The Three Kings Parade

Would you like to see how the Spanish people celebrate Christmas? You will get a good glimpse at it if you visit Barcelona on January 5th. On this day, the city welcomes The Three Kings (Melchior, Gaspar, and Balthazar) who bring presents to young and old.

This isn’t a little parade. The fun starts around 16.00 by Pailebot Santa Eulàlia (Museu Marítim de Barcelona). The three kings then arrive by boat and are welcomed to the city by the mayor. The mayor offers the three kings bread and salt as a present, representing love and hospitality.

This is a crucial moment in the happenings because it is during this meeting that the mayor gives the key to every single house in Barcelona to the kings. As we all know, this is very important in order for the kings to be able to deliver the presents on the night of January 6th.

The Three Kings Parade

Date: January 5

Where is the parade taking place?

The exact route for the parade changes from year to year. You can find the exact route on the official page of the parade.

In 2023, this is the route.

  • 6.00 pm: Av Marquès de l’Argentera
  • 6.15 pm: Pg Colom
  • 7.10 pm: Av Paral·lel
  • 7.30 pm: Rda Sant Pau
  • 7.45 pm: Sant Antoni Market
  • 8.30 pm: C/ Sepúlveda
  • 8.45 pm: Pl Espanya
  • 9.15 pm: Av Reina Maria Cristina
Three Kings Parade in Barcelona map (2023)
Three Kings Parade in Barcelona map (2023)

Did you know that people in Spain receive their Christmas presents on January 6 and not on December 24 or December 25 like many other European countries? Why not use this chance to celebrate Christmas several times within a few weeks?

Would you like to read more about other things happening in Madrid? Look at our Madrid calendar to find out what’s going on.

Christmas markets 2023

When will the Christmas markets be arranged in Barcelona this year? Where are the biggest and most famous Christmas markets located? What should you buy if you decide to visit the Christmas markets in Barcelona?

People come to big cities all across Europe to discover the amazing Christmas markets every single year. Many people have heard about the giant Christmas markets in cities such as Lübeck, Prague, Vienna, and Budapest, but what about Barcelona? Can you expect amazing Christmas markets in Barcelona as well, or is this more like a minor version of the giant Christmas markets we often meet and see in other big cities?

The Christmas market tradition in Barcelona

Barcelona has a long tradition when it comes to Christmas markets. The city still isn’t especially well known for its Christmas markets, but it does have some very nice markets worth visiting.

Christmas market by the Barcelona Cathedral (La Fira de Santa Llucia)

The most famous Christmas market in Barcelona is located in front of the Barcelona Cathedral, and it is called La Fira de Santa Llucia. This is the oldest market and it dates back to the end of the 18th century or the start of the 19th century.

At the market, you can buy all sorts of souvenirs, gifts, and also a lot of religious pictures and nativity scenes (like Jesus in the manger), and similar objects. It normally opens at the end of November and remains open until December 23rd.

There are more than 300 stalls at the festival and as you visit the market you can buy Christmas trees and decorations, food and snacks of different sorts, and handmade toys, jewelry, puppets, and more.

Christmas markets in Barcelona

Christmas market at Gran Via (Fira de Reis)

Gran Via is a long avenue, but in the area around Placa de la Universitat, you can find the market named The Fira de Reis. Here you can buy toys for kids, and this is, first of all, a children’s fair (or a fair for adults who buy presents for their kids). The fair was first introduced in 1877, and has since then grown in popularity. You can now buy much more than just sweets and toys at the market, but you will still see that the focus is mainly on toys and sweets.

There are approximately 200 stalls at this fair, and besides toys and sweets, you can also buy food, clothes, and other handmade objects at the festival.

The most important thing to eat at the Christmas market (Fira de Reis) is Churrerias, a sweet dough with a sweet taste that smells so good making them impossible to resist.

Christmas Market by Sagrada Familia

Honestly, I probably wouldn’t travel to Barcelona to see and experience the Christmas market by Sagrada Familia. But then again, I would definitely visit Sagrada Familia during my trip to Barcelona. As a result, I would visit the Christmas market by Sagrada Familia as well. This market has many similarities with Fira de Reis and La Fira de Santa Llucia, only that it isn’t as big as the big brothers.

At this Christmas market, you can buy the traditional stuff, including food, toys, decorations, and Christmas trees. The Christmas market is normally open from around 10:00 until 20:00. The easiest way to get to the market is by using metro line L2 or L5 and traveling to the Sagrada Familia metro stop.

Christmas market dates in Barcelona in 2023

Dates for Fira de Reis

December 16, 2023 – January 6, 2024

Dates for La Fira de Santa Llucia

November 25, 2023 – December 23, 2023

Dates for the Sagrada Familia Christmas market

November 25, 2023 – December 23, 2023

Want to live close to the Christmas markets?

Now that you know when you should come to Barcelona to visit the Christmas markets, the next important question is where to stay. You can save a lot of time by living in a central hotel not far from Barcelona Cathedral, La Rambla, Gran Via, and other central locations. Look at the map below and if you choose a hotel from within this radius, you are guaranteed a good location, and hopefully also a great hotel or apartment at a low price.

Booking.com

Would you like to read more about other events, happenings, and festivals in Barcelona? You can find this and other information in our Barcelona calendar.

Christmas Markets in Barcelona in 2016

Are you in the mood for some Christmas shopping in Barcelona? Want to know more about the Christmas markets in Barcelona in 2016?

There are two Christmas markets that are well known in Barcelona. Here we will give you some basic information about those and also tell you when they will open and when they will close in 2016.

Fira de Santa Llucia Christmas market 2016

This Christmas market in Barcelona is arranged just in front of the big and famous Cathedral in Barcelona. At this market there are around 300 stalls from which you can buy all sorts of Christmas effects. It has its origin back to a celebration of Santa Llucia on December 13th, but has since then developed into a big and full-time Christmas market.

Christmas market dates in 2016: November 27th – December 23rd

Christmas markets in Barcelona in 2016
Christmas market in Barcelona – Iakov Filimonov / Shutterstock.com

Fire de Reis Christmas market 2016

This Christmas market isn’t as big as the Fira de Santa Llucia, but it is growing every year. As you visit this you can expect to meet around 200 stalls from where you can buy all sorts of stuff. This was first of all a market where children could buy presents and toys, and it has kind of preserved that feeling. If you bring children you should be warned that they will find lots of toys and objects to play with here.

Christmas market dates in 2016: December 18th, 2016 – January 6th, 2017

More about the Christmas markets in Barcelona

At the Spanish Christmas markets – counter to the Christmas markets in cities such as Prague and Budapest – you can mostly buy Christmas trees and other Christmas effects at the markets in Barcelona. Another important object to buy is the so called “Cagatió”. What is Cagatió? It’s a piece of wood with a painted face. A few weeks before Christmas everz family place it in the house and then cover it with a cloth. As the children look to this creature they know that Christmas is approaching.