Córdoba
Fiesta de los Patios
Residents open their flower-filled private courtyards to the public for free, competing for prizes.
About 3 to 16 May 2027 (dates set by the city…
Spain in May
Patios, pilgrimages and the start of beach season in the south
Weather in May
Green northMild and greener than ever.
Madrid and the centreWarm; San Isidro in Madrid.
Mediterranean coastWarm; beach weather starting.
AndalusiaWarm to hot inland.
Canary IslandsWarm and sunny.
Córdoba’s Patios festival, San Isidro in Madrid (15 May), El Rocío at Pentecost, and Corpus Christi in Toledo (27 May 2027).
Fiestas in May
Madrid
San Isidro
Madrid’s own fiesta: picnics in San Isidro meadow, chulapos and chulapas in traditional dress, chotis dancing and free concerts.
Around 15 May 2027
Almonte (Huelva)
Romería de El Rocío
Up to a million pilgrims travel on foot, on horseback and in decorated wagons across the Doñana marshes to the village of El Rocío.
Around 15 to 17 May 2027 (Pentecost Sunday is…
Toledo
Corpus Christi
Toledo’s streets are shaded with awnings, hung with tapestries and scattered with herbs for a solemn procession of a 16th-century gold mons…
Thursday 27 May 2027
Where to go in May
Andalusia
Córdoba
The Mezquita-Catedral, flower-filled patios and a perfectly preserved old Jewish quarter, with fast trains to Madrid, Seville and Málaga.
€€€€ 1 to 2 days
Community of Madrid
Madrid
Spain’s capital: the Prado, huge parks, late nights, the country’s biggest job market and a city that welcomes newcomers quickly.
€€€€ 3 to 4 days
Castilla-La Mancha
Toledo
The city of three cultures on a hill above the Tagus: cathedral, synagogues, El Greco and a maze of medieval streets.
€€€€ 1 to 2 days
Catalonia
Girona
A medieval city with colourful riverside houses, a famous cycling scene and the Costa Brava 40 minutes away, under 40 minutes from Barcelon…
€€€€ 1 to 2 days
Basque Country
San Sebastián (Donostia)
Europe’s pintxo capital: La Concha bay, surf at Zurriola, Michelin-starred restaurants and one of Spain’s most expensive and liveable citie…
€€€€ 2 to 3 days
Andalusia
Cádiz
One of Europe’s oldest cities, almost surrounded by the Atlantic: city beaches, fried fish, a carnival famous for its satire and the Costa …
€€€€ 1 to 2 days
Frequently asked questions
Where should I go in Spain in May?
Good choices in May include Córdoba, Madrid, Toledo, Girona, San Sebastián (Donostia), Cádiz. Córdoba’s Patios festival, San Isidro in Madrid (15 May), El Rocío at Pentecost, and Corpus Christi in Toledo (27 May 2027).
What is the weather like in Spain in May?
Green north: Mild and greener than ever. Madrid and the centre: Warm; San Isidro in Madrid. Mediterranean coast: Warm; beach weather starting. Andalusia: Warm to hot inland. Canary Islands: Warm and sunny.
What fiestas are on in Spain in May?
Fiesta de los Patios (Córdoba): About 3 to 16 May 2027 (dates set by the city each year). San Isidro (Madrid): Around 15 May 2027. Romería de El Rocío (Almonte (Huelva)): Around 15 to 17 May 2027 (Pentecost Sunday is 16 May). Corpus Christi (Toledo): Thursday 27 May 2027.