Christmas with the family

Here's the long list of activities we've lined up so the kids can explore, have fun, learn and celebrate Christmas in Barcelona with city trails, lights, art, workshops and magic.

The Christmas lights trail

If you want to see every detail of Barcelona's dazzling Christmas lights, the best thing to do is hop on board the Barcelona Christmas Tour. As you ride through the streets, past iconic buildings that are all festooned for the festive season, you'll learn lots of anecdotes and curious facts about the city and Christmas.

The Sant Pau lights

For yet another year, the Recinte Modernista de Sant Pau in Barcelona will be transformed into L'Univers de la Llum (The Universe of Light), a magical trail, full of colour, featuring audiovisual experiences where light takes centre stage. A festive display of creativity and technology at a UNESCO World Heritage site. This year, there’ll also be a Christmas market with Christmassy delights and an ice rink for skilled and budding skaters.

Christmas Markets and Fairs where you'll find the best decorations

It's Christmas in Barcelona on the day the Christmas lights are switched on. And, in every home, it's Christmas when people put up their decorations! You'll find neighbourhoods with their own Christmas markets where you can hunt for the figures you need for the crib. In the city centre, you'll find some of the most popular ones: the Fira de Santa Llúcia, in front of Barcelona Cathedral, the one in the old harbour, the Port Vell, right by the Mediterranean sea, and the Fira de la Sagrada Família, in the imposing shadow of Gaudí's basilica, and the Epiphany fair, the Fira de Reis, on Gran Via, with countless stalls stretching through the left-hand side of the Eixample district.

Nativity scenes you must see

If we put together the words nativity and Barcelona, the annual nativity scene in Plaça Sant Jaume springs to mind. It is the most popular one in the city and has a different, innovative design every year with something to please traditionalists. If you're looking for a truly traditional nativity scene, a few metres away from the square, the Museu Frederic Marès, creates its own giant crib. And at Pedralbes Monastery you'll find two nativity scenes: the birth of Jesus and the annunciation to the shepherds.

Barcelona Christmas Festival

Plaça de Catalunya will be hosting a whole host of festive events from morning to night. For a fortnight, the plaza will be a sea of creativity and originality with street art, all kinds of music, circus, activities to get your body moving, workshops where you can get your hands dirty and interactive installations. The kids will be agog!

Christmas at the Poble Espanyol

From 3rd December to 6th January, this charming little village on Montjuïc hill will be transformed into a Nordic landscape… resembling Lapland! It will be decked out with special decorations and you'll be able to visit Father Christmas's workshop and the Three Kings' house where the kids can hand in their letters and enjoy an amazing magic show.

A WINTER WONDERLAND AT THE CITY'S HOTELS

The Hotel Mandarin Oriental opens its doors with sublime decorations, delicious food and a programme of Christmas events that will make your experience unique and unforgettable. Don't miss the Christmas market, where everything is possible. You'll find that perfect gift and be able to sample the Christmas biscuits that Father Christmas loves so much. This year, the kids can hand in their letters to the Three Kings at the magic post office. And the grown-ups can take part in activities, including workshops and tastings.
The terrace of the Hotel Palace will be transformed into a Christmas village with a packed calendar of events to make sure you have an unforgettable Christmas. They include film screenings with delicious festive sweet treats and mulled wine, a market with local products to give to your loved ones or to treat yourself to, and a workshop where you can make your own Christmas cards.

Views and origami at the Glòries Tower

It's time to find out who is going to light up Barcelona this Christmas. The Glòries Tower viewing point is running a workshop for families, Our Neighbours Light Up the City, where you'll be able to make your own paper frog lit up with LED lights.

The Three Kings' parade

After a Christmas full of surprises, the final guests arrive in the evening of 5th January: the Three Wise Men from the Orient. Melchior, Caspar and Balthasar climb aboard their floats to greet all the kids in the city. They parade through the streets in the city centre with entertainments and their retinue in tow in a true spectacle of light and colour. Get ready for tne of the most exciting moments of the festive season!