It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas as season starts in Spain
From Christmas lights and markets to ski resorts, the Christmas season is officially starting in Spain this weekend.
Towns and cities around Spain will be transformed into a winter wonderland this weekend, as they turn on their Christmas lights for the very first time.
Madrid
Photo: Flickr
Christmas lights
This year, Madrid’s Christmas lights have been designed by famous Spanish designers, who have decorated the city with everything from chandelier-inspired lights to the iconic conical Christmas trees. The lights will have their official switching-on on Friday, November 27th.
Navibus
Visitors can get unmissable views of all the city’s Christmas lights by taking a ride on the Christmas Bus (from December 3rd to January 6th) which leaves every five minutes from in front of 30 Calle Serrano near the plaza de Colón.
Price: €2 adults and free for children under seven.
Christmas gala
Also on Friday, Madrid plays host to a Christmas gala in the city’s Plaza Mayor, which will stage a concert including Spanish favourite David Bisbal and Norweigen group Madcon with their hit "Don’t Worry". And if you can't get to Madrid for the event, never fear - the whole thing will be broadcast live on La 1 from 10.15pm.
The night will end with the lighting of a giant Christmas tree on the square.
Time: 7pm, Plaza Mayor
Christmas market
Madrid's main Christmas market, on the Plaza Mayor, kicks off on November 27th and is open from 10am - 9.30pm daily.
Nativity scenes
Photo: Madrid City Hall
There will be Christmas cribs set up all around Madrid this year, but one of the city's most impressive will be installed in the Centro Cibeles and will open to the public on Friday. You can check out the opening times here.
Barcelona
Photo: Bastlen Deceunlnck/Flickr
Christmas markets
Mercardo de Navidad de Santa Lucía, Barcelona’s main Christmas market, takes place in Plaza Nova in front of the spectacular gothic cathedral (Cathedral of Santa Cruz and Santa Eulalia) in the heart of Barcelona’s Gothic quarter. It sells Christmas decorations, crib figurines, Christmas trees, sweets and of course the peculiarly Catalan tradition of Christmas crappers (caganers).
November 27th – December 23rd 2015.
Opening times: Monday to Thursday: 10.30 - 20.30
Friday to Sunday: 10.30 - 21.30
Photo: Americo Ferraiuolo/Flickr
Sagrada Familia Christmas Fair
One of the most traditional Christmas markets in Barcelona in the shadow of Gaudí’s towering Sagrada Familia.
Nov 28th – Dec 23rd
10am – 9pm
Christmas lights
Photo: My Wave Pictures/Flickr
Barcelona's Christmas lights will be switched on on Friday, November 27th
Ski resorts open
Photo: sierranevada.es
Many of Spain's ski resorts open their pistes this weekend, including the most southerly in Europe, in the Sierra Nevada mountains just outside Granada.
Spanish ski resorts: eight of the best
Other resorts to open in Spain this weekend include La Molina, Baqueira-Beret and Formigal in the Pyrenees.
You can check out when Spain's ski resorts are opening here.
Valencia
Photo: Jorge Bernabé/Flickr
Christmas market
Local craftsmen sell their wares at Valencia's artisanal Christmas market, held in La Plaza de la Reina near the cathedral. The market opens on Friday 27th November and is open everyday from 10am - 2pm and from 4.30pm - 9pm.
Look out for our upcoming What's on in Spain - December 2015 to find out about lots of other Christmas activities in towns and cities around the country.
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Towns and cities around Spain will be transformed into a winter wonderland this weekend, as they turn on their Christmas lights for the very first time.
Madrid
Photo: Flickr
Christmas lights
This year, Madrid’s Christmas lights have been designed by famous Spanish designers, who have decorated the city with everything from chandelier-inspired lights to the iconic conical Christmas trees. The lights will have their official switching-on on Friday, November 27th.
Navibus
Visitors can get unmissable views of all the city’s Christmas lights by taking a ride on the Christmas Bus (from December 3rd to January 6th) which leaves every five minutes from in front of 30 Calle Serrano near the plaza de Colón.
Price: €2 adults and free for children under seven.
Christmas gala
Also on Friday, Madrid plays host to a Christmas gala in the city’s Plaza Mayor, which will stage a concert including Spanish favourite David Bisbal and Norweigen group Madcon with their hit "Don’t Worry". And if you can't get to Madrid for the event, never fear - the whole thing will be broadcast live on La 1 from 10.15pm.
The night will end with the lighting of a giant Christmas tree on the square.
Time: 7pm, Plaza Mayor
Christmas market
Madrid's main Christmas market, on the Plaza Mayor, kicks off on November 27th and is open from 10am - 9.30pm daily.
Nativity scenes
Photo: Madrid City Hall
There will be Christmas cribs set up all around Madrid this year, but one of the city's most impressive will be installed in the Centro Cibeles and will open to the public on Friday. You can check out the opening times here.
Barcelona
Photo: Bastlen Deceunlnck/Flickr
Christmas markets
Mercardo de Navidad de Santa Lucía, Barcelona’s main Christmas market, takes place in Plaza Nova in front of the spectacular gothic cathedral (Cathedral of Santa Cruz and Santa Eulalia) in the heart of Barcelona’s Gothic quarter. It sells Christmas decorations, crib figurines, Christmas trees, sweets and of course the peculiarly Catalan tradition of Christmas crappers (caganers).
November 27th – December 23rd 2015.
Opening times: Monday to Thursday: 10.30 - 20.30
Friday to Sunday: 10.30 - 21.30
Photo: Americo Ferraiuolo/Flickr
Sagrada Familia Christmas Fair
One of the most traditional Christmas markets in Barcelona in the shadow of Gaudí’s towering Sagrada Familia.
Nov 28th – Dec 23rd
10am – 9pm
Christmas lights
Photo: My Wave Pictures/Flickr
Barcelona's Christmas lights will be switched on on Friday, November 27th
Ski resorts open
Photo: sierranevada.es
Many of Spain's ski resorts open their pistes this weekend, including the most southerly in Europe, in the Sierra Nevada mountains just outside Granada.
Spanish ski resorts: eight of the best
Other resorts to open in Spain this weekend include La Molina, Baqueira-Beret and Formigal in the Pyrenees.
You can check out when Spain's ski resorts are opening here.
Valencia
Photo: Jorge Bernabé/Flickr
Christmas market
Local craftsmen sell their wares at Valencia's artisanal Christmas market, held in La Plaza de la Reina near the cathedral. The market opens on Friday 27th November and is open everyday from 10am - 2pm and from 4.30pm - 9pm.
Look out for our upcoming What's on in Spain - December 2015 to find out about lots of other Christmas activities in towns and cities around the country.
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