# August long weekend from San Sebastián: getaways for 15 August, the Assumption Getaways from San Sebastián for 15 August, in the middle of Semana Grande: Gavarnie in its best month, northern Palencia, Burgos and Silos, the Matarraña and the Arcachon bay. Fuente: https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/basque-country/san-sebastian/getaways/august-long-weekend · Revisado: 2026-11-13 Origen: San Sebastián - [A weekend in Gavarnie, the other side of Ordesa, 3 hours from San Sebastián](https://www.geocalia.com/en/france/cirque-de-gavarnie/itineraries/weekend-cirque-and-waterfall.md) (2 nights, Cirque de Gavarnie): August is one of Gavarnie's best months: the path to the waterfall, free of snow, and the cirque restaurant and hotels open. 15 August is also a holiday in France, and on the path there are more people and horses: start walking before nine and continue to Troumouse in the afternoon. - [A weekend in Aguilar de Campoo: Romanesque, Las Loras and bison, an hour and a quarter from Burgos and Santander](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/castile-and-leon/aguilar-de-campoo/itineraries/aguilar-de-campoo-romanesque-and-bison-weekend.md) (1 night, Aguilar de Campoo and the Romanesque of Palencia): Aguilar de Campoo is at almost 900 metres and in August the nights are cool, when the coast sleeps in damp heat. The Convento de Mave serves lunches in summer: order the roast lamb when you book. The Sunday European bison are seen with a guide and booking. - [A weekend in Burgos and Atapuerca, an hour and a half from Valladolid](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/castile-and-leon/burgos/itineraries/night-with-atapuerca-from-valladolid.md) (1 night, Burgos): In August the Atapuerca sites continue with guided visits, and Burgos empties of city people, who go off to the village. Book the visit by phone, and the wood-fired lamb. If the 15th falls on a Monday, remember that many Burgos museums close on Mondays. - [A weekend in Covarrubias and Silos, an hour from Burgos](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/castile-and-leon/covarrubias-and-silos/itineraries/covarrubias-silos-gregorian-chant-weekend.md) (1 night, Covarrubias and Santo Domingo de Silos): Silos in August is a stone village with cool nights and vespers sung every afternoon in the monastery. Do La Yecla or the juniper-wood route in the morning: at midday the sun beats down on the moor. Casa Galín is booked beforehand. - [A weekend in the Matarraña: Valderrobres, Beceite and the Puertos, under two hours from Zaragoza](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/aragon/valderrobres-and-matarrana/itineraries/matarranya-valderrobres-beceite-weekend.md) (2 nights, Valderrobres and the Matarraña): In summer the Sunday plan swaps the Ports for the Pena reservoir, with swimming, and the Parrizal de Beceite is walked on walkways beside the river. The Parrizal ticket sells out in August: buy it as soon as you have the date. - [Laguardia, Baigorri and a night at Viura](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/basque-country/laguardia-and-rioja-alavesa/itineraries/glass-winery-and-sonsierra.md) (Day itinerary, Laguardia and the Rioja Alavesa): August is one of Rioja Alavesa's quiet months: the vineyard is laden with green grapes and the harvest is weeks away. If the 15th falls midweek, it fits with the opening days of Héctor Oribe and Baigorri. In August some wineries close for holidays: confirm when you book. - [An oyster weekend on the Arcachon bay, 2 h 30 from San Sebastián](https://www.geocalia.com/en/france/nouvelle-aquitaine/arcachon-bay/itineraries/oyster-weekend.md) (2 nights, Arcachon Bay): For those who want the sea away from home in the busiest week: in July and August there are traffic jams towards Cap Ferret and 15 August is a holiday in France. Climb the Pilat dune first thing or at dusk, and eat the oysters in the hut at midday, when the beach fills. ## The Assumption falls in Semana Grande 15 August, the Assumption, is a holiday across Spain, and in San Sebastián it coincides every year with Semana Grande, Aste Nagusia, held in the week of the 15th with fireworks over the bay every night. When the holiday falls on a Friday or Monday there is a three-day long weekend; when it falls on a Sunday, the Basque calendar does not always move it to another day. For someone who lives in the city, the August long weekend's question is not just where to go, but whether to leave. The city is full, coastal prices are at their peak and beach traffic starts at dawn. This page is for those who decide to go, and who go where not everyone is. ## Up high, in the French Pyrenees The cirque of Gavarnie, three hours away via Pau and Lourdes, is the high-mountain getaway of the long weekend. In August the path to the Grande Cascade is free of snow, the restaurant opposite is open and the afternoons are long. The downside is the people: 15 August is also a holiday in France, and the cirque path fills with families and horses. Start walking before nine, and leave Troumouse, quieter, for the afternoon. ## Towards the plateau, in search of cool nights In August northern Castile is the alternative to the coast. Aguilar de Campoo is at almost 900 metres and Silos near a thousand: days can be hot, but nights call for a jacket. There the long weekend is spent among Romanesque churches, monasteries and roast lunches. Burgos, with the cathedral and Atapuerca, completes either. To the southeast, the Matarraña is for those who want fresh water: the Parrizal de Beceite is walked along the river and in the Pena reservoir you swim and paddle. ## Rioja in August Rioja Alavesa in August is between two seasons, with the vineyard green and laden and the wineries without the harvest rush. It is a good time for a leisurely tasting. Watch out for holidays: some small wineries and restaurants close for a few weeks in August. ## Donkeys, bison and a dune At Gavarnie, the path to the cirque is wide, and in summer there are donkeys and horses for part of the way. At Aguilar, European bison with a guide. In the Matarraña, the Parrizal walkways run beside the water and the Pena reservoir has a swimming area. And in Arcachon, climbing up and down the Pilat dune is the excursion they remember most. ## When to book For the August long weekend you book months ahead: hotels in Gavarnie and Arcachon, the Parrizal ticket, the roasts at Mave and Covarrubias and the Atapuerca visit. On the plateau there is more margin than on the coast, but small villages have few beds. ## Leaving the city in Semana Grande Leaving San Sebastián in the week of the 15th has its trick: do it early in the morning, before access to the province's beaches clogs. The AP-8 towards France is slow at Biriatou all month, and the return on the last day from mid-afternoon. If you come back to see the fireworks on the last night, leave the car outside the centre and come in by public transport. ## Preguntas frecuentes ### What days is San Sebastián's Semana Grande? It is held each year in the week of 15 August, with fireworks over the bay every night. The exact dates are published by the council. ### Are there a lot of people at Gavarnie in August? Yes, because it is high season and 15 August is a holiday in France. Start walking before nine and leave the Troumouse and Estaubé cirques for the afternoon. ### Where can you sleep cool in August near San Sebastián? On the plateau: Aguilar de Campoo and Silos, at almost 900 and nearly 1,000 metres, have cool nights even in high summer. ### Do the Rioja wineries open in August? Most do, although some small ones close for holidays. Confirm it when you book the tasting.