Things to do in Valencia in December: day and night plans (2026)

December is one of the best months to enjoy Valencia. The sun shines almost every day, the city fills with lights and Christmas markets, and the calendar strings together a long weekend, Christmas, the Expojove family fair and a New Year's Eve celebrated in the streets. It is also peak season for tardeo, Valencia's late-afternoon going-out culture.

This guide brings together what you need to plan the month: the 2026 calendar, daytime plans, afternoon and evening plans, and what to do at Christmas and on New Year's Eve.

The essentials in 30 seconds

• Weather: highs of around 16–17 °C and lows of about 7–8 °C. It gets dark before six, so afternoons are for the sun and life moves early to terraces and venues.
• Key dates in 2026: public holidays on Sunday 6 and Tuesday 8; shops open on Sundays 13, 20 and 27; Christmas Day falls on a Friday; Expojove from 26 December to 4 January; the San Silvestre run on Wednesday 30 at 20:00; New Year's Eve on a Thursday.
• Most Christmassy: the lights and tree in Plaza del Ayuntamiento, the nativity scenes and the markets in the old town.
• Afternoon and night: tardeo sessions with DJs, concerts and tribute bands, dinners with a view and club nights.
• Book ahead: company dinners, Christmas Day lunch and New Year's Eve fill up weeks in advance.

Valencia's December 2026 calendar

• Sunday 6 and Tuesday 8: Constitution Day and the Immaculate Conception, both public holidays. Many people take Monday 7 off to make a long weekend.
• Sundays 13, 20 and 27: shops open, under the Valencian Community's trading calendar.
• Thursday 24: Christmas Eve.
• Friday 25: Christmas Day.
• Saturday 26 to Monday 4 January: Expojove, the Christmas fair for children and teenagers, at Feria Valencia.
• Wednesday 30, 20:00: the San Silvestre Popular run through the city centre.
• Thursday 31: New Year's Eve.
• Friday 1 January: New Year's Day.
• Tuesday 5 January: the Three Kings parade.

The city council has not yet announced the 2026 dates for the Christmas lights switch-on, the ice rink or the municipal markets. For reference, in 2025 the lights came on on 21 November and the ice rink in Plaza del Ayuntamiento opened from 28 November to 6 January. We will update this guide as soon as they are confirmed.

Daytime plans in December

Lights, the tree and nativity scenes

The classic Christmas walk starts in Plaza del Ayuntamiento, with its giant illuminated tree, and continues along Calle de la Paz, one of the most photographed streets in the city, to Plaza de la Reina. The municipal nativity scenes are free to visit. The best time for the walk is dusk, when the lights come on.

Christmas markets

The craft fair in Plaza de la Reina is the classic place for decorations and gifts, and the Mercado de Colón dresses up for Christmas. In recent years there has also been a Christmas market at the City of Arts and Sciences. If you fancy a Sunday of shopping, shops open on the 13th, 20th and 27th.

The Turia, the sea and the Albufera in winter sun

December is perfect for cycling or walking the Turia Gardens without the heat, strolling along Malvarrosa beach and the Marina, or heading out to the Albufera to watch the sunset, which comes before six at this time of year. A rice dish at lunchtime rounds it off.

Museums for rainy days

It rarely rains in December, but if it does, Valencia has plenty under cover: the Museo de Bellas Artes, IVAM, Centre del Carme, the Oceanogràfic or the Science Museum.

With children

Expojove, from 26 December to 4 January at Feria Valencia, is the highlight of the school holidays. Add the nativity scenes, the ice rink if it is installed this year and the Three Kings parade on 5 January.

Afternoon plans: December tardeo

If there is one very Valencian plan for December, it is tardeo: starting mid-afternoon with music, drinks and friends and finishing at a sensible hour. With chilly nights, it is the way to stretch the day without staying up late, and at this time of year it blends with Christmas lunches and reunions with people home for the holidays.

At Palau Alameda, on the Paseo de la Alameda, there is tardeo several days a week:

• Saturdays: AfterYou in La Gran Sala and tardeo with Vicente Buitrón at Azza.
• Fridays: Danzza at Azza.
• Fridays 11 and 18 December: Santos Gamberros Christmas special in La Gran Sala.
• Thursday 31: the Tardevieja, a New Year's Eve afternoon party: AfterYou Deluxe in La Gran Sala and Vicente Buitrón at Azza.

