Visit BCN / Christmas in Barcelona in 48 hours
Christmas in Barcelona in 48 hours
A two-and-a-half-day getaway to Barcelona will be enough for you to soak up the Christmas spirit in a city that celebrates the festive season with gusto. You can visit Christmas markets, nativity scenes, charming shops and so much more beneath the magical lights that glitter in the streets.
DAY 1: DISCOVERING THE EIXAMPLE
2pm
If you arrive in the city at lunchtime, there's nowhere better to stop off than the Eixample district, where you'll get a glimpse of the Christmas spirit that imbues the city, with decorated shops, streets bedecked with glittering lights and the unmistakeable magic of the festive season. Housed in an art nouveau, or modernista, building, Windsor serves Catalan cuisine with a contemporary twist and is a great place for lunch. Another option is L'Olivé, with its Mediterranean dishes and extensive wine list.4pm
If you want to get into the Christmas spirit that's all around the city, visit the Sagrada Família Christmas market where you'll find skilled artisans selling decorative items and one-off pieces.6pm
It's time for a snack. There's nothing more Christmassy than a nice cup of thick hot chocolate with churro fritters or sponge fingers, known as melindros, to boost your energy levels and carry on shopping. The Eixample is full of places where you can enjoy a wonderful snack. Pastisseries Mauri and Boldú, which has several outlets in the area, and Escribà, with its fairytale cakes, are great options if you want to take a sweet break.6.30pm
If you're in the mood for shopping, the Eixample is the perfect place. Its streets and avenues are packed with shops to suit all tastes. You can lose yourself on Rambla de Catalunya, Carrer València and Passeig de Gràcia and be enticed by the range of goods on offer. You'll find your own distinctive Christmas style at Antonio Miró. If you're looking for original, comfortable shoes, make sure you grab a pair from Camper. The city is also the perfect place to find unique, signature jewellery that defies classification. Some of the leading jewellers include Bagués-Masriera, RABAT, and the iconic Tous and Capdevila Joiers.If you're looking for quality designer bags, you'll find one to suit your taste at Lupo. And perfume connoisseurs will find every imaginable fragrance at Regia. Christmas is also about culture, so there could be no better way to round off a day's shopping than surrounding yourself with books. You'll find a great selection in different languages, as well as in Catalan and Spanish, at Ona Llibres.
9pm
To end the day with a great dinner featuring tapas and dishes made with fresh market produce, Mordisco will cater to your gastronomic needs. If you have a sweet tooth, make sure you try the cheesecake which is to die for!DAY 2: THE OLD TOWN, CIUTAT VELLA, MAGICAL AND VIBRANT
10am
You can't visit Barcelona at Christmas without stopping off in Plaça de Sant Jaume to see the iconic nativity scene. But it isn't the only one in the city. This year we will be celebrating the 19th Catalan Nativity Scene Biennale at the royal chapel of Santa Àgata, which brings together a wonderful array of dioramas made by nativity scene craftsmen and women from all over Catalonia, as well as international associations.As you're in the area, the cathedral cloister and the Museu Frederic Marès also have their own nativity scenes that take us back to different eras every year. To make your morning complete, the Christmas market, the Fira de Santa Llúcia, in front of the cathedral, is a wonderful display of magic and good vibes, with stalls selling trees, the curious pooping figure, the caganer, and all kinds of Christmas decorations. You're bound to find that special item to take home with you!
2pm
After a busy morning exploring the Gothic Quarter, why not linger and have an alfresco lunch by the sea? If you have time, you can even head to the beach and have a coffee on the sand. There are so many top-quality restaurants to choose from. The 7 Portes is a classic. Founded almost 200 years ago, it is renowned for its delicious rice dishes. If a stylish terrace serving seafood dishes with views of the port is your thing, 1881 per Sagardi at the Museu d'Història de Catalunya is the perfect place to dine on sunny winter days. If you want to try some of the finest rice and seafood dishes, make a note of Can Solé.4pm
We're still in the old town, Ciutat Vella, where there is no end of things to explore among its cobbled streets with their shimmering Christmas lights. Why not spend the afternoon visiting some of its most iconic shops? Turrón nougats are the number one festive sweet treat and you'll find one to suit your taste at La Campana or Vicens. If you're looking for books or design objects, you'll find them at the Llibreria La Central. For urban, sophisticated clothes from a variety of labels, make sure you visit Ozz Barcelona. At Calpa you'll find all kinds of bags and backpacks and at Empremtes de Catalunya you can browse a wide variety of handcrafted items and see the city's creative side for yourself. La Manual Alpargatera sells the most comfortable and chic handmade footwear and, if you're still wanting more retail therapy, you can end the day at El Corte Inglés, the big department store where you'll find everything you could possibly want.If you're looking for typical Christmas items to decorate your home, Käthe Wohlfahrt has everything you need: Christmas figures, details for the tree or table, decorations, souvenirs and much more. Caganer.com has several shops in the neighbourhood and specialises in the curious pooping figures, the caganer, who you'll find in many different guises, from the Simpsons to Ernie and Bert from Sesame Street.