I usually do not recommend Barcelona as a Christmas destination but I have to admit this year, they start to spread my dear Christmas spirits around the city, how? let’s check Christmas time in Barcelona.
CHRISTMAS TIME IN BARCELONA 2021
- The Sant Pau Hospital opens its doors every night from November 22, 2021 to January 9, 2022 for a very special walk. And what does this show consist of? You will discover a luminous fairy-tale landscape with Christmas light effects, impressive illuminated vegetation and creative light figures.
- The Gran Teatre del Liceu will welcome the Christmas spirit this holiday season with the famous Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. The ghosts of Christmas past, present and future will manage to soften the hard heart of the usurer Scrooge on December 17, 18 and 19 at 11:00 am. And for sure, the quintessential Christmas ballet, The Nutcracker, will also be present this holiday season on December 28, 29 and 30 and January 2, 3 and 4.
- Poble Espanyol will become a giant advent calendar. It will be filled with 24 themed corners related to characters, traditions and typical Christmas scenes like the 24 windows of an advent calendar. You will be able to visit Santa Claus’ house (until December 23rd) or one of the Three Kings (from December 26th) to deliver your letter personally. In addition, there you will enjoy live gospel and swing music and family shows, such as YU or Rock & Kids.
- Käthe Wohlfahrt, the most important German Christmas decoration store in Europe, landed two years ago in the Gothic Quarter of Barcelona and is already a place of pilgrimage for elves. Passing through its doors is like being teleported to a Christmas market in Germany. The sales clerks with the typical local costume, snowy village atmosphere, a huge tree in the center of the store.
- We can go to the ice rink of the Illa Diagonal shopping center to satisfy our desire to ice skate in the purest American style. Ideal, above all, for the little ones of the house, the ice rink of the Illa Diagonal is in the middle of the mall, right in the outdoor area, next to the terraces. Hours: weekends and holidays open from 11 am to 9 pm, and weekdays from 5 pm to 9 pm. You can see them here. Price: 5 €.
MARKETS
There is no Christmas in Barcelona without visiting one of its wonderful markets and enjoying the festive and magical atmosphere that surrounds them. You can buy the new tree decorations (NEVER enough), some figurines for the Nativity Scene, a poinsettia, or a Caga tió, or the Caganers.
Santa Llúcia
The Fira de Santa Llúcia is the city’s Christmas market par excellence, not only because it is the oldest in the city, being this year its 235th anniversary, but also because it is the most emblematic. Located on Avenida de la Catedral, it has 175 stalls full of cribs, trees, crafts and zambombas (I bought a zambomba, bomba). The little ones will be able to claim their gifts from the giant Tió that will be presiding over the square.
Every day, from November 26 to December 23, from 10 am to 9 pm.
Sagrada Familia Christmas Market
Another traditional Christmas market is the one located near the Sagrada Familia. As a curiosity, this market was born when the Santa Llúcia market had no more space. It has about fifty stalls with figures of the nativity scene, Christmas trees and plants, ornaments, gift items and spaces with food products such as sweet potatoes, chestnuts, nougat and churros to get your boots on (the excuse of Christmas is always good). They also organize workshops to fill the neighborhood with the Christmas spirit.
From November 27 to December 23, from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day, and until 10 p.m. on the eve of holidays.
LIGHTS
Barcelona improves the quality of the lighting of the main streets of the city by illuminating new roads and making it possible for hundreds of streets and squares to dress up for Christmas.
This Christmas Barcelona is premiering new designer lighting in Plaça de Catalunya, Gran Via and Carrer d’Aragó. In total there will be almost four hundred illuminated street sections, thanks to the collaboration of the merchants of the city’s neighborhoods.
In addition, the Sant Pere ring road will have Christmas lights, joining the streets illuminated for the first time in recent years, such as Via Laietana, Urquinaona square or Balmes street.
PASTRY
If you are a gastronomy lover like me, you should know that in Barcelona there are many pastry shops that offer typical Christmas products (such as nougat, panettone, and more) with more creative and innovative flavors:
- Escribá
- Hoffman
- L’Atelier
EL PALACE HOTEL, BARCELONA
Hotel El Palace Barcelona is located in Eixample District, close to the Ramblas, the main shopping area and Barcelona’s main tourist attractions. It offers a Mayan-style luxury spa. A limousine service with a chauffeur is available on request.
Opened in 1919, this hotel features a neo-classical façade and stylish air-conditioned rooms with classic decor. Each room is spacious and comes with a satellite TV, desk, minibar, and a private bathroom with a hairdryer, bathrobe, and slippers.
Christmas Activities: The hotel renews its proposals and ideas to offer a winter in renewed classicism in which surprising things will happen, though not only for guests but also for the people of Barcelona who, at this time of year, live the city more.
