Barcelona in Winter: 18 Festive Things to Do
TRAVEL GUIDE: VISIT BARCELONA IN THE WINTER!
If you’ve found a good deal on airfare to visit Barcelona in the winter, but wonder if it’s worth it, this blog should answer your questions. There’s A LOT to do in Spain in the winter!
Southern Spain and Catalonia are still mild in the winter, allowing you to experience everything the region has to offer (minus a dip in the Mediterranean Sea).
You’ll also encounter smaller crowds of tourists and better rates for airfare and hotels, as long as you’re willing to book outside of Christmas week!
Barcelona in Winter: Things to Do
Barcelona is one of the most-visited cities in the world year-round. The Christmas spirit comes alive by late November, and lasts through the Epiphany, or Three Kings Day, the first week of January.
You’ll find plenty of things to do in Barcelona in winter. One of my favorites is simply strolling the streets, lit with festive lights, people-watching and shopping!
La Sagrada Familia at Christmas
Barcelona’s famously-unfinished, century-old cathedral, La Sagrada Familia, is visited by nearly 5 million people a year.
Officially known as the Basilica I Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Familia, it was supposed to finally be complete by 2026 to mark the 100 years since artist and architect Antoni Gaui died. The pandemic pushed the completion date back again.
Once its spires are finished La Sagrada will be the tallest cathedral in the world.
A Christmas market is open outside the cathedral during the winter months:
Winter hours for tours and visitors at La Sagrada Familia are reduced slightly, from 9:00am to 6:00pm daily, from November through February.
Christmas Masses and Events at Sagrada Familia
The Basilica hosts an international Christmas mass on December 25th, which is open to the public.
All of the traditions like Christmas concerts returned after a pandemic hiatus.
Several great tour options are available, with knowledgeable local guides:
➡️ TOUR + Fast-Track Entry to La Sagrada Familia
➡️ Hotel Transport + Skip the Line Entry
Park Guell in Winter
Park Guell is the second-most visited site in Barcelona, after La Sagrada Familia.
A winter visit is ideal for a few reasons.
You won’t have the crowds of summer tourists. Even better: you won’t be sweaty from the heat and humidity as you climb the steep streets to the Park Guell entrance.
The park’s unique features and buildings were designed by Gaudi, and named for his friend Eusebi Guell.
The private gardens were sold to the city of Barcelona during the First World War.
If it’s your first visit, you’ll be surprised by how extensive the park is. The peak will give you a sweeping view of the city of Barcelona.
And there will be far fewer people ruining your pretty pictures during a visit to Spain in the winter.
While it’s easy to find Park Guell and visit on your own, tours come with a knowledgeable guide who will pick you up from your hotel, and bring you past the entrance line.
➡️ TOUR + Fast-Track Entry to Park Guell
General admission tickets to Park Guell are 10 Euros, and can be purchased ahead of time here.
Does it Snow in Spain in the Winter?
It doesn’t snow in this part of Southern Spain. Park Guell features a wintery-looking space, which during a December visit, might make you feel like you’re inside an ice palace.
The white mosaic ceiling of a space called the Hipostila room, or the Hypostyle room, glistens like snow or ice in the light.
Its 86 large pillars hold up the main viewing platform above, and the main stairway leads out of the room.
The space was originally supposed to be a market, but remained an open space.
Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter Gets Festive in Winter
Barcelona’s beautiful, historic Gothic Quarter is the center of the old city. It stretches up from the Mediterranean Sea.
While it’s vibrant and busy year-round, you’ll find a more festive atmosphere if you visit Spain in winter.
The streets have elaborate light displays hanging between the shops and restaurants, in the trees, and on the building facades.
It cools into the 40s at night, so it’s nice to enjoy the crisp air, walking through the alleys and pedestrian-friendly streets, glowing with Christmas decor.
The main boulevard is lined with outdoor dining options, complete with heaters to take out the chill while you dine or grab a drink.
The Christmas in Barcelona Bus Tour
If you don’t want to walk to the Christmas sites in Barcelona, Hola Barcelona offers a bus tour of the city light displays.
It’s 15 Euros per person, and the bus runs from late November into the first week of January.
It’s a 90-minute tour, departing at 6:00pm and 8:00pm each night from Placa de Catalunya.
🎄 Check the bus tour schedule here.
Barcelona in Winter: The Christmas Markets
Barcelona boasts three main Christmas markets, all of which open right after Thanksgiving (American Thanksgiving in late November, that is) each year.
La Sagrada Familia Christmas Market
The La Sagrada Christmas Market setup outside the cathedral celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2022.
