica.
How does the Barcelona metro run on 12 October
On the holiday timetable, from 5 am to midnight. Buses also run a holiday timetable, less frequently and with some lines not running. On Sunday 11, the eve of the holiday, the metro closes at midnight.
