This post covers the top 10 things to do in Barcelona in December, updated for 2022.
We include evening, free, as well as family-friendly activities. We also have a post on the weather in December.
TOP 10 EVENTS AND THINGS TO DO
This top 10 list has concerts, football games, tours, and other fun things to do this month in Barcelona.
If you’re looking for even more fun things to do, make sure to check our other popular Barcelona posts:
1. Take a Sightseeing Tour
City Sightseeing Barcelona is one of the more well-known names to operate in the city.
They are a hop-on-hop-off bus tour that will help you get your bearings in Barcelona and double as a convenient form of transportation.
Of course, we recommend pay-what-you-like walking tours to start with. Most free walking tours cover sites and subjects such as the Gothic Quarter, Gaudi and Modernist architecture.
If you miss any of the guided tours available, you can always just take our own self-guided Barcelona tour.
If you're willing to brave the cold breeze, bike tours are popular with adventurous visitors.
2. Attend a Professional Sporting Event
Football (soccer) fans will be happy to know there will be an FC Barcelona game this December!
On December 31st, FC Barcelona plays RCD Espanyol. Tickets can be purchased here.
Taking a tour of the Camp Nou football stadium is a great idea for any football fan, and a hit with the kids! They’ll get to see behind the scenes.
If basketball is more of your interest, FC Barcelona Basket will be playing Panathinaikos BC on December 16th. Tickets can be purchased here.
For a list of these and any other games in December, click here.
For more fun ideas, check out our family-friendly section.
3. See a Flamenco Show
Barcelona is a city full of music, which means fans of theatre usually have plenty of options throughout the year,
There will be plenty of chances to see live Flamenco Shows in Barcelona throughout the month of December.
Here are a few of the best options available:
- Flamenco at City Hall
- Tablao Flamenco Cardobes
- Los Tarantos Flamenco Show
- Flamenco Show w/ Tapas
- Flamenco Show w/ Drink
Find all the theatre and comedy in Barcelona here.
4. Enjoy a Major Concert
Barcelona has several artists and bands coming through this December.
- Black Pink | December 5th
- Kae Tempest | December 8th
- Zoo | December 10th
- Sofia Ellar | December 11th
Click here to see all the concerts in Barcelona.
And if you’re looking for other ways to spend an evening in the city, take a look at our full post on nighttime activities in Barcelona.
5. Celebrate Christmas at a Market
Barcelona knows how to celebrate the holiday season in December!
If you're a fan of Christmas markets, you can find several operating throughout the city.
The largest Christmas market is Fira de Santa Llucia near the Barcelona Cathedral.
You'll find vendors selling decorations, trinkets, nativity-scene figures, and seasonal plants.
It runs through December 23, 2022.
Another popular market is Fira de Nadal de la Sagrada Familia, right in front of Gaudi's famous church.
If you time it right you could run into Father Christmas collecting letters and handing out sweets.
It also runs through December 23rd, 2022.
6. See the Major Attractions
Even in the slow season, lines tend to get very long to enter La Sagrada Familia at peak times, so we recommend a skip-the-line tour.
December also means the ever-popular Picasso Museum should be slightly less crowded!
If you’re planning to visit multiple museums, the Barcelona Card is a great option - and includes the Picasso Museum.
7. Visit Game of Thrones Filming Locations
Winter is coming, and there's no better time to see some of the locations where Game of Thrones was actually filmed.
Catalonia, just around 1-2 hours outside of Barcelona, was the site of many notable sets in the hit HBO show.
There are a number of different tours you can take which will transport you to and from Catalonia to see these filming locations.
One of the most affordable options is offered by Gray Line, and one of the main sites they visit is the Cathedral of Girona.
You'll also experience the medieval walls of the city and a variety of other sites tied to the Game of Thrones series.
- Prices: €53/Adults | €41/Children
- Dates: Monday and Friday in December
- Duration: 6 hours
- Find tickets here.
8. Save More with a Tourist Attraction Discount Pass
Save yourself more time and money as you explore Barcelona by purchasing a discount pass.
These passes bundle admission tickets to give you savings of up to 50% on regular retail pricing.
Attractions Available for Discount Include:
- Hop-On-Hop-Off Bus Tour
- Barcelona Bike Tour
- Camp Nou Tour
- Barcelona Zoo
- L’Aquarium Barcelona
- Picasso Museum
- Park Guell’s Monumental Zone
- Montserrat Morning Tour
- Hard Rock Cafe
If you’re really looking to maximize the time you have in Barcelona, using a tourist pass is the best way to do that.
See our Barcelona Tourist Pass comparison here.
9. Celebrate New Year’s Eve
As with many other major cities, Barcelona puts on a stunning fireworks display at the stroke of midnight on New Year’s Eve.
Starting around 23:00 (11:00 pm) on December 31st, you’ll be able to find live music, performers, and human tower displays in Placa Espanya by the Magic Fountain.
The celebrations last until at least 12:30 am.
Of course, there will be plenty of clubs, restaurants, and bars that will be having parties and special menus.
INSIDER TIP: You can take part in an interesting Spanish New Year’s Eve tradition by attempting to eat 12 grapes during the last 12 seconds of 2022.
That is 1 grape per second and is a bit more difficult than it sounds.
10. See the City From Above
One of the most noteworthy sites in Barcelona is the Montjuïc Castle, and it sits at the top of a hill in the middle of the city.
If you take the Montjuïc Cable Car to the top, you can enjoy the views as you rise to the top and then get an even better view from the castle itself!
This is the main way to reach the summit, and it's also a great way to experience the landmarks and historic attractions around the city as you ascend the hill.
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