In Barcelona, this market is known as the Fira de Nadal de la Sagrada Familia.
It’s for everyone, with everything from gifts international tourists can bring home, to Christmas trees locals in Barcelona can bring into their homes.
The Sagrada Familia Christmas market traditionally runs through the first part of winter in Spain, from the last week of November through December 23rd. It’s open 10:00am to 9:00pm.
Santa Claus shows up on December 21st and 22nd.
The vendors sell crafts, Christmas foods, and seasonal decorations.
Kings Market in Barcelona
The Kings Market is setup annually in the Gran Via de les Sorts Catalanes.
Families in Spain celebrate and exchange gifts on the Epiphany of the Kings, which is January 6th.
The Kings Market dates back to 1877. These days, it hosts more than 200 vendors, selling toys, crafts, and food.
This market stands out, because it’s the only one that lasts through Christmas, into January so people can continue buying gifts leading up to the Epiphany on the 6th.
Santa Llucia Market
The plaza outside the Barcelona Cathedral hosts the Fira de Santa Llucia each year, which is the oldest market in the city.
While it’s named after the Feast of Saint Llucia, which is December 13th, the market extends through the month until December 23rd.
The Santa Llucia market dates back to the late 1700s, and has grown to 300 vendors and stalls in the Barcelona Cathedral’s square.
You can find all kinds of gifts, toys, jewelry, and ornaments, along with plants and decor for local families.
The Santa Llucia Christmas Market is in the Gothic Quarter, so it makes for part of a festive night, walking through Barcelona’s historic streets.
Day Trips From Barcelona in Winter
You can balance Barcelona’s big-city feel, with a number of day trips by car, train, or bus, to smaller towns which have plenty of festive charm in winter.
➡️ CLICK to Book Trains in Spain
Sitges Slows Down in Winter
You’ll find the beachside party town of Sitges to be much slower if you visit Spain in the winter.
It’s about an hour by train south of Barcelona, right on the Mediterranean.
We’ve found the town decorated nicely, and the beach in Sitges to be wide open, sunny, and relaxing in December.
You won’t find many tourists in Sitges in the winter, but the people who live there year-round are enough to keep most of the bars and restaurants open.
Wear layers, because while the temperatures were only in the 60s (Fahrenheit), it felt much warmer in the Southern Spain sun.
Hiking to Monserrat in Winter
I’ve always wanted to do the hike up to Montserrat, even though it’s much easier to take the cable cars to the ancient monastery at the top of the mountain.
The weather can just be too hot and humid for the hike in the summer, which is another reason to visit Spain in winter.
The hike is 8.5 kilometers, or more than 5 miles. It’s steep at times, but manageable.
We started early in the morning, and found ourselves in a thick fog for a while, which burned off as the sun rose higher.
It warms by late morning, so just dress in layers for your winter hike, and you’ll be comfortable.
Again, most people just take the cable cars, or book a tour from Barcelona:
➡️: CLICK HERE: Tour of Monserrat from Barcelona
Tours are the easiest way to go if you’re just looking to experience the history and spirituality of the abbey.
Companies also offer rides to Monserrat from Barcelona, allowing you to skip the train altogether.
➡️ CLICK HERE: Monserrat from Barcelona (early access tour)
The hiking trail winds up the mountains to the basilica and the thousand-year-old Santa Maria de Montserrat Abbey.
It’s still functioning as a religious retreat, and you’ll see some of the dozens of monks who live there walking around.
There are a couple of restaurants (and even a hotel) in addition to the monastery.
In December, the train might be running less often. We found it to be going just once per hour, so check the timetable and get to the platform early.
It’s a one hour train ride from Barcelona to Montserrat.
⬇️⬇️ Directions to screen-grab ⬇️⬇️
- Go to Placa Espanya Station
- Take the R5 train toward Manresa
- Hikers bypass the Olesa and Aeri de Montserrat stops
- Get off at Monistrol de Monserrat
- Cross the bridge over the Llobregat River
- Walk west through town
- It’s a 1 km walk to the trailhead
- Click here for a map of the trailhead
Winter is Coming: Girona 🐉
None of the icy tundra “Game of Thrones” scenes were filmed in Spain, but the city of Girona is home to the backdrops of several pivotal plot lines.
It’s an easy trip from Barcelona in winter or anytime of year.
They filming locations don’t exactly look like the post-CGI versions we saw on TV, but the medieval buildings and streets of Girona are impressive even for people who aren’t fans of the show.
