My husband needs to be in London for 3 months ending Easter weekend and I will be joining him with our two children. We're planning to take a week or so vacation elsewhere in Europe after he is finished with his London assignment on April 13. I know this is the middle of Easter week. We really wanted to go to Spain. What will Madrid be like at that time, say if we fly in April 14 spending the long weekend there? Will things be closed? Then is there anything the next week that will make Seville, Granada, and other areas south of Madrid hectic? We'd probably make our way to Seville on the 18th or so. I've been to Europe several times before, but never at Easter so I have no idea what to expect. Are we crazy? Should we just go somewhere else in Europe for this vacation or is Easter big all over? Thanks.

April 14 is Good Friday in 2006, so galleries will be closed, but don't let that deter you. We were in Spain for two weeks in 2002, from Palm Sunday, i.e. for all of Holy Week and the week following Easter. We spent three days in Salamanca, three in Madrid, a week in Granada, and a final night in Barcelona. The important thing is to prebook your accommodation and quite soon - we did ours over the Internet - and arrive early for buses and trains.

Holy Week is the time for religious processions - we probably saw five, culminating in a very large one in Madrid on the night of Good Friday. We also took a train to Segovia on Good Friday morning. After the procession there there was a surprisingly festive, rather than sombre, atmosphere, with everyone dispersing to restaurants and cafes for lunch. Things were certainly not closed down, as they are in Sydney, Australia, where we live.

Easter Sunday was our first full day in Granada, and that was certainly a festive day. For the rest of the week everything was open as usual. We did day trips: train to Ronda, and bus to the Apuljarras, and had no problems with crowds there. Be aware that you need to book a tour of the Alhambra, in Granada, a day or two before you want to go, but I think that's the norm there.

We had beautiful weather for our three days in Salamanca and for two out of three days in Madrid. It was somewhat colder most of the time we were in Granada, but Easter is a fortnight later in 2006 than it was in 2002.

We loved the holiday atmosphere at the time. My only other experience of Spain was in February 1969, during Franco's era, and I certainly noticed a difference! Go and enjoy!

Make your reservations early! We were winging it and almost had to sleep in the car in Ronda (Wednesday of Holy Week). Most places will be closed on Good Friday and many smaller stores will remain closed on Monday.

It is an awesome experience!

Not at all aware of an "Easter Week" (??). I am aware of a Holy Week, which for 2006 starts with Palm Sunday on April 9, 2006 and ends on Saturday, April 15, 2006. Easter Sunday is April 16, 2006. Holy Week is considered the last week of Lent and hence, Easter Sunday is the beginning of another week/liturgical year.

I spent Holy Week 2001 in Madrid and, other than evidence of associated religious events in churches and preparations for Easter Mass, there seemed to be no impact to commerce. However, tourism was in high gear, even in Madrid. If you don't have reservations for transport/lodging in Seville during Holy Week and following week, I wouldn't even bother...or at least be willing to drive miles and miles before finding suitable lodging. I would give it a go because it is quite an experience, but if you are looking for quiet relaxation to get re-acquainted with family, Seville is definitely not the place to head out to during Holy Week.

Thanks to all. Your thoughts are so helpful. We're feeling somewhat overwhelmed with the idea of Spain during Holy Week. If it were just myself and my husband, the adventure of being there during Holy Week would be really appealing. But since we'll be there with our two small children I don't know if we're up for that. We're also exploring other ideas (I started a new post to that end). I take it Easter throughout Europe will draw crowds and high prices, so we may just be stuck and have to deal with it and go with different expectations and have fun with it. We would arrive in Madrid on the 14th and so we probably wouldn't begin sightseeing until the 15th--will things be open the 15-18? So we'd be in Madrid April 14 through April 18 in Madrid and leave for Cordoba/Seville on the 18th, would that be a good plan, or will Seville still be chaotic then? Many thanks!