Benalmadena Visitors Guide
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Spanish National and Benalmadena Local Holidays

Check the dates before you travel

 
The Spanish are fortunate to enjoy many more Bank Holidays than we do in the UK and unlike the UK, not only do banks, schools and offices close but so do nearly all other retail outlets. The same can be said for Sundays in Benalmadena where, except in the summer season, all shops tend to close with the exception of bread shops and some small corner grocery shops. Below is a list of bank holidays celebrated in Spain together with local holidays in Benalmadena:-
 
 
 Date
Name
 National/Regional/Local
1st January 
 New Years Day
 National
6th January
 Ephiphany or Spanish Xmas Day
National
28th February 
Andalucia Day
National
March/April (1)
Maundy Thursday (Optional)
National – optional
March/April (1)
Good Friday
National
March/April (1)
Easter Sunday
National
1st May
Labour day
National
24th June(2)
San Juan
Local
15th August
Assumption Day
National
12th October
Hispanic day
National
1st November
All Saints Day
National
6th December
Constitution Day
National
8th December
Feast of Immaculate Conception
National
25th December
Christmas Day
National
 
(1) The Easter holidays are not on a set date
(2) The Fiesta de San Juan is a local holiday. Banks are open reduced hours for the week of the Fiesta and post their opening times at each bank.

The Spanish are renowned for taking their “haciendo puente”, or taking a bridge. This happens when a bank holiday falls on a Tuesday or Thursday so they take the preceding Monday or following Friday to make a long weekend holiday. You can imagine that during the first week in December it’s quite a lean time at the shops. Schools also follow the example and will often be closed on bridge days.