• Hiking and Nature Trails: Explore trails like the Guadalmina River path and the Cañón de las Angosturas, offering scenic views and opportunities for swimming in natural pools. 
• Canyoning Adventures: For thrill-seekers, canyoning in the Guadalmina River combines swimming, climbing, and jumping in a stunning natural setting. 
• Golfing: Benahavís boasts some of Spain’s finest golf courses, including La Quinta Golf & Country Club and Los Arqueros Golf & Country Club, catering to both amateurs and professionals. 
   

• Every Thursday evening – Thursday Groves with Eva & Raul
• Every Friday evening – Chill Out Fridays with Johnny Baker
• Every Saturday evening – Saturday Sessions with Lucas Gonzales
• Every Sunday lunchtime – Sunday Lunch with Gema Cabanas
• 4th & 18th August – Mojito Mondays with live Cuban music
• 10th August – Coto 3 Year Anniversary Party

Main summer ‘Operación Salida‘ to take place

Spain’s grand summer exodus will take place this month as thousands escape the hot cities and head for the beaches and the mountains. This is known as ‘Operación Salida’. This year it will mainly take place from 1pm on July 31st up until midnight on Sunday August 3rd. Spain’s General Directorate of Traffic (DGT) is expecting more than 100 million long-distance journeys to be made by road this summer alone.

The roads will again be busy at the end of the month with people returning to the cities from the coasts, particularly the weekend of August 30th – 31st. The DGT has warned people to try and avoid these busy times if possible.

Spain closes up shop

OK while it’s not totally true that everyone takes their holiday in August in Spain, it can seem like that with many small and independent businesses taking a break for the month. While big supermarket chains, large stores and many restaurants will likely stay open, many admin businesses, local independent cafes and trade workers will close up shop.

Around 18 percent of businesses in Spain close during August according to Madrid-based business management consultant Grant Thornton. That means that almost one in five businesses shut their doors and shut up for the month or at least part of the month. Businesses close to the coast are more likely to open than ones further inland.

Public Holidays

As mentioned, the whole of August may seem like one month-long public holiday in Spain, but there is actually only one official public holiday this month. This is on Friday August 15th and celebrates the Day of the Assumption of the Virgen, which according to Christians, commemorates the day the Virgin Mary entered heaven. Any businesses not already closed will close on this day, including big supermarkets.

Fiesta time

Most of Spain is holiday, but doesn’t mean that the celebrations do too. August is prime festival month in Spain. Málaga, Bilbao and San Sebastián all celebrate their most important events this month.

Málaga’s annual feria takes place this year from August 16th to 23rd, while Bilbao’s Aste Nagusia or Semana Grande, held in honour of the Virgen de Begoña, will be held from August 16th to 24th.

San Sebastián also has its own Semana Grande with lots of fireworks, traditional games, sports and music. It takes place just before Bilbao’s from August 9th to 16th.

The well-known Tomatina tomato fight in Buñol also takes place on the last Wednesday in August – this year August 27th.

Airbnb to start sending information to the Spanish government

Starting in August, Airbnb has agreed to send all the information on tourist and temporary rentals to the Housing Department on a monthly basis, including the corresponding state and regional registration numbers. It has also agreed to remove listings that show irregularities in the national registry or do not appear on it at all.

As landlords had until July 1st 2025 in order to register all tourist, temporary and seasonal rentals with the government, and many had not done so by the deadline, expect to see many more rentals being removed from the platform this summer. You can read more about the new rental laws here.