From late November to Three Kings' Day, Barcelona's streets fill with Christmas markets. It's a great excuse to shop, enjoy historic sites, and learn about the truly unique Catalan traditions of Caga Tió and caganers.
Since 1786, the square in front of Barcelona Cathedral has filled with Christmas stalls around the feast of Santa Llúcia on December 13. Families come to shop for their nativity scene: tiny clay figures, moss, cork mountains and the caganer.
It is also where locals buy their Caga Tió, and a giant Tió in front of the cathedral lets kids try beating it for themselves.
This fair began in 1962, when the Santa Llúcia fair by the cathedral ran out of room and a group of artisans set up beside Gaudí's basilica instead.
For kids, the fun is spotting the things Catalan homes fill up with in December: rows of Caga Tió logs with painted faces, tiny caganer figures and Christmas trees piled high. Stalls frying churros keep everyone going.
Since 1877, Barcelona families have come here to shop for Reis, the Three Kings' day. Two long rows of stalls line Gran Via, selling toys, sweets, decorations and small gifts.
For kids it is a chance to pick out a little something of their own. Look for carbó, black sugar candy made to look like coal, and for stalls frying fresh xurros to dunk in thick hot chocolate.
Every Christmas the old harbor turns into a waterfront fair: wooden stalls and lights along Moll de la Fusta, a 65-meter Ferris wheel turning over the boats, and a synthetic ice rink.
What sets it apart from the city's other fairs is the sea. Historic ships open their decks, and younger kids head for the old-fashioned carousel and the Christmas train, with Santa waving from the front car.
From late November to Three Kings' Day, Barcelona's streets fill with Christmas markets. It's a great excuse to shop, enjoy historic sites, and learn about the truly unique Catalan traditions of Caga Tió and caganers.
Since 1786, the square in front of Barcelona Cathedral has filled with Christmas stalls around the feast of Santa Llúcia on December 13. Families come to shop for their nativity scene: tiny clay figures, moss, cork mountains and the caganer.
It is also where locals buy their Caga Tió, and a giant Tió in front of the cathedral lets kids try beating it for themselves.
This fair began in 1962, when the Santa Llúcia fair by the cathedral ran out of room and a group of artisans set up beside Gaudí's basilica instead.
For kids, the fun is spotting the things Catalan homes fill up with in December: rows of Caga Tió logs with painted faces, tiny caganer figures and Christmas trees piled high. Stalls frying churros keep everyone going.
Since 1877, Barcelona families have come here to shop for Reis, the Three Kings' day. Two long rows of stalls line Gran Via, selling toys, sweets, decorations and small gifts.
For kids it is a chance to pick out a little something of their own. Look for carbó, black sugar candy made to look like coal, and for stalls frying fresh xurros to dunk in thick hot chocolate.
Every Christmas the old harbor turns into a waterfront fair: wooden stalls and lights along Moll de la Fusta, a 65-meter Ferris wheel turning over the boats, and a synthetic ice rink.
What sets it apart from the city's other fairs is the sea. Historic ships open their decks, and younger kids head for the old-fashioned carousel and the Christmas train, with Santa waving from the front car.