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Barcelona 2024 Christmas Lights tours
Discover the best lit streets in Barcelona for Christmas illumination and decoration. Take a tour of the lights around the city on a bus or in a private vehicle
Event Start: Nov 28, 2024 18:30h
Event End: Jan 6, 2025 23:59h
About Barcelona Christmas lights tours
The 2024 Christmas season in Barcelona starts on the 28th of November with a ceremony to turn christmas lights on from 18.00h with the main event being in Passeig de Gracía. The Barcelona Christmas Lights 2024 includes an additional 6km to the streets that will be illuminated this year making a total of 110km of decorated boulevards.
The Barcelona Christmas lights run from the last Thursday in November to the evening of January 6th, the day after the Three Kings (three wise med) float parade (Reyes).
Passeig de Gracía
Without doubt, the most spectacular and flamboyantly lit up street in Barcelona. Since it's the street with the high end global brands, many of the shop fronts are also elaborately decorated. Additionally, the two Gaudí houses are adorned with lights. Casa Batlló light show (Passeig de Gracía 43) is famous for its multicoloured illuminated façade that switches between shades of blue, purple and red.
Several top end five star hotels also participate in the Christmas spirit. Notable is Hotel Majestic (Passeig de Gracía 68), Hotel Casa Fuster (Passeig de Gracía 132), Hotel Condes de Barcelona (Passeig de Gracía 73) and Monument Hotel (Passeig de Gracía 75).
Plaça Catalunya
A good central point between the prominent decorated streets is Plaça Catalunya that has modest decorations. Corte Ingles department store which occupies one side of the square has full size Christmas light murals that are three stories in height and worth a look. Usually in the centre of the square is a tent offering Christmas related displays and musical events.
Historically Plaça Catalunya used to be the location for the artificial ice skating ring but this has since moved to the Port Vell Christmas Fair.
Gothic Quarter
Below Plaça Catalunya is the Roman and Gothic heart of the city with many streets featuring Christmas lights. Notable is the shopping street of Portal d'Angel. Walking down this street take a right at the historic fountain, Font de Santa Anna, and the pedestrianised street leads into Avenida de l'Catedral where you will find the Barcelona's famous Santa Lucia Christmas Market. many of the side streets in this area also have Christmas lights.
Plaça Sant Jaume is an example of Barcelona festive light displays with the square having a giant 20 pointed Christmas star by Xevi Bayona and Àlex Posada. The star is designed to illuminate the government buildings of Ajuntament de Barcelona (city hall) and Palau de la Generalitat de Catalunya (government palace). The star is a break from traditional Catholic themed decorations and is designed to evoke the birth of the universe through light.
I must also mention Santa Maria del Pi Basilica which has some beautiful and modest Christmas decorations inside.
Sagrada Família Area
Another example of Barcelona Christmas illumination is the Hospital de Sant Pau buildings. Today a modernist museum that has an illuminated façade and interior garden with beautifully decorated trees. Recinte de Sant Pau (hospital museum) is linked to Sagrada Família by Avenida Gaudí, another decorated pedestrianised street. I recommend this area for a festive season walk and visit to the Sagrada Família Christmas Market..
Image Gallery for Barcelona Christmas lights tours
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Visiting Barcelona Christmas lights tours
- Barcelona's Christmas lights switch on:
- Sunday to Thursday: 17:30h to 01:00h
- Friday to Saturday: 17:30 to 92:00h
- Eve of public holidays (25 and 31 December and 5 January): from 17:30h to 02:00h
- barcelona christmas lights dates:
- Start: 28th of November 2024 at 18:00h
- End: 6th January 2025 at midnight
Note: Plaça Sant Jaume's Giant 20 pointed star is illuminated from 18:30h to midnight and cycles through a lighting routine every 30 minutes. According to the hype this star is suposed to illuminate the government buildings but I noticed that it seems to be a little underpowered to fill the square with light but is still worth a look. In the corner of this square is a giant Christms tree.
