What to do in Barcelona in December
Calendar of festivities and cultural events in December
Barcelona Agenda of Events and Activities in December
In December 2024, Barcelona lights up with festivities and cultural events, especially for the holiday season, delighting visitors. Here are some must-see activities to fully enjoy the city during this period: Highly anticipated are the Christmas markets and lights, night bus tours, the Jazz Festival, Mil·lenni Festival, and numerous exhibitions like "Watch!, Watch!, Watch! by Henri Cartier-Bresson" at KBr.
Happy Holidays!!
Christmas Markets
Sagrada Família Christmas Market (Fira de Nadal de la Sagrada Família): From November 23 to December 23, this traditional market offers stands of crafts, Christmas decorations, and local culinary specialties.
Dates: November 28, 2025 - December 23, 2025
Address: Pl Sagrada Família 1, (Eixample)
The Fira de Santa Llúcia, a historic market in Barcelona since 1786, is held in front of the cathedral with stalls of nativity scenes, figurines, and typical crafts. A giant Tió de Nadal and events like Diada de les Tradicions enchant both young and old.
Dates and Hours: November 26 to December 23, 2024, 10:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Address: Av. de la Catedral, 1, 08002 Barcelona
Fira de Brocanters - 'Mercat Gòtic' A special antiques and flea market for Christmas and Epiphany, organized from December 27, 2024, to January 4, 2025.
Dates: December 27, 2024 - January 4, 2025
Address: Avinguda de la Catedral
The Fira de Nadal al Moll de la Fusta until January 7, 2025
The Fira de Nadal al Moll de la Fusta runs until January 2025, featuring music and dance performances, a craft market, and a food truck area.
Christmas Night Buses until January 4, 2025
Discover the festive holiday lights on an open-top bus tour.
Available daily except on December 24, 25, 31, and January 1 at 6:30 PM and 8:30 PM.
>>Hop-On Hop-Off Barcelona
Llums de Sant Pau until January 12, 2025
Llums de Sant Pau illuminate the Sant Pau Hospital with 20 installations and an interactive pathway celebrating global Christmas traditions.
>> Your tickets here Sant Pau Hospital Barcelona
Christmas in Sant Jaume until January 5, 2025
The Plaça de Sant Jaume in Barcelona hosts "ORIGEN," a star-shaped light installation with 20 branches, casting reflections on surrounding façades and offering a light and music show every 30 minutes from 6:30 PM to 10:00 PM.
World Press Photo 2024 until December 15
The World Press Photo 2024 exhibition at the CCCB, until December 15, showcases award-winning photographs and multimedia works from the famous photojournalism competition. This is a must-visit to discover the year's most compelling visual stories.
Mil·lenni Festival until May 10, 2025
Festival Mil·lenni 2024-2025
The Mil·lenni Festival in Barcelona offers a rich and eclectic concert program throughout its 26th edition, from November 2024 to early 2025. It features a mix of international music legends and emerging talents at iconic venues like the Palau de la Música Catalana and Sala Apolo. Headliners include Gipsy Kings (by André Reyes), Julia Holter, Roberto Fonseca, Vinicio Capossela, Tindersticks, Jay-Jay Johanson, Anastacia, Carlos Nuñez, and Hinds.
Watch!, Watch!, Watch! - Henri Cartier-Bresson until January 26, 2025
Henri Cartier-Bresson El Muro en Berlín Occidental, Alemania, 1962 © Fondation Henri Cartier-Bresson / Magnum Photos
The exhibition "Watch!, Watch!, Watch! - Henri Cartier-Bresson" at the KBr - Barcelona Photo Center features 240 original prints from the Henri Cartier-Bresson Foundation, along with publications, a film, and two documentaries made by the photographer himself. This retrospective offers an in-depth look at the work of the master of the "decisive moment," highlighting his influence on 20th-century photography.
>>KBr
"Varda Variations" until December 8, 2024
The event "Varda Variations", organized by the CCCB, is an audiovisual celebration dedicated to Agnès Varda, a key figure in cinema. It is part of the broader exhibition "Agnès Varda: Photographing, Filming, Recycling", which explores the work and legacy of this Nouvelle Vague pioneer.
Access is free, but advance booking is recommended.
CCCB
"From Montmartre to Montparnasse (1889-1914): Catalan Artists in Paris" until March 30, 2025
Ramon Casas. Plein air, 1891- MNAC Museu Picasso Barcelona
The exhibition "From Montmartre to Montparnasse (1889-1914): Catalan Artists in Paris" at the Picasso Museum in Barcelona explores the works of Catalan artists like Santiago Rusiñol and Ramon Casas, who lived in Paris. This period, from the Universal Exhibitions to World War I, was marked by creative exchanges at the heart of the Parisian avant-garde. The exhibition highlights the influence of Parisian life on these artists through paintings, portraits, and daily life scenes.
Take the opportunity to discover the museum’s new Café Pablo restaurant.
"Eveli Torent: Between Els Quatre Gats and Freemasonry" at MNAC until February 16, 2025
"Eveli Torent : Entre Els Quatre Gats et la maçoneria" MNAC Barcelona
The exhibition "Eveli Torent: Between Els Quatre Gats and Freemasonry" at MNAC explores the unique journey of Eveli Torent, a modernist artist and adventurer influenced by artistic circles such as Els Quatre Gats and Freemasonry. The exhibition showcases his works and a life marked by travels between Paris, New York, and Eivissa, illustrating a connection between art, philosophy, and commitment.
56th Barcelona International Jazz Festival until March 23, 2025
The 56th Barcelona International Jazz Festival. Over 60 concerts across 17 venues. Renowned artists such as Pat Metheny, Kamasi Washington, and Maria Schneider are part of the lineup.
More Ideas and Activities in Barcelona
>>> For even more discovery ideas, visit our page Things to do in Barcelona which summarizes all the must-see attractions in the Catalan capital!
Weather in December:
December in Barcelona is one of the coldest months of the year. Temperatures are seasonal, with daytime lows around 10°C, which is considered cold for Catalans. In this final month of the year, Barcelona receives an average of 30 to 40 mm of precipitation over about 5 to 6 rainy days. Showers are generally brief, giving way to clear skies.