New Year’s Eve in Barcelona

Barcelona never needs reason to celebrate, but the turn of the year brings about a tangible excitement throughout the streets.

A lot of travelers flock to the city during this time of year, regardless of the cooler temperatures. The city hosts a series of grand scale celebrations that are usually always free for the public to enjoy.

Remember, New Year’s celebrations here will start a lot closer to midnight than you probably expect. In Spanish culture it is customary to spend the first part of the evening of New Year’s Eve feasting amongst family and friends.

Plaça d’Espanya – by Mister No – Wikimedia Commons

Another tradition is to eat 12 grapes in perfect unison with the 12 bell dongs that sound through the streets to signify a new year. If you can keep up, then you’re said to have good luck for the year ahead!

Here’s everything else you need to know about celebrating a trip around the sun in the Catalan capital.

Plaça d’Espanya in Barcelona

Each year, the city of Barcelona hosts its official New Year’s Eve event somewhere in the city. For the last few years, and this one coming, the site of the event has been Montjuïc hill.

You can expect close to 100,000 people showing up for these festivities. There is no entry fee for the event and it is open to individuals of all ages.

The best way to arrive in Montjuïc would be as close to the Magic Fountain as possible. The main events will take place here, and it puts you into close walking distance of most of the metro stations.

Plaça d’Espanya – by Felix König – Wikimedia Commons

The immediate ones will be packed with people throughout and after the event. If you can, walk a little further and opt to use Tarragona station instead.

The pre-show festivities will begin around 10pm near the fountain. By 11:45pm it will move into live performances and eventually a big fireworks display lasting roughly 30 minutes.

Plaça Catalunya in Barcelona

The Plaça Catalunya is in the city center, and is a lot easier to get to compared to Montjuïc.

On New Year’s Eve this square is packed to the brim with people, all in collective excitement for the clock to strike midnight. You’ll find this event to be a lot less curated and more carefree compared to the one up in Montjuïc.

Plaça Catalunya – by Mummelgrummel – Wikimedia Commons

People will spend the evening hours dancing, singing and drinking all the cava they can get their hands on. Cava is the sparkling wine of Spain, and it will appear in abundance on New Year’s Eve. Bring cash along to buy from the various vendors.

Something important to note is that it is tradition in the Plaça Catalunya to toss one’s empty cava bottles up into the air come midnight. Most aim for the center of the square, where the bottles can break in a controlled area, but you will need to keep an eye on your own safety from this point on.

Poble Espanyol in Barcelona

The Poble Espanyol is an archeological museum situated just a short walk from Montjuïc and the Magic Fountain.

Both the museum and the grounds are traditionally Spanish and beautiful, and have been home to one of Barcelona’s biggest New Year’s Eve parties for the last 30 years!

The museum isolates three different areas for their New Year’s Eve party. One is a large outdoor space, the other is a marquee covered area and the third a VIP lounge.

Poble Espanyol – by Poble Espanyol – Sourced from their website

Tickets start at just €35, with VIP costing just €60. All tickets include four drinks and grapes for those wanting to take part in the swallowing tradition.

There will be musical entertainment all night. Guests are encouraged to dress warmly and keep the fact that this is largely an outdoor event in mind. You should also know that this event starts at 10:30pm and carries on through until 6am.

Rent an Airbnb in Barcelona

Not everyone braves the streets during the New Year celebrations in Barcelona. Because of the season, the winter chill through the city makes staying indoors that much more appealing.

What more and more people are doing these days is actually renting out a spacious Airbnb for the night of New Year’s Eve. These are usually in the form of expansive and impressive living spaces where you almost take a “staycation” for the night while celebrating.

by Antenna – Unsplash

Everyone who comes over should bring drinks and food, & perhaps something warm to cover themselves with should they decide to spend the night.

If you’re in Barcelona with a large group of friends, look into this idea!

New Year’s Eve at Razzmatazz in Barcelona

The Razzmatazz Club in Barcelona is the biggest nightclub in the city. It has the capacity to hold over 2000 people at any given time, and you’ll find it in the trend neighborhood of Poblenou.

New Year’s Eve is taken very seriously at Razzmatazz, given that they have five different dance floors to use for celebrations.

Razzmatazz – by Razzmatazz – Uploaded by them

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You’ll be charged an entrance fee depending on what time you arrive at the club. €50 is around the average cost of entry, and this includes two drinks & an exclusive T-shirt for all guests. After the countdown, the entrance fee is significantly lower.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

Opening Hours: Thursday to Sunday — 1pm to 6am

ADDRESS: Carrer dels Almogàvers, 122, 08018 Barcelona, Spain

Metro STATION: Bogatell

Welcome in the New Year from a Rooftop Terrace in Barcelona

When the clock strikes 12 in Barcelona, the city will be alight with fireworks in every direction. The best seat in the house is on any of the rooftops, particularly in the center.

All of the rooftop bars and restaurants in the city will have New Year’s Eve events available for early reservation throughout the year. The best part is that not all of them will cost a fortune to be part of, either!

La Dolce Vitae – by La Dolce Vitae – Uploaded by them

Look into a spot called 1881 Sagardi; it’s on the rooftop of the Catalan History Museum. Alaire Terrace Bar is around the block from Gaudi’s Casa Mila and boasts breathtaking views over the city center.

If you don’t mind the splurge, then book one of the New Year’s Eve packages at the gorgeous La Dolce Vitae rooftop. It too is close to Casa Mila, one block from Alaire Terrace Bar.