Last Modified: 09/24/26
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Barcelona Winter Trip at a Glance
- Trip: 4 days in Barcelona, Spain during winter break for a family of 5
- Highlights: Sagrada Familia & FC Barcelona game
- Costs:
- Out-of-pocket for flights, trains, hotels: $3500 plus 30K Amex Points and 270K Hyatt points
- Cost of activities for Barcelona: $ 1,020
- Food:
- Breakfast in the dining room or lounge every morning and heavy hors d’oeuvres every night with the Guest of Honor certificate.
- Large, late lunch in town and typically tried to find a menu del dia that ranged from 11-15 euros per person.
Affiliate Disclaimers /Disclosure & Terms & Conditions: This blog is reader supported and this contains affiliate/referral links. If you book or buy through these links, I may earn a commission or referral bonus.
Why Barcelona is Perfect for Winter Break with Teens
We had just taken our first big international trip in June of this year. While I was able to book most of the flights with points for that trip, we paid cash for hotels in London and Scotland. I had been trying to learn more about the Hyatt system and had a lot of Chase and Hyatt points saved up, with the goal of booking a trip without any out-of-pocket hotel costs.
Randomly, one night, I saw a deal pop up on Thrifty Traveler for direct flights from CLT to MAD in cash. I was able to transfer about 30K spare Amex points to Avios. This got it down to 5 direct, round-trip flights with extra legroom for about $600 per person. Booking in cash felt like a deal considering it was pretty last-minute and a direct flight.
Our 4-Day Barcelona Winter Itinerary
| Day 1 | Land in Madrid, train to Barcelona |
| Day 2 | Old Town, Montjuïc fountain, FC Barcelona match |
| Day 3 | Montserrat day trip, Banksy Museum |
| Day 4 | Sagrada Familia, Gothic Quarter, Park Güell, Jewish Quarter |
| Transit Day | Christmas Day Train to Madrid |
How We Got There: Flying to Spain on Points & Cash
CLT→MAD on AA, booked via BA with an out-of-pocket cost of $600/ticket RT with 30K Amex-transferred Avios to reduce the costs.
These were last-minute cash flights in economy with extra legroom and got us there safely with some sleep. Check out my post on goals-based value calculations to learn more.
As soon as we landed, we took a taxi to the Madrid Puerta de Atocha train station and hopped on a train straight to Barcelona. Booking in the upper class section allowed us to catch on sleep much more comfortably, plus it included a full meal.
Barcelona Weather in Winter & What to Pack
The average temperature while we were in Spain was 45-50 degrees during the day and dropped into the low 40’s and mid-30’s at night. We packed good shoes for all the cobblestones in Barcelona, a rain jacket (though we didn’t need it), and a lightweight winter coat. The North Face Thermoball was more than enough.
Other than good walking shoes, we didn’t need anything special. There were plenty of grocery stores and department stores for anything that we may have needed. There was also a really nice laundromat near our Madrid hotel, and we were able to wash a load of clothes to reduce packing.
Where We Stayed: Hyatt Barcelona Tower Review
For the first leg of our trip, we stayed at the Hyatt Barcelona Tower in two rooms: one with 2 twin beds and the other with a king and pull-out couch, 9K each night per room. This was our first Hyatt Guest of Honor experience (and it essentially ruined us for all other trips).
It was located slightly out of the center of town, but only a 5-minute walk to a direct subway line.
The rooms had everything that we needed and were very comfortable. Our GoH certificate gave us access to the lounge for snacks and heavy hors d’oeuvres in the evening. The breakfast buffet was well stocked and kept us full for most of the day.
Getting Around Barcelona with Teens
We used the subway to get from our hotel to the center of the city daily and then mostly walked around. We did purchase the 4.50 euro T-mobilitat card because public transportation is free for kids under $16.
What To Do in Barcelona in Winter, Day by Day
Day 1: Landing in Madrid, Train to Barcelona
We landed in Madrid early in the morning and took a taxi directly to the Madrid Puerta de Atocha train station. Our train tickets were booked directly on Iryo in the Infinita Bistró car for about $550 round trip. This car is the equivalent of first class and offers much more comfort, plus a full meal. We were able to catch a bit of sleep after our economy flight.
Luckily, we could check in to our hotel early and take advantage of the lounge. We walked around the neighborhood and grabbed some snacks, but we mostly tried to stay awake and then get a good night’s sleep.
Day 2: Old Town, Christmas Lights & an FC Barcelona Match
We were up early, had breakfast at the hotel, and headed out to explore Barcelona. The central part of the city was decorated with lots of Christmas decorations and lights, along with several statues of the Caganer. This is a Catalan Christmas tradition of hiding a pooping man in manger scenes for good luck.
