The New Year's fairytale is behind us, but the festive atmosphere has not yet left the capital of Catalonia. It can still be felt in the decorated shop windows and on the streets sparkling with thousands of Christmas lights. The first month of the new year has arrived, and it will surely bring happiness to everyone here. In January, Barcelona welcomes guests with a mild, warm winter, delicious Spanish cuisine and fun January festivities.
Holidays in Barcelona in January: pros and cons
Barcelona boasts warm, mild and relatively dry winters. January's cold weather is hinted at only by the gusty winds that sometimes occur on the coast. Reviews about holidays in Barcelona in January are primarily positive because this unusual city is used to please and surprise any time of the year. Let's name the benefits of the January trip:
- No frosts. The average temperature in January is around +10°C and sometimes even higher. Therefore, there is always an opportunity for walks in the fresh air without fear of freezing.
- Fun festivals. In January, several noisy events in Barcelona allow you to experience the local flavour and have a lot of fun.
- Sale season. It is truly a perfect time for shoppers. Shops offer discounts of up to 70% off.
- The perfect destination for a fun winter holiday. It is an excellent opportunity to arrange a magical holiday for a child, mainly since the capital of Catalonia entertains all tastes and ages.
There are some downsides to travelling as well. Just keep in mind them.
- Winter weather. No matter how you look at it, the middle of winter is the coldest time of the year. And even if the temperatures are not sub-zero, the weather is quite changeable, and the winds are cold and gusty. However, you won't be scared of this in Barcelona: here you can find something to do in any weather.
- The influx of tourists. January is a popular month for travelling: winter holidays and sales do their job. So be prepared for queues in museums and pandemonium in shops.
The weather in Barcelona in January
The weather from January to February is the coldest here. The average daily temperature is about +10°C.
Sunny days are plentiful, and rain is infrequent, so you can look forward to comfortable walks in the fresh air of Barcelona's marvellous boulevards and squares.
The weather in early January is unlikely to scare you with snow or frost; it is usually fresh, sunny and dry. Temperatures during the day stay between +8 and +10°C and rarely drop below +3°C at night. Temperatures in Barcelona in mid-January can drop to +6°C during the day, but this does not happen often, and there are few days when it does.
There are times when the thermometer can reach +19°C! So it's easy to choose a time to go out this month and enjoy your holiday.
The weather in Barcelona at the end of January is still wintry and changeable, with daytime temperatures varying from +6°C to +15°C in just three days. But snow is more of an anomaly here. So winter in Barcelona is quite warm and sunny.
Air temperature
Barcelona's mild Mediterranean climate is characterised by warm, sunny winters with little rainfall, preventing night-time temperatures from dropping to subzero. Therefore, the average temperature in Barcelona in January is around +10°C.
Air temperature in Barcelona in January
The average daytime temperature in the year's first month is around +13°C, while the average night-time temperature drops to +8°C. The fluctuations in these figures and the short-term weather forecast are worth considering when planning your trip. However, likely, you will hardly need your down jacket here.
Sea temperature in Barcelona in January
The water temperature in the Mediterranean Sea off Barcelona is around +14°C. The swimming season is closed, so you can only enjoy the beauty of the sea from the shore. A romantic stroll along Barcelona's deserted beaches on a sunny day can help you breathe in sea air.
Precipitation
Precipitation in the form of rain (very rarely in the form of snow, which melts before touching the ground) falls in the amount of no more than 39 mm, and rainy days are 1 - 3.
Sunny, cloudy and overcast days
Barcelona usually enjoys 16 to 21 sunny days this month. There are about three cloudy days, and the rest of the time, the sun occasionally peeks out from behind the clouds. Therefore, the favourable January weather will contribute to your walks and entertainment without spoiling your trip.
Tour Holidays
Barcelona is a fantastic city. A week would not be enough to see all its sights and tour all its galleries. But you should do as much as possible to keep Catalonia in your heart forever. It will manage to surprise you — that's for sure. Let's try to make a list of things to do:
- Go to the heart of the city. This is La Rambla and Plaza Catalunya. On a sunny day in early January, feed the pigeons in the square and stroll along the boulevard, enjoying the atmosphere of Barcelona. It is the capital's most famous pedestrian street.
- Take a stroll through the Boqueria market. It can be accessed directly from La Rambla Boulevard. It is a city landmark. The air is filled with the aromas of fresh Spanish fruit and local meat specialities, and the stalls are bursting with various snacks. Only here you can feel the atmosphere of old Catalonia.
- Meet the great Catalan. The famous architect Antoni Gaudi built thirteen buildings in Barcelona. If you don't plan to see them all, visit at least a few. The most famous is the Sagrada Familia. Millions of tourists come here to see this miracle of human creation — so original and unlike anyone else are the projects of the extraordinary Gaudi. You should also see Casa Batlló, Barcelona's most unusual house, and visit Güell Park, filled with unique stone and mosaic buildings. The Gaudi House Museum, where he spent the last years of his life, is also located here.
