# Diada long weekend from Barcelona: getaways for 11 September Eight getaways for 11 September from Barcelona: the grape harvest, rice nearly ready to cut, the warmest sea of the year and destinations outside Catalonia that work that day. Fuente: https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/catalonia/barcelona/getaways/diada-long-weekend · Revisado: 2026-11-13 Origen: Barcelona - [A weekend in Carcassonne: the Cité, the Canal du Midi and a Cathar castle](https://www.geocalia.com/en/france/occitanie/carcassonne/itineraries/weekend-cite-from-girona.md) (2 nights, Carcassonne): In France 11 September is an ordinary day and families are already back at school, so the Cité is emptier than in August. The Canal du Midi boat leaves in September at 10:30 and 14:30. - [A weekend in the Matarraña: Valderrobres, Beceite and the Puertos, under two hours from Zaragoza](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/aragon/valderrobres-and-matarrana/itineraries/matarranya-valderrobres-beceite-weekend.md) (2 nights, Valderrobres and the Matarraña): The Diada is a working day in Aragon, and in September the Matarraña comes out of the summer heat. The Parrizal ticket is bought by time slot; kayaks on the Pena reservoir continue until mid-September, so on Sunday the water is still worth it. - [A night in La Pobla de Segur: Tren dels Llacs one way and a ferrata or river the next day](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/catalonia/la-pobla-de-segur/itineraries/one-night-with-train-and-ferrata-la-pobla-de-segur.md) (1 night, La Pobla de Segur): The Saturday historic train returns from the end of August, with period carriages. Go up to Lleida by high-speed train from Sants; Collegats rafting has already closed by September, but the Roca Foradada via ferrata is better done without the heat. - [A getaway to Prades: the red town, the forest and a night of stars](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/catalonia/prades/itineraries/prades-night-of-stars-from-tarragona.md) (1 night, Prades): In September it gets dark earlier than in summer and the astronomical park session starts at a more convenient hour. The Prades forest, at almost a thousand metres, is cool for the Baltasana; book the session and check the moon. - [Devinssi, Buil & Giné and Cal Llop](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/catalonia/priorat/itineraries/two-wineries-and-a-night-in-gratallops.md) (Day itinerary, Priorat): The Priorat harvest fills September and October: the vineyard with Devinssi shows the grape still on the vine or freshly cut. At harvest time everything is booked weeks ahead, and Amics is closed on Wednesdays. - [Pals: rice fields, Gothic quarter and beach](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/catalonia/pals/itineraries/pals-rice-fields-gothic-quarter-and-beach.md) (Day itinerary, Pals): In September the Pals rice fields are golden, close to a harvest that comes between the end of September and mid-October. The rice train has limited places, and the beach is no longer the August one. - [Garraf: coves and rice by the sea](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/catalonia/garraf-coves/itineraries/garraf-coves-and-rice.md) (Day itinerary, Garraf Coves): September has the warmest sea of the year and Garraf beach keeps its lifeguard until October. The R2 Sud stops on the sand, and away from the August Sundays the village has room again. - [Lower Aran: rafting in the morning, caviar in the afternoon](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/catalonia/aran-valley/itineraries/rafting-caviar-and-signature-cooking.md) (Day itinerary, Val d'Aran): On 11 September the Garonne can still be rafted, with less water than in June; confirm the departure when you book, because outside high season it requires a minimum of three people. The Diada is also a holiday in Aran: book lunch. ## The last long weekend of summer 11 September is a holiday in Catalonia every year and falls just as summer loosens its grip. Beaches empty, children are back at school or about to be, and in the countryside the grape harvest begins. It is a short long weekend: if the Diada falls on a Friday or a Monday you get three days; if it falls midweek, it is a single day that calls for a nearby getaway or a day plan. In Barcelona the Diada usually has events and a demonstration, with streets closed in the centre. If you leave, do it the evening before or early on the day itself, and expect the return traffic on the last day to combine with that of holidays ending. ## Grapes on the vine and golden rice September is the harvest month. In the Priorat the garnacha and cariñena are picked on impossible terraces, and a visit to the vineyard on these days shows what in winter can only be explained. In the Baix Empordà the rice fields of Pals are golden and the harvest comes between the end of September and mid-October, depending on when the grain ripens; the municipality holds a rice fair in September. If you want wine without a car, the Penedès is less than an hour away on the R4, with vineyards in full harvest. ## A working day across the border The Diada is a holiday only in Catalonia. In Aragon and in France it is a normal day, and that changes the trip: the Matarraña, a little over two and a half hours away, and Carcassonne, a little over three hours away, receive on that day people who work there, not half of Catalonia. Monuments keep their usual hours. Carcassonne can also be reached by train, changing at Narbonne. ## The warmest sea The Mediterranean reaches its highest temperature at the end of August and the start of September, and holds it for a few weeks. With people back in the city, Garraf and its coves are a different place: the train stops at the beach and the bay has a lifeguard until October. Pals beach, long and without buildings, can be walked almost alone in the afternoon. ## Rice fields and stars for the little ones The little train at Pals among the rice fields appeals to all ages, and the walk back is flat. In the Matarraña, the Parrizal is considered suitable from about age six, without a pushchair. In Prades the Selene session at the astronomical park is designed for under-eights, and the adventure park from six. Garonne rafting, on the family stretch, admits children from age six who can swim. ## The grape harvest needs booking too The harvest is high season in small wineries: in the Priorat book the vineyard and lunch weeks ahead, and do not plan Gratallops for a Wednesday. The Parrizal ticket is bought by time slot, and the morning one is the good one. The little train at Pals has limited places and its calendar changes with the season. For the Lakes Train, check the day: it only runs on Saturdays, and if the Diada does not fall at a weekend, the getaway is done on the nearest Saturday. ## September in the Pyrenees In the mountains September is a good month: fewer storms than in August and lower light. But days get shorter and some summer activities close: Collegats rafting ends with August and reservoir kayaks in mid-September. In Aran the Diada is also a holiday and the valley has people; book a table in Bossòst. ## Preguntas frecuentes ### Is it a good time for the grape harvest near Barcelona? Yes. In the Priorat and the Penedès the harvest takes up September and part of October. Book ahead: small wineries are working flat out and have few places. ### What is open outside Catalonia that day? Everything, because in Aragon and France 11 September is a working day. The Matarraña and Carcassonne operate like any other day, without the holiday crowds. ### Can you still go to the beach? Yes, and the water is warmer than in June. Garraf, on the R2 Sud, has a lifeguard until October and far fewer people than in August. ### How do you avoid the Diada traffic in Barcelona? Leave the evening before or early on the day itself. In the afternoon there is usually a demonstration and closures in the centre, and the return on the last day coincides with the end of the holidays.