# May long weekend from San Sebastián: getaways for 1 May, Labour Day One- or two-night getaways from San Sebastián for 1 May: the Arcachon bay in its month, Llanes, the Mundaka estuary and the Bidart path with a boat back. Fuente: https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/basque-country/san-sebastian/getaways/may-long-weekend · Revisado: 2026-11-13 Origen: San Sebastián - [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): April and May are, with September and October, Arcachon's best months: the Pilat dune without summer's crowds and the oyster farmers' huts open, with a dozen at €10 or €13. Check the tides before booking the boat: at low tide departures change. - [A weekend in Llanes and the eastern Asturian coast, an hour from Santander](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/asturias/llanes/itineraries/llanes-eastern-asturian-coast-weekend.md) (2 nights, Llanes): In May the Llanes coast is green and its beaches almost empty, because the festivals and the crowds arrive in July. Kayaking between coves and caves depends on the sea: book it and let the company give you the time according to tide and swell. - [A weekend in Urdaibai, an hour from Vitoria: the estuary by canoe, Gernika and Gaztelugatxe](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/basque-country/urdaibai/itineraries/urdaibai-canoe-gaztelugatxe-weekend.md) (1 night, Urdaibai): May to September is Urdaibai's season, and May has it without August on top. Go up to Gaztelugatxe first thing and check beforehand whether that day is controlled access, as set by the Bizkaia provincial council. The estuary canoe goes out according to the tide. - [Coastal path and boat along the corniche](https://www.geocalia.com/en/france/nouvelle-aquitaine/french-basque-coast/itineraries/bidart-cliff-walk-to-saint-jean-de-luz.md) (Day itinerary, French Basque Coast): Spring is the best time for the 13 km of coastal path from Bidart to Saint-Jean-de-Luz, with temperatures right for the climbs and the cliff boat running since April. In summer there is almost no shade; in May you walk happily all day. - [La Rhune: rack railway and Espelette](https://www.geocalia.com/en/france/nouvelle-aquitaine/french-basque-coast/itineraries/sunday-la-rhune-and-espelette.md) (Day itinerary, French Basque Coast): The wooden La Rhune train runs from the end of March, and May is among its best months. In France 1 and 8 May are holidays: those days the queue is longer, so buy a timed ticket on its website and go up early. - [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): April, May and June are the best time for the Romanesque of northern Palencia, with the moors green. The Convento de Mave serves lunches from late March to October: order the roast lamb when you book. The Sunday European bison visit is also booked. - [Olite: palace, grill and Ujué](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/navarre/olite/itineraries/royal-palace-grill-house-and-ujue.md) (Day itinerary, Olite): May is one of Olite's marked months, with the Zona Media countryside green and just enough warmth to climb the Royal Palace towers. An hour and a half by motorway and back for dinner. The grill on the Rúa Mayor is closed Tuesday and Wednesday. - [A weekend in Aínsa: Añisclo, a canyon descent and the square at dusk, an hour and a half from Huesca](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/aragon/ainsa-and-sobrarbe/itineraries/ainsa-anisclo-canyoning-weekend.md) (2 nights, Aínsa and the Sobrarbe): For those with four days: from April to June the Añisclo canyon is full of water and the road is quiet in the morning. From San Sebastián it is a little over three hours, so it is better with two nights in Aínsa and the Guara canyon booked. ## 1 May, on both sides of the border In the Basque Country 1 May, Labour Day, is the only holiday of the week, so the long weekend makes itself: three days if it falls on a Friday or Monday, four if it falls on a Tuesday or Thursday and you take the day in between. On the other side of the Bidasoa it is also a holiday, and a week later France stops again on 8 May. You notice it on the Lapurdi coast and in Les Landes: May is the month of the French "ponts". With three days, one night away. With four, two, and the longest getaways on this page: Llanes, Aguilar de Campoo and Aínsa, all a little over three hours away. ## May on the coast, before it is summer From San Sebastián, the May long weekend is a good chance to get to know the coast you do not see in summer. The Arcachon bay, two and a half hours away, has in May one of its best moments: the Pilat dune is climbed without a queue, the bay's water is still cold but calm, and the oyster farmers' huts open for lunch above the tide. To the west, Llanes is green and with empty beaches, and kayaking between coves and caves goes out on the days the sea allows. Closer, Urdaibai calls for a night in Mundaka: canoeing along the estuary to Laida one day and Gaztelugatxe first thing the other. ## Walking the Lapurdi coast Half an hour from home is the simplest plan and one of the best of the month. The coastal path from Bidart to Saint-Jean-de-Luz is 13 km of cliffs, with short climbs and views of La Rhune, and in May it is walked without heat. On arrival, squid behind the market, and in the afternoon the cliff boat, running since April, shows you from the sea what you have walked. The other day plan is to go up La Rhune on the rack train. With 1 and 8 May holidays in France, buy a timed ticket and go up on the first clear day. ## Inland: stone and green countryside If the weather brings rain, the interior is usually better. Olite is an hour and a half by motorway, and in May the Royal Palace is toured with the Zona Media countryside still green. Further away, the Romanesque of Aguilar de Campoo has in spring the moors in flower and an inn inside the Santa María la Real monastery. ## Running down the dune The La Rhune train appeals at any age. In Arcachon, climbing the Pilat dune is an outing in itself, and running down it another. In Urdaibai, the canoe along the estuary is calm water and ends on a beach; the 241 steps of Gaztelugatxe, better from about age eight. And in Aguilar, European bison with a guide. ## The "ponts" fill Lapurdi May on the French coast has to be booked earlier than it seems, because of the French holidays: the hotels in Arcachon and Saint-Jean-de-Luz and the La Rhune train tickets. In Llanes and Mundaka there is less pressure than in summer, but kayaks and canoes have places by departure. And in Aguilar, the Mave lunch and the bison visit. ## Biriatou and the A-8 The exit towards France on the AP-8 and Biriatou gets heavy the evening before, and the return on the last day from mid-afternoon. Towards Cantabria and Asturias, the A-8 gets heavy passing Bilbao on the first and last days. The Topo and the French regional train are the car-free alternative for Lapurdi: they take you to Hendaye and from there to Saint-Jean-de-Luz. ## Preguntas frecuentes ### Is Arcachon worth it in May? Yes. It is one of its best months: dune without queues, oyster huts open and mid-season prices. The water is still cold for swimming. ### Which days are holidays in France in May? 1 May and 8 May, besides Ascension and Whit Monday, which change date each year. On those days the French coast has more people. ### What if I only have 1 May free? The Bidart to Saint-Jean-de-Luz path, La Rhune with Espelette or Olite and Ujué. All three let you be back for dinner. ### Do I need to book Gaztelugatxe in May? Only on controlled-access days, set by the Bizkaia provincial council's annual calendar. Check it before going.