Cabalgata Reyes Magos – the parade of the three kings in Barcelona

When one Christmas isn’t enough…

If the festive season isn’t long enough and you want the excitement to continue into the New Year, Barcelona’s your city.

On 5 January the Catalan capital hosts La Cabalgata de Reyes Magos (the Three Kings’ Parade), followed by the official bank holiday of El Día de los Reyes (the day of the kings) on the 6th. Christmas Day takes a back seat in Catalonia and throughout Spain as locals fling themselves into these early-January festivities with gusto.

Cabalgata Reyes Magos – the parade of the three kings in Barcelona

The traditions

While there are clearly many similarities between this celebration and the way that Christmas is celebrated in many countries, the traditions surrounding the day of the kings are centuries old.

The story goes that after the three Kings (aka the Magi, or Three Wise Men) had been to Bethlehem to give their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh to the baby Jesus, they then made their return journey. And on this return journey, they gave gifts to children – gifts which children in Spain wake up to on the morning of 6 January (Day of the Epiphany).

Similar to the way children write a letter to Santa, Spanish children write to the Three Kings in advance and prepare for their arrival by leaving out straw and water in their shoes for the camels. They wake up early the next morning to find out whether their shoes will be empty and if their letters have been answered. Kids who haven’t behaved themselves over the year may end up with nothing more than a bag of carbón dulce – a sweet that resembles charcoal. Many well-behaved children also receive some – just to remind them to keep up the good work next year!

Cabalgata Reyes Magos – the parade of the three kings in Barcelona

Spanish families spend the day very much like Christmas, exchanging gifts and tucking into a large family meal.

Three Kings’ Parade – a city-wide party

The celebrations actually begin on the evening of 5 January when the Three Kings arrive in Barcelona to a stunning reception of crowds, cannons and fireworks. Thousands of people gather around the city’s port in anticipation of the three kings sailing in on their own ship – the Santa Eulàlia (named after the city’s patron saint). Once on land, they’re greeted by Barcelona’s Mayor, who hands them a set of keys to allow them to go round the houses of the city distributing gifts.

Cabalgata Reyes Magos – the parade of the three kings in Barcelona

But this is just the beginning. A parade soon weaves its way around the streets of central Barcelona, ending up at the Magic Fountain at the foot of Montjuïc. Around 500,000 people turn up to see this spectacular parade of colourful floats, giant animals and professional dancers, actors and circus acts. The streets of the city are also crowded with stalls selling all manner of sweet treats and other culinary delights to revellers as well as children clamouring for the thousands of sweets thrown from floats to the crowds.

Cabalgata Reyes Magos – the parade of the three kings in Barcelona

Experience the ‘Spanish Christmas’

The day of the Kings is a very merry festival, not to mention an amazing spectacle, and it’s no wonder that visiting Barcelona for this celebration is becoming increasingly popular. The whole city gets involved (there are loads of smaller parades spread throughout the suburbs) and an infectious atmosphere of child-like excitement takes over. Whether you’re a big kid, want to experience a different take on winter celebrations, or if one Christmas just isn’t enough for you, come to Barcelona this January and beat the winter blues Spanish style!

Celebrating New Year’s Eve in Barcelona 2013

Barcelona, the ultimate party city, certainly leaves no stone unturned when it comes to New Year’s Eve. There are loads of options available if you want to enjoy the last day of the year in style. Whether you celebrate in the streets, at a party, in a beach club, or at a gala dinner, Barcelona is a fantastic place to start your new year with a bang!

New Year’s Eve Parties

Night-owls by nature, it’s no wonder that the Spanish tend to head out after midnight on New Year’s Eve. There are so many famous clubs in the city, all offering something unique, so have a look around and maybe think about getting your tickets in advance to avoid disappointment. Even better – the metro is open 24 hours on New Year’s Eve so there’ll be no problem getting home safely. Here are a few of our recommendations.

Razzmatazz – Barcelona’s one and only super club, this 5-room extravaganza goes all out for New Year’s. As well as entry to the club, you get two drinks, a t-shirt, grapes, a glass of champagne and a party bag – all for €45.

Otto Zutz – the place for hip-hop in Barcelona, Otto Zutz can compete with the best of them and this New Year’s Eve is no exception. Exact details of the event aren’t out yet but there’s no doubt that it’ll be filled to rafters when the big night comes.

