The full guide
How public holidays work
Spain allows up to 14 paid public holidays a year. The state sets the national ones, each region adjusts its own list, and every town chooses two local holidays, usually for its patron saint. That’s why the next town can be on holiday when you’re not.
National holidays
Date | Holiday |
|---|---|
1 January | New Year’s Day |
6 January | Epiphany (Reyes) |
Varies (March or April) | Good Friday |
1 May | Labour Day |
15 August | Assumption |
12 October | National Day of Spain |
1 November | All Saints’ Day |
6 December | Constitution Day |
8 December | Immaculate Conception |
25 December | Christmas Day |
Most regions also take Holy Thursday, and some take Easter Monday. Regions can move a holiday to a Monday when it falls on a Sunday.
Examples of regional days
Region | Day |
|---|---|
Andalucía | 28 February |
Madrid | 2 May |
Galicia | 25 July |
Catalonia | 11 September and 26 December |
Valencian Community | 9 October |
The full calendar for each year is published in the BOE, usually in October, and your region and town hall publish theirs.
Puentes
When a holiday falls on a Tuesday or Thursday, many people take the Monday or Friday off too: a puente, or bridge. Early December, with 6 and 8 December close together, often becomes a long break. Expect busy roads and full trains.
The big fiestas
Fiesta | Where | When |
|---|---|---|
Cabalgata de Reyes | Every town | Evening of 5 January |
Carnival | Cádiz, Santa Cruz de Tenerife and more | February or March |
Las Fallas | Valencia | 15 to 19 March |
Semana Santa | Seville, Málaga and everywhere | The week before Easter |
Feria de Abril | Seville | Usually two weeks after Easter |
Sant Jordi | Catalonia | 23 April (books and roses; not a holiday) |
San Fermín | Pamplona | 6 to 14 July |
La Tomatina | Buñol, near Valencia | Last Wednesday of August |
La Mercè | Barcelona | Around 24 September |
Practical tips
Book early. Hotels in Valencia during Fallas or Pamplona during San Fermín fill up months ahead.
Expect closures. Shops and offices shut on holidays, and city centres close streets for processions.
Stay safe in crowds. Keep valuables close and agree a meeting point with your group.
Holidays also change daily timetables, so plan errands around them.
Frequently asked questions
What if a holiday falls on a weekend?
Some regions move it to the Monday; others don’t. Check your regional calendar.
Are shops open on public holidays?
Most aren’t, though tourist areas and some supermarkets open.
Related reading: How Public Holidays Work in Spain (and What a Puente Is).
