What we call “Easter” in the English-speaking world, the Spanish call Semana Santa or Semana Santa. That’s right: an entire week (sometimes more) of elaborate processions marks the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, with celebrations that extend far beyond the typical Good Friday, Easter Sunday, and Easter Monday commemorations than visitors from the The United States and the United Kingdom may be familiar with In fact, Easter celebrations in some parts of Spain can last up to ten days, but it all comes down to Easter Sunday, what English speakers would call ‘Easter Sunday’.
Many children across the country have the entire week off from school in honor of Holy Week. Some working professionals also have the entire week off, but if not, Holy Thursday and Good Friday are almost guaranteed vacation days.
Once Easter Sunday rolls around, the celebrations subside a bit. As a result, in Spain, Easter Monday doesn’t mean much. Although it is observed as a public holiday in some regions of Spain, most people return to work and school.
That said, Spain is a big country, and narrowing down where to spend the week can be daunting. Here, we’ll reveal the best destination for Easter in Spain, and if you’ve already missed it this year, don’t worry. We also have you covered with dates for the next few years.
Holy Week in Seville
The most popular destination for Easter in Spain is Seville. Considering this fact, if you want to get a good hotel room, it is worth reserving your accommodation as far in advance as possible. Also note that the more central areas of the city (particularly near the cathedral) are prime procession sites, and such processions can often last late into the night and be accompanied by music. If you want to enjoy the quirky floats but also want a good night’s sleep, consider staying a little further out of the center.
Accommodation and transportation for Easter in Seville
Accommodation is very scarce during Holy Week in Seville. Like we said, you’ll want to book ASAP to guarantee a place to sleep.
Transportation prices for trains and buses also tend to skyrocket during the week. (After all, train and bus companies have to take advantage of everyone traveling in Spain in some way!) Plan your budget accordingly and book transportation as early as possible to ensure you get a ticket before they sell out .
Holy Week dates in Spain
Easter, as you may already know, falls on a different date each year. As a result, so does Easter. If watching the extravagant Holy Week processions is on your wish list for the future, keep this list in mind so you can start planning as soon as possible.
Below are the dates of Easter in the coming years.
After holy week
Fortunately, the fun of spring in Spain doesn’t just end with Easter. Many seasonal celebrations take place across the country in the coming weeks.
A week after Easter Monday, there is an event in Salamanca called Monday of Waters, which was originally held as a way of welcoming the city’s prostitutes back to the city after they were banished during Lent. Today’s celebration of the event is much healthier and more family-friendly: locals often take advantage of the (usually) pleasant weather to go on a picnic.
And two weeks after Easter ends, it’s time for one of the most iconic celebrations in all of Spain. Seville’s legendary April Fair begins with the official »alumbrado », or lighting ceremony, two Sundays after Easter. It is the first and most famous of many local fairs that take place throughout Andalusia during the spring, summer and even the first months of autumn.
