Why Barcelona In December Is The Best Time To Visit

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!

Plus, there are about half the number of tourists walking around and you might even be able to save some money on your visit! 

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! 

The Reality of Summers in Barcelona

Barcelona is one of the hottest tourist European destinations in the summer. That doesn’t mean it’s the best time to visit though.

It can go up to a scorching 30+ °C (86°F) in the summer… that’s HOT! 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 Sangria, 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!

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). As I said, the summer is a scorcher, perfect for the beach but hard for touring.

It might not be beach weather in December, and you’ll have to wear a jacket some days, but it’s nonetheless still 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!

Half The Tourists = No Advance Planning Needed

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

The main bonus of travelling to Barcelona in December is that you don’t have to plan your activities in advance as much. 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! I

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 day of!

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

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.

Watch Out! Mini High Season In Barcelona December

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

December 6 is Constitution Day in Spain, so a lot of locals are off school and work 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 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!

Bonus! 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.

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

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

P.S. Sunrise at Park Güell is PACKED! But, if you’re there before it officially opens you actually get in for free!

Unique Things To Do In Barcelona In December: Holiday Markets!

Visiting Barcelona in December also means you’re there right in time for Christmas markets. 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). These markets are installed next to the Cathedral of Barcelona in Plaça Nova and the Sagrada Familia.

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! I love the Palo Market Fest. 

There is also be the free local market in Plaça de Catalunya that has some really neat finds!

Holiday markets make a great place to shop for one of a kind Barcelona souvenirs, see some of my suggestions for souvenirs to look for here.

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 more of local 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 here.

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 here.

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 here.

For more accommodation options on Booking.com here.

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?

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