An extremely high volume of traffic is expected across Spain this weekend, with the national public holiday on Friday, August 15, creating a unique and challenging travel period.

Friday, August 15, 2025

Friday is a national public holiday, the Feast of the Assumption, which will lead to a significant number of people travelling across the country, particularly from major cities towards coastal and tourist destinations.

The DGT has put a special “Operation August 15” in place to manage the anticipated high volume of traffic. Drivers should be prepared for substantial delays on all major routes, especially the motorways heading towards Andalucía, the Valencian Community, and the Basque Country.

Additionally, local fiestas and events will be taking place in numerous towns, including the popular La Paloma festival in Madrid, which may cause localised road closures and diversions.

Air travellers should also be aware of planned strikes by ground handling staff at several key airports, including Barcelona, Alicante, and Palma de Mallorca, which could lead to significant disruption and baggage delays.

Saturday, August 16, 2025

Outbound traffic from large urban centres will continue to be heavy on Saturday morning as more people begin their long weekend or summer holidays.

The DGT anticipates congestion on routes leading to the coasts, beaches, and second-home areas, with peak times expected between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. In the Valencian Community, the ongoing “Sants de la Pedra” fiesta in Teulada, near Moraira, will continue to cause local road disruption.

The popular Festa Major de Gràcia is also taking place in Barcelona, and while the main events are in the evening, local traffic may be affected throughout the day.

Air travel disruptions will persist as ground handling staff strikes continue at major airports such as Alicante, Barcelona, Malaga, and Palma de Mallorca.

Sunday, August 17, 2025

Sunday will see a considerable amount of return traffic in the late afternoon and evening as people head back to major cities after the long weekend.

The DGT predicts heavy congestion on main motorways leading back to urban areas like Madrid and Barcelona, with the worst hours for travel being from 5 p.m. until midnight.

Drivers should allow for significantly longer journey times and check for real-time updates before departing.

The local fiestas in Madrid (La Paloma) and Barcelona (Festa Major de Gràcia) will be concluding, but the local police will likely still have some road management and closures in place, which may affect traffic flows in these city centres.

Next Week

Looking ahead, the week following the bank holiday weekend will see a continued high volume of traffic as the August holiday season remains in full swing.

The DGT will be monitoring key routes, particularly the A-7 and AP-7 motorways along the Mediterranean coast, where a mix of long-distance holiday traffic and local movements will keep roads busy.

While no major national holidays are scheduled, numerous local fiestas and cultural events will be taking place in smaller towns and villages across Spain, which could lead to temporary road closures and diversions.

Additionally, ongoing roadworks on several motorways and national roads may cause delays, so drivers should remain vigilant and plan their journeys accordingly.

The post Busy, Busy, Busy… That´s the Road Traffic Forecast for Spain for This Holiday Weekend! first appeared on N332 Radio.