Where to go with kids for Christmas in Barcelona
Christmas in Barcelona, Spain, is a special period that is a pleasure to spend with family and children. This atmospheric city takes on a truly fabulous vibe during the festive season. Its streets are lit with hundreds of thousands of Christmas lights, and its squares are filled with fairs and entertainment. According to the editors of Spain Voyages, Barcelona is the perfect place for family Christmas holidays with children in Spain.
What to do with children at Christmas in Barcelona
The festive season in the Catalan capital lasts from late November to mid-January. We have compiled a list of things to do and places to go in Barcelona with kids at Christmas to make these days the brightest, and most joyful for your family.
Barcelona Aquarium
During the festive period, L’Aquàrium de Barcelona hosts several activities for children. There will be a Christmas treasure hunt, a workshop where you can create a gift with your own hands, the creation of a large mural, feeding the underwater Caga Tio, a badge-making workshop, and an exciting quest. All activities are included in the admission ticket price.
Llums de Sant Pau show
Llums de Sant Pau is a unique show that can only be seen in Barcelona. It runs from 21 November to 12 January at the Recinte Modernista de Sant Pau Hospital and is a must-see for families with children of all ages. It is an itinerary of 20 points with luminous locations that show the celebration of Christmas in different countries in an interactive way. Participants are given a passport to mark their journey and the guide is a Llumi star. Tickets are sold on the official website.
Una Noche de Invierno evening excursion at Casa Batlló
From mid-November to mid-January, Casa Batlló hosts the Una Noche de Invierno evening tour. Take advantage of this unique opportunity for a Christmas family-friendly vacation in Barcelona. At this time, the walls of Gaudi’s creation are transformed into canvases for impressive projections. The voices of the former inhabitants of the house, accompanied by an original soundtrack, tell visitors the story of the place. Before starting the tour, each guest chooses from three options: the standard audio guide, the voice of nanny Fermina, or Juan Carlos, a descendant of the family who lived here. The tour is suitable for the whole family, regardless of age. Tickets can be purchased on the website. The audio guide is available in 15 languages.
Christmas at the Sagrada Familia
From late November to late December, there are several festive events in and around the Sagrada Familia. In mid-December, there is a traditional concert. This usually features a symphony orchestra performing iconic Christmas pieces by classical composers. Every year there is a drawing for 350 tickets. To participate, everyone must fill out a form on the Basilica’s official website. If you don’t win the invitations, you can buy them online there as well.
The temple’s festive programme also includes singing carols in front of the main entrance, illumination of the facade, midnight mass on 24 December, and various workshops. In addition, the Fira de Nadal Sagrada Família Christmas fair is held in the square in front of the temple.
Christmas in the Spanish Village
From 30 November to 5 January, the Pueblo Español hosts Christmas events. The programme is designed for families with children of all ages. Among other things, you can enjoy musicians, bubble shows, illusionists, an elf factory, and Papa Noel’s house.
The city’s ice rinks
During the Christmas holidays, Barcelona opens several ice rinks where you can have fun with the whole family. They can be found in the Tibidabo amusement park, the Port Vell harbour, and the Corte Inglés de Maria Cristina department store. There is skate hire available at the ice rinks.
Christmas Bus Tour
The Christmas Double Decker Bus Tour is a great way to get into the festive spirit in Barcelona with the kids. The tours run from 29 November to 4 January from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The route runs along beautiful streets decorated with illuminations. During the trip, guides introduce participants to unusual Catalan traditions. The tour is conducted in Spanish and English.
Children’s Festival
From 27 to 31 December, Barcelona hosts the fun Festival de la Infància. It is a real celebration for children from 0 to 12 years old. It takes place at the Fira de Barcelona exhibition centre in the Sants-Montjuïc district. A wide variety of sporting, creative, and cultural activities await. A safe play area is available for the youngest ones. And you can have a bite to eat in the gastronomic room. Tickets are on sale on the website.
Camp of the Three Kings at the Oasis de Nou Barris
One of the interesting Christmas events in Barcelona takes place from 2 to 4 January between the palm trees near the Nou Barris district administration. This is a royal camp where, even before the parade of the Three Kings, children can meet the retinue of rulers — pageboys, astrologers, postmen, dream fairies, guardians of the magic key. But most importantly, the kids have a chance to admire the wrapped presents before they are delivered to their homes on the night of 5-6 January.
Special programme at the Tibidabo amusement park
A great idea for a Merry Christmas with family in Barcelona is to head to the Tibidabo amusement park. The park hosts annual Christmas celebrations from 23 November to 5 January. The park has an artificial ice rink with shows every day and a magnificent Christmas tree near the entrance.
Special programmes are held in the 4D cinema and puppet theatre. And the Merlí free fall attraction, 52 metres high, features the largest Christmas star in Barcelona.
Free things to do with children at Christmas in Barcelona
There are many great places to visit in the Catalan capital that don’t require a ticket and don’t cost the family a fortune. So where to go with kids for Christmas in Barcelona for free? We know the answer to this question.
Els Llums de Nadal Christmas Lights
When you visit Barcelona for Christmas Day in December with your family, be sure to take a stroll through the streets decorated with Els Llums de Nadal. It’s a hundred kilometres of festive lights and decorations. The Avenida Paseo de Gracia, Plaza de Cataluña, and the surrounding streets are particularly colourful.
Christmas Fairs
The main and oldest of these is the Fira de Santa Llúcia. It runs from 29 November to 23 December. It features stalls with Catalan souvenirs, creches, and festive decorations. There is also a huge Christmas log, Caga Tio. Children can beat it with sticks to make it ‘poop out’ small gifts. A visit to the fair is a free activity for children on Christmas Day in Barcelona.
