Barcelona, our beloved city, located in the mediterranean sea is not very known for its Christmas traditions, but it might just be the perfect city for your Christmas Shopping this year!

At this time of the year you can typically see all the Christmas related adverts offering shopping tours to London, New York or Paris but today we want to show you that Barcelona might be precisely the city you are looking for to get all the unique gifts for your loved ones.

1. Barcelona’s climate will make you smile

Tired of the cold rainy neighborhood in Amsterdam, Paris or London? Why not heat up a couple of days in the sun, next to the beach in Barceloneta and enjoy a relaxing afternoon after a turbulent shopping tour through the shops in Barcelona with a Mojito in your hands? The fantastic climate in Barcelona will make you smile, your filled shopping bags will weigh less, and you’ll enjoy the whole process a lot more.

Depending on in which hotel you stay it might be interesting to start the stroll at a certain point. The most important shops and also the leading fashion brands, sneaker stores, and urban fashion is located near Plaça Catalunya and can easily be reached by Metro, cab or by foot.

2. Many genuine brands and stores

Famous for shopping: The shopping area is not on “Las Ramblas.” Apart from the big Nike Store Las Ramblas is mostly stacked with souvenir shops, cafés, and restaurants, so if you are looking for fashion and all types of fancy stores to buy Christmas gifts this is the right area:

There’s a parallel street which leads directly into the heart of the Gothic Quarter in Barcelona called Portal de l’Angel. Walking down the road, you’ll quickly see why Barcelona can comfortably hold up with top Christmas shopping locations in Europe, like Munich, Berlin, Paris or London, all big brands have lined up their flagship stores and especially local brands like Zara, Stradivarius, Bershka and others surprise with their collections.

If you are looking for the more selected goods and pricey brands you could start your stroll at Diagonal, down the Passeig de Gràcia towards Plaça Catalunya. It’s a long walk, but if you’re the Gucci type of person, you’ll be the happiest person here.

Connect your shopping with Sightseeing: Stop by the Casa Batllo or la Pedrera which are 2 of the most famous landmarks in the city, built by Architect Antoni Gaudi.

3. Small Deco Shops and Gift Ideas

If you walk down further into the Gothic Quarter, you can easily find some fun shops with plenty of funny articles and gift ideas.
The famous ones being “Ryman Ryman” located at Carrer de Santa Anna, 37, 08002 Barcelona and “El Mercadillo” located at: Carrer de la Portaferrissa, 17, 08002 Barcelona, famous for its wooden camel in front of the door.

Barcelona Insider Tip: There’s a small bar located at the end of the “El Mercadillo” store. It’s called “El Jardí”. The (open-air) bar is usually open during the opening hours of the store. It’s a small oasis in the middle of the busy city center and a perfect spot to sip a cup of coffee while we are on our shopping trip.

4. The cafés, tapas bars and ambient

Barcelona has its peculiar flair, everyone who’s ever visited the city will confirm that the Catalan capital is unique in many ways. If you come over here for a pre-Christmas, off-season visit, you’ll be surprised how much the city has to offer. There’s a lot to do even in the colder winter days in Barcelona.

The many cafés and bars in the center will never close. The weather is great most of the time during the year, so in case it might get a bit frosty on the terrace, many of the bars pull out the mushroom type of heaters to keep you warm – this is probably only necessary during the evening hours.

The ambient in Barcelona just great, I’d suggest you enjoy a Segway tour during the day morning, so you have enough energy to go shopping and end the day in a traditional tapas bar. “La Esquinica,” located a bit far out north of the city might look like a long journey but is only a few 15 min ride away from the center. Order some tapas with a glass of wine before you get back home to hustle through a cold December.

Are you looking for a particular shop in Barcelona? Have you visited one that blew you away? Ready for Christmas shopping? Leave us a comment, and we are always happy to get some feedback from our readers.

Merry Christmas!

Der Beitrag 4 Reasons why Barcelona is better for Christmas shopping erschien zuerst auf Barcelona Segway Tours.

Christmas, the happiest time of the year. The perfect season to enjoy family, gifts, and dinners. The snow starts to fall from the sky, the logs burn in the chimney and families gather to sing carols, celebrate and spend time together. This is the moment of the year to leave the cold outside and enjoy the warm feeling of being with family and friends. Why should we bother going outside?

Well, in Barcelona a lot is going on during this time of the year. And first and foremost, Christmas is the time to preserve the traditions. Christmas has a full package: the Christmas tree, Santa Claus, the sweets, the decorations, the family reunions, etc. Every family in every city in every country in the world have their traditions. Nobody knows how the traditions started, but people stick to them. Some families cook unique recipes for Christmas dinner, some go to church or their religion´s temple or just drink and dance until late at night.

