Map
8 ideas, picked for these days
A weekend in Guadalupe and the Villuercas, three hours from Madrid
8 September is the day of the Virgen de Guadalupe, patron saint of Extremadura, and so Extremadura Day: the monastery celebrates its great festival and the village receives pilgrims from across the region. If you want to experience it, go that day and book the bed well in advance.
Two Nights in Sesimbra and Azeitão, 40 Minutes from Lisbon: Coves by Boat, Fish and Moscatel
From June to September boats go to the turquoise coves beside the Arrábida, and in early September the bay water is at its warmest. 8 September is not a holiday in Portugal: there is room on the boat and at the cataplana tables.
Monsaraz: lake beach and sunset
The Monsaraz river beach has lifeguards from June to September, with dates set each year by the council: in early September it is usually still supervised and Lake Alqueva keeps the summer's warmth. Go up to the village when the sun goes down.
Two Nights in the Serra da Estrela, Two and a Half Hours from Salamanca
September is one of the good months in the Serra da Estrela: high roads open, paths dry and the plateau heat far away. From Badajoz it is a little over three hours: with two nights in Manteigas there is time for the Zêzere glacial valley and the Torre.
A Weekend in Nazaré, an Hour and a Half from Lisbon: Surf, the Sítio, Giant Waves and Alcobaça
From May to September is beginner surf season in Nazaré bay, with the least cold water of the year. In September, around the 8th, the Sítio celebrates the festivals of Nossa Senhora da Nazaré, beside the sanctuary. On Sunday, the Alcobaça monastery.
A Night in Óbidos from Lisbon: the Walls at Dusk, Dinner by the Wall-Walk and a Canoe on the Lagoon
Early September is the start of Óbidos's best season: the Rua Direita without August's crowds and canoeing on the lagoon still in season. Sleep inside the wall and stroll at dusk. A Nova Casa de Ramiro is closed on Sundays.
A Stargazing Night in Monsaraz, an Hour and a Half from Badajoz
In September the Alqueva nights are mild and the sky remains clear after summer. The Cumeada telescope session runs Tuesday to Saturday and starts about an hour after sunset: book it and choose a night near the new moon.
A Templar Weekend in Tomar, an Hour and a Half from Lisbon: Convent, Almourol, Medieval Banquet and Castelo de Bode
September opens Tomar's good season after August's heat, with the boat on the Castelo de Bode reservoir still in season. 8 September is a working day in Portugal and the Convent of Christ opens on its normal hours: go first thing, before the groups.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Is 8 September a holiday across Spain?
No: only in Extremadura, where it is Extremadura Day, the festival of the Virgen de Guadalupe. In the rest of Spain and in Portugal it is a working day.
What happens in Guadalupe on 8 September?
It is the great festival of its Virgin, patron saint of Extremadura. The monastery and the village receive many pilgrims.
Is the beach season still on in Portugal in early September?
Yes: the water is at its warmest and the boats to the Sesimbra coves run until September.
Is there anything nearby for a single day?
The Monsaraz river beach, an hour and a half away, with the climb to the village at sunset.