We spent most of the morning exploring Ciutat Vella, or the Old Town, passing by the Cathedral of Saint Eulalia. My favorite parts were the narrow passages and all of the really pretty street art. We stopped for traditional hot chocolate and churros.
That evening we made our way to Montjuïc at the Estadi Olímpic to see FC Barcelona play Atlético Madrid. Normally, FC Barca plays at SoFi Stadium, but it was under construction. This was our second major international Football game (we had seen Paris Saint-Germain 2 years before), and this was really fun because it was a much smaller stadium.
The FC Barcelona tickets we bought directly were quite expensive, around $150 per person, but we saved so much money on hotels that it was worth it.
Day 3: Montserrat Day Trip & the Banksy Museum
We were up early again and took a train from Barcelona to Montserrat. The tickets we booked included the cable car from the train station to the summit. According to my children, the views were amazing (I had my face covered the whole time). Once we were at the top, it was quite windy and cool, but very pretty. We focused on the basilica and the museum, and the guys hiked the trails. It was definitely worth the trip, but those with a fear of heights may struggle getting there.
In the afternoon, we visited the Banksy museum, then walked around Parc de la Ciutadella to feed the birds/ducks and see the Arc de Triomf.
We had an early dinner at a really nice vegetarian restaurant called Vegetalia Born, and got the Menu del Dia for about 11 euros each. It included a main, a drink, and a dessert.
As the sun set, the city became lit up with Christmas lights, and it was nice to walk off a big dinner.
Day 4: Sagrada Familia Tower Climb & the Gothic Quarter
We saved the Sagrada Familia for our last day in Barcelona. I am not super religious, but it was a really moving experience. We opted to climb the tower, which I recommend for anyone who wants to fully experience the scope of this project. The best part was seeing how the lights changed from when we arrived until we left.
For the afternoon, we had hoped to go to Park Güell. Ya’ll, don’t sleep on these tickets. They sell out so fast, and we tried lots of ways to get access, including on the website, Viator, and GetYourGuide. Unfortunately, we didn’t get tickets, but we made our way up to the area to catch a few glimpses of the buildings. For our next trip, we’ll be more prepared.
Transit Day: Christmas Day Train to Madrid
On Christmas Day and we knew many things would be closed which made it a great day to travel back to Madrid.
Check out Part 2 of our Christmas Trip to Spain for how we spent our time in Madrid.
What Our Barcelona Winter Trip Cost: Points vs Cash
| Points | Out of pocket costs | Value* | |
| CLT→MAD on AA booked via BA | 30K Avios via Amex plus cash | $3000 | $3500 |
| Hyatt Barcelona Tower, 5 nights (2 rooms) plus breakfast and Lounge | 9K/night/room 90K total | $0 | $2500 |
| Hyatt Regency Madrid, 5 nights (2 rooms) plus breakfast and Lounge | 18K/night/room 180K total | $0 | $3000 |
| Madrid↔Barcelona train | N/A | $500 | $500 |
| Madrid → Segovia Train | N/A | $150 | $150 |
| 270K Hyatt pts + 30K Avios | $3650 in out of pocket costs | $9650 estimated trip value |
*Trip Value is based on the equivalent cash price. This will vary wildly depending on the time of year and how advanced the trip was booked. Many points & miles people calculate CPP (cents per point). I don’t typically do that.
| FC Barca Game | $750 |
| Montserrat | $120 |
| Banksy Museum | $50 |
| Sagrada Familia | $100 |
| $1020 Total for Activities |
Favorite Things about Barcelona During Winter Break
I really enjoyed visiting and walking up the tower at Sagrada Familia. The photos really do not do it justice, and it is something that I will see again.
Lessons Learned: Book Park Güell Tickets Early
Book those Parc Güell tickets as early as you can!
Barcelona in Winter: FAQs
Is Barcelona worth visiting in winter?
For us, Barcelona was a wonderful option for Winter break. The weather was mild and honestly more warm than home. Most things were open and the crowds were very tolerable.
What is Barcelona like at Christmas?
The city is beautiful baseline but the lights and decorations did give it a magical feel.
What should I wear in Barcelona in December?
We packed layers and a good lightweight winter coat. Hat and gloves helped on the cooler days.
How is Montserrat in the winter?
The crowds are very low but it is pretty high up and was cold and windy. We did not hike the trails that day because it was so windy.
Final Thoughts: Was Barcelona Worth it in Winter?
Barcelona was really a fantastic choice for us for Winter Break. The weather was warmer than home, the crowds were low, and there were lots of activities for all of us.
Follow along for Part 2 of our Winter Spain Trip, where we spend a few days in Madrid and a day trip to Segovia. I also have a review of our Hyatt Barcelona Tower stay and several other hotel reviews!
Ready to dive into Points and Miles? Start with my Points and Miles 101 and Multipliers & Points Potential.
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