After the heat of August, September sees the temperature drop. By the last week of the month the water is usually too cool to swim.
Want to know what the weather will do on the Costa Brava? Here’s the 25 day forecast.
That’s not always the case though as some years the warm weather lasts until October. But we’ve also experienced hard frosts at the beginning of October too. You can never be sure.
After the crazy summer season, things get quieter in September. Gone are the many concerts and organised events of the high season.
But some prefer to visit the region off peak and the weather can still be glorious. So if you’re in the Costa Brava this September, this is what you can look forward to:
What’s on in September
Whether you’re visiting or live here permanently, here are some things you may enjoy doing on the Costa Brava in September.
La Diada
The National Day of Catalonia, la Diada Nacional de Catalunya, is celebrated every year on 11th September. But rather than marking a victory, the day marks the fall of Barcelona to Spanish forces in 1714.
The day is a public holiday throughout Catalonia and is often commemorated by pro-independence marches or other acts, such as the human chain that stretched the entire length of Catalonia in 2013.
You’re sure to see plenty of Catalan flags with the four red bars on a yellow background. These days it’s also usual to see a version of the flag with a blue triangle at the hoist with a white star. This is known as the senyera, or star, used by supporters of Catalan independence.
Across Catalonia you’ll typically see a local dance, the sardana, in town squares. In squares in Barcelona and south of Catalonia they often build human towers or castellers. These are amazing to see, although not really traditional on the Costa Brava. Each town will have its own celebration, so look out for posters and flyers with local information.
Tossa de Mar: Cim i Tomba cuisine
Cim i Tomba is a traditional dish cooked by Tossa’s fishermen on their boats. They would go out to sea equipped with a cooking pot heated by charcoal, to which they’d add any fish that wasn’t good enough to sell, as well as potatoes, onions, garlic, tomatoes and peppers. This stew would be seasoned with salt, pepper and saffron.
Tossa de Mar’s culinary speciality is cim i tomba (Flickr/Mauricio)
The dish is a Tossa speciality celebrated throughout September at many of the town’s restaurants. Participating restaurants offer a menu in September that includes a starter, Cim i Tomba main and dessert.
L’Escala: Festa de la Sal/Anchovy Tapas Trail
L’Escala is well known for its anchovies, which traditionally were always preserved in salt. While you can also get them in oil these days, the town’s economy was so dependent on salt that every year it holds a salt festival on the third Saturday of September to commemorate it.
After the salt festival comes the Anchovy Tapas Trail and, on the first Sunday of October, the Anchovy Festival. This consists of anchovy tastings and a Habaneras concert on the beach. In the days leading up to the festival a number of bars offer anchovy tapas. You can follow the tapas trail from bar to bar for around €1.50 each.
Girona: Guitar Festival
Continuing into September, the Girona Guitar Festival takes place at a variety of venues in Girona and on a number of coastal resorts. Tickets are low cost or free.
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