Celebrating New Year’s Eve in Barcelona 2013

Sala Bikini - this popular and exclusive venue pulls out all the stops on New Year’s Eve. Party-goers dance the night away to a selection of the best Latino music as well as enjoy the live shows and surprises that the club puts on.

Other places to try once you’ve downed your New Year’s grapes are the ever-cool Jamboree, upscale Sutton Club or even the home of the ravers, Moog. A popular hotspot is also Poble Espanyol’s New Year’s Party – a huge university bash housed in three indoor tents in the mock-medieval Spanish village. It plays a large repertoire of music, ranging from the 70s to what’s in the charts right now – all for 35€.

New Year’s Eve Gala dinners

Shôko – one of the coolest restaurant cum clubs in Barcelona, it’s no surprise that the all-inclusive ticket will set you back €190. It includes a lavish dinner complete with flamenco and guitar performances. Luckily there are cheaper tickets for €50 which includes the entry charge and two drinks. They celebrate the New Year four times throughout the night as the theme changes from New York, London, Rio de Janeiro and Seville!

Celebrating New Year’s Eve in Barcelona 2013

Rita Blue – located in the up-and-coming Raval, Rita Blue teems with Barcelona’s trendy 20-somethings on New Year’s Eve. As well as serving a selection of Mexican fusion food, it also opts for the traditional Spanish campanadas and cava – grapes and sparkling wine at midnight. There’s also a lively DJ set and with the reasonable prices and a great atmosphere it’s a night to remember in a more relaxed setting.

New Years out in the Streets

The streets in the centre of Barcelona fill up with revellers on New Year’s Eve, as tourists and locals mill around on the hunt for the celebrations. The most popular spots are Las Ramblas, Plaça Catalunya and Plaça Reial and they get pretty busy as midnight draws near. There’s no official firework display in Barcelona on New Year’s Eve but the Torre Agbar does have a light show at midnight and sometimes the hotels on the beachfront put on fireworks of their own.

A typical tradition on New Year’s Eve in Barcelona is to eat 12 grapes at midnight, one on each chime of the clock. In Barcelona, thousands of people head to Plaça Catalunya to do this in unison and soak up the atmosphere. Make sure you eat all 12 in time and make a wish – it’s considered bad luck not to! And yes there are seeds!

Celebrating New Year’s Eve in Barcelona 2013

Barcelona beach clubs

The ‘street’ offers many possibilities, but don’t forget that Barcelona is also famous for the beach. So if none of the above takes your fancy, make sure you head along to one of Barcelona’s beach clubs and see what’s going on. The busiest area is Vila Olímpica, with a great atmosphere as the party gets into full swing at about 2am. The waterfront is buzzing and people spill out of the cool bars and beach clubs like Opium Mar, Catwalk, Sotavento and Carpe Diem.

Down by the beach is also Barcelona’s newest five-star hotel, the W Hotel. It boasts the 26th-floor Eclipse Bar complete with beautiful people and spectacular views over the Mediterranean coastline. Cocktails aren’t cheap but for an unrivaled view of Barcelona by night it’s definitely worth splashing the cash this New Year’s Eve.

Barcelona’s calling…

New Year’s Eve in Barcelona 2013 has something for everyone – for those who want to spend time with the family, for couples who want a romantic evening, for people who love street parties as well as for those wishing to dance the night away in a club. We hope we’ve provided you with some useful information so you can get planning your Barcelona New Year’s Eve 2013 experience.

Port Aventura Theme Park

It’s Sunday morning, 8 o’clock, and the alarm goes off: today the kids are coming back!

We have a look at the times, our destination being Port Aventura , Barcelona’s theme park and comparable to Thorpe Park or Chessington World of Adventures in Britain.

Port Aventura Theme Park

At the entrance (which also acts as an access point for the adjacent water park, the “Caribe Acquatic Park”) there is quite a significant queue. However, after about half an hour we manage even to overcome this particular obstacle and finally we reach the entrance.

Port Aventura Theme Park

Upon entering, the sight that greets our eyes is a vision straight from a fairy-tale: a huge river, bordered by rocks and thick, luxuriant vegetation which frames the whole Park, which then evolves into different themes the further you delve in to the park. There are Mediterranean, Polynesian, Chinese, SesamoAventura and Mexican themes all the way to the Wild West.