Girona is 60 miles northeast of Barcelona. It’s an easy, 45-minute train ride.
The Gothic Quarter dates back more than 2,000 years.
➡️ TOUR: ‘Game of Thrones’ Sites in Girona
Christmas at the Castle
Technically, Tossa de Mar’s towers and walls aren’t part of a castle, but rather a medieval fortress.
We enjoyed this seaside town so much, that we made two day trips there during a visit to Spain in in winter.
Tossa de Mar is 100km from Barcelona, and is the only fortified medieval town still standing along Costa Brava.
Inside the thousand-year-old walls, you’ll enjoy strolling the cobblestone streets and climbing to one of the four towers.
The town becomes very busy during the summer months, but will be quiet and calm during a winter visit.
The town will be lit in Christmas season lights, and the castle’s glow at night adds to the festive ambiance.
Even the beach is decked out in lights, honoring the celebration of the Three Kings.
Tossa de Mar has a couple of beaches. The main beach runs the length of the town. In the winter months, you’ll see a handful of people out there. It’s definitely not swimming weather, but you won’t be cold. Another, more hidden, rocky beach is on the other side of the wall.
There’s no train service from Barcelona, so you’d have to rent a car or take the bus from Barcelona. The drive is about 90 minutes down the coastline.
Otherwise, you can go on a small group tour of Costa Brava, which includes a stop in Tossa:
➡️ TOUR: Tossa de Mar from Barcelona
Driving in Spain in Winter
I’d rather take a train than drive, both so I can nap and so I don’t have to stress about directions or parking. Sometimes, buses and trains aren’t great options, and we’re forced to rent a car.
Far fewer tourists are on the roads of Spain in winter, so traffic is less heavy if you drive into a place like Tossa de Mar or Sitges. It was also very easy to find parking spots in the towns and even right at the beach.
I’d rent a smaller car since small towns you might drive through have very narrow streets, and make sure to request an automatic transmission (unless you enjoy stick shift).
Winter months in southern Spain often bring great cycling weather, so if you rent a car and drive, you’re likely to come across large groups of cyclists you’ll be sharing the road with.
Basics & Logistics of a Visit to Barcelona in Winter
The weather, airfares, and hotel rates fluctuate beyond our control, but these are some general guidelines to follow if you plan a trip to Catalonia around Christmas.
Airfare From the USA to Barcelona
The first two weeks of December will typically bring some of the lowest airfares of the year to Europe.
I usually recommend looking in August and booking in September, to visit Barcelona in December.
Keep in mind: January flight prices (beginning in the second week of the new year) can be even lower than December’s!
Winter Hotel Rates in Barcelona
Typically, you’ll be able to find very nice hotels in Barcelona in the off-season for $120 – $150 per night.
➡️ Hotel Recommendation: Hotel Colon in Barcelona
I recommend staying in the Gothic Quarter of Barcelona. Yes, it’s touristy, but it’s pedestrian-friendly and close to everything!
Hotel Colon is directly across from the Barcelona Cathedral, and the plaza which hosts the Santa Llucia Christmas Market.
Of course, hotel rates start rising quickly once you approach December 20th or so.
Barcelona in Winter: The Weather
While summer in Spain is vibrant and fun, it can also be very hot and humid.
A visit to Barcelona in winter is much more comfortable, weather-wise.
Barcelona’s climate remains mild through the winter, with highs around 60 degrees Fahrenheit in December, January and February (about 15 degrees Celcius).
Overnight lows are typically in the upper 40s.
Rarely, the city will get a dusting of snowfall.
It doesn’t rain much in Barcelona during this time of year, so you’re likely to have sunny days if you visit Spain in winter.
It’s Easier to See a Spanish Sunrise in Winter
This is definitely a perk of a winter trip!
I always make it a point to get up early to see a sunrise during a trip, no matter where I go on vacation.
While it often involves a pre-dawn 5:00am alarm, you’ll find: the sun doesn’t rise until 8:00am or later if you visit Barcelona in winter!
It allows me to catch a few extra hours of sleep, and be less grumpy later in the day!
I took this from our window at Hotel Colon:
Conclusion: Is it Worth Going to Barcelona in Winter?
I love relaxing on a beach and swimming in the Mediterranean … but I also love *not* dealing with huge crowds, stressing about parking, worrying about tickets selling out, and sweating through everything while walking around.
Really, Spain is great to visit any time of year. But between the mild weather, Christmas markets, and a much more relaxed atmosphere, a visit to Spain, especially Barcelona, in winter really surpassed my expectations!
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