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Bon Nadal, Bones Festes! Want to get holiday mood, indulge yourself in the festivities, feel that special holiday magic that only comes once a year? Welcome to the magical Christmas activities in Barcelona 2025! Let’s make the best of what we have. Seriously!
Enjoy lights “Els Llums de Sant Pau” at the Sant Pau Recinte Modernista.
If Barcelona had a fairy-tale palace, it would be Sant Pau Recinte Modernista. It’s a glowing Art Nouveau dream! Each year, the most beautiful former hospital transforms into a gorgeous wonderland, Els Llums de Sant Pau. It’s a delightful light show that fills the gardens and façades with color and music. From November 20 to January 11, the entire complex becomes a luminous stroll!
Visit Natalis, a Christmas village at Poble Espanyol.
Poble Espanyol, a small replica of Spain’s towns and cities, becomes a lovely Christmasy village called Natalis. They’ll have, artisan stalls, food trucks, and the scent of roasted chestnuts. Kids can meet Santa or the Three Kings, while grown-ups sip mulled wine and pretend it’s just for warmth. The festive market runs on weekends from November 29 to January 4, and tickets can be purchased on the event website.
Enjoy the Three Kings Parade on January 5.
On the eve of Three Kings’ Day, the three wise men themselves arrive at the port with a wild welcome from Catalan families. Then, they’re whole entourage parades through the streets in the most spectacular way. It is the best public performance I’ve ever scene in Barcelona and is so spectacular, it feels like a Broadway show! Elaborately dressed dancers and acrobats parade through the streets throwing candy to out-of-control kids and adults. I highly recommend it!
SCHEDULE: January 5, 2026.
Visit the Christmas market along the Mediterranean Sea.
This is one of my family’s new favorite places to visit during Christmas. El Nadal al Port is along Barcelona’s waterfront, transforming the Moll de la Fusta into a seaside fair from November 28, 2025, to January 6, 2026. It usually has a giant Ferris wheel (nòria gegant), a synthetic ice rink, a vintage carousel, and even a little Christmas train (trenet) winding along the waterfront. Families can join in craft workshops, enjoy live music, and soak up the festive lights dancing over Port Vell. My kids love to get cotton candy! November 28, 2025 – January 6, 2026.
Ooh and ahh at the decorative Barcelona Christmas lights.
The bright Christmas lights give the city that special winter wonderland touch. It helps since it doesn’t snow in Barcelona! See the lights around Plaça del Ángel, Plaça Catalunya, and pretty much every neighborhood throughout Barcelona! The lights go on at 6:30pm on November 22!
Shop at the Fira de Nadal de la Sagrada Familia.
Several Christmas markets pop up around Barcelona, and the Fira de Nadal de la Sagrada Familia shares a spectacular space in front of the famous Sagrada Familia basilica. With about 100 stalls, the Christmas market sells holiday decorations, Christmas trees, nativity scenes, handmade toys, and the traditional caganers and caga tiós. This Covid year, they’re following safety protocols: having a 30% capacity of visitors, limiting entrances, and also having hand sanitizing gel available.
2025 SCHEDULE: TBD. last days of November – end of December-ish 2025.
Shop at the Fira de Santa Llúcia.
The mother of all Barcelona Christmas markets, the Santa Llúcia fair, dresses up the plaza right in front of the Barcelona Cathedral. The famed market fills up fast on a weekend, so much that you’ll feel like cattle going through. If you’re a browser, you probably won’t mind going at a snail’s pace and looking at the decorated stalls. This year, they’re having less Christmas stands to avoid crowds.
The Fira de Santa Llúcia also has a program of activities, including a gigantic tió de Nadal for children to beat with a stick and a Carassa de Nadal (a big head) who spits out candy for the kids. TBD.
2025 SCHEDULE: TBD.
Visit the decorations at Plaça Sant Jaume.
There used to be an ugly unconventional Nativity in scene Plaça Sant Jaume changes every year. In 2024, there was one big star. We’ll see what they have going on this year, but there is usually Christmas decoration to brighten people’s stroll!
SCHEDULE: TBD
Have a hot chocolate at Granja La Pallaresa.
Nestled in the Barri Gótic, Granja La Pallaresa has a reputation for having the best hot chocolate in town. You can also order whipped cream by the plateful and scoop it up to top your drink. Paired with xurros or melindros, this drink makes for a rich, filling snack. And their waiters wear white shirts and black bow ties — a nice touch, methinks.
Visit Käthe Wohlfahrt, an over-the-top shop of Christmas decorations.
If you really want to get in the mood, the German “Christmas village”, Käthe Wohlfahrt, is stocked with red, gold, and green holiday decor, including a 4.5-meter tree decorated with 1,250 Christmas ornaments! If you really want to be enveloped in Christmas ambiance of snow globes, stars, Santa Claus, and more, visit this yuletide shop which always has lines around the corner. Carrer dels Banys Nous, 15
Celebrate Boxing Day (Saint Stephen’s Day).
The day after Christmas, Barcelona doesn’t wind down just yet. December 26th, known here as Sant Esteve, is a public holiday when extended families gather again…because one massive feast clearly wasn’t enough! Everyone eats canelons, which are large tubes of pasta stuffed with leftover roast meats from Christmas. Its covered and filled with béchamel sauce and baked.
Ring in 2026 with fireworks at Barcelona’s districts.
For New Year’s Eve, many people usually gather at the Magic Fountain at Plaça Espanya, this year will be different. The city’s 10 districts will be lighting up 12 palm trees at midnight, followed by a pyrotechnic show. TO RING IN AN AMAZING 2026 or else we are all going to lose it!
Enjoy a Three Kings’ Cake.
The hangover after the parade is on January 6. It’s when children open their presents and eat a Three Kings cake, or a Tortell de Reis (Catalan), Roscón de Reyes (Spanish). You might bite into a tiny prize nestled inside, such as a ceramic figurine, as to which you are considered to be one lucky duck. But if bite into a bean, you have to pay for the cake! Personally, I’ve tried my hand and making a Three Kings’ Cake and failed. Go to the nearest bakery to pick one up!
Now go spend Christmas with people you love. Or go solo if that’s what it takes this year. That’s it for now! Sending a MUAC MUAC to you and yours!
I hope this inspires you to enjoy Barcelona this Christmas! Are you planning to do any of them? Let me know in the comments!
Love the penguin idea for the kids – I, of course, would need one too (can’t stay on my feet!) – Great post, very informative.