Port Aventura Theme Park

We decide to go straight in to the first ride: ‘Furious Baco’, a capsule which promises to simulate acceleration equivalent to that of a jet taking off. However, thanks to the information panels, placed at the entrance to each ride letting you know the waiting times, we realise that we would have to wait approximately one hour and 30 minutes, which causes us instead to head over to the following attraction, ‘Gran Canyon Rapids’. As you can easily guess from the name, this ride is an adventure through water rapids imitating those of the Grand Canyon, considered as ‘moderate’ on the signs next to each of the rides. We wait roughly 30 minutes, get on board and enjoy the ride. We were refreshed by the sprays of water which are sprayed from the obstacles throughout the duration of the ride.

Port Aventura Theme Park

Getting off the ride, we see an extremely tall tower, which is the symbol of ‘Hurakan Condor’. This time, the queue is practically non-existent, so we get straight on board and are lifted upwards to the top of the tower, to an altitude of 100 metres, hearts suddenly beating fast, and then…down! In 2 seconds flat we are already back to the ground. We make our way around the park and end up trying loads of the other rides, some of them really fun, others less so, but all of them giving the impression that, at least for the day, we had once again become kids.

Port Aventura Theme Park

The park is really crowded…everybody from families with kids; groups of elderly people, to groups of children all of which are in a general spirit of happiness. At times, the queues are rather long, but if you arm yourself with a good dose of patience (as well as the right kind of company), time flies by quickly, with comments exchanged between those in front of and behind you and by the time you get on the ride, they will have become your best friends!

Port Aventura Theme Park

The lunch break is a needed rest from the frenetic adventure, and this you can spend in one of the very numerous themed bars which are located inside the park, or in the shade of the palm trees which line the bank of the river.

Port Aventura Theme Park

It’s 6.30 p.m and we are tired, hungry but also very satisfied, and well in advance of the park’s closing time (from the 25th of May to the 26th of September the park closes at 8 p.m.). 

Cabalgata Reyes Magos – the parade of the three kings in Barcelona

When one Christmas isn’t enough…

If the festive season isn’t long enough and you want the excitement to continue into the New Year, Barcelona’s your city.

On 5 January the Catalan capital hosts La Cabalgata de Reyes Magos (the Three Kings’ Parade), followed by the official bank holiday of El Día de los Reyes (the day of the kings) on the 6th. Christmas Day takes a back seat in Catalonia and throughout Spain as locals fling themselves into these early-January festivities with gusto.

Cabalgata Reyes Magos – the parade of the three kings in Barcelona

The traditions

While there are clearly many similarities between this celebration and the way that Christmas is celebrated in many countries, the traditions surrounding the day of the kings are centuries old.

The story goes that after the three Kings (aka the Magi, or Three Wise Men) had been to Bethlehem to give their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh to the baby Jesus, they then made their return journey. And on this return journey, they gave gifts to children – gifts which children in Spain wake up to on the morning of 6 January (Day of the Epiphany).

Similar to the way children write a letter to Santa, Spanish children write to the Three Kings in advance and prepare for their arrival by leaving out straw and water in their shoes for the camels. They wake up early the next morning to find out whether their shoes will be empty and if their letters have been answered. Kids who haven’t behaved themselves over the year may end up with nothing more than a bag of carbón dulce – a sweet that resembles charcoal. Many well-behaved children also receive some – just to remind them to keep up the good work next year!

Cabalgata Reyes Magos – the parade of the three kings in Barcelona

Spanish families spend the day very much like Christmas, exchanging gifts and tucking into a large family meal.

Three Kings’ Parade – a city-wide party

The celebrations actually begin on the evening of 5 January when the Three Kings arrive in Barcelona to a stunning reception of crowds, cannons and fireworks. Thousands of people gather around the city’s port in anticipation of the three kings sailing in on their own ship – the Santa Eulàlia (named after the city’s patron saint). Once on land, they’re greeted by Barcelona’s Mayor, who hands them a set of keys to allow them to go round the houses of the city distributing gifts.

Cabalgata Reyes Magos – the parade of the three kings in Barcelona

But this is just the beginning. A parade soon weaves its way around the streets of central Barcelona, ending up at the Magic Fountain at the foot of Montjuïc. Around 500,000 people turn up to see this spectacular parade of colourful floats, giant animals and professional dancers, actors and circus acts. The streets of the city are also crowded with stalls selling all manner of sweet treats and other culinary delights to revellers as well as children clamouring for the thousands of sweets thrown from floats to the crowds.

