Spain is such a vibrant country when it comes to festivals. Easter, Christmas and New Year are some of the extremely important festivals in Spain. You should visit Spain just to experience the peace, fun and lively atmosphere. People start buying Christmas decorations and materials at least 2 months before the festival. This is the best time for you to enjoy the cold weather and happy people prepping for Christmas! Here is the list of the 10 most beautiful Christmas markets in Spain to visit!
Barcelona is one of the biggest cities to celebrate Christmas in a very grand manner. You can find many pretty stalls and markets all over the city. One of the most popular markets in the city is the Fira de Santa Llucia. There is not a thing that you cannot find in this market. This 229-year-old market is one of the oldest and traditional Christmas markets in Spain. You can also get a chance to sot many football stars in this market. It is a very unique market in Catalonia with an inestimable range of things for Christmas! Also, you can eat some super delicious Christmas snacks like waffles, buns, crepes etc. This is a must-visit place on your vacation in Spain during Christmas!
Also, read- 20 must-visit attractions in Spain
How can the Christmas celebration be any lesser in the country’s capital, Madrid? Plaza Mayor is the heartbeat of the city, and the markets there are extremely vibrant and stunning! Firstly, these markets come to life during the Christmas season in mid-November or early December. There are carousels, food streets, decoration stalls, huge Christmas trees, and many other items to buy. Talking about the food, you can find many amazing food stalls, restaurants, and food trucks serving super delicious food and drinks! The vibe in this market is something you should experience at least once!
Also, read- 10 most beautiful waterfalls in Spain
Want to experience a funfair during Christmas in Valencia? Feria de Atraciones de Navidad is one of the best Christmas markets in the country. There are many stalls, rides, games, food stalls, Christmas essentials, cakes and more. This market becomes lively during the December month and lasts till January end. This is a perfect place to spend your evening with a cup of hot chocolate and waffles. Also, there are many Ferris wheel rides for kids, music, dance and cultural performances, photo booths and candy shops. This is the ultimate destination for Christmas shopping in Spain!
Also, read- 5 most beautiful castles in Spain
Seville has one of the largest and busiest Christmas markets in Spain. While in Seville, you cannot miss the Feria del Belen market from November to January. You can learn more about the festival, traditional methods of celebrating Christmas, the life story of Jesus right from Bethlehem, and visit stalls that sell Belen figurines made out of wood and delicious snacks for the cold weather. This is also a must-visit place in the city with grand trees, lights, and rides for visitors. Do include this in your Spain travel package!
Also, read- Most beautiful train journeys in Spain
La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona is the most famous place in the city, and the Christmas market is a must-visit attraction during winter. Set in the beautiful basilica street, this Christmas market is one of the grand markets in the country that welcomes Christmas with such a peppy vibe. This is one of the most famous fairs that come to life from November 26 to December 23. There are plenty of sweet stalls, Ferris rides, cribs, puppets and pastries. When you visit Barcelona next time, plan to visit during December to experience the most stunning marketplace because it is totally worth it!
Also, read- 5 beautiful national parks in Spain to visit
If you think that Alhambra palace is the only attraction in Granada, well this lit Christmas market will prove you wrong. This is small yet one of the most famous Christmas markets in Spain. You will find many original products like homemade beer, wine, baked snacks, dried fruit candies and traditional plum cakes. This market will be functioning from December to January 6. Also, you can find many Spanish crafts, trinkets and traditional delicious food. This is a perfect place to kickstart your Christmas in a very peaceful and cute little place!
Also, read- 7 most beautiful islands in Spain
Dulce Navidad is a famous Christmas market in front of the Opera house in Madrid. This place is a paradise for your sweet tooth because there is not a thing that you cannot find here! More than 60 stalls are serving homemade dried candied fruits, churros, cakes, buns, marzipan, nuts, Christmas cookies, and of course, a lot of traditional Spanish desserts. Dulce Navidad market opens from morning 10 to 10 in the late evening on all days from November 29 to January 10. This is one of the very few Christmas markets in Madrid. Enjoy shopping goodies for Christmas and enjoy your day with an amazing view of the Opera house. Do visit this pretty little market in Madrid on your Spain vacation!
Also, read- 5 best waterparks in Spain
This beautiful Christmas market in Malaga is one of the most unique markets in Spain. You can spend a couple of days in this stunning beach town and experience the cheery atmosphere in the markets. You can enjoy many fun rides, click pictures with Santa Claus, drink mulled wine, listen to soothing choir songs and shop many essentials for Christmas. This brightens up the whole day! Some of the highlights of this market are wooden Nordic houses, ice rinks, and wreaths that add more uniqueness to the market.
Also, read- 8 Must-visit cities in Spain
This market in Zaragoza is not very busy in the country, yet it is one of the prettiest Christmas markets. You will come across some gothic cathedrals, Moorish landmarks, and the Virgin Mary shrine on your way to this market. Also, there are more than 40 stalls with homebaked goods, pastries, spiced wines, and decorative items for Christmas. This is a perfect place to enjoy Christmas with your family as there are many family rides. Some of the special rides are typical merry-go-round, skating rink, sledging ramp, music and live dance performances. This is one of the underrated Christmas markets in Spain!
Also, read- 10 best souvenirs to bring back from Spain
This is undoubtedly one of the best Christmas markets in Spain and also a very popular place for cultural integrity. You can find some old-school food like tortilla wraps, Txakoli (Basque white wine), thin churros and local cider. There are, of course, many Ferris rides, carousels, famous Thomas the train ride and many such rides, especially for kids. Do you need more reasons to visit this cosy and pretty little market? Some of the other attractions in Bilbao are the Guggenheim Museum and the Ribera market, which is another local farmers market!
That is everything about the most beautiful and must-visit Christmas markets in Spain to explore on your vacation. More such markets all over the country bring in the Christmas vibe early enough to celebrate. When the festive vibes set in, you can visit as many Christmas markets as you wish! Plan your trip with Pickyourtrail and have the best times over there! Visit Spain tour packages to know more about the pre-packages. Or you can customise your Spain package according to your comfort, preferences and budget.
Christmas markets in Spain and their traditions are long-established and family-oriented. Street markets offer traditional sweets and Nativity figurines, while cities vie to provide the most elaborate light shows. Seasonal fiestas and markets get into full swing from mid-November onwards. Christmas markets typically offer a great chance to sample some of the local culinary delights, whether you buy them to consume there and then or to take home as gifts.
Aperitivo (Appetizers), Jamón (Spanish ham), Marisco (Seafood), Pescado (Fish), Cochinillo (Roast suckling pig), Lechazo (Suckling lamb), Pavo relleno (Stuffed Turkey), Cardo con almendras (Cardoons with almond sauce) are some of few delicacies of these markets.
These Christmas markets start from 24th November 2023 and conclude by 6th of January 2024. These market open at 10AM and close by 9 PM, during Saturdays they are open for an extra hour.
Figurines to make your own Nativity scenes, Christmas decorations and gag gifts, an assortment of seasonal dulces (sweets) are some of the best souvenirs to take home!
Tipsy Over Tapas | Flamenco: A Peek Into The Past | Paint Spain Red: La Tomatina | 10 Quirky and Bizarre Festivals Celebrated in Spain