Autumn, the secret season
While mass tourism concentrates in summer, autumn offers the most genuine experience of Spanish villages. Lower prices, landscapes in transformation and traditions like the matanza, harvests or mushroom gathering.
Unmissable experiences
- Harvest (September-October): La Rioja, Ribera del Duero, Somontano, Penedés. Many wineries open their doors.
- Mushrooms and mycology: Soria, Burgos, Teruel, Navarra. Guided routes and seasonal markets.
- Forests in colour: Hayedo de Montejo, Selva de Irati, Faedo de Ciñera, Bosque de Muniellos.
- Magosto and chestnut festivals: Galicia, Asturias, León. Popular celebrations with roasted chestnuts.
- Deer rutting: Cabañeros, Monfragüe, Sierra de la Culebra. Natural spectacle in October.
Tip: wear layers, mornings are fresh but midday can be warm. And book a rural house with a fireplace.