Cabalgata Reyes Magos – the parade of the three kings in Barcelona

Experience the ‘Spanish Christmas’

The day of the Kings is a very merry festival, not to mention an amazing spectacle, and it’s no wonder that visiting Barcelona for this celebration is becoming increasingly popular. The whole city gets involved (there are loads of smaller parades spread throughout the suburbs) and an infectious atmosphere of child-like excitement takes over. Whether you’re a big kid, want to experience a different take on winter celebrations, or if one Christmas just isn’t enough for you, come to Barcelona this January and beat the winter blues Spanish style!

Christmas in Barcelona

It’s no secret that the Spanish love to celebrate, and Christmas is no exception. Thinking of visiting the Catalan capital over the festive period and would like to know a bit more about what to expect? Then look no further. We have all you need to know about Christmas in the city.

Christmas in Barcelona

Important dates over the Christmas period

6 December – Constitution Day (bank holiday)

8 December – Day of the Immaculate Conception (bank holiday)

25 December – Christmas Day (bank holiday)

26 December – Boxing Day (bank holiday in Catalonia)

1 January – New Year’s Day (bank holiday)

5 January - Parade of the Three Kings

6 January – Three Wise Kings’ Day (bank holiday)

Christmas markets

Markets are a real Christmas highlight in a lot of European cities, and you”ll find several dotted across Barcelona during the festive period. By far the largest and most popular is the Fira de Santa Llúcia, located in front of Barcelona Cathedral in Plaça de la Seu. It’s been going since 1786 and with lots of handmade decorations and gift ideas in a stunning setting, it’s the perfect place to get into the festive spirit. This year, the fair begins on 30 November and ends on 23 December.

Christmas in Barcelona

Christmas shopping

Barcelona is a fantastic shopping destination, and for Christmas shopping it really does have it all. From street markets to independent boutiques and national institutions like Zara and Mango, there are plenty of options. Plus there are extra shopping days during December during the bank holidays on the 6th and 8th, as well as on Sunday 9th, 16th and 23rd to give you enough time to pick up all your Christmas presents. Two of the most popular shopping streets are Passeig de Gràcia and Portal de l’Angel, but there are so many side streets full of unique things to give as gifts so make sure you explore those too.

Christmas in Barcelona

Ice rink

For the third year now, Plaça Catalunya is playing host to Europe’s largest open-air ice rink. Open from the end of November until the beginning of January, the price per hour is around 8 euros and it’s a great way to get into the Christmas spirit. This isn’t the only ice rink in the city – there are also ones in Gràcia and Passeig de Sant Joan, as well as an indoor one in the Pedralbes shopping centre.

Christmas in Barcelona

Christmas lights

The sparkly street lights in Barcelona certainly spread Christmas cheer throughout the city. They can be seen on over 300 streets around the city, with El Corte Inglés store on Plaça Catalunya putting on its own equally impressive twinkly display. Each district of the city also has its own Christmas tree, the most famous being the 12-metre one on Plaça Catalunya, covered in little lights and decorations.

Nativity scenes

Nativity scenes are huge in Barcelona and people spend a lot of time and money recreating this famous festive stalwart. The intricate nativity scenes displayed around the city are not to be missed, the most popular being in Plaça Sant Jaume, commissioned by a different artist each year. It’s life-sized and people queue at its unveiling just to take a picture of it! The unusual caganer is included in the scene, although not without its controversy. In 2005, the Council banned it, as its depiction of public defecation “set a bad example”. However, many locals were outraged by this killjoy attitude and demanded it be reinstalled.

Christmas in Barcelona

Traditional things to buy in markets

A ‘caganer’

Included in Catalan nativity scenes, this cheeky character can also be found in stalls throughout the region during December. Traditionally, the caganer is a gnome-like figure wearing the traditional Catalan barretina or red beret and with his trousers down, his backside bare, defecating! It’s a very popular tradition in Catalonia and it’s said to be a symbol of good luck for the New Year. In recent years, the Catalan figure has been substituted for famous faces such as Barack Obama, Lewis Hamilton and Homer Simpson.

Caga Tío (‘shitting log’)

Quintessentially Catalan and a big hit with kids, the Caga Tío can be found in homes all over the region. It’s a small log with a face painted on one end and wearing the typical Catalan red hat. From 8 December until Christmas Eve, children feed it sweets and take care of it by covering it in a blanket. Finally, on the 24 December, children sing the Caga Tío song and hit the log with sticks to be able to enjoy the delicacies inside. Sometimes, the log will then be used as fuel to warm the house, ‘repaying’ the warmth it has received there.

