New Year's Eve 2019 in Barcelona

See in the New Year with a holiday in Barcelona!

Although the New Year's Eve traditions in Barcelona don't seem like much, the Catalan people always know how to have fun and an enjoy an incredible night out.  A lot of people opt to spend the remaining hours of the outgoing year on one of the squares with music and fireworks, whilst others prefer to take part in exclusive parties and or celebrations in one of the various different venues in the city.  What is unmissable for everyone and is a special tradition that brings good luck, is the New Year's Eve dinner.  Find out how to enjoy the best of the 2019 New Year's Eve celebrations in Barcelona together with us in this article. 

New Year's Eve in the main Squares

The temperature isn't too bad and the cold is definitely bearable: because of this, many people choose to see in the New Year in one of the main squares sharing a drink, music and dancing and enjoying the opportunity to make friends with some of the foreign visitors who are enjoying this wonderful city for the first time.

The majority of the the celebrations are concentrated around the Placa Espanya and Placa Catalunya, where a giant screen projects images of the Porta del Sol in Madrid, so that the two most important cities in Spain are connected on this special occasion and is where the fireworks start off from. 

An incredible fireworks display is also organized at the Magic Fountain of Montjuic which is accompanied by music and a lights show: because this is one of the most popular venues for seeing in the New Year, we would recommend that you arrive well in advance in order to secure the best spots so that you don't miss out on this magical spectacle. 

New Year's Eve Dinner

Dinner on the Feast of St. Sylvester on New Year's Eve is an unmissable tradition in Spain.  Normally, it is a time that is spent together as a family and is followed by everyone going out to one of the squares or a nearby bar but there are also a lot of people who choose to have dinner in one of the city's numerous restaurants.  Nowadays, most places offer a special menu for New Year's Eve with typical Catalan dishes and entertainment included.  A typical way to spend the evening is to enjoy a dinner and flamenco show.  This is undoubtedly an unforgettable experience for anyone who wants to enjoy something different on New Year's Eve!

Celebrating in a discotheque

Barcelona is famous for its nightlife and you can't afford to miss out on the craziest night of the year!  Clubs and discos organize specially themed parties throughout the night and all you have to do is choose where you want to spend it, depending on your preferences.  House and electronic music at El Pacha, hip-hop and dance at the Catwalk, a chic atmosphere at the Elephant and and there is an exclusive venue called Opium: in summary, there is a huge amount of choice!  

One of the most popular venues in town is definitely the Poble Espanyol, where you can have dinner, listen to great music and see an amazing firework display as a package. 

The Tradition of The Grapes

A very Spanish tradition dictates that, at the moment when the clocks strike 12, signalling that midnight and the end of the year have arrived, you must eat 12 grapes really quickly.  This tradition is a good omen for the New Year and nobody forgets to bring a bag with their own fruit!  If you want to enjoy New Year's Eve like a true local, remember to bring some grapes with you! 

Useful tips for New Year 2019 in Barcelona

The majority of businesses and attractions are open on 31st December although some do reduce their hours and may only open in the morning.  On the 1st of January, however, you will find that everything is closed because tradition has it that this day is spent together as a family.  Therefore, you should check the opening times in advance and book your entry tickets to any attractions in order to avoid the queues at the ticket offices or an unpleasant surprise when you find that something you wanted to visit is actually closed.  Another option which is even better, is to book a guide who can take you around the city and can answer all your questions and provide any information you need, including about where the best place is to buy tickets.  In order to check prices and to book a guide, you'll need to fill out the form on this page: a Guide in Barcelona.

You should also buy your tickets in advance for entry to any of the discos and make a booking in advance for dinner so that you aren't disappointed. 

Public Transport is operational throughout the night so you shouldn't have any problems with your connections.  But, do pay attention to your personal belongings because particularly on this night, the pick-pockets are busier than ever! 
The weather will be cold but it rarely drops below 5 degrees, however, you should still think about what clothing to wear, particularly if you are going to be outside enjoying one of the themed outdoor parties..