Barcelona is blessed with plentiful sunshine and warmth all year round, practically no rainfall and a very mild winter. Its Mediterranean climate is a major factor in its popularity even before we mention the sites of Las Ramblas, FC Barcelona, sandy beaches, Picasso and Miro, Gaudi and the Sagrada Familia.
It is perhaps no surprise that the peak tourist season is the summer when the city and its beaches are thronging with visitors. But without doubt Barcelona is a city with year round appeal. Visiting the city outside of the summer is an equally rewarding experience and you will find the streets are less choked, museums queues are shorter, accommodation is more readily available and cheaper, and the sun is still shining.
The winter in Barcelona is possibly one of the mildest in Europe. The days remain long and light, temperatures rarely go below 5 degrees centigrade and daytime temperatures as high as 17 are fairly normal.
Winter is a lovely time of year in Barcelona, especially through November and December when cold of any kind is exceedingly rare and eating outdoors is still no problem. On the rare occasions when the temperature does drop, the medieval old town is wonderfully atmospheric, especially at Christmas. The Catalan Christmas is full of ancient traditions and is a highly festive time of year.
Barcelona is a great destination all year around and there is no optimal time to visit, it all depends on what you want to get out of your trip. In winter the beach is not an option so it’s not the best time of year for sun worshippers. But it is worth noting that in the winter the beach is used as a recreational space by the Barcelones and the promenade is full of families enjoying a stroll, pavement terraces and people enjoying the winter sunshine, fresh air and the sea view. Many prefer it to the beach in the summer when it is full of tourists!
We have created a list of our best bits of Barcelona to help you decide if you think a trip to Barcelona in winter is for you
Events in Barcelona in winter
Xmas
Christmas takes place on the 25th and 26th of December just as it does in many English speaking countries (in the rest of Spain the 26th is not a holiday). If you fancy a change from the typical Anglo-American Xmas then this would definitely be a very special wonderful time of year to visit Barcelona and enjoy the magical atmosphere of the medieval Old Town and some ancient Catalan Christmas customs.
On Christmas day a mass is held at dawn on the 25th, known as the missa del gall (cockerel’s mass) after which families come together to enjoy a very large meal of escudella i carn d’olla – a slow cooked stew with almost everything under the sun –several kinds of meat, sausage, vegetables, pulses and pasta. And all come in large quantities.
Note that gifts are not exchanged here until the 7th of January the day of the three kings; though in recent times Santa Claus has been adopted to a small extent.
Xmas Shopping
As well as having an excellent selection of shops, in Barcelona in December you can shop in traditional Christmas markets such as Santa Llúcia and Sant Eloi in the Old Town.
Barcelona offers many small and interesting independent one-off stores where you can buy local labels that are not necessarily well known outside of Barcelona or even Spain. Mostly these sell fashion – clothes, shoes, bags and jewellery.
For department stores, international chains and other designer brands, the main shopping areas are Passeig de Gracia and El Portal del Angel, where all the main Spanish and international brands can be found.
Ice skating
What could be more Christmassy than ice skating? Maybe you don’t traditionally associate it with Barcelona but hey it is a wonderful seasonal activity for all the family.
Barcelona hosts a giant outdoor skating rink in Plaza Catalunya and it is the largest outdoor ice rink in Europe. The rink opens from the end of November and stays open until the star of January.
New Year
Barcelona is a magnificent setting to see in the New Year. While there is no official firework display, the Torre Agbar does have a light show at midnight and many beachfront hotels put on fireworks of their own.
New Years Eve is primarily a street party in Barcelona as in many Spanish cities. The streets in the centre of Barcelona fill with both tourists and locals and the main draws are Las Ramblas, Plaça Catalunya and Plaça Reial. As midnight draws near they can get very busy.
A tradition on New Year’s Eve in Barcelona and throughout Spain is to eat 12 grapes at midnight, one on each chime of the clock. If you have a go make sure you eat all 12 in time and make a wish – it’s said to be bad luck not to!
January to March sales
The sales (Les Rebaixes in Catalan, or Las Rebajas in Spanish) typically start on the 7th of January. Because the 6th of January (Els Reis in Catalan or Los Reyes in Spanish) is the main day when Spaniards exchange gifts, the sales start later in Spain.
If you are coming to Barcelona at Christmas be sure to book your accommodation well in advance as this is a very popular time of year. A rental apartment in Barcelona is an affordable option and comfortable and convenient.
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