Sweet treats

Be sure to try some Spanish turrón during your December visit – a sweet that’s a firm favourite here at Christmas. Traditional turrón is made from nougat with almonds, hazelnuts and honey, although today hundreds of flavours are available. Polvorones are also a popular festive treat made from a sweet, almond paste. They’re similar to shortbread, although a lot heavier and more crumbly.

Three Kings’ Day

Although Christmas on 25 December is celebrated, it’s firmly in the shadow of 6 January – the day that the Spanish consider the most important in the festive calendar. This is the day that people typically exchange gifts and enjoy large feasts. The 5th of January is the Night of the Three Kings, the Cavalcada de Reis in Catalan, when you can catch the spectacular Three Kings’ Parade that winds its way through the main thoroughfares of Barcelona. It’s a massive display of fireworks and elaborately decorated floats, with children throwing hard-boiled sweets at the crowds who turn up to watch. Take our word for it – you don’t want to miss this.

Christmas in Barcelona

Barcelona, how the Sagrada Familia will be in 2026

In 2026 Barcelona’s symbol should be finished. This video, produced by the Basilica, shows in 1.30 minutes the works in progress and how the final stages of Gaudí's masterpiece will proceed during the next years. At the end of the video appears the new profile of Gaudí’s city. 

Do you like it ? What do you think about ? 

Watch the video on youtube

Celebrating New Year’s Eve in Barcelona 2013

Barcelona, the ultimate party city, certainly leaves no stone unturned when it comes to New Year’s Eve. There are loads of options available if you want to enjoy the last day of the year in style. Whether you celebrate in the streets, at a party, in a beach club, or at a gala dinner, Barcelona is a fantastic place to start your new year with a bang!

New Year’s Eve Parties

Night-owls by nature, it’s no wonder that the Spanish tend to head out after midnight on New Year’s Eve. There are so many famous clubs in the city, all offering something unique, so have a look around and maybe think about getting your tickets in advance to avoid disappointment. Even better – the metro is open 24 hours on New Year’s Eve so there’ll be no problem getting home safely. Here are a few of our recommendations.

Razzmatazz – Barcelona’s one and only super club, this 5-room extravaganza goes all out for New Year’s. As well as entry to the club, you get two drinks, a t-shirt, grapes, a glass of champagne and a party bag – all for €45.

Otto Zutz – the place for hip-hop in Barcelona, Otto Zutz can compete with the best of them and this New Year’s Eve is no exception. Exact details of the event aren’t out yet but there’s no doubt that it’ll be filled to rafters when the big night comes.

Celebrating New Year’s Eve in Barcelona 2013

Sala Bikini - this popular and exclusive venue pulls out all the stops on New Year’s Eve. Party-goers dance the night away to a selection of the best Latino music as well as enjoy the live shows and surprises that the club puts on.

Other places to try once you’ve downed your New Year’s grapes are the ever-cool Jamboree, upscale Sutton Club or even the home of the ravers, Moog. A popular hotspot is also Poble Espanyol’s New Year’s Party – a huge university bash housed in three indoor tents in the mock-medieval Spanish village. It plays a large repertoire of music, ranging from the 70s to what’s in the charts right now – all for 35€.

New Year’s Eve Gala dinners

Shôko – one of the coolest restaurant cum clubs in Barcelona, it’s no surprise that the all-inclusive ticket will set you back €190. It includes a lavish dinner complete with flamenco and guitar performances. Luckily there are cheaper tickets for €50 which includes the entry charge and two drinks. They celebrate the New Year four times throughout the night as the theme changes from New York, London, Rio de Janeiro and Seville!

Celebrating New Year’s Eve in Barcelona 2013

Rita Blue – located in the up-and-coming Raval, Rita Blue teems with Barcelona’s trendy 20-somethings on New Year’s Eve. As well as serving a selection of Mexican fusion food, it also opts for the traditional Spanish campanadas and cava – grapes and sparkling wine at midnight. There’s also a lively DJ set and with the reasonable prices and a great atmosphere it’s a night to remember in a more relaxed setting.

