# May long weekend from Girona: getaways for 1 May, Labour Day Three getaways with a night away and four day trips from Girona for 1 May, Labour Day: the Cité of Carcassonne with the canal sailing, the Empordà before the coast, the Cardona parador, newly flooded rice fields and the green beech wood. Fuente: https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/catalonia/girona/getaways/may-long-weekend · Revisado: 2026-11-13 Origen: Girona - [A weekend in Carcassonne: the Cité, the Canal du Midi and a Cathar castle](https://www.geocalia.com/en/france/occitanie/carcassonne/itineraries/weekend-cite-from-girona.md) (2 nights, Carcassonne): 1 May is also a holiday in France, so the Cité fills with French families: sleep inside or at the foot and tour it early and at dusk. The Canal du Midi boat sails from April to October, so it is already running. - [A weekend in the medieval Empordà, based in Peratallada](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/catalonia/peratallada/itineraries/medieval-weekend-peratallada-emporda.md) (2 nights, Peratallada): From May to August the balloon goes up every day at 6:30, and in May the Baix Empordà does not yet have the coastal crowds. Book the flight and dinner before leaving: the hotel restaurant is closed on Wednesdays. - [Two nights at the Parador de Cardona, inside the castle, with the Salt Mountain and Solsona](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/catalonia/cardona/itineraries/two-nights-inside-the-castle-cardona.md) (2 nights, Cardona): From May the castle closes at 19:00, and as 1 May is a holiday, it opens even if it falls on a Monday. The parador's Saturdays sell out early: on a long weekend, book as soon as you know the days. - [Pals: rice fields, Gothic quarter and beach](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/catalonia/pals/itineraries/pals-rice-fields-gothic-quarter-and-beach.md) (Day itinerary, Pals): In spring the Pals rice fields are flooded and green, and the beach can still be parked at without effort. The little train among the rice fields has limited places and dates that change with the season: book it along with lunch. - [Berguedà by motorbike: Coll de la Creueta and a mountain table](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/catalonia/berga/itineraries/bergueda-motorbike-route.md) (Day itinerary, Berga): May opens the good season for the Coll de la Creueta, at over 1,900 metres, when there is no longer snow in the verge. In spring there may be gravel on the bends, and the petrol is filled in Berga. - [Montseny: easy beech forest and grill](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/catalonia/montseny/itineraries/montseny-beech-forest-and-grill.md) (Day itinerary, Montseny): The Santa Fe beech wood has in May and June its other season, with the light green of new leaves. The loop round the reservoir is flat, 2.6 km, and works with a pushchair, with grandparents and with a dog on a lead. - [Penedès: a walk through the vines and an aperitif at the winery](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/catalonia/penedes/itineraries/penedes-wine-walk-and-aperitif-from-barcelona.md) (Day itinerary, Penedès): In May the vines on the Camí del Vi already have leaves and the family winery's terrace opens for the aperitif. It is 3.5 flat km and one-way only: booking is essential, and more so on a holiday. ## If 1 May gives you three days, cross the border 1 May, Labour Day, falls on a different day each year, and that decides the trip. If it falls on a Friday or Monday, you have three days and France begins an hour away: Carcassonne is a little over two hours away via the AP-7 and A9, and it is the long weekend it fits best, with the canal already sailing and long afternoons to see the Cité when the groups leave. If it falls midweek and you do not take the bridge, do not cross: the single day is enough for Pals or the Montseny beech wood, and you are back for dinner at home. It is worth knowing one thing before booking on the other side: 1 May is also a holiday in France. The Cité receives half of Languedoc that weekend, so accommodation inside the walls goes sooner than on other long weekends and the castle has a queue from mid-morning. First-hour entry and the rampart walk at dusk remain yours. ## The Empordà, a month before the coast May is the last month when the Baix Empordà is seen as those who live nearby see it. The Pals rice fields are flooded, the stone villages do not yet have July's queues and in Peratallada you park without circling. The balloon goes up at 6:30 every day from May to August: with two nights in Peratallada, the flight fits into the first dawn and the rest of Saturday is for the Iberian city of Ullastret and the dolmens of the Gavarres. Inland, the other option with a night is Cardona: sleeping inside the castle, seeing the collegiate church when the visitors have gone and going down to the Salt Mountain gallery. It is less than two hours away and does not depend on the weather. ## What to book beforehand and what not On a May long weekend the first things to sell out are the small rooms: those inside Peratallada, the Cardona parador on a Saturday and those in the Cité. Then the quotas: the balloon, the little train of the Pals rice fields and timed visits. Tables, in the villages, are booked by phone and it is wise to confirm the closing day, because many Empordà restaurants rest midweek and a holiday does not always change that. What needs no booking is what suits the single day best: the Santa Fe beech wood, with its new leaves, and the motorbike route through the Berguedà, which in May already climbs to the Coll de la Creueta without snow. ## Tramontana, sun and cold water May weather is good for walking and bad for swimming: the sea is still cold and on Pals beach you stroll more than swim. The tramuntana can blow for two or three days in a row in the Alt Empordà; with wind, the balloon does not fly and the flight is moved to another day, so do not leave it for the last morning. In the Montseny and the Berguedà the afternoons cool: bring an extra layer even if it is hot in Girona. ## Little train, reservoir and walls for the little ones The little train among the Pals rice fields suits all ages, and the beach is next door. The loop around the Santa Fe reservoir is flat and takes a pushchair. In Carcassonne, the walk between the two walls appeals at any age, and the Cité is toured on foot without cars. In Cardona, the castle and the mine are enough for a morning; check the minimum age for the gallery visit first. ## The AP-7 with both sides of the border The AP-7 towards La Jonquera gets heavy the afternoon before the holiday, with traffic from both sides of the border: leave early or after dinner. The return from the Baix Empordà via the C-66 and from France via the AP-7 coincide on the last day in mid-afternoon; if you can, return after lunch or late. For the Penedès, the Camí del Vi is better done without driving: train to Barcelona and Rodalies to Vilafranca. ## Preguntas frecuentes ### Is Carcassonne worth it on the May long weekend? Yes, if you have three days and sleep inside or at the foot of the Cité. Bear in mind that 1 May is also a holiday in France and there will be lots of people at midday: get up early and return at dusk. ### Can you go to the beach? For a stroll, yes: Pals and its beach are less than an hour away. For swimming the water is still cold. ### What should you book first? Charming accommodation in Peratallada, the Cité or the Cardona parador; then the balloon and the Pals little train.