La Ramblas
La Rambla, probably Barcelona's most famous street, usually is a good place to go to enjoy Barcelona Xmas lights, but in 2024 the street is being renovated to convert it into a fully pedestrianised boulevard, so this year the lights are a bit lacklustre. I would give it a miss.
What to take with you for Barcelona Christmas lights tours
Wear comfortable foot ware and a warm jacket.
Barcelona Christmas lights tours Tickets
Christmas is the most magical and special time of year in Barcelona. An event full of light and joy that illuminates every corner of the city, which you can now enjoy from a privileged location on the Barcelona Christmas Tour. Don’t miss Passeig de Gràcia, the Sagrada Famìlia basilica and its Christmas Market, La Pedrera, Sant Antoni market and many other fascinating sights!
The 90 minute Barcelona Christmas Tour, Starting and ending in Plaça de Catalunya allows you see all the lights from the open top deck of a tour bus.
See the festive side of Barcelona during a private tour of the city's Christmas lights while riding in an electric tuk tuk. Meet your guide on an auto rickshaw to begin your tour, passing by the festive facade of the Casa Batllo and the Arch of Triumph, and other illuminated landmarks.
See the twinkling lights that brightly decorate some of Barcelona's most famous avenues like the Passeig de Gracia and Plaza Catalonia. Marvel at the exterior of Casa Mila, a Gaudi masterpiece. Take in incredible views of Carrer d'Arago and Urquinaona Square in the Eixample district.
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Experience the magic of Barcelona at Christmas on our exclusive 3-hour bike tour, specially designed to immerse you in the festive atmosphere of Catalonia. Guided by a local expert, this tour combines the city's rich history, culture, and unique Christmas traditions with incredible decorations, light shows, and seasonal cheer.
- Includes:
- Bycicle rental
- helmet
- Guide
- Child seat on request
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Walking tour of the christmas decorations in barcelona starting from Plaza Catalunya and heading via Portal de L'Angel & carrer de Petritxol to enjoy the best hot chocolate with cream and discover typical dishes of the authentic menu casolà de Nadal on Christmas Eve, Christmas and San Sebastian.
The tour continues into Plaza Sant Jaume (town hall square) in the medieval streets of Barcelona to explore the mystery of his nativity, pagan rites, creeds and celebrations. We will visit a store dedicated to St. Nicholas and Nutcracker whose interior reveals a picturesque alpine village open 365 days a year.
Passing via what was once the Decumanus Maximus of Roman Barcino. There, between the apse of the Cathedral of Barcelona and the Plaza del Rey, is the Frederic Marés Museum with the famouse nativity scene made by the Catalan Federation of Pessebristes which dedicates six months to costruct the nativity model. The route ends at Fira de Santa Llúcia Christmas market.
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Getting to Barcelona Christmas lights tours
Address: Plaça Catalunya, Barcelona. 08005
Multiple locations in Barcelona. See the Map in the documents section for metro connections and the visiting section. Below is a list of streets and the nearest Metro stations.
- Downtown Barcelona streets that are illuminated for Christmas
- Portal de l'Angel (Metro, FGC and Renfe Plaça Catalunya)
- Passeig de Gracía (Metro Diagonal, Passeig de Gracia & Plaça Catalunya)
- Plaça España (Metro, FGC and Renfe Plaça Catalunya)
- Passeig Sant Joan down to Arc de Triomf (Metro Tetuan purple line (L2) & red (L1) Arc de Triomf)
- Avenida Pau Casals Plaça Francesc Maciá
- Residential neighbourhoods with notable Christmas lights
- La Eixampla Carrer de Mallorca with Carrer de Villarroel (Hospital clinic Zone) Sants-Montjuïc
- Sant Gervasi Plaça Bonanova and Plaça de Sarrià
- Gracía neighbourhood Carrer de Pi i Margall, Carrer de Verdi, Plaça del Sol, Plaça de la Virreina and many more of the pedestrianised streets
If taking a bus, bicycle, Eco Tuk-tuk or walking tour, the meeting point is in Plaça Catalunya.
Documents for Barcelona Christmas lights tours
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Weather for Barcelona
Where to stay overnight in the Barcelona Christmas Lights Tour