Three bank holiday weekends to discover Spain out of season: nature, adventure and rural tourism close to home

There is no need to wait for the summer holidays to pack your bags. The final quarter of 2026 includes several bank holidays that can become long weekends or even four-day breaks in some autonomous communities. It is an opportunity to discover nearby destinations and enjoy outdoor experiences as temperatures fall and inland landscapes take on a new dimension.

The working calendar includes three particularly interesting dates. 12 October falls on a Monday, allowing people throughout Spain to enjoy a long weekend. All Saints’ Day, which is celebrated on a Sunday, is moved to Monday 2 November in several communities. In addition, the December bank holiday weekend can be extended to four days in Andalusia, Aragon, Castile and León, Cantabria, Madrid, Murcia, Extremadura and La Rioja, where Monday 7 will be a bank holiday and join Tuesday 8, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception.

In this context, Freedome, a marketplace specialising in outdoor experiences, suggests various options for making the most of these breaks with nature, adventure, gastronomy and rural tourism plans.

Travel nearby to make the most of your time

Short breaks close to home make it possible to reduce travel time and focus the trip on the chosen activity. A night under the stars, a horse-riding route, a gastronomic experience, an adventure day or a snow-based activity can become the centrepiece of a two-, three- or four-day trip.

Autumn and winter also offer a different way to get to know rural and inland destinations. Wildlife watching, hiking, wine tourism, adventure sports and snow-related activities are particularly well suited to these months.

In this way, bank holidays become mini-breaks without the need for long journeys. The activity takes centre stage and offers a different perspective on some Spanish landscapes from that of summer.

12 October bank holiday weekend: nature and adventure to start autumn

The first major long weekend of autumn is a good opportunity to visit inland landscapes, as temperatures begin to fall and nature changes appearance.

In Huesca, the Pre-Pyrenees offers plans focused on switching off and connecting with the surroundings. These include the chance to spend a night in a dome under the stars. In the Sierra de Guara, those looking for a more active option can try a via ferrata in Peñas Juntas.

Asturias also offers several alternatives for a nature break. In the Picos de Europa, it is possible to spend a night in a bubble under the stars as part of a glamping experience. Another option is to discover the area’s wildlife through a bird- and wildlife-watching activity at the Covadonga Lakes.

These suggestions are designed to make the most of three days and combine unusual accommodation, natural landscapes and outdoor activities. Rather than treating the trip simply as a journey, the experience becomes the main reason for the break.

All Saints’ Day: landscapes, horses and wine

Monday 2 November will be a bank holiday in several autonomous communities. The long weekend will coincide with one of the most appealing times of year for exploring rural areas and enjoying activities connected with the landscape, gastronomy and nature.

In Cantabria, a break in the Picos de Europa can include a two-hour horse ride. The experience makes it possible to explore the surroundings at a leisurely pace and approach the landscape from a different perspective.

Castile and León offers another way to view the region. Around Segovia, it is possible to fly over its landscapes in a hot-air balloon, an experience that includes a toast and a picnic.

Gastronomy and wine culture also have their place over this bank holiday weekend. In Ribera del Duero, a premium tasting can be combined with a visit to the winery and its vineyard. The plan offers a way to discover the region through one of its defining features and replace summer tourism with an experience connected to the landscape and local production.

December bank holiday weekend: four days for an adventure break

The December bank holiday weekend offers one of the best opportunities in the calendar to travel before Christmas. In eight autonomous communities, Monday 7 will be a bank holiday and join Tuesday 8, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. For those who have the weekend off, this means four consecutive days of rest.

Navarre is one of the destinations that suits this type of break. In the Bardenas Reales, visitors can take a four-hour buggy tour to discover the landscape. Navarre’s mountains also offer the chance to view the surroundings from the air on a tandem paragliding flight.

In Andalusia, the long weekend will also make it possible to organise four days of rest. Inland tourism offers alternatives away from the coast, such as the experience available in Montoro, Córdoba, which combines a walk with alpacas among olive trees, lunch on a farm and contact with the rural surroundings.

For those who prefer a winter break, the Aragonese Pyrenees offers snow-related activities. These include snowshoe excursions through Ordesa, a different way to explore one of Aragon’s most iconic natural landscapes.

A different way to organise bank holidays

The suggestions for these long weekends share the same idea: there is no need to wait for a long holiday period to travel. Bank holidays make it possible to organise short breaks centred on a specific experience, from sleeping under the stars to exploring a landscape by buggy, watching wildlife, visiting a winery or walking in snowshoes.

Freedome’s selection includes activities in destinations such as the Aragonese Pre-Pyrenees, the Sierra de Guara, the Picos de Europa, Segovia, Ribera del Duero, Navarre, Córdoba and Ordesa. These options are linked to nature, adventure, rural tourism and gastronomy, with the aim of making the most of the autumn and winter months to discover nearby destinations.

Freedome was founded in July 2019 by Michele Mezzanzanica, Manuel Siclari and Simone Ferlisi. The platform operates in Spain and Italy and offers more than 7,000 outdoor experiences, including paragliding, horse riding, snowshoeing, quad-bike tours, rafting and alpaca walks.

According to information provided by the company, Freedome has an “Excellent” rating based on more than 3,600 verified reviews, and more than 600,000 people have chosen its experiences since it was founded.

More information: Freedome