Being alone in August or at Christmas when Spain goes to family

Terms used

• Semana Santa — Semana Santa is Holy Week, the week before Easter, when many Spaniards travel and cities empty.
• Puente — A puente is a bridge day off between a holiday and a weekend, often used for short trips.
• Nochebuena — Nochebuena is Christmas Eve, the main family dinner of the Spanish Christmas.
• Senderismo — Senderismo is hiking or walking in the countryside, often through local clubs.

Key rules

• August: Many city businesses close around 15 August, so expect friends, classes and clubs to be away.
• Christmas: Nochebuena and 25 December are family days and many venues close, so book a group meal or trip ahead.
• Booking: Book August plans by early summer and Christmas plans by November.
• Small towns: Organised options are thin outside big cities and expat hubs, so plan travel or invitations early.

Expect two quiet spells, and plan for them

August and Christmas are predictable lows. Friends leave for the coast or their home towns, classes and clubs pause, and social life becomes family-only. Plan company early and these weeks will feel very different.

Many newcomers also hit a low in their first winter, often around months 3 to 6, when days are short and the novelty fades. Individual experience varies widely.

When Spain is emptiest

Cities feel empty at these times:

• Christmas to Epiphany (25 December to 6 January).
• Semana Santa (Holy Week).
• August, especially around 15 August, when many city businesses close.
• The October and December puentes.
• Local fiesta weeks.

A puente is a bridge day: when a holiday falls near a weekend, many people take the day in between off and leave town. In 2026, for example, 8 December is a Tuesday, so Monday 7 December works as a puente.

National holidays are 1 January, 6 January, Good Friday, 1 May, 15 August, 12 October, 1 November, 6 December, 8 December and 25 December. Regions and towns add their own days, so check your region's official calendar for the exact dates. Each year's calendar is published in autumn.

Nochebuena (Christmas Eve) and 25 December are centred on family, and many venues close. Don't expect to find something at the last minute.

When to book

• September: sign up for weekly classes, clubs or sports that run through winter. Put them in your calendar.
• Early summer: book August plans such as trips, group meals, host invitations or visits from home.
• November: book Christmas plans the same way.

Also plan regular calls home, and keep a short list of people you can contact on a bad day.

Ways to find company

These work best in large cities and expat hubs, and are thin in small towns.

• Language exchanges and Meetup groups. Many keep running, though fewer in August.
• Expat groups. City groups post informal gatherings. Expat groups, churches (including English-language congregations) and international clubs often host Christmas or Thanksgiving-style potluck dinners.
• Free summer events. Cities run outdoor cinema, concerts and fiestas, which are easy for casual company.
• Coworking spaces and hostels. Many run communal dinners.
• Walking and hiking. Join a senderismo club, or walk stages of the Camino de Santiago.
• Group trips. Book early, as places fill.
• Volunteering. Try Cruz Roja, food banks or animal shelters.

Groups and events change often, so check current listings.

If you live in a small town

Choices are fewer, especially in August. Decide early whether to travel to a nearby city or a group trip, or to accept a host's invitation. The planner and the frequently asked questions below add dates and ideas for the rest of the year.

A calendar of lonely moments to plan for in Spain

Plan your company before the quiet stretches arrive, not during them. Most newcomers hit lows in the first winter, in August and at Christmas. Put the dates below in your calendar now, and fix plans well ahead.

Your calendar of predictable lows

September: sign up for winter company. Join weekly classes, clubs or sports that run through the winter. A fixed weekly slot means you see the same faces without having to make plans each time. Put every recurring commitment in your calendar.

October to November: the puentes begin. A puente is a bridge day: when a holiday falls next to a weekend, many people take the day between off and leave town. Cities can feel empty. In 2026, 1 November falls on a Sunday, and many regions moved the holiday to Monday 2 November. Check your region's list for the exact days.

November: book Christmas. Christmas is a family holiday, and it is easy to feel left out or homesick.

December: the long break. In 2026, 6 December is a Sunday and 8 December is a Tuesday, so Monday 7 December works as a puente. From Christmas to 6 January, many people are with family and the city is quiet. Have something planned for 24, 25 and 31 December, and for 1 January and 6 January.

First winter, around months 3 to 6 after you arrive. The novelty fades just as the days get short. This is a common low, and it can come at any time of year depending on when you moved. Keep your weekly commitments going, and plan regular calls home. Keep a short list of people you can contact when a week feels heavy.

Spring: Semana Santa (Holy Week). Many people travel or spend the week with family, and the city can be quiet. Some regions add Holy Thursday or Easter Monday as holidays. Make plans in advance, such as a trip or a meal with friends.

May to June: book August. Book your August plans by early summer. Other spring dates to mark are 1 May, and the local fiesta weeks in your town, which can empty or fill the streets depending on where you live.

August: the emptiest month. Locals leave the cities, clubs and classes pause, and many shops close, especially around 15 August. This is strongest in big cities. Plan a trip, join a summer course, or arrange visits from friends and family.

How to use this

1. Put these dates in your calendar today.
2. For each one, write down one concrete plan: a person, a place, a booking.
3. Set a reminder for the booking date, not just the low point itself.

Feeling low at these times is common, and how strongly you feel it varies from person to person. If it lasts or gets worse, talk to a doctor or a counsellor.

Frequently asked questions

When should I book plans for August and Christmas?

Book August plans by early summer and Christmas plans by November. Trips, host invitations, group meals and visits from home fill up early. Nochebuena (24 December) and 25 December are family-centred and many venues close.

Which holidays leave Spanish cities emptiest?

The emptiest periods are Christmas to Epiphany (6 January), Semana Santa (Holy Week) and August, especially around 15 August. The October and December puentes (bridge weekends) also empty cities.

Can I find company in a small town in August?

Options are thinner in small towns, so look to local fiestas and free summer events. Walking clubs (senderismo) and volunteering, for example with Cruz Roja or an animal shelter, can also work. Large cities and expat hubs have more groups, and a short trip there can help.

What can I do on my own on 25 December?

Join a Christmas potluck dinner run by an expat group, an international club or an English-language church. Hostels and coworking spaces sometimes run communal dinners.