Visiting Barcelona for Christmas and Three Kings Day
Barcelona Three Kings Parade
The Christmas season is particularly magical in beautiful old Barcelona. Dazzling lights, traditional holiday markets, Nativity scenes, and the joyous, elaborate Three Kings Day parade are some of the highlights that make this city shine like a brilliant winter star. Bon Nadal, as the Catalonians say!
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Why is Christmas a good time to visit Barcelona?
The holiday season is a little longer in Barcelona than in many other places - starting when the “lights go on” at the end of November and the holiday markets open, through Día de los Reyes Magos, or Three Kings Day on January 6th, which is the joyous capstone of the season featuring a dazzling parade.
The weather is also very pleasant in Barcelona in December and January. With few rainy days this time of year, and average temperatures of 50-60°F (10-15°C), it can be a much more enjoyable visit than in the hot temperatures Spain is known for in the warmer months.
Are attractions open in Barcelona during the Christmas holidays?
The Christmas season is actually a popular time for tourists so visitors are well accommodated. But while things aren’t completely shut down on the important days, you may want to keep a few things in mind.
Christmas Day (December 25), Boxing Day/St. Stephen’s Day (December 26), New Year’s Day (January 1), and Three Kings Day/Epiphany (January 6) are all bank holidays, which generally means that businesses are closed and most people have the day off.
For the tourist, this will have more of an impact on shopping than anything else. Many attractions are open even if hours are limited and you can generally find some restaurants open, at least for part of the day.
Christmas Day may be the particular exception, as Barcelonians are generally home with their families during the day, but many come out at night for a drink or a trip to the cinema with friends. While restaurants may be closed, many bars will be open at night.
It’s never a bad idea to keep a few snacks in your hotel room just in case! We find visiting local convenience and grocery stores in foreign countries fun anyway, so if serrano ham, cheese, olives, and crackers make up your Christmas Day lunch in Barcelona, how bad is that anyway? Find a nice view and have a memorable holiday picnic if the weather permits.
We weren’t very impacted by it being a holiday when we visited Sagrada Familia on January 6th (Three Kings Day). It was fairly crowded inside, and it was operating like any other day.
We purchased timed tickets on their website ahead of time and waited in the park across the street for our time to go in with lots of other folks that I assumed were mostly tourists. The only thing we “missed out” on was the Sagrada Familia Church Museum, which closed early.
For lots of useful information on visiting the Sagrada Familia, see our blog post - Guide to visiting Sagrada Familia in Barcelona.
We also visited the famous “Chocolate Street” (Carrer Petritxol) on January 6th for hot chocolate and churros as well, and everything was open, though these businesses are closed on Christmas Day.
Learn more about the interesting history and quirky legacy of Barcelona’s “Chocolate Street” in our blog post - Barcelona's "Chocolate Street" - Discovering Carrer Petritxol.
We couldn’t get into Park Güell on Three Kings Day, so popular a holiday spot it turned out to be!
We didn’t get tickets ahead of time and just gave it a go. But it was sold out when we got there. The park is open all year round, even on Christmas Day, but we would definitely recommend going the pre-ticketed route on these popular days or plan on going early, so as not to suffer the same disappointment we did.
Here’s a link to a guided tour of Park Guell from Viator
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A Barcelona street decorated for Christmas.
The Christmas Lights of Barcelona
The mild winter weather makes walking a great way to experience the city. One of the first things you may notice is the Christmas light displays suspended over the streets, which are unique and artistically creative as well as festive.
These lights turn on during the last week in November, marking the start of the holiday season by illuminating the streets and squares with more than 4 km (about 2.5 miles) of lights. The Barcelona City Council has made a serious effort in making these lighting displays more sustainable by requiring the use of lower-energy LED lights and solar lighting that stores energy during the day for power at night.
Typically, the best lighting displays point you toward the main shopping areas, but even so, Christmas in Barcelona feels a lot less commercial than in some other countries. Decorations are tasteful and present buying is less frenzied and laid back.
Some streets to see Barcelona Christmas lights:
Mercat de Sant Antoni - Metro: Urquinaona (Yellow Line, L4 and Red Line, L1)
Paseo Fabra I Puig (Avenida Meridiana) - Metro: Virrei Amat (Blue Line, L5).
