Ash
Written by Ash

Christmas in Barcelona 2023 – Barcelona Christmas Things to Do, Markets, & Traditions

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So you’re planning a Barcelona Christmas.

First of all – great choice! The Catalan capital has a lot to offer, not to mention a brief weather respite from the cold of most parts of English speaking countries.

But how the heck can we plan Christmas in Barcelona with the limited hours, massive crowds, and even a few creepy local traditions?

Easy – let’s take a look!

christmas lights illuminate place reial in barcelona

Christmas in Barcelona: Planning a Barcelona Christmas Holiday

In general, visiting Barcelona in December is a great time! The city lights up and turns festive with some amazing local festivals and traditions.

Before you arrive though please make sure you:

caganer at barcelona christmas market

Barcelona Christmas Traditions

Barcelona Christmas Lights

You’ll find the main shopping district Portal del’Angel completely illuminated. The most impressive Christmas lights are at the Corte Ingles department store in Plaça de Catalunya.

The lights are turned on the last Friday in November in Barcelona and turned off on January 6th.

⚠️  Warning ⚠️: Barcelona’s top two attractions must now be booked in advance.

You can book fast track tickets to both individually or get them as part of a discount pass:

You will not be able to book these tickets on site – lock in your tickets ASAP or you could miss out.

Cagatio

Santa Claus here is actually substituted for an anthropomorphic log named Cagatio (‘Shit Log’). Cagatio is put out much like a Christmas tree on December the 8th.

Kids must leave things to eat for the log every night before bed. The parents then slowly replace the log with bigger versions to simulate it getting fat on the treats.

After 17 days the very large version of the log is covered with a cloth (to hide the gifts) and beaten by the children. The parents then take the cloth away to reveal a treasure trove of gifts which have been ‘shit out’.

Yeah, OK.

You can find virtually any size of these logs at the Barcelona Christmas markets (info below).

🥘 Looking for food + history + wine + fun? Take one of Barcelona’s best food tours.

traditional barcelona souvenir caganer with trump, putin, messi, and puigmont

Caganer

There’s also Caganer (literally ‘the shitter’). Well, this popular Catalan Christmas character is typically a peasant with a red hat (or your favourite celebrity) who is placed in nativity scenes. Doing a number two.

I’ll let you read about Caganer on Wikipedia to make up your own mind.

That said, buying one of these figurines is a Catalan Christmas pastime and one of the best Barcelona souvenirs you can get – there are tons of random shops around Jaume 1 metro stop, and one in El Born in Plaça de Santa Maria, right in front of the famous Santa Maria del Mar Cathedral.

Barcelona Christmas Tour 2023

If you want to take a tour through the streets of Barcelona and admire all the spectacle of Christmas in the city, the best way is to take the Barcelona Christmas Tour.

This hour and a half tour with the Bus Turistic allows you to enjoy the streets and most emblematic buildings of the city, specially decorated for the occasion.

The service runs November 25th to December 30th (except the 25th) with two departure times from Plaça Catalunya, at 6:00 pm and 8:00 pm.

Absolutely essential to book these Barcelona Christmas Tour tickets in advance:

Barcelona Christmas Tour
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Buying Christmas Gifts in Barcelona

Consumer culture over Christmas in Barcelona isn’t as pronounced as English speaking countries, in fact the main gift giving period isn’t on Christmas Day: it’s King’s Day (“Los Reyes”) on January 6th.

If you’re looking for some great shopping deals remember then that the post-Christmas sales push back to January 7th onward. You’ll know this by all the signs saying ‘rebajas’ (‘discounts’) in shop windows.

To know where to go check out my shopping in Barcelona article.

shoppers walk through the barcelona christmas market in front of the barcelona cathedral

Christmas Markets in Barcelona

El Mercado de Santa Lucia

You’ll find Barcelona’s main Christmas market right in front of the Barcelona Cathedral.

Christmas markets have been held in this bustling square (Pla Seu) in the historic Gothic Quarter since at least 1786. Today it’s a great place to pick up nativity scene figures, Christmas trees and ornaments, crafts, and sweets.