Read more: Christmas in Catalonia and Barcelona — festive traditions and events
The massive Festival de Nadal
Festival de Nadal takes place from 20 to 30 December in Plaza Catalunya. From 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. there are family events, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. dancers and circus performers on stage, and after them, until 8:00 p.m., the programme includes musical numbers. The main event of each festival day is the Natal show, which starts at 8:00 p.m. It is a grand Christmas production with circus artists and musicians. Festive concerts can also be seen in other parts of the city.
The colourful Casa Batlló
From 28 November to 24 January, the facade of one of the world’s most recognisable buildings, Casa Batlló, becomes the canvas for a light show. From 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. every 30 minutes, a unique festive projection lasting 3 minutes is broadcast onto the building. This programme is a must-see on the list of things to see with kids at Christmas in Barcelona.
Giant installations
In previous years, a creche has been placed in São Jaume Square. In 2024, the city authorities decided to change the tradition and install a huge star with a diameter of 9 metres. It is illuminated every evening. You can also see a projection with its image on the facades of the City Council and the Generalitat de Catalunya. This is one of Barcelona’s many colourful Christmas decorations that are worth seeing with children over the holidays today.
Christmas creche
In 2024, the Catalan pessebre creche can be seen in the Barcelona City Council building (Ayuntamiento de Barcelona). It is open to the public from 29 November to 5 January. Also, the scene of the birth of Jesus Christ is installed in the courtyard. It is available from 27 November to 2 February. This is a great way to visually familiarise children with the event and its participants.
Three Kings Toy Factory (Fàbrica dels Reis Mags)
During the holidays, when you come to the Fabra i Coats cultural centre in Barcelona, you can enter a fabulous Fàbrica dels Reis Mags. The little ones will see how the gifts that will be distributed by the Three Kings on the night of 5 to 6 January are created. Young visitors are greeted by animators. They put on a real show to channel as much energy as possible into an energy meter that helps dreams come true. The factory is open from 27 to 30 December and from 2 to 4 January from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Attendance is free, but pre-registration is required.
Family New Year
Barcelona offers a unique opportunity to celebrate New Year’s Eve with children of all ages. The event takes place on 31 December at 12 — but not at midnight, but at noon. The fun takes place in the Baró de Viver community centre. This will be an unforgettable family party in Barcelona, with great photos to remember.
Magic Days at CASA SEAT
From 28 November to 5 January, CASA SEAT is hosting Magic Days, a free gastronomic event for the whole family. Its special guest is Jordi Roca, a famous pastry chef with three Michelin stars. Thanks to his talent, CASA SEAT is transformed into a real Christmas fairy tale. Everyone can try Jordi’s signature desserts in the restaurant, on the terrace, or in the Rocambolesc & Casa Cacao shop. In addition, urban artist TVBoy has brought the Advent calendar to life on the facade of the building, where each day a new window will be opened with a recognisable Barcelona symbol. Admission to Magic Days is free, but advance registration is required.
Käthe Wohlfahrt Christmas shop
Käthe Wohlfahrt is a Christmas tree decorations shop located in the centre of Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter. It is open all year round and allows you to feel the Christmas atmosphere even in summer. There is a Christmas Village section with a huge Christmas tree, 4.5 metres high. It is decorated with 1250 toys of incredible beauty. Every year there are new collections of decorations related to the history of the Wolfarth family.
Where to go for Christmas with children outside Barcelona
After visiting all the places in the city, you can go on a day trip with kids for Christmas in the neighbourhood of Barcelona. We recommend visiting the famous amusement park and the unusual creche.
PortAventura and Ferrari Land amusement park (Park PortAventura and Ferrari Land)
PortAventura and Ferrari Land is an entertainment complex an hour’s drive from Barcelona. It is a great opportunity to watch how do families celebrate Christmas in Barcelona. There are several dozens of attractions and various themed zones. At Christmas, there are entertaining show programmes and fairytale tours, while the restaurants offer performances and festive menus.
The creche in Corbera de Llobregat
Corbera de Llobregat is a municipality 30 kilometres from Barcelona. From late November to mid-January, you can see a unique creche here. Its peculiarity is that it is not a diorama with small figures, but a whole live theatre with actors. More than 200 people recreate biblical scenes and everyday life of those times. Among the plots are the little Jesus in the manger, the appearance of the angel, the arrival of the Three Kings, and others. Tickets are sold online at the official website.
Visiting this place is an answer to what to do in Barcelona on Christmas day.
Caldes de Monbui Fair
Caldes de Monbui is a town 44 kilometres from Barcelona, famous for its thermal springs and a must-visit with children. Every year at the beginning of December, a Christmas fair is held at the Plaza Font del Lleó. In addition to the sale of various goods and activities for the whole family, there is an interesting event — the boiling of thermal broth. It is cooked in a huge cauldron with a diameter of 1.5 metres and a volume of 1600 litres. The ingredients include thermal water, various vegetables, lentils, chickpeas, beef, pork and dough balls. On some days, tasting this unique dish is free of charge.
Winter Festival and Castrum Fidelis Medieval Fair in Castelldefels
Castelldefels is a small town 25 kilometres from Barcelona. Every year in December it hosts the winter festival and Castrum Fidelis medieval fair. Both adults and children will enjoy this Christmas event. The festival programme includes a visit to the Town Hall and castle, various concerts, the building of human towers, and a parade with traditional dances and giant puppets. The fair programme includes a medieval market, themed games and entertainment, a jousting tournament, fire, and circus shows, historical workshops, and atmospheric concerts.
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