Winter · Around Catalonia

Espinelves Christmas Tree Fair

The Espinelves Christmas Tree Fair offers a change of pace from Barcelona: a small mountain village, stone streets and fir trees ready for the festive season. It is a day trip for wandering, choosing a tree if you need one and spending time in a landscape that is part of the attraction.

Explore the guide

Christmas tree fair in the village of Espinelves

Another way to experience the city

Woodworker at the Espinelves Christmas tree fair in 2016

BCN

Espinelves, Osona, province of Girona.

01 · The essentials

Espinelves Christmas Tree Fair and its seasonal dates

One detail matters when planning the journey: Espinelves is not in Barcelona city. It belongs to the comarca of Osona and the province of Girona, in the Montseny-Guilleries area. The event fits naturally into a journey through Catalan traditions, but it requires its own outward and return travel arrangements.

The event takes place in the run-up to Christmas, around late November and early December. For 2026, the town council announces the 45th edition from 28 November to 8 December. Those dates apply specifically to that year: check the new announcement for future seasons rather than carrying forward an earlier calendar.

Much of the appeal comes from the connection between the village, the surrounding woodland and the custom of bringing a tree home. You can browse slowly without a shopping list or spend longer talking to sellers and comparing individual trees. Buying is optional; observing the preparations and enjoying the setting can be enough reason to come.

The village has a Romanesque church and a compact historic centre best explored on foot. At approximately 750 metres above sea level, it also calls for practical thinking about layers and daylight. Check the forecast close to departure and let the conditions determine how much extra walking to include.

Where: Espinelves, Osona, province of Girona.
2026 edition: 28 November–8 December, announced by the town council.
Setting: Montseny-Guilleries; village roughly 750 m above sea level.
From Barcelona: An out-of-town excursion; confirm access and the return journey.
Buying a tree: Check dimensions, cut or rooted condition, care and transport.

02 · Make the most of it

Making the journey from Barcelona comfortable

Allow time both for the journey and for entering the village, especially on busy dates. Follow the access and parking instructions published by the organisers; the everyday route suggested by a navigation app may differ from the arrangements used during the event. Do not assume you can park beside the stall you want to visit.

If travelling by public transport, check the outward connection, local service and return journey separately. The council publishes a bus service from Vic with limited operating days, so it should not be treated as a daily market shuttle. For a private transfer, agree on an accessible meeting point away from restricted areas and confirm there is space for your purchases.

Choosing a tree that suits your home

Measure the available height and width before leaving, allowing for a stand or pot. A tree that looks modest outdoors can fill a surprising amount of space in a living room. Ask the seller about the species, whether it is cut or rooted, the care required and the safest way to transport it. Appearance alone cannot tell you whether it can be kept after the holiday period.

If you hope to keep it alive, explain where it will stand and how long it will remain indoors. Ask for advice specific to that tree and avoid assuming successful survival without suitable conditions. Prepare protection and a vehicle-compatible securing method for the return journey. Not every car or transfer service can accommodate the same size of tree.

Stone streets, woodland and a lunch break

Combine the stalls with a gentle walk through the centre and around the outside of the church, respecting residential spaces and entrances. Check opening arrangements if you want to visit an interior: the fair does not automatically mean every building is open. A pause to appreciate the landscape adds variety without turning the trip into a checklist.

Arrange a meal booking or a simple alternative, especially when travelling with children. Bring water and an extra layer for the later part of the day. Shoes should be suitable for stone paving and potentially damp surfaces. If you add a walk in the surrounding countryside, select a marked route that fits the remaining daylight rather than improvising a long hike after shopping.

A family outing with a realistic schedule

The village’s small scale can suit a family visit, but the experience changes when many people arrive together. Break the day into manageable parts: an initial look around, a specific purchase and a rest. Agree on a meeting point and avoid carrying too much early on if you still have exploring to do. Pushchairs may be less convenient along narrow or crowded sections.

Before departure, review the municipal announcement, mobility advice and the details of any activity you particularly want to attend. If you need a particular service, confirm that it is operating before making it essential to your itinerary. If your main aim is to enjoy the Christmas atmosphere, keep the schedule light: a well-organised journey and a few carefully chosen stops usually work better than rushing through several villages.

Plan with current information

Check official programmes and service notices before setting out. Photographs document the place or tradition and may show earlier editions.

Photograph authors and licences

Christmas tree fair in the village of Espinelves · Espinelves - Fira de l'Avet.jpg · Eduard Maluquer · Original source · CC BY-SA 2.0.
Espinelves Christmas tree fair in 2016 · 2016 Fira de l'Avet d'Espinelves 07.jpg · Jordiferrer · Original source · CC BY-SA 4.0.
Woodworker at the Espinelves Christmas tree fair in 2016 · 2016 Fira de l'Avet d'Espinelves 04.jpg · Jordiferrer · Original source · CC BY-SA 4.0.
Barcelona Carnival Taronjada celebration in 2015 · CARNAVAL 2015 (16550677481) (2).jpg · OK Apartment from Barcelona, Spain · Original source · CC BY 2.0.
Roses at a Sant Jordi stall in 2023 · Roses en una paradeta de Sant Jordi - 2023.jpg · Cataleirxs · Original source · CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sant Joan bonfire in Les Corts, Barcelona, in 2024 · Foguera i revetlla de Sant Joan 2024 a les Corts - P1100265.jpg · Pere López Brosa · Original source · CC BY-SA 4.0.
Decorated streets at the Gràcia neighbourhood festival in 2026 · Festa Major de Gràcia 2026 - 20260815 110554.jpg · Pere López Brosa · Original source · CC BY-SA 4.0.
Tió de Nadal, the traditional Catalan Christmas log · Tió de Nadal.jpg · Slastic · Original source · Public domain.

Images are resized and cropped for this page. Adaptations of CC BY-SA photographs are shared under the same licence indicated for each image.