Map
8 ideas, picked for these days
A birdwatching weekend in Monfragüe, three hours from Madrid
From March to May the Monfragüe birds are nesting: griffon vultures occupy the Salto del Gitano wall and, with luck and binoculars, black stork, Egyptian vulture or imperial eagle can be seen. In spring the park also runs free guided walks. Book the rural house and the Sunday 4x4.
Trujillo: square, medieval village and castle
From February to July lesser kestrels nest on the roofs of Trujillo's Plaza Mayor, and in May you see them hunting over the square at any hour. The morning guided visit bundles four tickets for €18. The afternoon, sitting in the square, looking up.
A weekend in Guadalupe and the Villuercas, three hours from Madrid
In spring the Villuercas have green ranges and full streams, and it is one of its two best seasons, with autumn. Two nights beside the monastery allow for the guided visit, the hermitage and a walk. The vulture hide is booked beforehand.
Évora: megaliths with an archaeologist
In spring the Almendres cork-oak grove is green and flowering, and it is the best time to spend three hours in the countryside with the archaeologist. Groups are of 3 to 7 people: book. 1 May is also a holiday in Portugal, and Évora receives many Portuguese visitors.
On foot from Castelo de Vide to Marvão
The path from Castelo de Vide to Marvão is almost ten kilometres among chestnut trees, and in spring the countryside is green and the sun not yet oppressive. It is not done in July and August: almost all in the sun. May is one of its best months. Remember: in Portugal, one hour earlier.
A Templar Weekend in Tomar, an Hour and a Half from Lisbon: Convent, Almourol, Medieval Banquet and Castelo de Bode
The Convent of Christ is closed on 1 May, so if the long weekend starts that day, leave Tomar for the second and do Almourol and the Pegões first. From April to June the Tagus and the Castelo de Bode reservoir are at their best for the boat.
A Stargazing Night in Monsaraz, an Hour and a Half from Badajoz
Spring is one of the best seasons for the Alqueva sky, with mild nights for being outdoors. The Cumeada telescope sessions run Tuesday to Saturday: choose the night and check the moon phase, because with a full moon you cannot see the Milky Way.
Jerez de los Caballeros: towers and citadel
In spring Jerez de los Caballeros is toured without summer's heat, between the towers of San Miguel and San Bartolomé and the Templar fortress. The Museum of Sacred Art, with Jerez's Holy Week, opens on Sunday from 10:00 to 14:00. An hour from Badajoz.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Is 1 May a holiday in Portugal?
Yes, it is the Dia do Trabalhador. Some monuments close that day, such as the Convent of Christ in Tomar and the Jerónimos in Lisbon.
Can you see birds in Monfragüe in May?
It is one of its best months: from March to May the birds are nesting. From the Salto del Gitano you see griffon vultures up close and, with luck, black stork or imperial eagle.
What can you do in a single day?
Trujillo, Jerez de los Caballeros, Évora or Marvão, all less than two hours away. Remember that in Portugal it is one hour earlier.
Is it already hot in May?
It can be: at the end of the month there are afternoons of thirty degrees. Leave long walks for the morning.