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What to wear in Barcelona in January

What to wear in Barcelona in January

Are you wondering what to wear in Barcelona in January? In this guide we cover everything you need to add to put onto your what to pack for Barcelona in January list to help you deal with the Winter weather, deal with Barcelona dress codes and more.

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Weather in Barcelona in January

January is mid-Winter in Spain. But the weather isn’t like it is across Northern Europe. Instead Barcelona Winters are milder but the weather can still be changeable. So what can you expect from Barcelona Winter weather?

How cold is Barcelona in January?

View of Wheel of Minions in Tibidabo Barcelona in January
What to wear in Barcelona in January

Even by comparison to the rest of Spain in Winter, Barcelona is known for having more mild and temperate Winter weather conditions.

Generally speaking the average temperatures in the city in January however between 15°C/59F and 9°C/48F. So by no means freezing. However it can sometimes feel cooler at night. For this reason layers and a jacket are a good idea for Barcelona in January.

Note: if you want to know how best to pack a capsule wardrobe for Barcelona be sure to check out our packing techniques:

Note: the weather between months changes quite dramatically in Barcelona and between regions in Spain. Therefore if your trip spans a couple of months then please be sure to check out our other monthly:

And if you are traveling to other regions on your trip be sure to check out our other Spanish city and Spain guides:

And be sure to also check out our what not to wear in Spain guide too which will help you not look like a tourist or make any fashion faux pas while traveling.

Does it rain a lot in January in Barcelona?

One of the great things about visiting Barcelona in January, is that although the temperatures start to cool, the rain isn’t too heavy with only around 4 days across the entire month..

Therefore you really don’t need to worry about adding too much waterproof wear to your Barcelona Winter packing list.

Does it Snow in Barcelona in January?

Snow is highly unlikely in Barcelona in January.

Note: we always recommend checking the forecast at your destination(s) 7 days out from travel to make sure there are no expected weather fronts i.e. heatwaves or cold snaps.

What to Wear in Barcelona in January

Best Shoes for Barcelona in January

For me it is easy to overpack on the shoe front no matter the destination , however for Barcelona in January you really only need two pairs of shoesm one for daytime and one for evenings.

The shoes we recommend packing are:

Sneakers

Sneakers are the best shoe for Barcelona in January. The reason is because you will be doing a lot of walking in Barcelona and Barcelona is a very hilly city.

For instance Montjuic, is a very popular region of Barcelona to visit and is home to the amazing fountain shows and Olympic Stadiums. But this high on a hill that is reached either by bus, foot or cable car. But even once you arrive the area itself is still very hilly.

Therefore to cope with this terrain we recommend packing sneakers. My favorite brand of sneakers for walking are Hoka and AllBirds, however you also can’t go wrong with a plain white sneaker as they go with everything. One of my favorite pairs of white sneakers is the Adidas Cloud Foam shoes.

Ankle Boots 

On top of sneakers I recommend packing some ankle boots too. I prefer to wear these for dinner in Barcelona whether in a fancy restaurant or for tapas.

Again, as Barcelona is a very hilly city we recommend having a flatter boot or having a boot with a thicker but lower heel or no heel.

Click here to shop ankle boots.

What to Wear in Barcelona in January for women

Woman holding man's hand in Winter clothes in front of Barcelona Cathedral
What to wear in Barcelona in January

But before we get onto the specifics of what to wear in Barcelona in January for women and men, we wanted to reiterate that we think it is a great idea to pack a capsule wardrobe.

It means you are less likely to lose your luggage when traveling and prevents you from overpacking. For help in packing a capsule wardrobe check out these posts:

Jacket / Coat

Although Barcelona is milder than other cities in Spain, I still recommend packing a jacket or coat. The reason for this is because evenings can get cold especially on windy evenings. Personally I don’t think you can go wrong with a puffer jacket in Barcelona in Winter.

Click here to shop jackets.

Skirts and dresses

As I have mentioned before, in Barcelona really anything goes so select skirts and dress types that you are most comfortable in. However remember to have a modest outfit that covers your shoulders and knees for going to the Sagrada Familia.

For this reason I usually stick with a maxi dress with a sleeve or a midi length skirt or dress that can be worn with sneakers or with boots and tights depending on the weather.

I also like a sweater dress or a jumper dress for going out to dinner in Barcelona in Winter.

Click here to shop dresses.

Trousers

Trousers are a great pick for Barcelona in Winter especially for sightseeing during the daytime. I think jeans are a great choice at this time of year as the weather has cooled enough to be comfortable in them. And given the fashion sensibilities of Barcelona you can pick the style you are most comfortable in.

On top of jeans I usually pack a plain black pair of trousers. If you want a smarter pant then we love a regular black pant (we love the Athleta Brooklyn ankle pant for travel). But corduroy jeans and wool trousers are also great picks too.

Click here to shop trousers.

T Shirt

T Shirts are great in Barcelona at any time of year. I recommend having a mix of both long and short sleeves.

Click here to shop t shirts.

Blouse

A loose blouse works perfectly for warmer days and cooler nights. And something with a longer sleeve is better for Barcelona in Winter than a short sleeve one.