This is a great place to buy your own Cagatio or even a Caganer (both traditional ones or ones based on popular figures like Trump, Obama, Messi etc.)

Dates for Christmas in Barcelona 2022: from the 26th of November until December 23rd.

Hours: 10:00 am to 9:00 pm (weekdays) and 10:00 am to 9:00 pm (weekends and holidays).

Related: How Many Days Should I Stay in Barcelona?

sagrada familia passion façade under construction sagrada familia passion façade under construction
Save up to €30 on your Barcelona holiday right from the couch.

Mercado de la Sagrada Familia

The smallest of Christmas markets in Barcelona is on Avenida Gaudi just a few steps from the famous Sagrada Familia basilica. Here you’ll stock up on ornaments, trees, plants, food (most of all candies) and other crafts.

Dates for Barcelona Christmas 2022: Last weekend of November until December 23rd.

Hours: from 10:00 am to 9:00 pm (weekdays) and until 10:00 pm (weekend and holidays).

Mercado de Los Reyes Magicos

You’ll find this Barcelona Christmas market on the famous Gran Via, between Muntaner and Calabria streets. To access this market get off the metro at Universitat, Urgell, or Rocafort.

Here you’ll be able to get all the Christmas market classics like ornaments, wreaths, and even cagatios. What stands out about this market is the abundance of ‘xurrerie’ – little stands making churros con chocolate.

Christmas 2022 Dates: 20th of December to the 6th of January.

Hours: 11:00 am to 9:00 pm (weekdays) and 11:00 am to 10:00 pm weekends, and from 10:00 am to 3:00 am on January 5th 2019.

Port Vell Market

From December 5th to January 5th in Plaça del Portal de la Pau you’ll have another Christmas market in the Port Vell (Old Port).

It’s right in front of the Columbus Monument at the bottom of La Rambla.

Expect a tasty gastronomic area, a place for traditional Catalan souvenirs, a stage with 30-40 free shows, and a children’s play area.

There’s also a very impressive 31 meter high Christmas tree.

Hours: daily from 11:00 am to 11:30 pm.

christmas lights illuminate the facade of la pedrera in barcelona

Barcelona Christmas Events

Casa Batlló Christmas Visit: A Winter Night Visit

Explore the majestic mansion Casa Batlló with an evening visit in which you’re transported back 100 years.

The visit follows local protagonist Fermina, the keeper of the Batlló family’s grandchildren, telling the story of the famous family that lived in the house built by Antoni Gaudí.

The multisensory AR experience with unique nighttime projections is one of the best things to do in Barcelona at Christmas, period.

Casa Batllo Winter Nights
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The Lights of Sant Pau: Barcelona Christmas Garden

A breathtaking night visit to the famous Recinto Modernista Hospital de Sant Pau, Barcelona’s epic modernist hospital complex.

Here, you’re guided through a series of over a million LED lights present in the garden and in other historical spaces of the Hospital.

Els Llum de Sant Pau
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The Magic City in Plaza Catalunya

Like every year from December 17th to December 30th, the famous Plaça Catalunya will host a fantastic event with various activities for children.

This year the Christmas light installation designed by the set designer and architect Juli Sanjuan Palma.

In nearby Plaça Universitat on the other hand, you will find a space by OFFF Barcelona: a digital art and design platform that will lead you to reflect on the winter solstice through a forest of screens.

Also in Plaça Catalunya over Christmas 2022 there will be the ever famous Responsible Consumption Fair.

🧑‍🎨 Want more of Gaudi? Unlock his masterpieces with the top Gaudi tours in Barcelona.

a tourist makes paella at a cooking workshop in barcelona a client participates in a paella cooking class in barcelona
Reserve your apron at Barcelona’s five star paella cooking class with no money down.

Christmas at Poble Espanyol

In December, the open-air architecture museum Poble Espanyol (aka Spanish Village) gets a holiday makeover to give families days of joy and fun.

Children are naturally the center of the event.

Here, they can visit a super mega Santa Claus house, stop and meet Christmas characters, attend children’s concerts, see circus acts, and learn at interactive spaces designed for children.

