A light trail inside a UNESCO-listed modernist hospital, told through The Little Prince: that is Els Llums de Sant Pau this Christmas, from 19 November 2026 to 10 January 2027. Els Llums de Sant Pau is a ticketed evening walk through the pavilions of the Sant Pau Art Nouveau Site, with 19 stops of light, music and live characters. It is a 255 m walk from Sant Pau | Dos de Maig metro on line 5, and a 1.1 km stroll along Avinguda de Gaudí from the Sagrada Família, so it fits neatly after a day of Gaudí sightseeing.
Is Els Llums de Sant Pau worth it for visitors? Yes, if you want more than the free street lights and your dates line up. Six November nights cost €10 a head; over Christmas an adult ticket is €17.90. It is closed on 24 and 31 December and 5 January, and the ice rink costs extra from €6.
Which travel dates are cheapest
The same ticket changes price with the night, so check your dates before you book.
Matching your trip to the calendar:
- Late November trip. The €10 nights are 19, 23, 24, 25, 26 and 30 November, the cheapest of the season for adults and children alike.
- Early to mid-December. Monday to Thursday from 1 to 17 December, except 7 and 8 December, an adult pays €14.90.
- Christmas week and New Year. Every night from 21 December to 3 January is standard rate, €17.90, and it shuts on 24 and 31 December.
- After Three Kings’ Day. From 6 to 10 January, weekend included, prices drop back to €14.90.
A flexible ticket, €25.50 for adults and €23.00 reduced, works on any night and slot. It only makes sense if your plans are loose.
What you will see on the trail
The walk opens with a projection on the main façade and ends with a farewell, passing 19 scenes from the book: the little prince’s planet, the baobabs, the aviator, the king, the rose and the lamplighter. Lights and music respond as you move, actors play characters along the way and there is a little theatre.
You also see the modernist pavilions designed by Domènech i Montaner lit up after dark. There is food on site, a shop and toilets. Your daytime Sant Pau ticket is not valid; for the daytime visit, see the Sant Pau Art Nouveau Site guide.
What a family of four will pay
Prices for a group depend on the night as much as on its size:
| Who is going | November €10 nights | Reduced-rate nights | Standard nights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Couple | €20.00 | €29.80 | €35.80 |
| Family pack, two adults and two children aged 3 to 17 | €40.00 | €50.60 | €62.60 |
| Family pack plus ice rink for two children and one adult | €58.00 | €68.60 | €80.60 |
The family pack is €4.00 cheaper than single tickets except in November, when everyone already pays €10. Under-3s are free, but you have to add their ticket at checkout.
Children get an explorer’s passport to stamp along the route, which keeps younger kids engaged. The ice rink sits halfway round and can only be bought with a trail ticket: €6 for 20 minutes or €12 for 30 minutes with gloves, which are compulsory. Under-4s cannot skate, and 4 to 11-year-olds must be with an adult. For longer sessions on real ice, see Barcelona’s ice skating rinks.
Getting there and before you go
Take metro line 5 to Sant Pau | Dos de Maig, 255 m away, or line 4 to Guinardó | Hospital de Sant Pau, 380 m away. A T-casual card covers both, and crowded Christmas carriages are prime pickpocket territory, so keep your phone zipped away; the Barcelona safety guide has the rest. The metro ticket guide explains which card suits your stay.
Entry is by timed slot, picked when you book; last season it ran from 7 pm to 10 pm. Tickets have been on sale since 15 October and cost the same online and at the box office, which opens in the afternoons. Leave scooters, bikes and suitcases at your hotel: they are not allowed in, and neither are pets, except assistance dogs. Tickets are non-refundable; to change your date you buy new ones and ask for the old ones back at least 72 hours ahead.
The catch
It is closed on the three nights many visitors are free, 24 and 31 December and 5 January. At standard rate, a family of four with two children skating pays €80.60, while the Christmas lights walking route costs nothing. For everything else on during your trip, see Barcelona at Christmas and Christmas in Barcelona with kids.
Frequently asked questions about Els Llums de Sant Pau
How much are tickets for Els Llums de Sant Pau?
It depends on the night. Six November nights (19, 23, 24, 25, 26 and 30) cost €10 for everyone. Reduced-rate nights are €14.90 for adults and €12.40 reduced; standard nights €17.90 and €15.40. A flexible ticket valid any night costs €25.50.
When is Els Llums de Sant Pau open?
From 19 November 2026 to 10 January 2027, every night except 24 and 31 December and 5 January. Entry is by timed slot chosen when you buy. Last season it opened from 7 pm to 10 pm.
Is Els Llums de Sant Pau suitable for young children?
Yes. Under-3s go free but need a ticket added at checkout, and children from 3 to 17 pay the reduced rate. Kids get an explorer’s passport to collect hidden stamps. The ice rink is not open to under-4s, and children from 4 to 11 must skate with an adult.
Can I use my Sant Pau daytime ticket for the light trail?
No. The daytime visit to the Sant Pau Art Nouveau Site and the Christmas light trail are separate tickets. If you want both, plan the daytime visit and buy a light trail slot for a different time.
Does Els Llums de Sant Pau close if it rains?
No. The installations are built for rain, and the trail only closes if the weather puts visitors at risk. Tickets cannot be refunded, so keep that in mind on a stormy night.
Book a November night and Els Llums de Sant Pau is a good-value Christmas evening in Barcelona.