Three ways to make the most of Easter in Spain

Seville’s Semana Santa procession is an iconic way to experience Easter in Spain, but is it the most enjoyable?

Easter in Spain is nothing like the Easter you may be used to back home. Here, it is swallowed whole by Semana Santa – or Holy Week – which, as the name suggests, is a week-long celebration of all things holy.

But this being Spain, religion is intertwined neatly into all manner of fun and frivolity, making this holiday arguably the most cherished among Spain’s many national celebrations. The fact that weather pretty much turns absolutely glorious right on cue also helps, so if you’re new to Spain this Easter period, here are three ways to maximise your fun in the springtime sun…

1. Take in a procession

The solemn spectacle that is the Seville Semana Santa procession is famous the world over for its iconic display of religiosity. From the pointed white hoods to the black lace veils worn by the women, this display takes some beating in the I-was-there stakes.

But despite its splendour and beauty, getting to and from the procession can be something of a nightmare for the uninitiated. Seville – forever popular no matter the month – is simply heaving with tourists and visitors at this time of year, so unless you already have your hotel booked, your restaurant reserved and your procession route planned, then it may be more hassle than it is worth to head up there on a whim. A far better option will be to enjoy one of the lesser – but still intriguing – processions that will be winding their way through the streets of the Costa del Sol.

The effect and enjoyment levels will be similar, but the stress and expense is far, far lower if you choose to stick closer to home.

2. Go bar-hopping

While the ‘traditional’ pub crawl is something Brits celebrate with aplomb every weekend, there is a – albeit tenuous – reason to do likewise in Spain over Easter. In 1929 up in the city of León, legend has it that a local rogue named Genaro Blanco was run over by a rubbish truck. To mark his death, his drinking pals began gathering on Maundy Thursday to frequent his favourite watering holes. This small-scale homage soon turned into something more, and today thousands of revellers now bar-hop throughout León’s old town in celebration of the old soak.

If you wish to carry on this tradition down Costa del Sol-way, then where better than in either Marbella’s Old Town or the bars of Puerto Banús? Easter weekend is when both resorts begin heating up, so if it’s some serious late-night fun you’re after, then there are few better spots in all of Spain than these two…

3. Embrace the outdoors

In the UK, the Easter weekend is met with Jesus on the cross, hot cross buns and tightly crossed fingers as the entire country prays for sun or, at the very least, no rain. Not so in Spain. By now the weather has settled into a trajectory headed only one direction – up – and the Easter weekend is traditionally the time of year when it becomes not only pleasant but almost mandatory to spend as much time outdoors as possible.

For those on the Costa del Sol, this can mean four glorious days spent soaking up the rays on the beach, enjoying that first refreshing dip of the year in the Med and dabbling in some locally caught seafood and a jug or two of sangría. It can also mean the first climb of the year up the La Concha mountain, or perhaps a horseriding trek in the hills behind Monda and Coín. Whatever you decide to do this Easter, it would be a shame to spend any of your time indoors… at least not until 10pm when the entire region hits the town to enjoy a, ahem, cracking time.