Home > Barcelona > Barcelona Christmas Market Small Group Walking Tour
USD $31.00
Barcelona Christmas Market Small Group Walking Tour
Barcelona, Spain
Light up your Christmas holiday on this 1.5-hour walking tour of Barcelona’s festive highlights. With an expert guide, make your way into the heart of the Gothic quarter to visit Fira de Santa Llúcia, the city’s oldest Christmas market. Soak up the festive atmosphere as you peruse hundreds of stalls crammed with handcrafted gifts, decorations and other yuletide goodies. Then, learn about Catalan Christmas traditions as you stroll through the city’s elaborate outdoor Nativity scene. Finish your tour at a candy store, where you’ll savor seasonal sweet treats.
On the afternoon of your tour, make your own way to the prearranged meeting point in central Barcelona. Greet your guide, then set off on foot to explore the city’s most magical festive highlights.
Your first stop is Fira de Santa Llúcia. Nestled in front of the Gothic cathedral on Plaça de la Seu, it is the oldest, biggest and most traditional Christmas market in Barcelona. Wander among the stalls decorated with twinkling lights, and learn how the market dates back more than 200 years, with the earliest recorded Christmas market in this location taking place in 1786.
As you peruse the handmade gifts, ornaments and other knickknacks, hear how pessebres (Nativity scenes) are one of the most important Christmas traditions in Barcelona. Then, visit some of the stalls that sell the small figures many locals buy to build their own Nativity scenes at home.
Continue on to Plaça Sant Jaume to see the city’s massive outdoor Nativity scene. Soak up the Christmas spirit as you stroll past figures of the baby Jesus, Mary, Joseph and the Three Kings, then stop short by the caganer, a traditional Catalan figure that depicts a farmer sitting down on the toilet. Listen as your guide explains that the figure is a symbol of hope and fertility for the coming year.
After, stop in at a traditional Christmas candy store. Treat your sweet tooth to some typical Spanish candy as you hear more fascinating stories about Catalan yuletide traditions.
Your tour then finishes inside the shop, where you can purchase candy as presents for your family and friends, if you wish.
I was the only participant on this tour as the other lady 's plane was late arriving so she couldn't make it._br/_ We waited about 15 minutes for her but she never arrived. I had a hard time finding the guide at the meeting place as she didn't have a uniform or marker of any kind but once we met she was very good. I really enjoyed the tour and learning more about Barcelona and its_br/_ Christmas traditions.
Review by: Ellen S, December 2015
Sadly, we missed this tour. The Christmas markets in Barcelona, so I wish we could have done this tour.
Review by: Jill D, December 2014
I loved this tour! The tour guide, Lucía, was very knowledgeable about the area and traditions. It was very helpful to walk around while she shared with me the area and where historical landmarks were located and knowing the significance of the landmarks. I especially liked how she let me wander into the courtyard of the El Temple D’August without explaining what I was going to see ahead of time; letting me see what was going to unfold when I walked into the courtyard.
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