The cities in Spain with the best Christmas lights

Soon it will begin to look a lot like Christmas in Spain as many cities will be switching on their lights this weekend and next. Here are some of the best displays to see and the dates of when you can see the switching-on ceremonies.

Spain puts on a great show during the festive time of year and many of its cities look especially Christmassy covered in twinkly lights and pops of colour. Here are some of the cities to visit if you want to see the best displays with lots of sparkle and magic.

Málaga

The Andalusian city of Málaga is one of the best when it comes to festive atmosphere in Spain, giving a spectacular display of light and colour. The city’s main shopping street – Calle Larios has for the last few years become one of the most famous Christmassy streets in Spain with an incredible show of light and music and decorative elements forming arches over the top of the road.

Over 500 streets around the city are decked in lights and there are also themed video mapping displays shown on the cathedral. This year the switch on ceremony will be held on Friday November 28th. 

Calle Larios in Málaga is one of the most Christmassy streets in Spain. Photo: Thomas COEX / AFP

Madrid

Being the capital of Spain, it’s not surprising that Madrid is one of the best places to see the Christmas lights. This year, more than 13 million lights will illuminate the streets across the city, as well as some of its most iconic buildings. The switching on ceremony is due to be held on Saturday November 22nd. 

Some of the best places to see the lights include Puerta de San Vicente, Puerta De Alcalá and Puerta de Toledo. More than 40,000 12-meter Christmas lights are also strung up every year between Gran Vía and Calle Alcalá. Madrid’s plazas are decked out in Christmas joy too, with not only lights but lots of sparkly trees. The Plaza Mayor is particularly one of the most festive because of its Christmas market. 

Don’t miss one of the city’s most unique Christmas scenes at the Naturaleza Encendida show in the Royal Botanical Gardens. 

Visit the Royal Botanical Garden of Madrid for its magical Christmas displays. Photo: Gabriel BOUYS / AFP

Advertisement

Barcelona

Christmas lights in the Catalan capital this Christmas will extend 126km throughout the city. One of the most impressive areas is the grand Passeig de Gràcia which is typically covered in sparkling spirals as well as reflective metallic-coloured butterflies, which make them twinkle in the daytime too. The opening show and Christmas light switch-on will also take place on Passeig de Gràcia on November 22nd. Emblematic buildings such as Gaudí’s Casa Batlló and the Hotel Majestic also create fantastic displays. 

This year Via Laietana will be illuminated for the first time after its long renovation and the city council has also created five themed routes throughout the centre. Plaza de Catalunya is another spot where lights abound, particularly around El Corte Inglés and down onto La Rambla. Don’t forget to check out the Christmas video mapping on the Recinte Modernista de Sant Pau, the city’s UNESCO Modernist old hospital.

Barcelona’s La Rambla transforms into a winter wonderland. Photo: JOSEP LAGO / AFP

Vigo

Vigo may be one of the smallest cities on our list, but it’s definitely big when it comes to Christmas. They city’s mayor Abel Caballero loves this time of year so much that he goes all out when it comes to decorations. Vigo dedicates one of the biggest budgets to its Christmas décor and has installed a system for more than 12 million LED lights this year. Think coloured garlands, luminous figures, bright angels and curtains of glitter. Vigo was the first city in Spain to switch on its Christmas lights this year on November 15th. 

One of the best places to see them is the city’s Porta do Sol, which also hosts Vigo’s huge Christmas tree. In the past, there has been a 10-metre-high Christmas bauble, a giant present between Gran Vía and Urzáiz, a huge snowman and the bright star of Bethlehem in García Borbón and a magical luminous castle on Calle Policarpo Sanz. 

The mayor of Vigo is a big fan of Christmas. Photo: MIGUEL RIOPA / AFP

Advertisement

Zaragoza

This year Zaragoza has dedicated around €1.19 million to decorate its streets for Christmas to give more colour and Christmas twinkle to its streets. This year they will be switched on from November 29th. Alfonso I is one of the best streets, where over 100,000 LED lights will create a multi-coloured ceiling across the top of the road. There will also be a huge Christmas tree located on La Plaza de Basilio, decorated with even more glowing lights.

Zaragoza’s Christmas displays don’t disappoint. Photo: Iramonf / Wikimedia Commons

Bilbao

The Basque industrial city of art and design is no exception when it comes to holiday lighting. The city streets will be illuminated this year by around 1.5 million LED lights ranging from around 8 metres to 18 metres high. It’s particularly attractive around the Casco Viejo and its Siete Calles. Lights will be switched on from Wednesday November 26th and an ice rink will open earlier on November 21st. 

Look out for statues of Olentzero, the Basque version of Santa Claus, who is a charcoal maker and comes to bring gifts to the children on Christmas eve.

Bilbao’s Christmas lights form a display of pictures. Photo: RAFA RIVAS / AFP

Advertisement

Santa Cruz de Tenerife

The largest city in Tenerife is known for its vibrant nightlife, so it’s not surprising that it puts on a good show at Christmas too. This year’s display will include 2,172 displays on lampposts, 119 arches, more than 92,000 metres of garlands. The switch-on will take place this Thursday November 20th with a special event in Plaza de La Candelaria starting at 7:30pm. 

Kids love looking at the Christmas lights in Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Photo: DESIREE MARTIN / AFP

Seville

Like the capital of Andalusia itself, Seville’s lights are both classy and romantic and it’s a special place to enjoy this time of year. It may not have as many lights as nearby Málaga, but what it does do, it does well. Over 300 streets will be lit up this year starting from November 29th. 

Some of the best places to see them include Plaza de San Francisco, Avenida de la Constitución, Sierpes e Imagen, Tetúan, Laraña, Campana, Plaza del Salvador, Asunción and Alfonso XII. 

Head to Seville to see its elegant Christmas lights. Photo: CRISTINA QUICLER / AFP

Advertisement

Valencia

Valencia is another great city to spend the holidays in Spain and puts on a great show with its Christmas lights, which will be switched on this year on Friday November 21st. One of the most iconic parts of Valencia’s holiday season is the video mapping projected onto its town hall. 

Plaza de la Reina will have three-meter structures that are made to look like almond trees and there will be other festive elements like ice skating rinks and Christmas concerts. 

Head to Valencia this year to see its impressive displays. Photo: Valencia Igor Ferreira / Unsplash