List of Public Holidays

• January 1 – New Year’s Day.
• January 6 – Epiphany.
• Week Before Easter – Semana Santa (Holy Week). The later in the week, the more likely shops will be closed, with Thursday, Friday, and Easter Sunday being the most affected days. Note that Easter Monday is not a public holiday, except in Catalonia and Valencia.
• May 1 – Workers’ Day.
• August 15 – Assumption of the Virgin.
• October 12 – National Day.
• November 1 – All Saints’ Day.
• December 6 – Constitution Day.
• December 8 – Immaculate Conception.
• December 24 – Christmas Eve (Navidad). This evening is typically more important than Christmas Day in Spain, leading to early shop closures, though many remain open in the morning.

Regional Holidays in Madrid and Barcelona

Each region of Spain boasts its own unique holidays. Here are the regional holidays that are most likely to impact visitors in Barcelona and Madrid.

• May 16 – San Isidro (Madrid).
• June 23-24 – Sant Joan (Barcelona).
• September 11 – National Day of Catalonia (Barcelona).
• November 9 – Almudena (Madrid).

What Is a ‘Puente’?

A ‘puente’, or ‘bridge’, can occur when a public holiday falls on a Tuesday or Thursday. In such cases, many businesses would also close on the adjacent Monday or Friday, creating a long weekend. Moreover, if a holiday lands on a Wednesday, it is common for employees to extend their time off to include both Monday and Tuesday.

Sundays and Mondays

Sundays generally present challenges for errands in Spain. Different Autonomous Communities enforce varied regulations regarding Sunday shopping; for example, in Madrid, stores are open only on the first Sunday of each month while remaining closed on the others. However, most areas offer more flexible Sunday opening hours during December.

Large retailers such as El Corte Inglés and FNAC may remain open on certain public holidays, but they follow strict closures on Sundays and Workers’ Day (May 1).

Additionally, museums and other tourist attractions often close on Mondays instead. Consequently, bars and cafes typically have either Sunday or Monday as their off day, yet some businesses may take advantage of the steady flow of customers on these days.

Summer Closing

The month of August serves as a frequent vacation period for businesses, especially in major cities. Many stores and restaurants may shut down for the entire month. Both Madrid and Seville tend to exhibit this trend significantly. Additionally, given the high temperatures in these regions, it is advisable to consider alternative destinations during summer.

Moreover, the traditional siesta still influences the operational hours of shops and businesses in Spain, leading to further variations in availability.