(Due to Covid restrictions, we recommend you to double check if the activities are still being held since their status is highly veering these days).
TIS THE SEASON!
One of our favourite times of the year is about to start: Christmas, we are all waiting for you to take the stage and bring some magic. Even though this year it will be different, we don’t resign to get the most of this festivity we specially love. So if you are wondering about things to do in Barcelona at Christmas, here is a list of the activities and events:
The lights on Christmas event
The official Christmas mood of a city is often created by the Christmas lights. In Barcelona we hold an event “Encesa de llums” in which people get together to witness the precise moment when Barcelona officially enters that Christmas atmosphere through the warm lights hanging on the streets. The event usually takes place around the last week of November Barcelona at around 6pm in Plaça Comercial (in front of El Born Centre de Cultura i Memòria).
The magic log: Tió de Nadal
We wrote about this fun tradition a couple of weeks ago: a popping log doing its magic on Christmas day being able to poop a lot of presents for the kids. If you want to know the details on how to prepare this ritual from early December, don’t miss out the article Meet a Christmas personality: Tió de Nadal, the pooping log. What to do in Barcelona on Christmas Day? Definitely make Tió poop lots of gifts!
Christmas markets
Visiting at least one of these iconic Christmas markets in the city is also among the things to do in Barcelona at Christmas:
Santa Llúcia
The most famous Christmas market in Barcelona, definitely the place to visit to get that Christmas vibe. Read the article we wrote after one of our many visits: Santa Llúcia, a Christmas market in Barcelona.
Port Vell Christmas market
This year will be held at Moll de la Fusta. It is not that famous as Santa Llúcia’s market, but its emplacement near the sea gives it a plus of magic this time of year. It also has the biggest Christmas tree in Catalonia with 31 meters high.
Fira de Nadal a la Sagrada Familia
A little beautiful Christmas market which has a privileged background: la Sagrada Família. You will find lots of Christmas decorations and also tiós waiting to be picked up ;-)
Hot chocolate to get warm
Christmas season is probably the best time of the year to get lost in the narrow and beautiful streets of the Gothic quarter. Also, take shelter from the cold in one of the historical chocolate shops like Granja Viader or Dulcinea. Actually there is a famous street in this neighborhood dedicated to chocolate lovers: carrer Petritxol. If you haven’t been there yet, check out the article we wrote about this delicious street: Iconic streets in Barcelona, carrer Petritxol.
Nativity scene at Plaça Sant Jaume
There won’t be any nativity scene this year, but instead you can visit an exposition which reflects the last 10 years of the nativity scene in this iconic place.
(Local) Shopping to get the Christmas vibe
We can’t get tired of highly recommending this symbolic action to keep the city’s soul alive: go buy local, specially in the times we are living. Doing your Christmas shopping in local businesses will be more magic than ever this year.
BONUS: get yourself a Christmas sweater
On a personal note: Nothing is stopping me from buying the ugliest but most adorable Christmas sweater this year. Definitely a must-do if you truly want to get in the Christmas mood. Long live the Christmas sweaters with happy reindeers on it! That is holiday cheer.
If you were wondering about things to do in Barcelona at Christmas, we really hope this list has helped you figure out how to take the most of the holiday season. Merry Christmas everyone!
