Don’t forget Costa del Sol – August bank holiday – what’s open?

There will be some minor disruptions in Spain on Friday, 15 August, as it is a holiday. On the coast, there won’t be many changes. Inland, Friday will feel more like Sunday.

Mercadona is the only supermarket that will be affected. The Valencian chain has announced that they will be open from 9am until 3pm on the bank holiday. This is a bit better than previous years, when they would not have been open at all. However, inland at locations like Alhaurín el Grande and Coín, they’ll keep the shutters down all day. All the other major ones, including Aldi, Lidl, Carrefour and Día, according to their Google listings, will all carry on opening summer hours until 10pm.

The day will be given to public services such as libraries, health centres, sports centres and administrative offices to enjoy the beach.

Be on the lookout for traffic and make sure you plan your journeys. As of Thursday, August 14, there will be a huge influx of tourists from the large cities, who are taking advantage of the long weekend before their children return to school.

You can expect to find restaurants and beach bars packed along the Costa del Sol. This is especially true at lunchtime. If you want to eat out, book a table today, as tomorrow they may all be booked.

Enjoy the beach as much as you can before September arrives.