This Sunday I’m suggesting a plan in the centre, all on foot and with no need to watch the clock. We start by browsing second-hand books on Passeig de Gràcia, move on to vermouth and lunch on the last day of Moritz’s Oktoberfest and finish the afternoon among optical illusions at the Paradox Museum.
The plan at a glance
Where Passeig de Gràcia, Rambla de Catalunya and plaça d’Urquinaona · Metro Passeig de Gràcia (L2, L3 and L4) and Urquinaona (L1 and L4)
When Sunday 18 October, from 11:00 to 19:00 · Budget books from €3, steins at €3.50 and museum tickets from €14
1. Books at the Fira del Llibre d’Ocasió
The 75th Fira del Llibre d’Ocasió Antic i Modern, the city’s antique and second-hand book fair, is on Passeig de Gràcia, between Gran Via and carrer del Consell de Cent. There are 29 stalls from bookshops all over Catalonia, with books from €3, first editions, comics and old postcards.
It’s the second-hand book fair locals have always known, and this year it’s being held in autumn. The best way to do it is without a list.
- Hours: on Sunday, from 11:00 to 20:30. Monday to Saturday, from 10:00 to 20:30.
- Until: 1 November, in case you don’t get through it all.
- Price: free entry.
2. Vermouth and lunch at Moritz’s Oktoberfest
From Passeig de Gràcia, cross over to the parallel street. Casa Moritz is at Rambla de Catalunya, 79, and Sunday 18 is the last day of Moritz’s Oktoberfest. It’s the easiest beer-based vermouth hour in town, because there’s no entry fee.
Half-litre steins of Moritz Original and Moritz 7 cost €3.50, the usual price of a 33 cl glass. For food, there’s a special Oktoberfest menu:
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Potato salad, pretzels and Pfaffenhofen potatoes.
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Mixed sausages or pork knuckle on bread.
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The frankfurter sandwich, new this year.
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For dessert, apfelstrudel or stout ice cream.
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Hours: Casa Moritz opens Sunday to Thursday from 12:00 to midnight.
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Groups: if there are more than 10 of you, there’s a group menu you can book on their website.
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Another option: Oktoberfest is also on at Fàbrica Moritz, at ronda de Sant Antoni, 41.
3. An afternoon of illusions at the Paradox Museum
To walk off lunch, stroll down Rambla de Catalunya to plaça de Catalunya and carry on to plaça d’Urquinaona, 3. That’s where you’ll find the Paradox Museum, a museum of optical illusions and interactive rooms where everything is made for touching, playing and taking photos.
The visit takes about 75 minutes, so it fits nicely into the afternoon, with or without kids. It’s indoors, so it also works if it rains; there are more ideas for those days in what to do in Barcelona when it rains and, for families, in Barcelona with kids.
- Hours: sessions run from 10:30 to 18:15. With the last sessions, the experience closes at 20:30.
- Price: €18 general admission and €14 for children aged 4 to 12. Under-4s go free.
- Tickets: buy them on Fever and, with my code BARCELONAINSPIRA10, you get 10% off.
Tips for this plan
- Bring a tote bag for the books, because it’s easy to leave the fair weighed down.
- Get to Casa Moritz before 14:00: as it’s the last day of Oktoberfest, it may fill up.
- Book the Paradox Museum in advance and pick a slot around 16:30 or 17:00.
For more ideas this weekend, see what to do in Barcelona this weekend or the Mapa Inspira.
Frequently asked questions
What are the book fair’s opening hours on Sunday?
On Sundays and public holidays it opens from 11:00 to 20:30, and Monday to Saturday from 10:00 to 20:30. It’s on Passeig de Gràcia, between Gran Via and carrer del Consell de Cent, until 1 November.
How much is beer at Moritz’s Oktoberfest?
Half-litre steins of Moritz Original and Moritz 7 cost 3.50 euros, and there’s no entry fee. Sunday 18 October is the last day.
How much does the Paradox Museum cost?
On Fever, a general ticket costs 18 euros and a ticket for children aged 4 to 12 costs 14 euros. Under-4s go free. With the code BARCELONAINSPIRA10 you get 10% off.