For the Catalan families, there is no tradition bigger than visiting a Christmas Market. Why? Because Christmas markets are the best places to dive in the Christmas spirit. You share with your relatives a lovely walk, buy all Christmas gifts or the supplies you might need for Christmas dinner and feel the Christmas magic in the air. But it can also become a tremendous touristic experience for foreign visitors if they want to learn more about the most traditional Catalonian Christmas ingredients, mainly because some of them are very curious and weird.

For example, there is a traditional figurine Catalans place into the famous Nativity Scene, called “Caganer”. It represents a shepherd squatting and going number 2 on the floor. A lot of people get surprised when they learn that this is not a joke or a toy, but a real traditional Catalan figurine coming from the 17th century. The surprise gets even bigger when they see with their own eyes the great offer of “Caganers” in the Christmas Markets, some of them representing celebrities such as football players, actors, and politicians.

Another exotic tradition that baffles visitors is that, in Catalonia, the children gifts aren´t brought by Santa Claus, but by the Three Wise Men. They are also brought by a big piece of log called “Tió.” How? Well, this magical Catalonian log has the power of “producing” gifts under a blanket after a ritual consisting of beating it with a stick. Once again, this is 100% true.

So, if you want to spend a lovely evening experimenting the real Christmas in the Catalan capital, and getting acquainted with the quirkiest Catalan traditions, take good note of this list of Christmas Markets in Barcelona.

Christmas Markets in Barcelona you shouldn’t miss

1. Fira de Santa Llúcia

When can you visit this Christmas Market in Barcelona? From 30th of November until 23th of December

Where is it? Catedral de Barcelona

Price? Free!

The Fira de Santa Llúcia is the oldest Christmas Market in Barcelona. According to some documents of the time, the first Fira started in the 1786 Christmas. Old pictures show that the fair has changed a lot since then. In the 20th century, the fairgrounds used to mount their stands with a large wooden board and simple shelves, protecting them with a rudimentary tent waterproofed with linseed oil. They also used oil lamps when it began to get dark. Now, on the other hand, the stands are made of wood, and are well equipped and illuminated with electric light.

No doubt, the Fira de Santa Llúcia is one of the oldest and most deeply rooted Christmas traditions in the city of Barcelona. This Christmas market will at the end of this month and it will offer traditional Christmas products for all the family.

2. Fira de Nadal de la Sagrada Família

When can you visit this Christmas Market in Barcelona? From 29th of November until 23th of December

Where is it? Sagrada Família Square

Price? Free!

In front of the Sagrada Família, the most famous work of the architect Antonio Gaudí, you can find this emblematic Christmas market. Within these stands all over the Fira de Nadal de la Sagrada Família, you will find beautiful figurines for your Nativity Scene, Christmas decorations and all kinds of Christmas-related products. Also, Christmas trees and plants and various dressings, as well as gift items can be found on their shelves. Besides, some booths offer food products and sweets, especially roasted chestnuts and sweet potatoes.

The Fira de Nadal de la Sagrada Família is a great place to find everything you need to decorate your house these holidays. This fair was born in the sixties, and since then it has been settled every year near the most emblematic building of Antoni Gaudí, becoming an essential date for the Christmas in Barcelona.

3. Fira de Reis de la Gran Vía

When can you visit this Christmas Market in Barcelona? From 20th of December until 6th of January

Where is it? Gran Via, between Calabria and Rocafort St.

Price? Free!

The Fira de Reis is on the sides of the Gran Via Street during most of the Christmas holidays. In their stands, you can find the perfect present for your loved ones, such as toys, jewelry, ceramics, clothes, soaps, and decorative items. Located between the streets of Calabria and Rocafort, there are 168 booths in which you will find toys and plush dolls, crafts and gift shops, and churros, traditional Spanish sweets made with fried dough. Foreign visitors appreciate this Christmas market in Barcelona for its originality and authenticity.

Other fairs have very traditional products and Christmas decorations, but the Gran Via Market specializes in the craft made products, food and Catalonian products that sometimes can be hard to find. Another reason to visit this Market and get precious and unique Christmas gifts for the whole family.

Visiting the Christmas markets in Barcelona would be the perfect plan for a winter day or evening in the Catalan capital. Walking down the Ramblas from Plaza Catalunya until reaching the Fira de Santa Llúcia, for example. Walking through the stands, seeing the people shopping and discovering the true meaning of Christmas.

Extra tip: Going to a “Xocolateria” (chocolate store) to get a hot chocolate after the visit would be the perfect ending to your day!

Der Beitrag Top Christmas Markets in Barcelona erschien zuerst auf Barcelona Segway Tours.