What is closed in Spain May 1st

[KariannNor]

Google says "schools, shops and many businesses". What about the cafès, accomodations and shops around the routes?

 

[wisepilgrim]

I am no expert but you can count on all banks, shops, and shopping centers to be closed, but cafés and restaurants will mostly be open. So too will pharmacies, pubs, clubs, cabarets, airports, casinos and gas stations.

I say mostly because while they can be open, May 1 falls on a Wednesday this year and in so doing creates a super 'puente'. A regular puente is when a holiday falls on a Thursday, so we sneak in Friday and call it a 4 day weekend. Or a Tuesday and we add Monday. But a Wednesday means that the weekend may get even longer. So some of the smaller establishments in smaller places keen on a holiday will look to this week.

 

[Anniesantiago]

I've been in Madrid as well as smaller villages on May 1 agree with what wisepilgrim said.
I did manage to find a few bars open for food, but if I were not in a big city, I'd probably be sure to have food in my pack.

 

[mattythedog]

I am no expert but you can count on all banks, shops, and shopping centers to be closed, but cafés and restaurants will mostly be open. So too will pharmacies, pubs, clubs, cabarets, airports, casinos and gas stations.

I say mostly because while they can be open, May 1 falls on a Wednesday this year and in so doing creates a super 'puente'. A regular puente is when a holiday falls on a Thursday, so we sneak in Friday and call it a 4 day weekend. Or a Tuesday and we add Monday. But a Wednesday means that the weekend may get even longer. So some of the smaller establishments in smaller places keen on a holiday will look to this week.

I arrived in Burgos about 10am on that day last year. Most cafes were closed (maybe they opened later) and so were 5 pharmacies I checked. Took me quite a while to find coffee and snack.

 

[David Tallan]

I say mostly because while they can be open, May 1 falls on a Wednesday this year and in so doing creates a super 'puente'. A regular puente is when a holiday falls on a Thursday, so we sneak in Friday and call it a 4 day weekend. Or a Tuesday and we add Monday. But a Wednesday means that the weekend may get even longer. So some of the smaller establishments in smaller places keen on a holiday will look to this week.

When I was working in Spain some 35 years ago, I always looked forward to those holidays that fell on a Tuesday or Thursday because a puente was inevitable. Not so much for the Wednesday holidays, because it wasn't stretched so far back then. On behalf of the Spanish labourers, I am happy that the bridge construction skills have improved since then.

 

[KariannNor]

Does this mean that this year we can risk that everything is closed Wednesday-Sunday? May 1st will be my third day walking, and I think it's difficult to pre-book because I don't know how hard (steep/weather) the stages will be. But, isn't it the case that "as long as there are pilgrims, the locals will do what they can to get an income?" Or, put a little more kindly, do what they can to support/help?

 

[wisepilgrim]

Does this mean that this year we can risk that everything is closed Wednesday-Sunday? May 1st will be my third day walking, and I think it's difficult to pre-book because I don't know how hard (steep/weather) the stages will be. But, isn't it the case that "as long as there are pilgrims, the locals will do what they can to get an income?" Or, put a little more kindly, do what they can to support/help?

No, nothing that dramatic. Things like grocery stores for example rarely close for more than two consecutive days.

I more meant to imply that its a good week for holiday and to expect more things to be closed than usual, but certainly not all or even most.