The dates of the event are: Dec 3-11, Dec 17-18, Dec 22-29 (Christmas Day excluded), and Jan 3-8.

POBLE ESPANYOL
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The Nativity Scene in Placa Saint Jaume

From December 12th to January 6th you can see a rather abstract but exciting nativity scene, right in Plaça Sant Jaume.

It has not yet been revealed who will be the artist who will take care of the installation, but mayor Ada Colau has announced that it will be a less classic, more audiovisual and sensibile crib.

You can come and see the crib every day from 10:00 am to 10:00 pm.

Barcelona Christmas Attraction Hours 2022

The Barcelona Tourism office

The Barcelona Tourism Office is closed December 25th and January 1st. You will not be able to pick up your Barcelona Card discount passes while these offices are closed.

If you arrive in Barcelona on Christmas Eve you’ll need to get there before 7:00 pm. On the 31st you’ll have to arrive before 8:00 pm.

On December 26th and January 1st it’s open only in the morning.

The other days it’s business as usual with hours from 8:30 am to 9:00 pm.

Grabbing the Hola Barcelona Card for discount transport? You can reserve at Tiqets and redeem the pass at any metro station in the city (airport included) with your voucher code.

the passion facade with four towers and a construction crane outside sagrada familia in barcelona spain

Sagrada Familia Christmas Hours

December brings limited hours at Sagrada Familia.

On December 25th and 26th as well as the 1st and 6th of January the church is open between 9:00 am and 2:00 pm.

Due to limited openings it is suggested to book general Sagrada Familia tickets in advance online to ensure spots. In regards to the fantastic English guided tour it doesn’t run on the 25th and 26th of December or January 1st and 6th.

Regular winter hours excluding the days above are 9:00 am to 6:00 pm.

Guided tours of Sagrada Familia run as usual.

SAGRADA FAMILIA
Lock in your timeslot now!
the park guell entrance

Park Guell Christmas Hours

Park Guell, Barcelona’s amazing urban park with a view is one of the best things to do in Barcelona on Christmas, even if hours are limited.

You’ll be able to visit between 9:30 am and 5:30 pm on Christmas Day (last entrance at 5:30 pm). Again, with less hours it is highly recommend to book your time slot in advance to guarantee you can visit and skip the lines.

Park Guell
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Casa Batllo Christmas Hours

During Christmas it’s business as usual at Casa Batllo – one of the best Barcelona buildings for Christmas vibes.

You’ll be able to visit between 9:00 am and 6:30 pm (last entrance at 5:30 pm). During this busy tourist season you’ll need to book your tickets online in advance to save €4.00 and avoid lining up.

A favourite winter past time is passing by to see the building dressed up like a Christmas tree.

Unfortunately the Casa Batllo Magic Nights concert series is closed during winter in Barcelona.

CASA BATLLO TICKETS
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La Pedrera Christmas Hours

La Pedrera, an epic mansion on Barcelona’s famous Passeig de Gracia is closed on Christmas. On New Year’s Day you’ll be able to visit between 9:00 am and 8:30 pm.

During the holiday season there are extended winter hours between December 26th and January 3rd from 9:00 am to 6:30 pm (last entrance 5:30 pm).

The La Pedrera Night Experience runs between 9:00 pm and 11:00 pm on most days, though it’s closed on December 24th, 25th, and December 31st.

CASA MILA
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view of camp nou stadium with mes que un club sign

Camp Nou Christmas Hours

The world’s second largest association football stadium, Camp Nou is closed on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.

Holiday hours in 2022 are 9:30 am to 7:30 pm between December 16th and 31st and January 2nd and 6th.

Keep in mind the stadium portion of tours are is not available on Barcelona FC match days – check Barcelona FC’s schedule to avoid problems.

It is strongly suggested to buy your tickets in advance online to save €3.50 each and avoid holiday line ups.

CAMP NOU MUSEUM TICKETS
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crowd watching the free fountain show in barcelona spain

The Magic Fountain Christmas Hours

This year the Magic Fountain show is unfortunately not running on Christmas Day.

