Discover the most authentic Christmas in Barcelona: Experience it close up!

Barcelona kicks off the festive season at the end of November with the Christmas lights switch-on. This year, it will take place on 28th November. Until 6th January, every neighbourhood will be decked out with lights, which will be lit until late at night, and new figures and displays. The Barcelona Christmas Tour on a double-decker bus is the best way to see them.

Times of Christmas lights

From 28th November to 6th January

Sundays-Thursdays: 5.30pm-1am
Fridays and Saturdays: 5.30pm-2am
24 and 31/11, 5/1: 5.30pm-2am

Barcelona's Christmas fairs and markets are truly charming and, when you visit, you'll be fully immersed in the festive spirit! You'll be able to find Christmas trees, the traditional smiley log, or tió, figures for the crib, little poopers, or caganers, and much, much more. The question is, where to start? Make sure you head for the Fira de Santa Llúcia, in front of Barcelona Cathedral. This is the city's oldest Christmas market and invites you to step inside a world of wonder and tradition.
The Fira de la Sagrada Família will treat you to a picture-postcard image of Christmas that will capture your heart. At the Fira del Moll de la Fusta, you'll be able to enjoy a Christmas market by the sea, with activities, food, music and fairground attractions. At the Fira de Reis de la Gran Via, you can wander among the stalls selling wonderful items, including costume jewellery, decorations, ceramics, delicious sweet treats and irresistible churro fritters, magical toys... On the eve of Epiphany, the fair stays open until the early hours, giving you more time to enjoy the magic of the festive season.

Barcelona is packed with Christmas activities. From the classical notes that ring out on the majestic stages of the opera house, the Gran Teatre del Liceu, the Palau de la Música Catalana and L'Auditori, to the sweet, traditional Christmas carols that fill the Basilica of the Sagrada Família with the Christmas spirit. There's so much to do! You can enjoy fascinating workshops, dazzling exhibitions and tours of the city's unique museums and iconic buildings. Barcelona will be seeing out 2024 with a big New Year's Eve party on Avinguda Reina Maria Cristina and celebrations with music and dancing at the city's hotels and restaurants.

With the family

Enjoy Christmas with the family in Barcelona with activities and experiences for all ages! The Festival de Nadal in Plaça Catalunya is packed with musical events and art activities in the open air. The Univers de Llum, at the Sant Pau Art Nouveau Site, is a universe of lights and colours. Music, theatre, craft workshops and much, much more await you at the Poble Espanyol. And the city's hotels also offer unique things to do: biscuit-making workshops, concerts and even open-air cinemas screening Christmas films in their original language versions with Spanish subtitles. On 5th January, the majestic big parade, the Cavalcada de Reis, transforms the streets in the city centre with floats, music, lights and fantastic characters, which fill them with colour and excitement.

You can see all these activities and many more in our Christmas Agenda

Barcelona is a city steeped in tradition. At Christmastime, the crib is a work of art that comes to life with the figures that capture the beauty of Jesus's birth, the adoration of the Magi and the shepherds. There are cribs on display all over the city at places including the cathedral, Plaça de Sant Jaume and city hall. The tió, a funny, magical log, is a well-established part of Catalan Christmas traditions. The kids feed him throughout December and keep him warm under a blanket. On Christmas Eve, the tió rewards them for their care with presents and sweets, filling the house with Christmas cheer and magic.
And if you're into sport, on 25th December you can take part in the traditional Christmas cup, the Copa de Nadal, in the old harbour, Port Vell. It's the oldest open-water swimming competition in Spain. On 31st December, it's time for the Cursa dels Nassos, the fun run named in honour of the mythical character, the Home dels Nassos (Man with the Noses), who has as many noses as there are days of the year. The following day, the first community swim of the year takes to the waters of the Mediterranean. And January is also time for the International Epiphany Hockey Tournament, a thrilling competition that attracts the world's best players.

Barcelona's traditional Christmas dishes, like the hearty broth, escudella (25th December), and cannelloni (26th December) take centre stage on every table over the festive period. And when it's time for dessert, delicious turrón nougats, tubular wafers called neules, and the traditional ring cake, the tortell de Reis, accompanied with a glass of cava, create a truly memorable gastronomic experience. Make sure you don't miss out on the opportunity to enjoy traditional Catalan Christmas fare, whether it's at home with home-cooked dishes or at a special banquet at one of the restaurants and hotels that serve up festive menus for Christmas, New Year's Eve and Epiphany.

See all the restaurants and hotels that offer Special Xmas menus

At Christmas, the city's shops are the epitome of elegance and sophistication, showing off their windows that are adorned with all kinds of decorations. Every neighbourhood has its own retail district, decked out for the occasion to create a magical, cosy atmosphere.
Barcelona's shopping centres and department stores recreate the spirit of Christmas with great originality and organise activities too. And if you're looking for that special gift, the city has the most authentic and amazing shops that will make your Christmas shopping an unforgettable experience.

Tick-tock, tick-tock… here we are again closing the circle and getting ready to welcome in the New Year! And there could be no better place to do it than Barcelona's Avinguda Maria Cristina, where people throng together in their hundreds to eat the traditional twelve grapes, one on each stroke of midnight, and make a New Year wish as they raise a glass of cava. And when the hands of the clock point to the eagerly awaited hour, the sky lights up with a spectacular firework display. The party continues at the city's hotels and restaurants and, the next day, you can replenish your energy levels with some churro fritters and a cup of thick hot chocolate, a sweet way to start the year with renewed energy.

The Three Kings' Parade is the most magical part of the festive season in Barcelona, particularly for the kids. Seeing the look of surprise and wonder on their faces while their Majesties parade through the streets is a beautiful experience. Melchior, Caspar and Balthasar arrive in Barcelona by sea on the evening of 5th January, after a long journey by camel from the Orient, to share out joy and gifts in every home. The Three Kings parade through the streets on spectacular floats, accompanied by royal pages and fairytale characters, transforming the city into a dreamlike spectacle. On the days leading up to their arrival, the little ones can visit their workshop where the magic happens and the toys come to life.

Choose the most sustainable ways to get around the city during the festive season. We recommend exploring on foot, by bike or on public transport, which will provide more frequent services.