Paseo Lluís Companys (Parc de la Ciutadella) - Metro: Arc de Triomf (Red Line, L1)
La Plaça España - Metro: España (Green Line, L3 and Red Line, L1)
Avenida Pau Casals (Plaça Francesc Maciá) - Metro: Diagonal (Green Line, L3 and Blue Line, L5)
Portal de l'Angel - Metro: Catalunya (Green Line, L3 and Red Line, L1)
La Rambla - Metro: Liceu or Drassanes (Green Line, L3)
Santa Caterina Market - Metro: Urquinaona (Yellow Line, L4 and Red Line, L1)
Christmas traditions of Barcelona and Catalonia - things to see and do
Barcelona has some charming Christmas traditions, many shared with the rest of Spain and some uniquely their own.
As you peruse the shops and Christmas markets (more on those below), you will come across a curious character called Tió de Nadal - the Christmas Log - a happy hollow log with a smiley face and a traditional red barretina hat. This little cutie is displayed in Catalonian homes from December 8th. Children “feed it” and cover it with a red blanket so it keeps warm at night. Starting on Christmas Eve they beat it with a stick to encourage it to poop out small presents and sweets until Epiphany, or the arrival of the Three Wise Men on January 6th.
While Tio brings the “stocking stuffer” variety of gifts, as far as the “main” gift giving to children is concerned, Spanish people remain more faithful to the biblical interpretation of the Christmas story so it is The Three Kings who leave the gifts for the children on the night of January 5th. More on Three Kings Day and how it is celebrated in Barcelona further down this post.
A more curious figure you’ll definitely come across at the holiday markets is El Caganer, a crouching shepherd with his pants down and taking a poop! What is this fascination with poop you may ask? Well, it is an old tradition that is said to bring good luck for the following harvest, and this figure is always included in Nativity scenes.
Another interpretation is that it represents equality among all people as everyone has the same bodily functions. You will see these figurines created as all kinds of characters - famous politicians, athletes, and celebrities. They are everywhere!
Speaking of Nativity scenes, they are a popular tradition all over Catalonia. But the most famous and often controversial one is at Plaça Sant Jaume in front of Barcelona’s city hall. Every year is a different interpretation of the birth of Jesus, from the traditional to the surreal, and it is popular with believers and non-believers alike. It opens on the same day the holiday lights go on and the Christmas markets open. Look for El Caganer - he’ll be there in some form!
A Catholic tradition is the 'Misa del Gallo' - or 'the Mass of the Rooster', which takes place at midnight on Christmas Eve night and celebrates the birth of Jesus.
These masses are celebrated all over Spain, but a very famous one takes place at the Basilica de Montserrat, which is about an hour outside of Barcelona. With musical performances by the famous boy’s choir of Montserrat and the beautiful setting of this Benedictine monastery built into the steep cliffs of the mountain range, this can be a very moving and spiritual experience. I think even the tram ride up at night sounds lovely!
We have a full blog post on Planning a day trip to Montserrat, Spain.
Though many kinds of traditional foods are enjoyed at this time of year, an interesting one is Cannelloni (specifically - Canalons a la Barcelonesa) which is the “official dish” of Barcelona. What I find interesting about it is that it was introduced to the city by Italian restaurateurs in the 19th century.
I just find it typical of Spain to enjoy this kind of infusion of cultures - the official dish of a big Spanish city being…Italian food? Well, sure, why not! America isn’t the only melting pot!
Christmas lights along a street in Barcelona
Christmas Markets of Barcelona
Barcelona’s Christmas markets and fairs offer a chance to get into the spirit and browse the stalls for fun traditional Christmas items (like those little poopers!). Many small markets pop up around the city, but here are some of the largest and most popular:
Fira de Santa Llúcia is located in front of Barcelona Cathedral and is the city's oldest (since 1786!) and the most popular Christmas fair. Promising to fill visitors with “light, illusion, and hope”, its illuminated Christmas trees are a main attraction among the stalls and vendors.
Fira de la Sagrada Família has been held in front of the basilica at Plaça de la Sagrada Família since 1962. It actually began when crafters ran out of room in front of the Cathedral so they extended the market to this location. The square is filled with numerous stalls selling Christmas trees and plants; nativity scenes, traditional figures, and Christmas decorations; gift items; food & sweets, creating a dazzling holiday scene.
Christmas Fair at Port Vell, on the waterfront in the old harbor, features musical performances, food, a giant ferris wheel, a choreographed light show, and an ice rink.
Fira de Reis, the Epiphany fair on Gran Via, has traditionally focused on toys and sweets, and even though it has greatly expanded, it's still a favorite with children. Two of the most popular days for the locals to visit the fair are on St. Stephen's Day (December 26), as it is a public holiday and other stores can be closed, and during the evening of Reis (January 5, the night before Three Kings Day), before or after the procession of the Three Kings. As it's the last night that the fair is open, it stays open until midnight.
