Barcelona is full of cultural, artistic and leisure possibilities all year round, but especially during the last months of the year. Thanks to its wide range of things to do in Barcelona at Christmas, you will be able to enjoy the city and every corner of it during this festive season.
Discover the things to do in Barcelona at Christmas time
Christmas markets, living nativity scenes, decorations and lights that turn the city of Barcelona into a city of charm. As we know that there are an infinite number of plans during these festive days, at Unihabit we have prepared a list of the best things to do in Barcelona at Christmas. Discover the different Christmas plans, ideal for all tastes!
Stroll around the Christmas markets
One of the most traditional plans both in Barcelona and in other towns and cities is to stroll through the Christmas markets, and take advantage of the opportunity to buy last-minute gifts! In these markets you’ll find artisan stalls with Christmas decorations, clothes, jewellery, traditional and handmade food, etc.
Barcelona’s Fira de Santa Llúcia is one of the city’s best-known Christmas markets, as it is not only the oldest but also the most emblematic. Located on Avinguda de la Catedral, the market has up to 215 stalls full of nativity scenes, trees, crafts, etc. Enjoy the market from 29 November to 23 December!
The Sagrada Família Christmas Market has around fifty stalls with decorations, Christmas plants, crib figures, gifts, traditional food such as sweet potatoes, chestnuts, nougat and churros. The market will be open from 23 November to 23 December.
Pixar immersive exhibition
Do you love the Pixar world and would you like to spend an afternoon remembering the most emblematic scenes from films such as Toy Story, UP, Coco, etc.? This plan is ideal to enjoy with your dorm mates! Visit the city’s La Maquinista Shopping Centre for a unique experience immersing yourself in the Pixar world. From Andy’s room from Toy Story, the colourful Mexico of Coco or the house of UP.
Skate around the city’s different ice rinks
Barcelona also fills the city with different ice rinks where you can enjoy an afternoon skating under the lights. The Tibidabo Amusement Park has a sustainable ice rink open to the public from 23 November to 5 January. Another ice rink is the Port Vell ice rink at the Christmas market in the Port Vell, open from 29 November to 6 January. Also this year, El Corte Inglés on Avenida Reina Maria Cristina de la Diagonal has installed a 400 m² ice rink which will be open until 12 January, except on public holidays.
Shows and concerts
For the third year, the city of Barcelona offers a unique experience with the light and colour show ‘Els Llums de Sant Pau’ at the Sant Pau Art Nouveau site. After its success in its first two editions welcoming more than 400,000 visitors, the show will offer a new edition with Christmas as the protagonist from 21 November to 12 January 2025.
Are you a lover of concerts and festivals with live music? You can’t miss the Candlelight concert experience, under candlelight! Barcelona will offer different Christmas concerts and tributes making it an ideal plan to enjoy during the Christmas holidays. Among the different concerts and tributes you will find tributes to Coldplay, Queen, Metallica, etc. And why not give a Candlelight concert to your friends or family?
Things to do in Barcelona at Christmas: the best gastronomic proposals!
We all know that the Christmas festivities are characterised by its feasts and whims. Therefore, from Unihabit we bring you some gastronomic proposals of the city that you can not miss in your list of plans to do at Christmas.
From snacks with your dorm mates to Christmas dinners with your university friends, etc. For those with a sweet tooth and a good snack of chocolate with churros, you can’t miss the most classic and emblematic places in the city, such as Granja Viader, Xurrería Pau, Dulcinea or Petritxol. If your palate is more of the traditional Italian Panetonne, in Barcelona you can enjoy the King of classic panettone at Merviel Canal and the queen of chocolate panettone at Madeleine by Ferrièrres Barcelona. In the different sweet proposals, you can’t miss the roscones de reyes at Atelier Barcelona, La Dramerie, Bubó or Oriol Carrió.
The Three Kings Parade as a plan to do in Barcelona at Christmas time
Christmas must always end with the arrival of the Three Wise Men. This year, on the night of 5 January, the Three Wise Men will arrive at the Moll de la Fusta by boat and collect the magic key that opens all the doors of the city, ending with a grand procession through the main streets of the centre of Barcelona. If you’ve never seen it before, you can be sure that it’s something you’ll remember forever. Don’t miss it!
From our student residence in Barcelona, we recommend that, if you are one of those who love Christmas, you should visit all these activities and events at least once in your life. Are you up for it?
