Month guide · Barcelona · Spain
Barcelona in December
What December is really like in Barcelona: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Thomas Ledl, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
December is a quieter month with trade-offs. Expect average highs of 15°C (59°F), lows of 9°C (48°F), about 5 rainy days and roughly 9.2 hours of daylight. Mild for December, with Christmas markets and lights; busy between Christmas and New Year.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 15°C (59°F) / 9°C (48°F)
- Rainy days
- About 5
- Daylight
- About 9.2 hours
- Sea temperature
- 15°C (59°F)
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in December
December is the coolest month in Barcelona: days average 15°C (59°F) against a yearly average high of 21°C (70°F), and nights fall to about 9°C (48°F). Rain falls on roughly 5 of its 31 days. Compared with November (18°C (64°F)), December is cooler; by January highs stay near 15°C (59°F).
- Sunrise (15 December)
- About 08:11
- Sunset (15 December)
- About 17:23
- Daylight
- About 9.2 hours
- Sea
- 15°C (59°F)
Winter (December–February). Mild and often sunny but too cool for swimming, with Christmas markets, calçot season and the lowest hotel prices outside trade-fair weeks.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, December rates 3 for crowds (the peak is June at 5) and 3 for hotel prices (highest in June). Prices sit in the middle of the year's range.
Events in December
- Fira de Santa Llúcia Christmas market by the cathedral (usually late November to 23 December)
- New Year's Eve celebrations in the city (31 December)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in December
Mild, settled days suit walking, viewpoints and time outdoors.
Architecture · Sant Pau
Sant Pau Recinte Modernista
Domènech i Montaner's hospital complex, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a garden city of Modernista pavilions with tiled domes linked by underground tunnels.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Architecture
- Off the beaten path
- History
- Photo spot
Architecture · El Raval
Palau Güell
Use the audio guide for the basement stables and the rooftop, and pause in the main hall to look up into the dome.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Architecture
- History
- Rainy day
- Off the beaten path
Architecture · Gràcia
Casa Vicens
Gaudí's first house, built in 1883–1885 as a summer home in Gràcia, is covered in green-and-white tiles patterned with marigolds, and its interiors mix Moorish-style ceilings with painted birds and plants.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Architecture
- Art
- Off the beaten path
Museum · Sant Gervasi
CosmoCaixa science museum
Pair it with Tibidabo on the same day, as both sit on the northern edge of the city.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Nature
What to pack
For highs near 15°C, lows near 9°C and 5 wet days: layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings; comfortable walking shoes.
Is December a good time to visit Barcelona?
A quieter month with trade-offs, with 2 notable events on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, May–June and September–October are better overall. Compare every month.
Barcelona in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is December a good time to visit Barcelona?
It is a quieter month with trade-offs. Mild for December, with Christmas markets and lights; busy between Christmas and New Year.
+How warm is Barcelona in December?
Average highs are around 15°C (59°F) and lows around 9°C (48°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Barcelona in December?
Expect rain on about 5 days of the month.