Food Artisans Market, (or Fira del Col·lectiu d’Artesans de l’Alimentació in Catalan), pops up in Plaça Santa Maria del Pi in front of the church at the end of the famed Chocolate Street in the Gothic District, several times a month. At Christmastime, it appears about every other day, selling artisanal treats like Catalan honey, chocolates, cheeses, wines and cakes. These make great gifts for everyone on your list (if they make it home!).
Ciutat dels Somnis, or “City of Dreams” is an annual children’s festival that takes place across numerous shopping centers, museums and cultural centers with workshops, games, activities, and storytelling for children with a focus on sustainability goals set by the United Nations.
Three Kings Parade in Barcelona
Three Kings Day in Barcelona - celebrating Día de los Reyes Magos
Excitement fills the air on January 5th as the children await the arrival of The Three Kings, or Reyes Magos, by boat to the port of Barcelona. They are welcomed by the mayor and enthusiastic crowds and are given the keys to the city so they can enter every home bringing gifts.
Then the regal trio, are the guests of honor at the Parade of the Kings, (Cabalgata de Reyes) which was a fun highlight of our time in Barcelona. It’s a huge event - like the Macy’s Thanksgiving parade in NYC - filled with decorated floats, dazzling lights, and music. It’s a loud and joyous spectacle.
Sweets are thrown into the crowds and kids gather them up, chanting for their favorite king. I was touched by the politeness of the happy crowd as paper crowns were dutifully passed to the children in the crowd - not one adult snitched one! Later that night presents would be placed under the Christmas trees for the kids to open the following morning on Epiphany Day, January 6th.
The streets stay busy as families visit the Fira de Reis which stays open late and we found the chocolate shops were crowded that night! On arriving back at our hotel, we found our own gifts from the Magi - three chocolate kings which appeared in our room, compliments of the manager. A sweet ending to a sweet night!
On January 6th, the kids open their gifts and families gather for a celebratory meal around lunchtime. A favorite treat on this special day is the Tortell de Reis (Three Kings Cake). This special cake is eaten on one day of the year, and it is usually a ring-shaped cake covered in candied fruit with a cardboard crown in the center. Baked into the cake a dried fava bean and a tiny figurine of a king. If you get the slice with the bean - too bad! You have to pay for this year’s Tortell de Reis! But if you get the slice with the king - hurrah! You are crowned king with the cardboard crown.
Just for fun: Know your Kings!
Melchor (Melchior) is the king with white hair and a long beard.
Gaspar (Caspar) is the blond or red-haired king.
Baltasar (Balthazar) is the black king, who is usually the children's favorite.
Where to stay in Barcelona
Europark Hotel
We stayed at Europark Hotel in Barcelona and thoroughly enjoyed it. We visited during the Feast of the Three Kings in January and the room was very reasonably priced.
The Girona Metro Station is located just 650 feet away. It’s about a 15-minute walk to La Rambla in one direction and a 15-minute walk to Sagrada Família.
There is a very nice rooftop pool and plenty of comfortable seating in the pool area.
You can check rates and availability here.
Hotel El Palace Barcelona
If you are looking to splurge The Hotel El Palace gets amazing reviews.
The lobby and rooftop pool and bar are spectacular.
There are two restaurants and a spa on-site.
You can check rates and availability here.
Spain is one of the world’s top food countries, check out our post about the top foods to try in Spain.
Barcelona Three Kings Parade Photo Gallery
Frequently Asked Questions about visiting Barcelona
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Spain is a party to the Schengen Agreement. This means that U.S. citizens can stay in Spain for up to 90 days for tourism or business without a visa.
Remember that your passport should be valid for at least three months beyond the period of stay.
You can read more about visa requirements here
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On our recent trip to Barcelona, we took the Metro from the airport to downtown. There is also the Aerobus and taxi. A taxi will cost approximately 30-35 Euros. You can find more info here.
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There are two languages in the city: Catalan and Spanish. The vast majority of residents speak both languages and English is spoken almost everywhere.
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The Euro is the currency used in all of Spain. Once in Barcelona we looked for a branch of any large European bank and used the ATM to get Euros.
Credit cards are accepted widely but it’s always a good idea to have local currency in your pocket.
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Spain has a visa for “digital nomads”, allowing people to stay for up to a year. There are requirements that you must fulfill regarding the type of your work.
You must apply through Spanish embassies and consulates. More info can be found here.
If you are looking for a beautiful day trip from Barcelona you might want to consider the stunning mountaintop abbey at Montserrat. You can read all about it in our post: Visiting Montserrat: Planning a day trip from Barcelona
This post was researched and written by Debbie of the Empty Nest Explorers. You can learn more about the Empty Nest Explorers here
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