The Best Christmas Markets in Barcelona: 2018 Guide

The 5 Most Enchanting Christmas Markets in Barcelona (2018)

 

This time of the year, cities and towns across Spain roll out their Christmas markets. They aren’t quite like the fairytale Christmas Markets you’ll find in Germany, but they still have a lot to offer. You’ll find elaborate nativity scenes and some quirky traditions unique to Catalunya. This post is about the best Christmas markets in Barcelona and how to plan your trip to Barcelona over the holidays.

This post may contain affiliate links, as explained in my disclosure policy.

 

Getting around Barcelona

Barcelona is a walkable city so you can get to most places on foot. For longer distances, there are several options: bus, metro, train, taxi, and tram. You really don’t need to take a taxi anywhere unless, let’s say, you stay out really late at night.

The public transportation options run frequently and won’t cost you more than a couple of euros per ride. If you want to learn about ways to save money on transportation, check out the 20 essential tips for your first visit to Barcelona. You’ll find out all about the Hola Barcelona card, which can not only save you money on public transportation, but also on La Sagrada Familia tickets, Gaudi tours, museums, and other attractions.  

 

Related Post:

How To Get From Barcelona Airport To the City Center Cheaply and Fast

 

Now, in no particular order, here are the best Christmas markets in Barcelona to add to your holiday itinerary.

 

La Fira de Santa Llucia

La Fira de Santa Llucia is the old Christmas market in Barcelona – the city’s original Christmas event. This market has been around for more than 200 years! It takes place by the Cathedral of the Holy Cross and St Eulalia, more commonly known as the Barcelona Cathedral. This Christmas market takes place in the Gothic Quarter, where you can also spend time meandering around. The area is the oldest part of the city and has some beautiful Roman architecture.

At Fira de Santa Llucia, there are hundreds of stalls selling Christmas decorations, handmade crafts, figurines, jewelry, antiques, collectibles, postcards, and everything in between. You can also find food stalls with cheese, sausages, and fresh fruits. The market opens in late November and ends in at around Christmas Eve. The operating hours are 10:30 am to 8:30 pm.

Address: Avenida de la Catedral, Barri Gotic, Barcelona

Admission Fee: Free

 

Fira de Nadal de La Sagrada Familia

The Fira de Nadal de La Sagrada Familia has been around for over 50 years, making it one of the oldest Christmas markets in Barcelona. As the name suggests, it’s held on the grounds of La Sagrada Familia, another must-see place in Barcelona. Fira de Nadal de La Sagrada Familia is an extension of the Santa Llucia market. There wasn’t enough space in the Gothic Quarter to fit this market so organizers set up a new site in the Eixample neighborhood.

There are over 100 stalls selling traditional Christmas decor and gifts. You’ll also find lots of food stalls selling Spanish treats like turron (nougats) and caramelos (candy.) This market gets really busy so try to get there right when it opens to avoid the massive crowds that swarm the place in the afternoon.

Occasionally, Papa Noel, aka Santa Claus, stops by with a bag full of gifts to hand out – mostly balloons and candy. He also collects children’s letters and walks around spreading Christmas cheer. The Fira de Nadal de La Sagrada Familia runs from November 26th until December 23rd. The operating hours are 10 am to 9 pm daily.

Address: Pl Sagrada Família, 1, Barcelona 08013

Admission Fee: Free

 

You may also like:

20 Essential Tips for Your First Visit To Barcelona

 

Fira de Reis de La Gran Via

Also known as the Three Kings market, the Fira de Reis is among the largest Christmas markets in Barcelona. Close to 300 stalls set up shop every year, offering unique handicrafts, ornaments, toys, gifts, and more. This market is really easy to navigate because it’s divided into two sections – toys and handicrafts. After buying souvenirs and Christmas gifts, make sure to stop at one of the food stalls to buy some churros or porras (which are larger and fluffier.)

In Spain, the three wise men, Los Reyes Magos, are actually more important than Santa Claus. That’s why this market is extra special in Barcelona. It is held every year on Gran Via de Les Corts Catalanes, one of the largest streets in the city. On January 5th, you can go to that street to watch the annual Three Kings Parade, the biggest event during the Christmas season. The Christmas market runs from December 20th to January 6th.

Address: Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes, 580 Eixample, Barcelona

Admission Fee: Free

 

Poble Espanyol

Poble Espanyol (Spanish village in Catalan) is a charming Christmas tradition has been going on since 2013. From early December, the area around Montjuic transforms into a traditional Catalan village with a lively Christmas atmosphere. This part of the city comes to life with Christmas decorations, Nativity Scenes, arts and crafts, ornaments, workshops, and live concerts. There’s also a Santa Claus house for kids to go and hang out with Santa. This Christmas market is arguably the most traditional in Barcelona. It’s also more similar to the Christmas markets you’ll find in cities like Vienna, Prague, and Hamburg. You can check the Poble Espanyol website for the 2018-2019 calendar of events.

Address: Av. Francesc Ferrer i Guàrdia, 13 08038 Barcelona

Admission Fee: Free

 

Mise en Scene

If you’re looking for a less conventional Christmas market, then the Mise en Scene market definitely fits the bill. Hosted by a vintage clothing shop, this pop-up Christmas market has a flea-market style atmosphere. You’ll find lots of bargain clothes, shoes, jewelry, bags, and antiques. This is basically a Christmas market for lovers of vintage fashion; you won’t find many traditional Christmas gifts here. But there’s a good chance you’ll find some treasures at a bargain price. To find out more details about Mise en Scene’s 2019 calendar, check out their Facebook page.

Address: Calle Ciutat de Balaguer, 25 Barcelona, Spain

Admission Fee: Free

 

Travel Products I Love

Tep Wireless Pocket WIFI Device – With portable WiFi, you can say goodbye to ridiculous roaming charges and SIM cards for good. I’ve been using the Tep Wireless Pocket WIFI device, called a Teppy, for a while and love the peace of mind it gives me. The Teppy provides 3G-4G WiFi for at least 6 hours and works in 100+ countries. In my experience, it lasts 9 hours. It also works in a variety of landscapes and terrains. I even filmed a Facebook Live from a boat in the Atlantic Ocean using my Teppy. I can also use Google Maps, request an Uber, call my mom, and do tons of other things I couldn’t do before. Quick tip: turn off the device when you’re not using it so that the battery can last longer. Check out my complete review of Tep Wireless. Then use code SOMTOSEEKS to get 10% off your order.

Cabin Zero 36L Backpack – The Cabin Zero 36L Carry-On backpack is my go-to travel bag. I almost never check in luggage so I need a carry-on bag that is spacious, sturdy, and comfortable. The Cabin Zero 36 L fits the bill, and I’ve been using the same one for almost two years. It’s great for long trips and also comes with a tracker in case it gets lost. Check out my complete review of the Cabin Zero 36L backpack.

Skyscanner – Skyscanner.com is my go-to website to search for flights. It’s hard to beat the prices! I’ve snagged a $24 direct flight to Milan, a $30 flight to Berlin, a $400 roundtrip ticket to Colombia, and a $500 roundtrip ticket to Japan. I’ve been using Skyscanner since I studied abroad in Spain back in 2012. I check the website along with the Hopper app to determine the best time to buy tickets.

Continue reading…

6 Unique Christmas Traditions To Experience in Barcelona

 

One more thing: if you liked this post, please share!