New Years out in the Streets

The streets in the centre of Barcelona fill up with revellers on New Year’s Eve, as tourists and locals mill around on the hunt for the celebrations. The most popular spots are Las Ramblas, Plaça Catalunya and Plaça Reial and they get pretty busy as midnight draws near. There’s no official firework display in Barcelona on New Year’s Eve but the Torre Agbar does have a light show at midnight and sometimes the hotels on the beachfront put on fireworks of their own.

A typical tradition on New Year’s Eve in Barcelona is to eat 12 grapes at midnight, one on each chime of the clock. In Barcelona, thousands of people head to Plaça Catalunya to do this in unison and soak up the atmosphere. Make sure you eat all 12 in time and make a wish – it’s considered bad luck not to! And yes there are seeds!

Celebrating New Year’s Eve in Barcelona 2013

Barcelona beach clubs

The ‘street’ offers many possibilities, but don’t forget that Barcelona is also famous for the beach. So if none of the above takes your fancy, make sure you head along to one of Barcelona’s beach clubs and see what’s going on. The busiest area is Vila Olímpica, with a great atmosphere as the party gets into full swing at about 2am. The waterfront is buzzing and people spill out of the cool bars and beach clubs like Opium Mar, Catwalk, Sotavento and Carpe Diem.

Down by the beach is also Barcelona’s newest five-star hotel, the W Hotel. It boasts the 26th-floor Eclipse Bar complete with beautiful people and spectacular views over the Mediterranean coastline. Cocktails aren’t cheap but for an unrivaled view of Barcelona by night it’s definitely worth splashing the cash this New Year’s Eve.

Barcelona’s calling…

New Year’s Eve in Barcelona 2013 has something for everyone – for those who want to spend time with the family, for couples who want a romantic evening, for people who love street parties as well as for those wishing to dance the night away in a club. We hope we’ve provided you with some useful information so you can get planning your Barcelona New Year’s Eve 2013 experience.

Christmas market Fira Santa Llucia in Barcelona

Lights are on, candles are lighted, it smells like cinnamon and ginger bread – Christmas time is coming!

Although temperature is still warm and there’s no snowflake in sight, Barcelona maintains the same traditions like other European countries. This year the Christmas market Fira de Santa Llúcia already takes place for the 226th time and is therefore the oldest one Barcelona offers.

Christmas market Fira Santa Llucia in Barcelona

Due to its location in front of the cathedral of Barcelona, the Christmas market enjoys a magical atmosphere. It might be a great change to spend your holiday in Barcelona during Christmas time. The Christmas market doesn’t only offer lots of stalls, but also organized some activities for adults and kids for this year.

Christmas market Fira Santa Llucia in Barcelona

To get an overview, the stalls of the Christmas market were divided into four different categories:

Christmas market Fira Santa Llucia in Barcelona

Figures

Accessories, like Christmas tree balls, crib figurines and other Christmas decoration.   

Plants

Here you can find moss, cork, Caga Tíos and artificial Christmas trees for decoration.

Christmas market Fira Santa Llucia in Barcelona

Handicraft

In this area there is anything that has something to do with handicraft. You can discover jewellery, clothes and accessories.

Simbombes

Of course on Christmas you cannot miss music – Simbombes is an instrument. Here you can find any sort if music instruments, that might accompany your singing under the Christmas tree. 

There are several ways of gaining information about the location of the stalls at Fira Santa Llúcia.

Christmas market Fira Santa Llucia in Barcelona

Practical information:

Opening hours:

25th November – 23th December

Weekdays: 10.30am – 08.30pm

Holidays: 10.30am – 09.30pm

Address:

Barcelona - Carrer Paradís, 3

Christmas market Fira Santa Llucia in Barcelona

How to get there:

Metro: red line L1 Catalunya or Urquinaona stop

geen line L3 Liceu stop

yellow line L4 Jaume stop

In one of my last articles about Christmas in Barcelona you can read more about the Christmas traditions of the Catalan people.

Christmas in Barcelona

It’s no secret that the Spanish love to celebrate, and Christmas is no exception. Thinking of visiting the Catalan capital over the festive period and would like to know a bit more about what to expect? Then look no further. We have all you need to know about Christmas in the city.

