5 Christmas plans for visiting Barcelona in December

The cold is starting to arrive in Barcelona and, with it, the Christmas spirit, filling the city streets with lights, music and festive atmosphere.

Barcelona has a mild Mediterranean climate, which makes this a good time to visit the city. There are lots of activities and leisure options during December, so here at Hotel Actual we have put together a few ideas:

• Visit the Christmas markets: one of the most classic and traditional activities in Barcelona. The main markets in Barcelona are
  • Mercat de Santa Llúcia: from 26 November to 23 December 2021
  • Fira de Nadal de la Sagrada Família: from 27 November to 23 December 2021
  • ‘Nadal al Port’ Fair: from 9 December 2021 to 6 January 2022

In our Barcelona Guide section, you can find much more detailed information about each market.

• Let Christmas light you up: more and more lighting displays are set up for Christmas, and they are truly spectacular. These are some of our suggestions for the Christmas season in Barcelona:
  • Barcelona Christmas Tour: Barcelona’s official Tourist Bus offers a special night route to see the best Christmas lights in the city, accompanied by seasonal music and stories about Christmas traditions.
  • Llums de Sant Pau: the Art Nouveau site of the Hospital de Sant Pau has prepared a magical and spectacular circuit. Until 9 January.
  • Life, Natura encesa en els Jardins de Pedralbes: a light trail that reinvents Christmas lights and represents life on the planet.

• Warm up with a good “suizo” and churros: here in Barcelona, having a “suizo” means drinking a cup of hot chocolate topped with whipped cream. It is undoubtedly one of the traditions of this time of year that we all remember enjoying with our families as children. The best-known “granjas” (traditional cafés) we recommend, where you will find the most authentic atmosphere and the best chocolate, are:
  • Granja Dulcinea, Granja M. Viader and La Pallaresa, in the Gothic Quarter
  • Churrería Trébol: takeaway, very close to the hotel
  • La Nena Xocolateria, also in the Gràcia district.
  • La Granja 1872, in El Born

• Visit the different nativity scenes: the nativity scene is a deeply rooted tradition in Catalan homes. But nativity scenes are also set up in public spaces that can be visited, and there are all kinds, from the most traditional to the most modern.
  • Nativity scene in the Cathedral cloister: a traditional-style nativity scene with large figures.
  • Plaça Sant Jaume nativity scene: organized by the City Council, it causes controversy every year due to its modern approach.
  • Nativity scene at the Monastery of Pedralbes: a great opportunity to visit this working monastery.
  • The most traditional nativity scene is the one by the Associació de Pessebristes de Barcelona, located in the courtyard of the Museu Frederic Marès.

• Attend a special Christmas concert: Barcelona is without doubt a musical city, and it lives the Christmas season in a special way. Among the many concerts and shows in the city, we have selected the most traditional ones:
  • Christmas carols sung by the Orfeó Català in Plaça del Rei, a unique opportunity that will only take place on 4 January 2022.
  • Concerts at L’Auditori: L’Auditori is home to the OBC, the Barcelona and Catalonia National Symphony Orchestra, and offers several Christmas-themed concerts during these days.
  • Grand Christmas Concert and Grand New Year’s Concert at the Palau de la Música
  • Gran Teatre del Liceu: this legendary Barcelona opera house has scheduled A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens for family audiences; The Nutcracker, for dance lovers; and the Grand New Year’s Concert with ballet and music by Johann Strauss.
  • Circ Raluy: although not a concert, this Catalan circus sets up every year at Moll de la Fusta with a beautiful and fun circus show for all audiences

These are just some of the activities we have selected, but Barcelona has much more to offer at this time of year! You will never run out of things to do, so take advantage of this season, when the city is not as crowded as in the summer months, and come and visit us. Our boutique hotel is located in the center of Barcelona, on Paseo de Gracia, one of the most beautiful avenues in the city, especially at this time of year, as it has the most spectacular lights in the city, both in the street and in the shops, the most exclusive in Barcelona. It will undoubtedly be the best base for visiting Barcelona at Christmas.

If you are looking for more affordable accommodation, you can visit our other hotel, Hotel Paseo de Gracia, a recently refurbished 1-star hotel also located on Paseo de Gracia.