Published October 5, 2026
3 Road Trips for Spain’s Autumn Long Weekends
Autumn brings three perfect moments to hit the road: Spain’s long weekends for the Pilar, All Saints’ Day and Constitution Day holidays. Three long weekends, three very different landscapes and one way to make the most of them: with the keys to your rental car in hand. Book now with the code ROADTRIP and get 5% off your next getaway.
Pilar long weekend (10–12 October): Ronda and the White Villages, from Málaga
12 October falls on a Monday, so the weekend stretches all by itself. From our Málaga Airport office, just over an hour’s drive takes you to Ronda, with its Tajo gorge and the Puente Nuevo bridge, and from there to the White Villages of the Serranía: Grazalema, Zahara de la Sierra, Setenil de las Bodegas. October is a good month for this route: the heat has eased, the villages are quiet and the Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park starts turning ochre. An itinerary made for stopping along the way: viewpoint, village, winery, viewpoint.
If you’re setting off from Alicante, Valencia or Castellón, the long weekend is even longer: 9 October (Friday) is a public holiday in the Valencia region (9 d'Octubre), so it joins the weekend and the 12th in a four-day break.
Pick it up at Málaga Airport on Friday the 9th and return it on Monday 12 October at any of our offices with our one-way service.
All Saints’ long weekend (31 October–2 November): the Maestrazgo and Morella, from Castellón, Valencia or Alicante
This is the most “inland” of the three long weekends, and November is the best time of year for it: chestnut, oak and beech trees in full colour change. From our Castellón, Valencia or Alicante offices, the Maestrazgo route takes you to villages such as Morella, with its castle and almost intact city walls, Vilafranca, Ares del Maestrat or Culla, and, crossing into Teruel, Cantavieja. It’s black truffle country, and October–November marks the start of the season: a good excuse to stop for lunch on the way.
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Constitution long weekend (5–8 December): the Priorat and the Costa Daurada, from Barcelona
The longest of the three: 8 December falls on a Tuesday, so taking Monday the 7th off gives you four days in a row. From Barcelona City or Airport, an hour and a half’s drive separates the city from the Priorat, in the middle of the late harvest with the vines already golden: Falset, Porrera, Gratallops. If you prefer mountains to vineyards, the Ripollès and the Vall de Núria offer the season’s first snow a couple of hours away on the C-17. Two routes, one starting point.
Travelling as a big group? The vehicle is part of the plan too
Travelling as a group
Everyone in the same vehicle
The destination is only half the plan; the other half is what you travel in. If there are lots of you (grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins or a group of friends), a 9-seater passenger van changes everything: the whole family and the luggage fit in one vehicle, with no convoy of two or three cars.
9-seater vans are available at all our offices and the ROADTRIP code applies to them too.
Use your code when booking
ROADTRIP
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FAQ about Spain’s autumn long weekends
Which are the autumn long weekends in 2026?
Three: the Pilar long weekend (10–12 October, with a four-day break in the Valencia region from the 9th), All Saints’ (31 October–2 November) and Constitution Day (5–8 December).
How far in advance should I book the car for a long weekend?
As early as possible: demand rises on long weekends and the most popular models (and the large vans) go first. Booking now with the code ROADTRIP secures your car and price for your trips.
Which vehicle is best for travelling as a family or a large group?
If there are more than 5 of you, a 9-seater passenger van usually works out better than two cars: less fuel, a single driver on duty and everyone together. It’s the usual choice for family gatherings or groups of friends on a long weekend.
How much does it cost to rent a car for a long weekend?
It depends on the model, the exact dates and how far ahead you book; prices rise as the long weekend approaches. With the code ROADTRIP you get an extra 5% off, so the earlier you book, the better the rate.
Book your getaway
Choose the long weekend you fancy most, or all three, and book your car with the code ROADTRIP.
Prefer a slower pace? Our September article on slow getaways has routes for those in no hurry to arrive.
Jose Ramon Hernandez
CEO at Malco
Visionary leader with extensive experience in digital transformation and business management.