On the 31st of December however you’ll find special New Year’s presentations. While the theme hasn’t been chosen yet the show is scheduled to start at 9:30 pm and finish at 00:15. Check the Magic Fountain Facebook page for updates.

For the rest, the Magic Fountain is currently not running full shows due to the COVID-19 pandemic. There are ‘monumental’ performances Tuesday to Saturday from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm and 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm.

There are also monumental shows on Sundays between 11:00 am and 3:00 pp.

The fountain is also closed between January 6th and February 28th for maintenance works.

flower pots in the barrio andaluz in poble espanyol barcelona

Poble Espanyol Christmas Hours

If you’re looking to see architecture from all of Spain’s 15 regions in one spot you’ll be happy to know you’re at a place where the hours don’t change.

On December 25th it’s open from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm and January 1st from 1:00 pm to midnight.

For the rest of the holidays it’s open Mondays from noon to 8:00 pm and Tuesday to Saturday from 10:00 am to midnight.

POBLE ESPANYOL
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food stalls at la boqueria looking out into las ramblas barcelona

La Boqueria Market Christmas Hours

The place CNN called the best food market in the world is closed every Sunday, Christmas Day and Boxing Day, and the 1st and 6th of January.

During the rest of the holiday season it’s normal business hours from 8:00 am to 8:30 pm.

A tip? Grab some hearty blood sausage and beans for a winter pick me up at Bar Pinotxo.

black and white picasso painting from the picasso museum barcelona

The Picasso Museum Christmas Hours

The world’s biggest Picasso museum by number of works is closed on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.

There are also special opening hours on the 5th January from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, and the 24th and 31st December From 10:00 am to 2:00 pm

If you’re looking to get in free over the holidays you can do so on Thursdays (December 23rd and 30th) but these tickets must be reserved in advance.

a spread of modern tapas at season restaurant in barcelona spain a spread of modern tapas at season restaurant in barcelona spain
Get €8.00 off a gourmet tasting menu at Barcelona’s best tapas bar.

Fundacio Joan Miro Christmas Hours

The museum is closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and January 1st.

On regular days it’s open from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm

Dali Museum Christmas Hours

The Dali Museum has no specific holiday hours though it is closed on December 24th, December 25th, and January 1st.

DALI TOUR
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What to Eat in Barcelona over Christmas

Many attractions remain closed on Christmas Day but restaurants do some of their best trade on these days, so eat up! If you’re spending Christmas in Barcelona some traditional dishes to try are:

  • La Escudella – a hearty Christmas stew from a broth made of chicken, vegetables, garbanzo beans, and botifarra sausage. With spicy meatballs called pilotas and large pasta shells. It is traditionally served in two parts: the soup and also a meat course.
  • Canelones de Carne – usually made with the meat from Christmas Day, you’ll find these stuffed pasta sleeves very similar to their Italian cousins but with less tomato and more bechamel sauce.
  • Turrones d’Agramunt – these local and handmade nougat pieces stuffed with chocolate, almond, hazelnut and more are a staple Catalan dessert at Christmas time.
  • Cava – this sparkling white wine that rivals champagne in everything but price is the drink of choice.

I’ve compiled a list of the best restaurants in Barcelona for your reading pleasure. If you’re stuck write me in the comments below with any special requests or dietary needs like gluten-free – I’ll find it!

In the meantime, for Christmas in Barcelona I recommend the following:

Bodega Joan

€€ | Area: Eixample | Carrer Rosselló 164 | Metro: Diagonal (various) | Website

I go for their mesmerizing mixed paella (a type of surf and turf) but even those afraid of rice will eat like royalty here cutting into their carne picanha: a char-grilled sirloin cap that’s perfection on a plate.

It’s also got amazing Spanish ambiance and the friendliest waiters in the city.

On other days over the holiday there’s also my classic deal exclusively for Barcelona Hacks readers: a 25% discount on a paella tasting menu.

Bodega Joan is open business as usual except it’s closed on Christmas Day.

On New Year’s Eve there’s a special set menu, and I’ll be sharing a booking link soon.

