Enjoy autumn and the tradition of La Castanyada in Barcelona

18 October 2026

As the days get shorter and the first cool evenings arrive, Barcelona takes on a different rhythm. Smoke rises from chestnut stalls on street corners, pastry shop windows fill with trays of panellets, and families start planning a quiet dinner at home. This is La Castanyada, one of Catalonia's oldest autumn traditions. If you are visiting the city in late October or early November, you can experience it the way locals do.

What is La Castanyada?

La Castanyada is celebrated on the eve of All Saints' Day (Tots Sants), on the night of 31 October and on 1 November. It is a festival about the change of season and remembering loved ones who have passed away.

According to Turisme de Barcelona, the tradition began with the All Saints’ vigils. On that night, the bell ringers rang the church bells for hours, and they ate roasted chestnuts and drank sweet wine to keep their strength up. Over time, families took up the custom at home, gathering around the fire to share seasonal food.

Today the celebration is lighter and very family-oriented. In schools, children dress up as castanyers and castanyeres, the traditional chestnut sellers, with a headscarf, a shawl and a basket. In many homes, 1 November is also a day to visit the cemetery and leave flowers.

What to eat during La Castanyada

The festival is above all a gastronomic one. These are the four classics:

• Roasted chestnuts (castanyes): They are sold hot, wrapped in a paper cone, and are best eaten straight away while they warm your hands.
• Sweet potatoes (moniatos): They are roasted whole in the same way and often sold alongside the chestnuts.
• Panellets: These small sweets are made from a marzipan base of ground almonds and sugar, and many family recipes also add potato to keep them soft. The best-known version is coated in pine nuts, but you will also find them with coconut, almond, coffee, chocolate or quince.
• Moscatell: This sweet muscat wine is the traditional companion to panellets.

Where to try it in Barcelona

Chestnut stalls

From mid-October, chestnut sellers set up their stalls in busy pedestrian areas and squares around the centre. Good places to look are Portal de l’Àngel, around Plaça de Catalunya and on the main streets of the Eixample. Look for the smoke and the smell; you will find them before you see them.

Pastry shops for panellets

Almost every bakery in the city sells panellets in the days before 1 November, but Barcelona has a long pastry-making tradition, and traditional pastry shops are where panellets shine. Historic houses such as Escribà, Pastisseria Hofmann or Forn Baluard in La Barceloneta are good places to start. Buy them by weight and mix a few flavours. A box of panellets also makes a lovely gift to take home.

Learn to make them yourself

Every year some cookery schools, markets and civic centres run panellet workshops in the weeks before La Castanyada. It is a fun plan if you are travelling with children.

La Castanyada and Halloween

In recent years, Halloween has become popular in Barcelona too, and the two celebrations now share the same weekend. Many families have a traditional Castanyada dinner and then head out to a Halloween party. In some places, people even talk about Castaween. In 2026, 31 October falls on a Saturday, so expect a lively evening across the city.

If you want ideas for costumes, parties and family activities, take a look at our guide to what to do on Halloween and Castanyada in Barcelona.

Make the most of autumn in Barcelona

Autumn is one of the best times to discover the city. The weather is still mild, the summer crowds have gone and the light turns golden in the late afternoon. Pair La Castanyada with a walk up Montjuïc, a morning at the Mercat de Santa Caterina or an afternoon among the narrow streets of El Born.

If you are staying at Aspasios Born, you will have the Mercat de Santa Caterina, the Picasso Museum and the Gothic Quarter within walking distance. It is an ideal base for exploring Barcelona on foot during these cool autumn days.

Frequently asked questions

When is La Castanyada celebrated?
On the night of 31 October and on 1 November, All Saints’ Day.

What are panellets?
They are small Catalan sweets made from almond marzipan, traditionally coated in pine nuts and eaten during La Castanyada.

Is 1 November a holiday in Barcelona?
Yes, All Saints’ Day is a public holiday, and many shops close.

Celebrate autumn with Aspasios

Roasted chestnuts on a street corner, a box of panellets and a glass of moscatell: La Castanyada is one of the simplest and most delicious ways to feel part of Barcelona. Discover our apartments in Barcelona and book your autumn stay directly with us.