Public Holidays and Fiestas in Andalucía: A Practical Guide

Public holidays in Andalucía can significantly affect travel logistics, with most shops and supermarkets closing entirely. This guide outlines the regional and national calendar to help you plan transport and dining.

Andalucía observes 12 national and regional holidays each year, plus two local holidays specific to each municipality. On these days, banks, government offices, and most supermarkets close. Public transport typically runs on a reduced Sunday schedule. Knowing these dates is essential for booking accommodation and ensuring you can buy groceries, as many towns do not have 24-hour convenience stores.

The Annual Holiday Calendar

The following dates are standard across the eight provinces of Andalucía (Almería, Cádiz, Córdoba, Granada, Huelva, Jaén, Málaga, and Sevilla). Note that if a fixed-date holiday falls on a Sunday, the regional government often moves the public holiday to the following Monday.

• 1 January: New Year’s Day (Año Nuevo). Total closure of almost all businesses.
• 6 January: Three Kings Day (Epifanía). The main gift-giving day in Spain. Parades occur on the evening of the 5th.
• 28 February: Andalucía Day (Día de Andalucía). A regional holiday celebrating the 1980 referendum on autonomy.
• Maundy Thursday: (Jueves Santo). Date varies (March or April; 2026 dates have passed). Shops often close for a half or full day.
• Good Friday: (Viernes Santo). Date varies (March or April). Total closure.
• 1 May: Labour Day (Fiesta del Trabajo). Total closure.
• 15 August: Assumption of the Virgin (Asunción de la Virgen). A major summer holiday; expect heavy traffic on coastal roads.
• 12 October: Spain National Day (Fiesta Nacional de España).
• 1 November: All Saints’ Day (Todos los Santos).
• 6 December: Constitution Day (Día de la Constitución).
• 8 December: Immaculate Conception (Inmaculada Concepción).
• 25 December: Christmas Day (Natividad del Señor). Total closure.

Andalucía Day (28 February)

This is the most significant regional holiday. While it is a single day of closure for businesses, schools in Andalucía usually take a full week off, known as Semana Blanca (White Week), which often coincides with the days surrounding the 28th. If you are travelling during this week, expect higher prices for family-oriented attractions and busier hotels in inland and mountain regions.

Understanding Local Fiestas

Each town and city in Andalucía has two additional days of holiday per year, usually dedicated to a patron saint or a local fair (feria). On these days, businesses in that specific municipality will close, even if the neighbouring town remains fully open.

Major City Fiestas

• Sevilla: The Feria de Abril occurs two weeks after Easter. While not all days are public holidays, the city effectively slows down for the week.
• Málaga: The Feria de Agosto (mid-August) celebrates the city's incorporation into the Crown of Castile. The city centre is extremely busy during the day, moving to the fairgrounds at night.
• Granada: The Fiesta del Corpus Christi (fell on 4 June in 2026) and the Día de la Toma (2 January).
• Cádiz: Carnival (February or March) is a massive event, though the official public holiday is usually the Monday following the first weekend.

The 'Puente' (Bridge Weekend) System

Spanish workers and residents frequently use a system called a puente (bridge). If a public holiday falls on a Tuesday or a Thursday, many people take the Monday or Friday off to create a four-day weekend.

Impact on Travel:

1. Accommodation: Prices in popular coastal or rural areas can double.
2. Transport: Long-distance trains (AVE) and buses often sell out weeks in advance.
3. Traffic: Roads leading out of major cities like Sevilla and Málaga experience significant congestion on the afternoon before the puente starts and the afternoon it ends.

What Closes and What Stays Open

Navigating closures requires forward planning, particularly for self-catering tourists and expats.

Supermarkets

Major chains like Mercadona and Lidl are strictly closed on all public holidays and Sundays. Some Carrefour hypermarkets may open on specific authorised Sundays or holidays, but check their local store locator first. In larger cities, Carrefour Express or SuperCOR (El Corte Inglés) locations may remain open with limited hours, but they often apply a surcharge on prices.

Restaurants and Bars

Unlike retail shops, bars and restaurants often stay open on public holidays to capitalise on the increased footfall, especially in tourist areas. However, on Christmas Eve (24 December) and New Year’s Eve (31 December), many restaurants close by 20:00 so staff can be with families.

