News
The best free Christmas plans in Barcelona: museums, workshops and markets to enjoy as a family
Barcelona offers more than 90 free Christmas activities: museums, creative workshops, craft markets and special routes. Discover what to do, where and when to enjoy a Christmas full of culture and fun without spending anything.
Barcelona is preparing for a Christmas full of free and original activities. More than 90 special proposals will fill museums and heritage spaces between late November and early January, with workshops, craft markets, concerts and themed routes for families, young people and the curious.
Disseny Hub Barcelona will host the “Disseny Market Barcelona” from 12 to 14 December, as well as guided visits to the Casa Bloc Flat-Museum on Saturdays and the family activity “Design in your pocket” on Sundays. Fabra i Coats will hold “Festivalet” on 13 and 14 December, alongside guided visits and sessions by the Textile Agitation Group.
The Archivo Fotográfico de Barcelona will offer children’s portrait-with-light workshops on 22 and 30 December, as well as photographic walks with an instant camera on 23 and 29 November. Montjuïc Castle will organise the activity “A Christmas with views”, bird-ringing sessions, guided visits and treasure hunts.
The MUHBA will programme “Arqueonautas de la ciudad”, workshops for children aged 6 to 12 in El Born and Plaça del Rei. The Museo Etnológico y de Culturas del Mundo will stage “EMAKIMONO”, inspired by Ainu culture, and “Cestos, ruecas y arados”, devoted to Catalan crafts.
The CCCB will provide a participatory space linked to the exhibition “Rodoreda, un bosque”, where visitors can create collage flowers, as well as screening children’s short films by Abbas Kiarostami. The Museo de la Música will revive its traditional Christmas-instrument workshop.
The Museo Marítimo de Barcelona will offer activities from 22 to 31 December with seafaring workshops, knots, pirates and environmental education, as well as taking part in the Feria de Navidad del Moll de la Fusta and the “Museum Quiz Familiar” with the Museo de Ciencias Naturales.
The Museo de Ciencias Naturales de Barcelona will programme scientific board games, activities with animated-nature flipbooks and a fantastic-creatures workshop. The Museo del Chocolate will invite visitors to make nougat and chocolate figures from 20 December to 5 January.
The Monasterio de Pedralbes will organise ceramics and Christmas-decoration workshops, a Baroque music concert and a visit to the medieval vegetable garden with a lavender-soap workshop. The Museo Picasso will offer a family printmaking workshop on 3 January and the “Tejiendo redes” route. The Fundación Joan Miró will hold a winter day camp and activities about the artist’s creative process.
The Biblioteca Pública Arús will run guided visits on 22 and 27 December, while Cases Singulars will promote Christmas routes through emblematic buildings such as the COAC, the Ateneu Barcelonès and the Palau Baró de Quadras.
It is recalled that all Barcelona museums close on 25 December and 1 January, and some change their opening hours on 24, 26 and 31 December, as well as 5 and 6 January. It is recommended to check opening hours on the official websites before planning a visit.