Season

€€-€€€ | Area: Eixample | Carrer d’Aribau 125 | Metro: Diagonal | Website

Looking for a restaurant open on Christmas Day?

This delicious gourmet tapas restaurant famous for ‘new classics‘ gets to the top of the list because most of my readers want a balance of Spanish tradition and contemporary style.

The fresh, natural, and seasonal menu tailored to wine lovers bills itself as Mediterranean food with an international touch… or as they call it: Barcelona food!

I particularly enjoyed the seafood paella and the Catalan cured meat platter – there are also great vegan options and the original cocktails are out of this world.

On Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and January 1st there is a special set menu (see the Christmas menu and NYE menu here), and spots can be booked using the button below:

SEASON
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Louro

€€€ | Area: La Rambla | Carrer del Caputxins 37 | Metro: Liceu (L3) | Website

This beauty is also open on Christmas and Boxing Day.

Louro is probably the only restaurant I’d recommend on the famous La Rambla – but it’s not just that. It’s one of my favourite modern Spanish restaurants in the whole city.

Here the seafood-rich Galician fare gets a creative/avant-guard twist with the added bonus of some of the most concise and friendly service in the business.

Some of the highlights here are the smoked sardines, crunchy octopus, scallops gratin, Galician beef filet, and the highly underrated calamari sandwich.

I’ve set up a quick reservation system directly with the restaurant (no money down, with reservation priority via my blog) by clicking the blue button below.

Booking via Barcelona Hacks also gets you a complimentary glass of cava per diner.

LOURO
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Restaurante Arume

€€€ | Area: El Raval | Carrer de Bottella 13 | Metro: Universitat (purple/red) | Website

If cooking is about creativity then this Barcelona restaurant has it right. Here you’ll find a modern execution of classic Galician dishes with eye-catching presentation. Grab the crunchy octopus and a blackberry mojito – you just might finish both of them in the time it took you to read this review.

The delicious desserts, simplistic decor, and suffused lighting create an intimate atmosphere that makes it one of the great places for couples in Barcelona.

Unlike most restaurants Arume is open on Christmas and operates with its normal a la carte menu – a good way not to get forced into expensive Barcelona Christmas set menus!

Over the Christmas holidays it’s open every day except New Year’s Day.

a pan of seafood paella at bodega joan restaurant in barcelona spain a pan of seafood paella at bodega joan restaurant in barcelona spain
Get 25% off a paella tasting menu at the legendary Bodega Joan!

Ninot Cuina

€€€ | Area: Eixample | Calle Casanova 133 | Metro: Hospital Clinic (blue line L5) | Website

An airy, modern open-plan restaurant that prides itself on seasonal, local ingredients.

What allows them to do this? The market fresh produce they get from being situated in El Ninot Market. Though it’s hard to predict their winter menu there’s a consistency and tasty elegance in their revamped tapas dishes that has you in good hands.

The multi-course lunch menu with drink is great value at €14.00.

Terra d’Escudella

€€ | Area: Sants | Premia 20 baixos | Metro: Hostafrancs (red line L1) | Website

This restaurant packed with locals is a great place to get escudella stew.

What stands out here is no-nonsense local Catalan food with an air of authenticity not found in a lot of other restaurants of the same ilk. The pilota meatballs here are top notch as is the roast beef. If you’re not into red meat the fideua noodles with shellfish is top notch.

The weekday lunch menu (3 courses + drink) is €10.50.

Christmas Shopping Hours in Barcelona

First off let me say there are always exceptions so please double check with retailers.

As a rule however the majority of shopping in the centre is done between 9:30 am and 9:30 pm from Monday to Saturday. Shops and supermarkets are closed on Sunday so keep this in mind.

Over the holidays all shops close on December 25th and 26th as well as January 1st and 6th (King’s Day). On Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve shops typically close early around 8:00 pm.

The exception? The one shopping centre you’ll find open on both Sundays and Boxing Day is the legendary MareMagnum, found right at the bottom of the La Rambla near metro station Drassanes.

christmas lights illuminate a street in barcelona

Christmas in Barcelona Transport Hours

Public Transport

On December 24th the Barcelona metro closes at 11:00 pm while on New Year’s Eve it runs all night. On Christmas Day the metro runs from 5:00 am to 2:00 am.  On the 26th it’s open 5:00 am to 12:00 am.