Museums and Monuments

Major sites like the Alhambra (Granada) or the Mezquita (Córdoba) generally remain open on most holidays, except for 25 December and 1 January. However, smaller municipal museums often close on local and regional holidays. Always check the official website for 'Horarios Especiales' (Special Hours).

Planning Your Trip Around Holidays

To avoid inconvenience, follow these practical steps:

• Book Transport Early: If your travel coincides with 12 October, 1 November, or the December 'Double Bridge' (6 to 8 December), book your trains and rental cars at least one month in advance.
• Stock Up: Buy groceries on the Saturday if a holiday falls on a Monday.
• Check the BOJA: The official calendars are published in the Boletín Oficial de la Junta de Andalucía (BOJA) late each year for the following year. These provide the definitive list of moved holidays.
• Petrol Stations: Most remain open on a 24-hour basis or at least during daylight hours on holidays, particularly those on major motorways (Autovías).

How A Holiday Day Actually Feels

For a visitor, a public holiday is rarely a disaster, but it changes the rhythm of the day. Breakfast bars usually open in tourist districts, although local cafés in residential neighbourhoods may stay closed. Supermarkets, market halls, banks, post offices and most small shops are the things to sort out the day before. Restaurants often open for lunch, but the best-known places can be fully booked by local families.

• Morning: Expect quieter streets until late morning, then heavy footfall around churches, processions, main squares and beach promenades.
• Transport: City buses, metros and trams normally run holiday timetables. Check the last return journey before committing to an evening in another town.
• Groceries: Buy water, breakfast items, baby supplies and any medicines the previous afternoon. Petrol stations may sell basics, but choice is limited.
• Attractions: Big monuments may open, smaller municipal museums may not. Search the official site for horario festivo (holiday hours).

Local Patron Days And Fair Weeks

The two local holidays are the ones most likely to catch travellers out because they apply town by town. A hotel in Málaga city may be operating normally while a nearby village has schools, town-hall offices and many shops closed for its patron saint. The Spanish phrase to look for is fiesta local (local holiday), usually published on the town hall website before the start of each year.

Fair weeks are different from single holidays. During a feria (local fair), the legal holiday may only be one day, but taxis, parking, restaurant bookings and late-night noise can be affected for most of the week. If your trip overlaps with a major listing on the regional events calendar or local festivals, book central accommodation only if you are happy to be part of it.

Sundays Around Holiday Weekends

Do not treat the Sunday beside a public holiday as a normal shopping day. Spain has authorised Sunday trading dates, but they vary by year, municipality and type of shop. Large stores in central Málaga or coastal resort zones may open on some Sundays in high season, while the same chain in an inland town stays closed. Independent shops often make their own decision based on family plans and expected footfall.

• Self-catering stays: Shop two meals ahead before a puente, especially if you arrive late or have children.
• Markets: Municipal food markets usually close on Sundays and holidays, so plan fresh fish, meat and produce earlier in the week.
• Check locally: Search the exact supermarket branch, not just the brand name. Holiday opening can differ between two stores in the same city.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do shops close if a holiday falls on a Saturday?

Yes. If a public holiday falls on a Saturday, standard supermarkets and retail stores will close. Unlike some countries, there is no 'compensation' day off on the following Monday unless the holiday fell on a Sunday.

Is public transport reliable during fiestas?

Public transport operates on a Sunday/Holiday schedule. This means fewer departures and often a later start time (usually 07:30 or 08:00 instead of 06:00). In Sevilla and Málaga during major fairs, specific 'Feria' bus lines are established to run 24 hours between the centre and the fairgrounds.

What is the 'December Bridge'?

The dates 6 December (Constitution Day) and 8 December (Immaculate Conception) often create a massive travel period. If these dates fall near a weekend, many people take the entire week off. It is one of the busiest times for domestic tourism in Andalucía.

Summary

• Andalucía has 12 national and regional holidays plus two local town holidays.
• Expect total closure of supermarkets (Mercadona, Lidl) and banks on these dates.
• 'Puentes' (bridge weekends) lead to high hotel prices and sold-out trains.
• Regional-specific holidays like 28 February can trigger school closures for a full week.

Note: Holiday dates and business opening regulations are subject to annual review by the Junta de Andalucía. Always verify specific local dates via the town hall (Ayuntamiento) website of your destination.