Spain’s major urban destinations are heading into the May Day long weekend with hotel occupancy rates of between 82% and 95%, as demand for short breaks pushes availability close to its limits across the country’s most popular cities.
Valencia leads all cities with 95% of rooms already booked for the period from 30 April to 3 May, according to data from eBooking.com. San Sebastián follows at 90%, Seville at 88%, Madrid at 84% and Barcelona at 82%.
The company attributes the slightly lower figures in Madrid and Barcelona to those cities’ larger overall supply of tourist accommodation rather than weaker demand. Across all five destinations, the data points to one of the busiest urban short-break weekends of the year so far.
Prices are reflecting the pressure. Barcelona commands the highest average nightly rate among the cities analysed, at €320, followed by Madrid at €290. Seville and San Sebastián both average €280 per night, while Valencia, despite leading on occupancy, has the lowest average rate of the group at €265.
The figures cover a range of accommodation types available on the platform, including hotels, apartments, campsites, hostels and other registered establishments. The May Day holiday, which falls on Thursday 1 May, creates an extended long weekend that traditionally drives strong domestic and international travel demand across Spain.