Click here to shop blouses

Layers

Usually I will take 3 types of layers with me for a week in Barcelona in Winter. This way I am covered for every eventuality. This will usually comprise of a cardigan that can be used for dinners, a casual hoodie that is good for sightseeing in the day in places such as galleries and museums such as the Prado as well as my favorite merino wool sweater.

Merino wool is a great fabric choice when you are trying to pack light for Winter. It is a relatively thin material to pack, however is insulating and repels smell packing it perfect for Winter capsule wardrobes.

Click here to shop merino wool sweaters.

Pashmina

A pashmina should be on your Barcelona packing list whatever the month of travel . It is just such a versatile accessory.

It can act as a scarf or extra layer on cooler evenings and can help make your outfit more modest for visits to places such as the Sagrada Familia. Shop pashminas here.

PJs or Nightie

I prefer to have a heavier weight PJ for Barcelona in Winter due to the weather.

Underwear and Socks

Goes without saying. I also like to pack merino wool socks for Winter travel in Europe. They are thinner than hiking socks but are insulating so are good for cold weather.

Sunglasses

Sunglasses are essential in Barcelona even in Winter.

What to pack for Barcelona in January for Men

When putting together the packing list for men heading to Barcelona in January, the considerations are really the same as for women and lots of light weight layers are the key to a successful Barcelona Winter packing list.

Alongside our regular men’s travel essentials we recommend adding the following items to your men’s packing list for Barcelona in Winter.

Jacket

Again a Winter jacket such as a puffer jacket is perfect for Barcelona in January.

Chinos/Jeans

As with the packing list for women, chinos / dockers and jeans are perfect for Barcelona in January as they are the perfect weight for the weather. Click here to shop men’s travel trousers.

T Shirts and Shirts

A mix of short sleeve and long sleeve t-shirts are perfect for sightseeing in January.

However for evenings I would recommend having a button down shirt if you are planning on going to a nicer sit down restaurant. If you are just planning on going for tapas then t shirts are absolutely fine.

Layers

As with the ladies packing list we recommend packing several layers for Barcelona as it can be cool in Barcelona in January.

For men for a week long vacation in Barcelona at this time of year we recommend two smart jumpers, a casual hoodie on top of your jacket / coat too.

Sunglasses

I pack these even in Winter.

Underwear, Socks and Pjs

What to Pack for Barcelona in January (non clothing)

View of Church of Colonia Guell in January
What to pack for Barcelona in January

So now you know what to pack for Barcelona in January in terms of clothes and shoes, we will turn our attention to non clothing essentials.

  • Universal travel Adaptor  – For my American readers you will need an EU Type C Country plug adapter
  • Power Pack / Battery recharger
  • Crossbody bag – one with plenty of zips that can put off pick pockets is best. Unfortunately there are some issues with pickpockets in Barcelona as there are in many big cities that are tourist attractions. I am not saying this to scare you but because I really think careful bag selection is important for Barcelona.
  • Backpack – for storing items on your day trips.
  • camera – it is a beautiful city you will want to take lots of photographs
  • Toiletries – for our full toiletries packing list check out this post.
  • Travel First Aid Kit
  • Blister plasters

Spain Winter Packing List

People in Boqueria Market in Winter in Spain
what to pack for Barcelona in December / Barcelona Winter Packing List

So just to recap here is our complete list of what to add to your Spanish Winter Packing List

  • Jacket
  • T shirts
  • Thicker weight trousers such as jeans or chinos.
  • Blouse / Shirt
  • Layers such as sweaters, fleeces, jumpers and hoodies
  • Warm Nightwear
  • Underwear
  • PJs
  • Ankle Boots
  • Sneakers
  • Medication and Documentation
  • Back Pack
  • Crossbody BAg
  • Travel Adaptor
  • Toiletries
  • Camera
  • Battery Pack
  • Sunglasses
  • Travel first aid kit including blister plasters
  • Lip Balm

FAQs about January in Barcelona Packing List

Should I take swimwear for Barcelona in January?

Two women on beach in Barcelona in January
What to wear in Barcelona in January

It is unlikely you will need to have swimwear for Barcelona in January. The sea temperature is often around 16C which in my opinion is too cold for swimming in.

Also most hotels in Barcelona will shut their outdoor pools for the Winter season. Therefore it is highly unlikely you are going to need swimwear if you are visiting Barcelona in January.

Can I wear shorts in Barcelona in January?

There are no Spain dress code rules that prevent you wearing shorts, it is likely it is too cold to be comfortable wearing shorts in January anywhere on mainland Spain.

Are there special events in Barcelona in January with a special dress code?

Although there are many public events in Barcelona in January none of these have special dress codes associated with them.

What to wear to dinner in Barcelona in January?

Barcelona is a great foodie city so it is not a surprise that many people worry about what to wear to dinner in Barcelona.

However it really depends on the type of restaurant you are going to as to the dress code. For tapas you can usually dress casually to smart casual while in the higher end Michelin starred restaurants you are more likely to see smart casual dress.

I personally either wear jeans (for tapas) or smarter trousers and blouse or a dress with tights and boots for going out to dinner in Barcelona in January.

What would you add to this Barcelona January Packing List?