Why Barcelona In December Is The Best Time To Visit

I spent the entire month of December living and traveling through Barcelona and Spain.

Let me tell you, Barcelona in December is an unbeatable destination to escape the winter cold. It might not be beach weather in Barcelona in December, but it’s warm enough to walk around without boots and a parka!

So here are all the reasons why you need to consider travelling to Barcelona in December!

Psst! This blog post contains affiliate links in it which sends me a bit of extra money if you use them… at no extra cost to you!

Summers in Barcelona Aren’t As Good As You Might Think!

Barcelona is one of the hottest tourist European destinations in the summer.

It can go above 30°C (86°F) in the summer. Imagine walking around the streets in that heat, most of the time you’ll just be looking for a way to escape it.

So although it might be the perfect time to relax at Barcelonetta beach and drink tinto de verano (wine and lemon soda), you might not be able to do much else.

Plus don’t even get me started on the number of people that visit Barcelona during the summer months… the streets are so populated it’s hard to go anywhere anyway!

With the influx in tourists during the summer months in Barcelona, you also need to plan your trip much more in advance… as tickets sell out for popular attractions.

Weather In Barcelona in December Is Much More Manageable

December in Barcelona sees arguably the best weather throughout the entire year (in my opinion anyway).

The summer is a scorcher, perfect for the beach but hard for touring. December is the opposite in Barcelona!

Although it might not be beach weather, and you’ll have to wear a jacket some days, it’s nonetheless beautiful. It’s a moderate 15°C (60°F) and sunny throughout the month.

You can’t wear shorts, but pants and a light sweater are perfect for the whole day touring outside!

Half The Number Of Tourists

Barcelona in December also sees half the number of tourists than during the summer months, and some attractions were still packed (I can only imagine how bad it would be in the summer).

Barcelona is still a busy city, so it never feels like a ghost town either. But you’re actually able to enjoy walking through the Gothic Quarter and Passeig de Gracia (Las Ramblas was still packed somehow!).

While you’re visiting each attraction, it’s also a much nicer experience.

You aren’t crammed into a small apartment or museum with dozens of other people around you. Instead you have all the space and time in the world to visit at your own pace.

No Advanced Planning Needed

The main bonus of having less tourists is that you don’t have to plan your activities in advance as much as you would in the summer.

For example, summer travellers have to book the Sagrada Familia a few weeks in advance (especially if you want first choice of times), otherwise say goodbye to seeing the inside of the church!

It’s a very similar case for Gaudi’s other popular attractions like Casa Batllò and Park Güell.

You would have to book tickets months in advance normally, but in December, you can book your tickets the day of!

P.S. Thinking of visiting Gaudí’s Casa Batllò? Read my honest review first!

Watch Out! There’s A Mini High Season In Barcelona December

If you’re in Barcelona around December 6, you’re in for a real surprise.

December 6 is Constitution Day in Spain, so a lot of locals are off from work and school so they make the trip to Barcelona for the weekend… we learned this the hard way.

The city centre was total madness! It was so busy, it took us double the amount of time to get anywhere and restaurants were PACKED… This was our first weekend in the city and it was so bad that we swore to ourselves to never go back.

We later learned that locals describe this weekend as a mini high season, replicating what it’s like in the summer, but the rest of December isn’t like that. I couldn’t even imagine spending every day in Barcelona if every day was high season.

The locals were right; once we mustered up the courage to visit the city centre again, there were about half the amount of people. The city was back to low season standards!

You Save Money Visiting Barcelona In December

Barcelona is an EXPENSIVE city to visit – there’s no hiding from that reality! From the high ticket prices at the attractions to the over priced food and drinks you’ll want to indulge in.

But, visiting Barcelona in December you’ll be traveling during low season, and with that sometimes comes lower prices.

As with any low season travel, there are usually ways to save money. For one, your flight could be half the price, and attractions typically have low season discounts.

They want to encourage tourism as much as possible during low season, and a good way to do that is by lowering the price.

P.S. See more ways to save in Barcelona!

Later Sunrise Barcelona in Winter

If you’re interested in watching the sunrise in Barcelona (like at Park Güell) it’s a lot easier to do in December than during the summer.

The sunrise is almost two hours later than during the summer months.

So instead of having to wake up at 5:00 A.M. to see the sunrise, you can sleep in until 7:00 A.M.! That makes it quite a bit more manageable to wake up and see.

Unfortunately though, everyone else will have the same idea. So those top sunrise locations will be packed, like Park Guell.

P.S. Sunrise at Park Güell is PACKED but it’s still worth going because then entry is free!

Holiday Markets (With Unique Souvenir Finds!)

Visiting Barcelona in December also means you’re there right in time for the Christmas markets to start. It does bring a small influx of tourists, but nothing compared to the summer months (or the weekend of December 6).

There are so many different markets you can shop at throughout the city. There are markets with holiday nick-nacks, like traditional cagatió (logs) and caganer (shitters)… P.S. these make great Barcelona souvenirs!

The holiday markets are installed next to the Cathedral of Barcelona in Plaça Nova, the Sagrada Familia, and Plaça de Catalunya.

But around the city, there are also the holiday markets selling local products. You might have to pay to get into some of these, but they’re worth it (like the Palo Market Fest)!

Passeig de Gracia Christmas Lights Are On!

You also have to walk down Passeig de Gracias at night as they have special Christmas lights along the whole street. It really becomes magical!

The city typically turns the lights on towards the end of November until January. See the updated dates and times.

Experience New Years Eve In Barcelona

If you’re visiting at the end of December, stay for the last day of the month to enjoy New Years Eve celebrations in Barcelona.

There are many parties to choose from, but the big spectacle is at Place the Magic Fountain near Plaça d’Espanya. There’s a fountain and firework display, and even a ball drop!

But the best part is the Spanish grape tradition.

You have to eat 12 grapes in 12 seconds, with each bell chime just before 12:00 A.M. It’s a lot harder than it sounds!

Where To Stay In Barcelona In December?

When we visited Barcelona in winter time, we stayed in Gràcia. A small neighbourhood about a 20 minute walk from the city centre. It let us debrief from the craziness of the city, and gave us the opportunity to experience the more local side of Barcelona. 

I stayed at an Airbnb in Gràcia for a more home away experience. I highly recommend booking a stay in Gràcia to experience more of the local Barcelona life. Book a room at Casa Gràcia – See room rates & availability.

If you’re looking to stay closer to the city centre, a great neighbourhood is El Born. Stay in Hotel del Mar. See room rates & availability.

Or why not stay like royalty at Hotel Royal Passeig de Gràcia in Barcelona. This is the nicest street in Barcelona! See room rates & availability.

For more accommodation options on Booking.com.

Thinking of visiting Barcelona? Read my other posts about this wonderful city! Like how you can save money in this city, or how (and why) you should spend the entire day at Montjuïc!

I also wrote some day trip guides from Barcelona. Like why not visit Montserrat, Girona, or Salvador Dalí’s hometown?

Interested In Fall Travel?

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• See What Belgium Is Like In September

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