All public buses on the Barcelona transport network do not change their schedules except on Christmas Eve when the last buses depart at 10 pm.

Standard single zone 1 tickets cost €2.40 every day.

The Bus Turistic

The Barcelona hop on hop off bus doesn’t run on December 25th and January 1st.

For other dates remember that in winter bus frequency is cut to about every 20-25 minutes. The last bus departure from Plaça de Catalunya is at 7 pm – make sure to check at each individual stop for more specific times.

FYI: the green line does not run between November 5th and March 31st.

BARCELONA HOP ON HOP OFF BUS
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Aerobus

The premier airport connection option in the city thankfully doesn’t change its schedule. In December it runs between 5:00 am and 12:30 am every 5-10 minutes from Terminal 1 or Terminal 2 to the centre and vice versa.

Total travel time takes 35 minutes.

Tickets are €8.90.

AEROBUS
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Port Cable Car

The Port Cable Car is a cable car service connecting the city with Montjuic Hill is open from 10:00 to 6:00 pm over the holidays.

It’s closed on Christmas Day.

Tickets are €12.00 one way (€20.00 return).

MONTJUIC CABLE CAR
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shoppers walking down la rambla in barcelona at christmas time

Barcelona Christmas Weather

If you’re coming from the upper half of the United States, the UK, Canada, or Ireland it won’t be cold. Barcelona weather rarely drops below freezing but if you’re expecting a swim at Barcelona’s best beaches you’re out of luck.

The temperature in Barcelona at Christmas usually brings highs of 14°C (60°F) and lows of 5°C (41°F).

You’re going to need to pack a winter coat, a scarf, and even a beanie. That said, I’ve never had to put on gloves or do any crazy wrapping up. There is low cloud cover and plenty of sunshine and you should expect light rain one day in four.

Still not sure before departure? Check this Spanish forecast website in advance.

Also, showing up with some of my best things to do in Barcelona when it rains can never hurt.

Visiting Barcelona During Christmas? Write Us

If you’re spending Christmas in Barcelona and still short on information please ask me in the comments below. Any question, no matter how strange, will be answered within 24 hours.

