Barcelona in December: a seasonal travel plan
Barcelona, Spain. In december, the average daytime high is 14.5 °C and the night-time low is 6.0 °C. Plan the main route in daylight and add an extra layer for early and late hours.
Choose a month
Selected month: December
Temperatures by month
Air temperature: Barcelona
Contents
Weather at a glance
- Daytime high
- 14.5 °C
- Nighttime low
- 6.0 °C
- Monthly precipitation
- 32.2 mm
- Days with at least 1 mm
- 3.9
- Daylight
- 9.2 h
2015–2024 averages. Daytime temperature is the average daily maximum; nighttime temperature is the average daily minimum.
Early, middle and late month
| Period | Daytime high, °C | Nighttime low, °C | Days with at least 1 mm |
|---|---|---|---|
| Days 1–10 | 14.2 | 5.7 | 1.4 |
| Days 11–20 | 14.2 | 6.0 | 2.1 |
| From day 21 | 15.2 | 6.3 | 0.4 |
What this month is like
Barcelona, Spain. In december, the average daytime high is 14.5 °C and the night-time low is 6.0 °C. Plan the main route in daylight and add an extra layer for early and late hours.
There are 3.9 wet days on average, with about 32.2 mm of precipitation. There are relatively few wet days, so build the plan around walks and keep one indoor option.
How to plan the day
Plan the main route in daylight and add an extra layer for early and late hours.
Average daylight is 9.2 hours, so put longer routes in the brighter part of the day.
What to pack
Pack a jacket or jumper, long trousers and closed shoes. There are relatively few wet days, so build the plan around walks and keep one indoor option.
Precipitation and an alternative plan
There are relatively few days with precipitation. Build your plans around walks and keep an indoor activity for a wet-weather day.
What to pack
Pack a light jacket, a jumper, long trousers and comfortable closed shoes.
Compared with neighbouring months
Average daytime high: previous month — 17.3 °C, December — 14.5 °C, next month — 13.1 °C. Days with at least 1 mm of precipitation: 7.9, 3.9 and 5.0.
Things to do
Barcelona joins a medieval Gothic Quarter, the Eixample grid with Gaudí's houses and a seafront that ends at Barceloneta beach. The city is compact, but Montjuïc and Park Güell sit on hills, so alternate walking routes with metro rides across town.
Sagrada Família and the Eixample
Gaudí's basilica rises in the upper Eixample, close to Casa Batlló and La Pedrera on the Passeig de Gràcia. Allow time for the towers, then give the afternoon to the avenue and its shopfronts.
Gothic Quarter and El Born
Walk from the cathedral through narrow lanes to Plaça Sant Jaume and on into El Born. The Picasso Museum holds his early work, and the route ends at the waterfront.
Park Güell and Gràcia
Park Güell climbs above the city and reads as a mosaic on the hillside. Come at opening, walk the terraces, then drop into Gràcia and eat lunch on one of its squares.
Where to stay
Gothic Quarter
The Gothic Quarter rewards long walks, but nights are noisy and there is almost no green space. Rooms cost more, though the beach and the station are within reach on foot.
Eixample
The Eixample works because of its grid: metro, shops and Gaudí's buildings are close. Flats face quiet inner courtyards, while the wide avenues carry traffic and noise by day.
Gràcia
Gràcia keeps a village character: squares where people sit with a glass, small bars and few cars. The centre is twenty minutes by metro, and the evening here runs long.
Getting to and around Barcelona
El Prat airport connects to Plaça Catalunya by the Aerobús and to the university area by metro L9 Sud with a change. The metro and trams cover the city, while the old centre and El Born are best on foot. Bicing bikes suit the seafront, and a cable car climbs Montjuïc.
Three days in Barcelona
Gothic Quarter and El Born
Start at the cathedral, walk to Plaça Sant Jaume and into El Born. After lunch take the Picasso Museum and Santa Maria del Mar, then finish at the waterfront and Barceloneta.
Gaudí in the Eixample
Morning at the Sagrada Família with a lift up one tower, then the Passeig de Gràcia to Casa Batlló and La Pedrera. Dinner waits at a restaurant in the Eixample.
Park Güell and Gràcia
Climb to Park Güell at opening, walk the terraces and come down into Gràcia. Lunch on a square, then a walk to Casa Vicens and tapas in the evening.
Weather throughout the year
| Month | Daytime high, °C | Nighttime low, °C | Precipitation, mm | Days with at least 1 mm | Daylight, h |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 13.1 | 4.1 | 37.3 | 5.0 | 9.6 |
| February | 14.8 | 5.3 | 28.0 | 5.0 | 10.6 |
| March | 16.8 | 6.8 | 49.1 | 7.9 | 11.9 |
| April | 19.2 | 9.1 | 59.2 | 8.0 | 13.3 |
| May | 23.3 | 12.8 | 43.8 | 7.9 | 14.5 |
| June | 27.5 | 17.6 | 39.8 | 7.8 | 15.1 |
| July | 31.1 | 20.8 | 28.2 | 6.2 | 14.8 |
| August | 30.8 | 21.0 | 40.4 | 7.8 | 13.8 |
| September | 26.5 | 17.6 | 62.9 | 10.4 | 12.5 |
| October | 22.4 | 13.9 | 76.6 | 8.6 | 11.1 |
| November | 17.3 | 8.7 | 68.1 | 7.9 | 9.9 |
| December | 14.5 | 6.0 | 32.2 | 3.9 | 9.2 |
Frequently asked questions
Barcelona: what is the temperature in December?
The average daytime high is 14.5 °C and the night-time low is 6.0 °C. Fit the main walking route into daylight hours; bring an extra layer for the evening.
How many days with precipitation are there in December?
On average, there are 3.9 days with at least 1 mm of precipitation; the monthly total is 32.2 mm. There are relatively few days with precipitation. Build your plans around walks and keep an indoor activity for a wet-weather day.
What should I pack for walks in December?
Pack a light jacket, a jumper, long trousers and comfortable closed shoes.
How does the weather change from the start to the end of the month?
Average daytime highs by part of the month: 1–10 — 14.2 °C; 11–20 — 14.2 °C; 21 to month-end — 15.2 °C.
How many daylight hours are there in December?
The average is 9.2 hours. Daylight is limited. Set aside time for views and photographs before dusk.
Is Barcelona worth visiting in December?
The climate suits a trip if daytime temperatures around 14.5 °C and nights around 6.0 °C work for you. Plan the main route in daylight and add an extra layer for early and late hours.
What can I do in Barcelona on a wet day in December?
There are relatively few wet days, so build the plan around walks and keep one indoor option. Keep a museum, market, café or another indoor route near your accommodation.
What should I pack for Barcelona in December?
Pack a jacket or jumper, long trousers and closed shoes. Average daylight is 9.2 hours.