Map
7 ideas, picked for these days
A weekend in Albarracín and the Rodeno, two hours from Valencia
In May the Rodeno pine woods no longer have snow, the days are long enough for the paintings and an afternoon on horseback, and the heat of Teruel has not yet set in. Albarracín fills up at midday on long weekends: sleep inside the old town and do the cathedral and the castle with a guide first thing.
A weekend at the Lagunas de Ruidera, an hour and a half from Albacete and Ciudad Real
In spring the lagoons carry more water and the falls linking them run strongly, which is when the waterfall route looks its best. The summer heat has not yet reached the paths and the park is not yet full of swimmers: book the kayak and the Cueva de Montesinos.
Pablo Cabezos from Mostoles, España · CC BY 2.0A weekend in the Sierra Norte: Patones, the Hayedo de Montejo and Buitrago
In May the Montejo Beech Wood puts on new leaves and the passes are less in demand than in autumn; the online draw opens on the 1st and 16th of each month. The Beech Wood is closed on Mondays, so go on the first day, and in Patones the rock is dry and mild for the introductory climbing session.
taquiman · CC BY-SA 2.0A weekend in the Sierra de Gredos, two hours from Madrid
At the start of May the climb to the Laguna Grande may still have snow in the high areas: ask in Hoyos del Espino the night before. If there is, swap the route for the south face of the Puerto del Pico, lower and in full spring, with the Cuevas del Águila and Arenas.
Aranjuez: palace, gardens and boat
The Strawberry Train runs its spring season, which includes the May long weekend, from the Delicias Railway Museum to Aranjuez in wooden carriages. You arrive in time for the guided palace tour, the Isla gardens in bloom and the boat on the Tagus.
La Pedriza: El Tolmo and the castle
At weekends and on public holidays the Canto Cochino barrier stops cars in mid-morning, when the quota is full, so this plan starts before 10:30. In spring the La Pedriza streams run full and the granite does not yet burn.
Duratón Gorges: canoe and San Frutos
In May the griffon vultures in the canyon have chicks in the nests, and from the canoe you can watch them going in and out of the walls. It is nesting season, with restricted areas from January to July: the Casa del Parque, in Sepúlveda, tells you which before you go up to San Frutos.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Is Dos de Mayo a holiday in Madrid?
Yes, it is the holiday of the Community of Madrid and applies across the region. When it falls on a Sunday it is not always moved to the Monday: check that year's working calendar.
Is there snow in the sierra over the May long weekend?
There may be some on the peaks of Gredos and Guadarrama, especially on the climb to the Laguna Grande. Ask at the visitor centre before you go and have a plan below the snow line.
Does the Strawberry Train run over the May long weekend?
Yes, its spring season includes it. It leaves from the Madrid Railway Museum and the tickets for the long weekend sell out early.
Which getaway avoids the exit traffic jams?
The nearby ones, Aranjuez and the Sierra Norte, an hour or less away. For the distant ones, leave very early on the first day or the afternoon before.