Fire away 🙂

34 comments
  • December 23, 2019 at 10:00 am
    vikash
    Hi, Just came across your blog and I must say there is a lot of useful information here. Keep doing the great work ! This is our first time to Barcelona and we will reach there on 25th Dec Morning and it seems like everything is closed that day . Don't want to end up at McDonald's for the first meal in Spain. It will be real help if you can suggest some restaurant to have some good breakfast/lunch which will be open on that day. We are staying near Barcelona Sants. Thanks.
    • December 24, 2019 at 11:46 am
      ashley
      Team Member
      Ash
      Hi Vikash, Thanks for the kind words, always glad to help :) Honestly around Sants I can't say much as my main breakfast spots are more central... I would advise taking the metro a few stops to a place like Brunch and Cake (https://www.facebook.com/brunchandcake/) or going to one of the hotel buffer places which are great and sure to be open. I recommend Hotel Avenida Palace or El Palace which both have great variety and quality. If you're going for lunch I'd take a look at the restaurants referenced above. Cheers, Ash
      • December 24, 2019 at 4:41 pm
        Vikash
        Hi Ash Thanks for your suggestions. These will be surely helpful. Wish you a merry Christmas!!
        • December 26, 2019 at 3:37 pm
          ashley
          Team Member
          Ash
          And a Merry Christmas to you as well :)
  • December 20, 2019 at 5:25 pm
    Cynthia Phillips
    Hola! I'm flying out to Barcelona tomorrow. We get to Barcelona mid morning, transfers included and are staying at a hotel near La Ramblas. Flying back midday Christmas eve. Your website is amazing and crammed full of so much useful information, thank you! Unfortunately I've had a personal trauma recently and my head is not in the right place. I was wondering if you could recommend what places to prioritise for Saturday through to Monday. Is it worth getting a Barcelona card or should I just buy skip the queue for a couple of places. I'm travelling with my teenage son. Thank you!
    • December 21, 2019 at 6:27 pm
      ashley
      Team Member
      Ash
      Hi Cynthia, Thanks so much for your very kind words, always glad to help :) Whether or not the Barcelona Card is worth it or not depends on what you'd like to visit. If you're going to go heavy on the museums then it's a great choice... if you've only got one or two sites on the list though it's best to buy individually. What did you have planned? As for priority I always recommend following my three day itinerary as it more or less lists the top attractions in a time-friendly way. If I had to pick a top three of must sees it would be Sagrada Familia, Park Guell, and Casa Batllo... all is outlined in the post! If you've got any more specific questions though please be in touch :) Ash
  • December 7, 2019 at 3:00 pm
    Helen
    Hi Arriving in 20/12 for Barcelona game and wondering if there are bars/restaurants near the ground please that are reasonably priced ? Staying at Praktik Rambla until 23/12 so can you recommend a few good restaurants for evening meals, 3 adults eat most things ? Thanks Helen
  • December 5, 2019 at 3:56 pm
    Denise
    Hi- I've noticed you've made an error that most British bloggers make. In Catalan, "Caga Tio" means Shit LOG. "Tio" means log in Catalan, but in SPANISH it means "uncle." It does not mean "uncle" in Catalan- in Catalan, "uncle" is "oncle"
    • December 6, 2019 at 12:08 pm
      ashley
      Team Member
      Ash
      Hi Denise, You're right! I will be updating this, thanks :) Ash
  • December 5, 2019 at 10:09 am
    Nutt
    Hi Ash, Great posting. I was kinda worried about what to do on 22 Dec on the arrival date as its a Sunday and shops are closed. But as you put here, there would be Christmas markets, means there would still be things or places to look at right? But what about Supermarkets? I may want to buy some groceries for the apartment, would there be any or are there like 24 hours Tesco , Asda etc ? Last but not least.... just to reconfirm, some shops do open till 8pm on Christmas Eve. Many thanks / Nutt
    • December 5, 2019 at 2:21 pm
      ashley
      Team Member
      Ash
      Hola Nutt, Yes indeed... also keep in mind that on 22 Dec a lot of the big shops are doing a good trade for Christmas presents and so they'll be open for special holiday hours. I went for a walk down La Rambla last Sunday and all the big chain stores were open. You won't find any supermarkets like in the UK open 24 hours... they're more like glorified newsagents here. Most commercial streets will have them open. Also, on Sundays and holidays and late I always go to a supermarket chain called OpenCor: http://www.opencor.es/opencor/cargarAplicacionCentroCercano.do There are plenty around the city and they're open 18 hours a day... which is amazing for Spain haha. Keep in mind you'll pay about a 15% premium on groceries for this 'luxury' so if you're buying major items I'd maybe save it for Monday. And yes... some shops will be open Christmas Eve! Cheers, Ash
      • December 5, 2019 at 3:40 pm
        Nutt
        Thanks Ash ..... I will check it out . Also I read about the avoiding pickpockets ... That part, I am rather scared. Hopefully things would go well. thanks again.
        • December 5, 2019 at 3:48 pm
          ashley
          Team Member
