The mild climate of the Mediterranean doesn’t really make for a white Christmas in Barcelona. However, the cosmopolitan Catalan capital is plentiful with surprises that turn the city into an ideal Christmas holiday destination.
The holiday mood is set towards the end of November when the Christmas lights are lit up. It’s an event many await with anticipation as it turns the city into a sparkling light show every night.
Gaudi, Picasso, Dali, day trips, wine tours, markets, flamenco shows, Christmas shopping, traditional barbecues, nightlife… there’s much more to do in Barcelona during December than just visiting the main attractions.
All this it will get you into the true Christmas spirit in Barcelona!
Also, you can just take a private sidecar tour and your tour guide will show you what Christmas in Barcelona is all about.
The temperature at Christmas in Barcelona is around 15C (57 F) degrees and drop to 6 ( 42F ) in the evening. If you are from the colder regions of the world, for you it’s not very cold. Be aware though, sometimes the temperatures fall below freezing points – we recommend dressing warmly.
Read on to find out how you can get the most out of your holidays in Barcelona during Christmas in Barcelona in 2022.
Here’s a detailed list of the main events and traditions:
What to do in Barcelona at Christmas:
Fun Family Activities in Barcelona in Christmas 2022
Els llums de Sant Pau
The route of the spectacle, which covers approximately one kilometer, includes audiovisual screenings, sound tunnels, a magical forest, and other sensory experiences that will delight the children. There will also be a catering area and a program of workshops and musical performances for every kind of audience.
The Copa Nadal
The Copa Nadal (Christmas Cup) is a Christmas Day swimming competition in which swimmers race 200 meters in the Old Port (Port Vell) of Barcelona. The event has taken place for more than 100 years. You can watch many brave people ump into the freezing water!
Cabalgata de los Reyes Magos 2023 in Barcelona
The end of the Christmas Holiday in Barcelona is on January 6th.
One of the most spectacular public events in the holiday season of any Spanish city happens on January 5th and it’s called ‘Cabalgata de Reyes’ (Cavalcade of the Magi): the 3 wise men parade or also known as the Kings Day.
Barcelona’s parade is arguably the most spectacular in the country as the wise men usually arrive on a sailboat to the old port and start the parade of about 6km, with over 1000 performers and 1 to 2 million candies.
The wise men ride through the streets, as their page boys throw candies to children and upon their return home kids see what presents they left them.
Adults look forward to this day too as it marks the start of the sales season when they can get what the kings forgot to bring.
Christmas Markets in Barcelona
Christmas markets pop up all across the city from the end of November. All of them are fantastic to feel the spirit of the holidays and fetch original presents and souvenirs.
There are a number of iconic Christmas markets around the city during the Christmas Holidays.
Here’s the essential list:
Fira de Santa Llúcia
This market dates back to 1786, making the Market of Santa Llúcia the most famous and the oldest fair dedicated to Nativity scenes and Christmas traditions.
This iconic Christmas market is set up in the Avinguda de la Catedral de Barcelona (the Barcelona Cathedral in the Gothic area), in front of the Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Saint Eulalia. This year, from November 26 to December 23 2022 will once again fill the area with light and a Christmas warm atmosphere.
Fira de Nadal de la Sagrada Família
The Fira de Nadal de la Sagrada Familia is held in the Plaça de Sagrada Familia, a few steps from the main entrance of the monument, the Nativity façade.
There locals and visitors can find Christmas trees and plants; nativity scenes, traditional figures and Christmas decorations in general; food, with some establishments selling sweets and others offering salty food. There’s also a gift section, with craft products, costume jewelry and clothes.
The Sagrada Família fair is held at the same time as the Fira de Santa Llúcia, in front of the Cathedral. In fact, it is an extension of the latter and began when there was no more space in front of the Cathedral. A group of craftspeople decided to move to the Dreta de l’Eixample neighborhood and that is how a new Christmas market, which today has around a hundred stalls, was born.
Fira Nadal de Port Vell
Port Vell harbor is located at the end of Las Ramblas street, in front of the Columbus monument, making it the most accessible market from the Ciutat Vella, the Old City center. The market is a new proposal that was added to the Christmas market scene in Barcelona recently.
It features craft stalls, food stalls, children’s activities and workshops, a nativity scene, a futuristic Christmas tree, a vintage carousel and a 60m high Ferris wheel. Port Vell’s fair stays open until 6th January.