- Visit the aquarium. The Barcelona Aquarium is one of the most popular attractions for tourists and locals. If you have a rainy or cloudy day in mid-January, spend it here. 35 separate aquariums with a total of 6 million litres of water, 11 thousand sea creatures, and an oceanarium with an 80-metre tunnel — all this attracts thousands of visitors. There is the Explora interactive exhibition for the little ones, with more than 50 interactive exhibits your littles can touch, listen to and explore.
- Learn a lot of exciting things at the Natural Science Museum. It is not intended for fans of long, boring lectures. To the delight of both children and their parents, almost all the exhibits can and should be tugged, twisted, touched and pressed — there are experiments at every turn. You will see artificially created wonders of nature: a miniature storm and a volcano; you will visit a natural tropical forest with constant drizzling rain. In general, you are guaranteed to be amazed and delighted. So, if you are frightened by the chilly Spanish wind at the end of January, go to one of the most original museums in Barcelona.
Before your trip, buy online one of the Barcelona Tourist Cards specially designed to save tourists money during sightseeing programmes. Thanks to such cards you can visit museums and exhibitions for free, use public transport and get several other pleasant bonuses.
Holidays, events and festivals
Catalonia's bright and sunny capital attracts tourists from all over the world for a reason — once you see this city for the first time, you can't help but fall in love, and once you've been here, you want to come back. Whenever you come here, do not doubt that the city will welcome you. Just take the holidays in Barcelona in January — they are so cheerful, bright and hot!
The end of the Christmas holidays is marked by the procession of the Magi (esp. Cabalgata de los Reyes Magos, cat. Cavalcada dels Reis Mags) on 5 January. This day is called the Feast of the Three Kings in some European countries. Children especially love this parade: they write notes with wishes in advance, and the Magi, marching along, generously shower them with sweets.
The celebration starts at 5 pm, and the colourful procession on brightly coloured platforms moves through the city's main streets. It ends around 10 pm in one of the city's squares.
You can join in the fun at any time, and no tickets are required, but spectators take seats in advance to get a better view of the procession and collect candy. The following day, Spaniards celebrate Epiphany by getting holy water, incense and honey. You can see the capitalised names of magicians on houses: they are believed to ward off evil forces.
Flamenco is a hot Spanish dance that will make you dizzy and enthral you, even if you don't know how to dance! The De Cajon Flamenco Festival starts in January and lasts until March.
During this time, the rhythm of the dance takes over the whole city: it is presented in several venues in the town, and restaurants offer entire Flamenco programmes, so you can enjoy a hot dinner to the dance's music.
Shopping
Winter sales in Barcelona bring the Magi Kings to Barcelona because they start on the 7th of January. It is the first working day after the long Christmas holidays and the official start of the discount season. Big shopping centres offer discounts from 20% to 70%. Each has two to three hundred shops, food courts with delicious food, observation decks on the upper floors, discos, clubs and other entertainment.
Half an hour's drive from the city is the so-called shopping village or outlet village, where discounts of up to 70% on goods from famous brands are available throughout the year.
Cost of vacation
January is a popular month for travelling: after all, it's a week off, plus school holidays. That is why prices in Barcelona in January are high even compared to December. Winter holidays and shopping are good reasons for travelling.
Airfares
Airlines are happy: prices for air tickets in the first month of the year are the highest, about 5% higher than in December. And by February, they decreased by 15% - 20%. Therefore, if you want to save money, order tickets six months before your trip.
Package Tours
Following the airlines, tour operators are also raising prices. Compared to the previous month, the increase is insignificant — from 5 to 10%, while in February, the prices go down by 15 to 20%. You should also book a tour a few months before travelling because all the best hotels are already booked by the beginning of the winter season, and prices are already relatively high.
Food
If you are in Barcelona, you should definitely try the famous Spanish paella, which will cost you 15-25 euros per serving. Tapas, a Spanish snack with various fillings, is also famous. And it is served in tapas bars, of which there are many.
A unique winter tradition is to order a cup of hot chocolate in a cafe, to which a portion of churros (traditional pastries in the form of sticks) is served. And you eat them by dipping them in chocolate. This treat will cost you 5 euros.
- Prices in Barcelona for Food in Restaurants, Cafes and Supermarkets
- Spanish Food: 48 Must-Try Dishes in Spain
Tips for travellers with children
If you've decided to spend your winter holidays in Barcelona, it's a good choice. Our Barcelona family holiday ideas will tell you where to go and how to plan your time. The quirky architectural forms of the great Gaudi, unusual interactive museums and sea air on walks along deserted sandy beaches — what could be better?
It's also an excellent time to travel with the little ones, as rainfall is low and sunny days are usually plentiful, with temperatures sometimes reaching record highs of +20°C. Just make sure you bring warm clothes in case of the chilly January winds and get travelling.
When travelling to Barcelona in January, be prepared to love this vibrant, crowded, warm, sunny city forever. Book your tickets and hotel in advance, and let nothing stop you from travelling. And Kidpassage wishes you bright impressions and unforgettable emotions!