Christmas in Barcelona

Important dates over the Christmas period

6 December – Constitution Day (bank holiday)

8 December – Day of the Immaculate Conception (bank holiday)

25 December – Christmas Day (bank holiday)

26 December – Boxing Day (bank holiday in Catalonia)

1 January – New Year’s Day (bank holiday)

5 January - Parade of the Three Kings

6 January – Three Wise Kings’ Day (bank holiday)

Christmas markets

Markets are a real Christmas highlight in a lot of European cities, and you”ll find several dotted across Barcelona during the festive period. By far the largest and most popular is the Fira de Santa Llúcia, located in front of Barcelona Cathedral in Plaça de la Seu. It’s been going since 1786 and with lots of handmade decorations and gift ideas in a stunning setting, it’s the perfect place to get into the festive spirit. This year, the fair begins on 30 November and ends on 23 December.

Christmas in Barcelona

Christmas shopping

Barcelona is a fantastic shopping destination, and for Christmas shopping it really does have it all. From street markets to independent boutiques and national institutions like Zara and Mango, there are plenty of options. Plus there are extra shopping days during December during the bank holidays on the 6th and 8th, as well as on Sunday 9th, 16th and 23rd to give you enough time to pick up all your Christmas presents. Two of the most popular shopping streets are Passeig de Gràcia and Portal de l’Angel, but there are so many side streets full of unique things to give as gifts so make sure you explore those too.

Christmas in Barcelona

Ice rink

For the third year now, Plaça Catalunya is playing host to Europe’s largest open-air ice rink. Open from the end of November until the beginning of January, the price per hour is around 8 euros and it’s a great way to get into the Christmas spirit. This isn’t the only ice rink in the city – there are also ones in Gràcia and Passeig de Sant Joan, as well as an indoor one in the Pedralbes shopping centre.

Christmas in Barcelona

Christmas lights

The sparkly street lights in Barcelona certainly spread Christmas cheer throughout the city. They can be seen on over 300 streets around the city, with El Corte Inglés store on Plaça Catalunya putting on its own equally impressive twinkly display. Each district of the city also has its own Christmas tree, the most famous being the 12-metre one on Plaça Catalunya, covered in little lights and decorations.

Nativity scenes

Nativity scenes are huge in Barcelona and people spend a lot of time and money recreating this famous festive stalwart. The intricate nativity scenes displayed around the city are not to be missed, the most popular being in Plaça Sant Jaume, commissioned by a different artist each year. It’s life-sized and people queue at its unveiling just to take a picture of it! The unusual caganer is included in the scene, although not without its controversy. In 2005, the Council banned it, as its depiction of public defecation “set a bad example”. However, many locals were outraged by this killjoy attitude and demanded it be reinstalled.

Christmas in Barcelona

Traditional things to buy in markets

A ‘caganer’

Included in Catalan nativity scenes, this cheeky character can also be found in stalls throughout the region during December. Traditionally, the caganer is a gnome-like figure wearing the traditional Catalan barretina or red beret and with his trousers down, his backside bare, defecating! It’s a very popular tradition in Catalonia and it’s said to be a symbol of good luck for the New Year. In recent years, the Catalan figure has been substituted for famous faces such as Barack Obama, Lewis Hamilton and Homer Simpson.

Caga Tío (‘shitting log’)

Quintessentially Catalan and a big hit with kids, the Caga Tío can be found in homes all over the region. It’s a small log with a face painted on one end and wearing the typical Catalan red hat. From 8 December until Christmas Eve, children feed it sweets and take care of it by covering it in a blanket. Finally, on the 24 December, children sing the Caga Tío song and hit the log with sticks to be able to enjoy the delicacies inside. Sometimes, the log will then be used as fuel to warm the house, ‘repaying’ the warmth it has received there.

Sweet treats

Be sure to try some Spanish turrón during your December visit – a sweet that’s a firm favourite here at Christmas. Traditional turrón is made from nougat with almonds, hazelnuts and honey, although today hundreds of flavours are available. Polvorones are also a popular festive treat made from a sweet, almond paste. They’re similar to shortbread, although a lot heavier and more crumbly.

Three Kings’ Day

Although Christmas on 25 December is celebrated, it’s firmly in the shadow of 6 January – the day that the Spanish consider the most important in the festive calendar. This is the day that people typically exchange gifts and enjoy large feasts. The 5th of January is the Night of the Three Kings, the Cavalcada de Reis in Catalan, when you can catch the spectacular Three Kings’ Parade that winds its way through the main thoroughfares of Barcelona. It’s a massive display of fireworks and elaborately decorated floats, with children throwing hard-boiled sweets at the crowds who turn up to watch. Take our word for it – you don’t want to miss this.

Christmas in Barcelona