          Ash
          Hi again Nutt, There has been a lot of negative publicity recently but for the most part the average tourist has no troubles at all. Best to use common sense and you'll be fine. Not sure if you were referring to my article on the subject or not... but I've got some tips to avoid bad situations in my avoiding Barcelona pickpockets article. Hope it helps :) Cheers, Ash
          • December 6, 2019 at 2:36 am
            Nutt
            Yes , I was referring to that posting . Sorry but another question. I’ve seen some postings people were wearing light jackets. It’s not that cold right there as how it’s in London ? I’ve read somewhere in order to avoid pick pocketing , dress like locals ! So I don’t want to be bundle in parkas if it’s not cold & look like a tourist . Denim jackets or light spring jackets good enough ? I’m so terrible isn’t it ? Full of questions .
            • December 6, 2019 at 12:24 pm
              ashley
              Team Member
              Ash
              Hi Nutt, London is considerably colder... check the BBC weather website though to confirm. I'm wearing a light jacket in the evening these days as it gets down to about 7-8 degrees. The locals here though really start wrapping up right around now with even thicker jackets. I wouldn't overthink the dress thing. Dress what's comfortable for you and don't worry about copying what's around here! Cheers, Ash
  • November 20, 2019 at 3:52 pm
    Colby
    Amazing site, thanks for all the tips. As an FYI, Fira de Santa Llúcia opens this year on Friday November 29th, per their site. Right in the middle of our 4 day trip! Looking forward to it.
    • November 21, 2019 at 12:11 pm
      Lucile
      Hola Colby, Thank you very much! Enjoy your trip and let ne know if you have any question ;) Cheers
  • September 21, 2019 at 12:04 am
    Anisha
    Hi, We will be in Spain in December Barcelona 23 - 26 Dec Ibiza 26 - 28 Dec Madrid 28 - 30 Dec Any tips. Thanks
    • September 21, 2019 at 12:26 pm
      ashley
      Team Member
      Ash
      Hi Anisha, All my Christmas tips are above and this blog is just filled with perhaps thousands of tips... can you be more specific please? ;) Ash
  • September 9, 2019 at 2:18 pm
    Christina
    Thank you so much for such helpful Information, i bookmarked this page to refer back to during my upcoming trip. If you happen to know of any vegetarian Friendly places to eat for the holidays, please let me know!!
    • September 9, 2019 at 3:17 pm
      ashley
      Team Member
      Ash
      Hi Christina, No problem! :) For vegetarian restaurants please check out my dedicated vegetarian post. Most of these should be open for normal hours over the holidays. Cheers, Ash
  • November 30, 2018 at 12:08 am
    Nass
    I am confused about the opening hours on 24th Christmas eve and 25/12 Christmas day of Restaurants and shops in Barcelona?
    • November 30, 2018 at 7:23 pm
      ashley
      Team Member
      Ash
      Hi Nass, It is a bit confusing because everybody sort of does it their own way... for Christmas the shops are closed but for restaurants I would simply find the restaurant you're looking for and check their individual hours. Major shopping centres like Glories are open as usual on Christmas Eve to cash in on last minute gift buying and I imagine this would be the same for most major places... but again, best to check individually to avoid nasty surprises showing up! :) Ash
  • December 18, 2017 at 11:49 pm
    Jessica
    Since we're in Barcelona only for three days that are basically holidays (December 24th, 25th, and 26th), which day would be ideal to visit the Gothic Quarter? I understand a lot of shops are closed on the 25th and the 26th, but also that many close early on the 24th. What day would we get the closest to the full experience?
    • December 19, 2017 at 7:36 pm
      ashley
      Team Member
      Ash
      And yes, like you said make sure you get a fairly early start around 9 or 10 am to maximize the time, things will be closing early.
      • December 19, 2017 at 9:37 pm
        Jessica
        Unfortunately we won't be getting to Barcelona until mid-day on the 24th, but it sounds like it's still better to do as much as we can that day in El Gotico. Thanks so much!
        • December 20, 2017 at 10:39 pm
          ashley
          Team Member
          Ash
          Yes Jessica but not to worry, things won't close really really early... you'll probably only need 2-3 hours to do it properly so 12 or 1 to 2 or 3 pm should be enough... then have a Spanish-timed lunch and you'll be golden. Best of luck and I hope you love your holiday :) Ash
    • December 19, 2017 at 7:35 pm
      ashley
      Team Member
      Ash
      Hi Jessica, Without a doubt the best day to explore El Gotico would be on the 24th, regardless of shops closing early at least they'll be open in the first place! On the 25th and 26th you'll find most things closed right down to the little cafes for your morning coffee. It's a shame you'll miss the Christmas Market either way but I can tell you it'll still be a great day to walk around and really get a feel for the city. Just make sure you do it on the 24th, then try to incorporate some of the open attractions on the 25th and 26th to round out the trip. Any more questions I am here :) Ash
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