Dates, times and tickets for every session are in the events calendar.

Evening plans

Dinner with a view

In December terraces stay open, but they are best enjoyed at sunset or under cover. Àtic, Palau Alameda's panoramic restaurant, overlooks the Alameda and has music nights on Fridays with Àtic Nights. For more terrace ideas, see our guide to rooftops in Valencia.

Concerts and tribute bands

December is a busy month for concerts at the Roig Arena, the Palau de la Música, the Palau de les Arts and the city's music venues. At La Gran Sala in Palau Alameda, for example, there is a Fito y Fitipaldis tribute on Friday 4. The full programme is in the concert calendar.

Going out

Ruzafa, El Carmen and Cánovas are home to many of the city's bars. If you would rather have a club night without changing venue, Palau Alameda has Azza from Thursday to Saturday and Palau Motel & Casino in La Gran Sala on Fridays and Saturdays, including the night of Friday 25. More ideas in our guide to nightlife in Valencia.

Christmas in Valencia: lunches and dinners

• Company dinners: the great December tradition in Spain. If you are organising one, read our guide to company Christmas dinners in Valencia: when to book, indicative prices and how to combine dinner and party.
• Company tardeo: the fastest-growing alternative to the dinner, from late afternoon to eleven. Here is how to organise a company tardeo.
• Christmas Day lunch: on Friday 25 at lunchtime, Àtic serves a Christmas set menu at €60 per person, with a children's menu. All the details on Christmas Day lunch in Valencia.
• Reunions and groups: December is the month for get-togethers. For large groups, book at least two or three weeks ahead.

New Year's Eve in Valencia

Plaza del Ayuntamiento is the heart of New Year's Eve in Valencia: every year it hosts the midnight chimes and the fireworks. The celebrations start earlier with the San Silvestre run on the 30th and, for many, with the Tardevieja on the afternoon of the 31st.

If you would rather have dinner and carry on partying without hunting for a taxi at one in the morning, New Year's Eve at Palau Alameda brings both together in the same building: dinner at Àtic for €190 per person, including drinks, the twelve lucky grapes, a celebration kit and two drinks, plus entry to the party in La Gran Sala. There is also a New Year's Eve party at Azza.

And to start the year without cooking, on Friday 1 January Àtic serves New Year's Day lunch.

Tips for enjoying December in Valencia

• Book early for lunches and dinners on the busiest dates: Fridays and Saturdays in December, the 25th, the 31st and the 1st.
• Use public transport in the centre: at Christmas and New Year it gets crowded and some streets close to traffic.
• Make the most of the midday sun for outdoor plans and save indoor plans for later in the day.
• Dress in layers: days can be mild and nights cold, especially by the sea.
• Check the official dates for the lights, ice rink and markets before you go, as they change every year.

Frequently asked questions

What is there to do in Valencia in December?

See the lights and the tree in Plaza del Ayuntamiento, visit the nativity scenes and the markets in the old town, walk the Turia Gardens and the seafront in the winter sun, take children to Expojove and, in the afternoon and evening, enjoy tardeo sessions, concerts, dinners with a view and New Year's Eve.

When are the Christmas lights switched on in Valencia in 2026?

The city council has not yet announced the 2026 date. In 2025 they were switched on on 21 November in Plaza del Ayuntamiento, and they usually stay on until 6 January.

What is the weather like in Valencia in December?

Mild for winter: highs of around 16–17 °C, lows of about 7–8 °C and few rainy days. It gets dark before six in the evening.

When is Expojove 2026?

From 26 December 2026 to 4 January 2027, at Feria Valencia.

Where can you go for tardeo in Valencia in December?

At Palau Alameda there is tardeo on Fridays at Azza with Danzza, and on Saturdays with AfterYou in La Gran Sala and Vicente Buitrón at Azza. There is also a Santos Gamberros Christmas special on Fridays 11 and 18, and the Tardevieja on the afternoon of the 31st.

Where can you have dinner and celebrate New Year's Eve in Valencia without changing venue?

At Palau Alameda you have dinner at Àtic, the panoramic restaurant, and the party continues in La Gran Sala, in the same building. Dinner costs €190 per person and includes drinks, the lucky grapes, a celebration kit, two drinks and entry to the party.