Two more holiday weekends coming up - plan accordingly

[klimmo]

Hi,

Just to remind some overseas people that in most countries in Europe we have quite a few holidays in spring (april/may) and that two are still coming up:

The first is the ascension weekend from Thursday 18th to Sunday 21 May
And the Pentecote (sorry only know the name in French) from Saturday 27 to Monday 29 May

A lot of people will take the week in between off from work as you'll have 12 days off by only taking 4 (or 5 depending if the 19th is given as a holiday).

I work in tourism in Switzerland and we definitely see an uptick in bookings for these weekends, as a first teaser of summer that will start at the end of June and goes through August.

No fear! Just knowledge to be able to plan accordingly!

For future planning, the spring holidays in most of Europe are: Good Friday, Easter, Ascension, Pentecote, 1 May. The dates will differ per year! As it depends on the first full moon after the spring equinox.

Buen camino

 

[naplesdon]

Add to that list the various school holidays that rotate on the calendar so that all schools are not out at the same time in France and you have lots of people out and about on hikes, etc.

 

[Luka]

Combining Ascension Day and Pentecost was my favorite when I still had an office job. Also the perfect time of the year for hiking in most European countries.

 

[klimmo]

Combining Ascension Day and Pentecost was my favorite when I still had an office job. Also the perfect time of the year for hiking in most European countries.

Yes! Love the spring, with the snowline going up, and the explosion of flowers and green everywhere. It makes me so happy!

 

[nilesite]

It’s always good to keep in mind that while there can be an infinite number of pilgrims, there is typically a finite number of beds. Medieval pilgrims knew that.

 

[Ghost Rydurrrr]

this explains why santiago is mostly sold out already for the 19-20 of May and remaining rooms are sky high. Tfti

 

[uturnshari]

I am planning my September/October hike. Are there any important holidays during that period that could be make things crowded? Thanks!

 

[C clearly]

I am planning my September/October hike. Are there any important holidays during that period that could be make things crowded? Thanks!

Have a look at this thread.

 

[klimmo]

Apart from the fiestas there are a few national holidays. But these are more national than European. And apart from shops being closed they are less of a big thing than the spring long weekends where the whole of Europe is off at the same time and thus more likely to travel.

In France: All Saints (1 nov); Armistice Day (11 nov)
In Spain: National Day (12 oct) ; All Saints (1 nov); Constitution Day (6 dec)
In Portugal: Republic Day (5 oct); All Saints (1 nov); Independance Day (1 dec)

Add to these the holidays of the different Spanish regions (this is less the case in France).

There are also one or two week autumn school holidays depending on country and/or region.

 

[klimmo]

Please remember that while a lot of national holidays are linked to a specific date, this is not the case for the whole Good Friday to Pentecote weekends.

Easter is calculated as the first sunday after the full moon on or after the spring equinox. Some years they fall earlier or later. In 2024 Easter will be the weekend of April 9 and in 2025 even earlier on March 31. The other holidays then follow; Ascension is 40 days after Easter and Pentecote is 10 days later.