Fira de Reis, The Kings Market
La feria de Reyes de la Gran Via also called ‘Sant Tomàs i Reis’ (St Thomas and Kings), is one of the biggest Christmas and New Year markets for gifts and toys in Barcelona.
The Fira de Reis a la Gran Via Christmas Market has hundreds of stalls and is mostly a shopping market for toys and other traditional ‘Reyes’ gifts like ‘turrones’.
This market does not have much in the way of Christmas food and drinks or music, it’s orientated more toward families with children.
Barcelona Christmas Traditions
Caganer
The funniest and most popular symbol of Christmas in Barcelona is the ‘caganer’. This curious figurine brings luck to the house of those who own it and is a very original memory from Barcelona.
Typically, it is randomly placed amongst the traditional figures in the Nativity scene. It´s available in various shapes and sizes and always follows the latest political trends.
Caga Tió or Tió de Nadal
Another icon figure is Caga Tió literally means the ‘Pooping Log’.
The Caga Tió – or Tió de Nadal (Christmas Log) as he is sometimes called – is a wooden log, covered in a blanket and usually given a warm, smiley face.
You’ll see Caga Tió in Christmas markets across the two main provinces from which he originates, Catalonia and Aragon. Come Christmas time, the log is expected to ‘poop’ presents for children and their parents, much to the amusement and amazement of younger spectators.
Nativity Scenes in Barcelona
The most spectacular nativity scene in Barcelona is located at Plaza Sant Jaume, right in the heart of the Old City, 2 min. walking distance from the Cathedral of Barcelona. The figures are often human size and the level of detail is really impressive.
You can visit from late November until early January.
What to Eat in Barcelona on Christmas
Pasta & Cakes
What you can expect around a typical table in Catalonia during Christmas in Barcelona?
Interestingly… quite some pasta! In spite of its Italian origin, due to the historical Mediterranean trade, some types of pasta are extremely popular in Spain.
In Catalonia, a hearty soup made of shell-shaped pasta called ´sopa de galets´ and the popular ‘canelones’ =yes, the same dish as in Italy) always make their way to every Christmas meal.
Around this period is also when you can find many sweets and cakes to satisfy your sweet tooth. There is an abundance of Spanish nougat known here as ´turron´ from the region of Alicante. It’s made of honey, egg white, sugar (lots of it!) and almonds.
But there are many variations to the traditional Christmas ‘turron’. They can suit nearly every taste: chocolate, caramel, hazelnuts, truffles, coconut… You name it.
Another local Christmas delight is marzipan, which is eaten alone or used to make a delicious cake.
Escudella i carn d’olla
Escudella was formerly an everyday winter dish in Catalonia, and more elaborate versions are prepared at Christmas.
It’s a soup recipe with vegetables, a handful of legumes, and meats served in two courses. Any cold winter day is a great day to enjoy soup that will warm your body and soul.
New Year’s Eve in Barcelona in 2022
New Year´s Eve is a big celebration when Spaniards love to gather with friends and family. The highlight of the evening is the countdown to zero complemented by a curious tradition.
With a glass of sparkling cava in one hand, each of the 12 bell gongs must be followed by eating 1 grape and making 1 wish.
As you can imagine, this can be a lot of work to be done in just 12 seconds, so if you will do it, here’s our tip: pick the smaller grapes possible!
Barcelona’s official New Year’s Eve celebration now takes place at the Magic Fountain of Montjuïc. The party area stretches from Plaza de España up to the National Palace. The celebration is free and public, access is granted to everybody.
Starting at 11 PM, the show goes on until just 1 AM and includes an artistic performance, music, and a massive fireworks show. Afterward, it’s time to continue the party at the local clubs. We’ve got some nightlife tips for you too, make sure to book ahead!
Barcelona Public Transportation on Christmas and Holiday Season 2022
Metro
The Metro on Friday, 24 December, will close at 11 PM. On Christmas Day metro will continue from 5 AM to 2 AM on Sunday 26th, Boxing Day.
The same timetable from 5 AM to 2 AM applies for January 5th.
The metro service in Barcelona on New Year’s Eve will run all night.
Buses
On December 24th, Christmas Eve, buses in Barcelona will run until 10 PM.
In Conclusion
As you can see, Barcelona at Christmas offers many activities for everyone. We hope this article was insightful and that it’ll give you important tips to plan your Christmas in Barcelona in 2022!
