Towns and cities around Spain will be transformed into a winter wonderland this weekend, as they turn on their Christmas lights for the very first time.

Madrid

Photo: Flickr

Christmas lights 

This year, Madrid’s Christmas lights have been designed by famous Spanish designers, who have decorated the city with everything from chandelier-inspired lights to the iconic conical Christmas trees. The lights will have their official switching-on on Friday, November 27th.

Navibus

Visitors can get unmissable views of all the city’s Christmas lights by taking a ride on the Christmas Bus (from December 3rd to January 6th) which leaves every five minutes from in front of 30 Calle Serrano near the plaza de Colón.

Price: €2 adults and free for children under seven. 

Christmas gala 

Also on Friday, Madrid plays host to a Christmas gala in the city’s Plaza Mayor, which will stage a concert including Spanish favourite David Bisbal and Norweigen group Madcon with their hit “Don’t Worry”. And if you can't get to Madrid for the event, never fear – the whole thing will be broadcast live on La 1 from 10.15pm. 

The night will end with the lighting of a giant Christmas tree on the square.

Time: 7pm, Plaza Mayor 

Christmas market 

Madrid's main Christmas market, on the Plaza Mayor, kicks off on November 27th and is open from 10am – 9.30pm daily. 

Nativity scenes 

Photo: Madrid City Hall

There will be Christmas cribs set up all around Madrid this year, but one of the city's most impressive will be installed in the Centro Cibeles and will open to the public on Friday. You can check out the opening times here. 

Barcelona

Photo: Bastlen Deceunlnck/Flickr 

Christmas markets 

Mercardo de Navidad de Santa Lucía, Barcelona’s main Christmas market, takes place in Plaza Nova in front of the spectacular gothic cathedral (Cathedral of Santa Cruz and Santa Eulalia) in the heart of Barcelona’s Gothic quarter. It sells Christmas decorations, crib figurines, Christmas trees, sweets and of course the peculiarly Catalan tradition of Christmas crappers (caganers).

November 27th – December 23rd 2015.

Opening times: Monday to Thursday: 10.30 – 20.30

Friday to Sunday: 10.30 – 21.30

Photo: Americo Ferraiuolo/Flickr 

Sagrada Familia Christmas Fair

One of the most traditional Christmas markets in Barcelona in the shadow of Gaudí’s towering Sagrada Familia.

Nov 28th – Dec 23rd

10am – 9pm 

Christmas lights

Photo: My Wave Pictures/Flickr 

Barcelona's Christmas lights will be switched on on Friday, November 27th 

Ski resorts open 

Photo: sierranevada.es 
 

Many of Spain's ski resorts open their pistes this weekend, including the most southerly in Europe, in the Sierra Nevada mountains just outside Granada. 

Spanish ski resorts: eight of the best 

Other resorts to open in Spain this weekend include La Molina, Baqueira-Beret and Formigal in the Pyrenees.

You can check out when Spain's ski resorts are opening here. 

Valencia 

Photo: Jorge Bernabé/Flickr 

Christmas market

Local craftsmen sell their wares at Valencia's artisanal Christmas market, held in La Plaza de la Reina near the cathedral. The market opens on Friday 27th November and is open everyday from 10am – 2pm and from 4.30pm – 9pm. 

Look out for our upcoming What's on in Spain – December 2015 to find out about lots of other Christmas activities in towns and cities around the country.