Christmas is an endearing time, and with it come to mind feelings such as excitement, especially in children, who are looking forward to receiving presents from Santa Claus and the Three Wise Men; longing and sadness, remembering those loved ones who are no longer with us; love for the people who surround us and accompany us on these special days; and happiness and hope, with wishes for the new year that is about to begin.
One of the essential plans for this time of year is to visit the different Christmas markets that dress up the main streets of the towns and cities, with lights and stalls selling decorations and home accessories with Christmas motifs.
In this article, we present the best Christmas markets in Catalonia, specifically in Barcelona and the surrounding area, as well as on Costa Dorada. To get to your destination, you have at your disposal the Shuttle2Sun private transfer services, low-cost and sustainable, from Barcelona airport, Barcelona port and Camp de Tarragona AVE train station.
Fira de Santa Llúcia in Barcelona
Fira de Santa Llúcia, in Barcelona, is one of the best options to enjoy this time of the year, as it has been running for more than 200 years, since 1786. It is available from the 24th of November to the 23rd of December, on Avenida de la Catedral in Barcelona.
One of the main events in its programme is the 30th Day of Christmas Traditions and Customs in Catalonia, to be held on the 10th of December, with a wide range of activities and performances, including a tribute to the ‘Firaire d’Honneur‘ of 2023.
The fair has a total of 200 stalls, which are divided into four different blocks. On the one hand, you will find stalls selling figures and nativity scenes, as well as other accessories such as Christmas lights and home decorations. There are also stalls selling trees and “tiós” and other greenery.
There are also stalls selling handicrafts, such as jewellery, clothes and accessories. And finally, stalls selling zambombas, tambourines and other musical instruments.
If you’re travelling with the family, we recommend that you don’t miss Santa Llúcia’s giant Tió, an activity aimed for children where they can make the Tió shit and win gifts, such as toys and sweets.
Sagrada Família Christmas Fair
Another of Barcelona’s best-known Christmas markets is the one in Plaça de la Sagrada Família, an initiative with a long history, which has been held every year since 1962. It is open from the end of November until Christmas.
This market, which has around a hundred stalls, arose from the expansion of Fira de Santa Llúcia, when a few traders decided to move to Dreta de l’Eixample, as there was no room left at the previous one. Here you will find similar products, from decorations for nativity scenes, trees, vegetation and handicrafts.
Don’t miss any of the proposals that we explain in this publication! Get to Barcelona with Shuttle2Sun‘s private transfer services, low-cost and sustainable, which you will find from Barcelona airport, Barcelona port and Camp de Tarragona AVE train station.
Fira de Reis on Gran Via
Fira de Reis, located along Barcelona’s Gran Vía, is the continuation of Fira de Santa Llúcia, which takes place after Christmas and lasts until Epiphany. Its origins date back to 1877, when this market was organised for the first time, with a total of 18 stalls selling toys and sweets.
At present, has more than 200 stalls offering all kinds of Christmas products and gifts, as well as various stalls for snacks.
Other Christmas markets in Catalonia
Christmas markets are not only held in Barcelona, but there are many other alternatives in the surrounding area and on Costa Dorada.
In Mataró, the capital of Maresme region, half an hour from Barcelona, a Christmas fair is held from the end of November until Christmas Eve in Plaça de Santa Anna and La Rambla.
Here you can find figures to complement your nativity scene, as well as different Christmas ornaments to decorate your home. If you have children, remember to take home a Tió de Nadal, so that they can enjoy Caga Tió, an essential element of Catalan Christmas. You can also buy typical Christmas foods, such as nougat, sweets and other gastronomic products, and take part in numerous complementary activities.
In Reus, another Christmas market is organised, which, year after year, welcomes the visit of many people who want to see the different stalls that make up the fair. It is held throughout the month before Christmas in Plaça del Mercadal. Here, you can also take a photo with the large tree of lights that dominates the square.
On the other hand, on Tarragona‘s Rambla Nova you can stroll under the trees and enjoy the different Christmas stalls along the central stretch of this street. A dozen stalls offer a variety of Christmas-themed products, such as elements for the nativity scene, trees and other decorations, and a wide range of handicrafts, such as jewellery and accessories.
Get to know all the Christmas markets we have presented, thanks to the low-cost and sustainable private transfer services offered by Shuttle2Sun, so you can travel to any of these destinations, comfortably and quickly, from Barcelona airport, Barcelona port and Camp de Tarragona AVE train station.
