February

By February the days are noticeably longer as daylight begins to extend into the early evening. While it can be grey and overcast, sometimes with cold drizzle or light sleet, you also get lovely days with bright sunshine and clear blue skies.

That’s not to say it’s not cold though, with frost as some nights get close to freezing. Depending on where you are you may even experience subzero temperatures.

Want to know what the weather will do on the Costa Brava? Here’s the 25 day forecast.

As long as you’re not looking to visit the beach it’s a good time to visit the Costa Brava. There are few visitors so you get to experience the region without the hectic summer crowds and get a feel for what life is like for most of the year.

What’s on in February

If you’re from Britain then you know all about Mardi Gras, which falls in February or March. It’s usually better known as Shrove Tuesday… or simply pancake day! On the Costa Brava a number of towns celebrate Mardi Gras with a local Carnival. But even when Mardi Gras falls in March Carnival is celebrated in some towns during February.
Carnival: dates, locations and what to expect

Sant Feliu de Guíxols: Temps d’uriços

Sant Feliu used to hold an annual gastronomic festival from December to February celebrating sea urchins, known locally as uriços. However, the 2023/2024 season was cancelled because of the low number of sea urchins and, according to the town’s official website, it has been cancelled until further notice.

Palafrugell: La Garoinada

Sea urchins are a Costa Brava speciality. Photo by Sonia Kowsar

Every year since 1992 Palafrugell has promoted the sea urchin in its gastronomic campaign known as la Garoinada. The sea urchin supposed to be at its best between January and March, which is when the town’s participating restaurants offer a menu with a starter that includes sea urchins, a main and a typical Palafrugell dessert. The campaign isn’t aimed at foreign visitors so much as locals. But that doesn’t mean you can’t try this speciality if you’re visiting.

Palamós/Sant Antoni de Calonge: Menú de l’Olla de Peix

For a couple of months between mid-February and mid-April a number of restaurants in Palamós and neighbouring Sant Antoni de Calonge serve a fish casserole known as l’Olla de Peix.  As well as using a variety of locally caught fish, the dish includes vegetables, breadcrumbs, potatoes and noodles to each chef’s own preferences.

Valentine’s Day

Although it’s not widely celebrated in Catalonia, you might want to remember Valentine’s Day anyway on 14th February 😉

Although Valentine’s Day is more popular than it was, the traditional day for lovers in Catalonia is the diada de Sant Jordi – St George’s Day – on 23rd April.

Elefant d’Or International Circus Festival

The Elefant d’Or International Circus Festival is the biggest circus event in Europe, which relocated to Girona in 2018 after six years in Figueres.

For nearly a week during February you can see some of the best circus acts in the world performing to the public and competing for prizes. You’ll see acts that include trapeze artists, acrobatics, jugglers, tightrope walkers and clowns.

Despite the name of the festival – Elefant d’Or means Golden Elephant – wild animals are rightly prohibited from performing in Spain. They do still allow horses though.