Barcelona is a world-famous destination for its stunning and often quirky art, award winning gastronomy and world class restaurants and of course, its wine. However, there’s much more to the Catalan capital’s melting pot than meets the eye and the city has become a coveted winter destination.
Parc Güell, La Sagrada Familia and Las Ramblas (Les Rambles) at a slower pace
Barcelona is one of the world’s most visited cities for a reason. It’s gorgeous architecture, local offer of famous art, Gaudi’s undeniable mark on the city and intriguing museum’s stun even the most demanding and well-travelled visitors. The winter months in the city offer a different perspective on what makes Barcelona tick and allows visitors to enjoy less crowds, more space and lower temperatures.
Warm up with delicious winter treats
One of the best things about visiting Barcelona during the winter is the chance to enjoy the finest Catalan gastronomy to warm up those winter days or, if you come in December, to indulge yourself with Catalan and Spanish traditions. Calçots, a delicious local variety of vegetable, are served in sauce as a piping hot treat in the winter, along with Xocolata amb xurros (Chocolate con Churros) or Hot chocolate with churros, a crispy and delicious treat that are a classic for enjoying people watching from the comfort of a café on one of Barcelona’s trendy streets. If you are fan of fine dining, you won’t be disappointed either, with Michelin starred establishment, trendy tapas joints and vegetarian delights.
Fira de Santa Llúcia and other winter markets
The Santa Llúcia fair is held throughout the month of December where visitors can enjoy a diverse range of exhibits, cultural offerings and a lively market. Locals and visitors alike flock to the fair to find special winter and Christmas gifts that aren’t available at other times of the year and to enjoy a magical side of Barcelona that many don’t get the chance to see. If you don’t get the chance to go to the fair, Barcelona offers a range of other interesting winter markets that you can browse through. If you come to Barcelona specifically for a Christmas break, you’ll find that the city offers an amazing Christmas Tour available in English, Spanish or Catalan for around 15 euros. The tour takes you through Passeig de Gràcia (Paseo de Gracia) and other stunning areas to enjoy the wonderful seasonal lights.
Exploring further afield
The winter months also offer the chance to explore some of Catalonia’s other stunning cities and towns from a totally different angle if you’ve only ever visited during the summer. If you visit in March, as the weather starts to warm up, a visit to Sitges is highly recommended for the sensory overload provided by Carnival. The stunning town is around 45 minutes from the centre of Barcelona by train and is famous for its diverse population set among an authentic and traditional Mediterranean town. The Carnival is hedonistic and exciting and provides an excellent trip out of Barcelona before coming back to enjoy more of what the city has to offer.
