Lorraine Williamson
Spain’s Easter getaway moves into its busiest stretch today, with the country’s roads expected to come under heavy pressure from lunchtime as millions set off for the coast, second homes, and religious events. The traffic authority, DGT, says this second phase of the holiday operation is the most intense of the week and will run until midnight on Monday, 6 April.
For drivers, the clearest warning is about timing. DGT says the most difficult period to begin a journey on Wednesday, 1 April, will be between 3.00 pm and 11.00 pm, when congestion is expected on the main routes out of large cities before spreading later in the day towards holiday destinations.
Across the whole period, traffic officials expect 9.9 million long-distance journeys, up just over 2% on the same phase last year. The agency says this part of Holy Week brings the highest volume of simultaneous departures, with city drivers heading for tourist areas, family visits and second residences, while return traffic will build again over the weekend.
Why this phase matters more than the first
This is the point in the holiday when Spain’s road network starts to feel the real weight of Easter travel. DGT says the pressure comes not only from long motorway trips but also from the shorter local journeys that many people make to beaches, religious processions and nearby leisure spots. Those trips may look less dramatic on paper, but they often shift onto secondary roads, where the risks are higher.
That warning carries extra force this year because the first phase of the Easter operation already left 11 people dead on Spanish roads. DGT is using that toll to underline a simple message: this is not just about queues and delays, but about how quickly holiday driving can turn dangerous when motorists are tired, distracted or rushing to get away.
The roads may be busiest today, but the pressure will not end tonight
Wednesday is expected to be the main departure day for much of Spain, but the traffic picture will keep shifting over the next few days. DGT says Thursday morning will bring another wave of heavy outward journeys from major cities, while the greatest difficulties later in the day are likely to affect roads out of Catalonia and the Valencia region, where Maundy Thursday is not a public holiday.
By Friday, the focus changes again. In much of the country, the concern will be shorter leisure trips and travel to towns and cities holding major religious events. Then from Sunday morning onwards, the first large-scale return flow is expected to begin, with Monday still busy in communities where the holiday continues, including Catalonia, the Valencia region, Navarre, the Basque Country and La Rioja.
What DGT wants drivers to do before setting off
The practical advice is familiar, but it matters more on days like this. DGT is urging people to check live road conditions before leaving, plan around the busiest windows and use alternative routes where possible to avoid the most congested corridors. The agency has also published traffic-intensity maps and alternative itineraries to help drivers steer clear of the worst pinch points, especially around the centre of the peninsula.
It is also reminding motorists that Spain now requires drivers to carry an approved reflective vest and the V-16 emergency warning light, which replaced roadside warning triangles from 1 January 2026. On top of that, the core warnings remain the same: do not mix driving with alcohol or drugs, avoid mobile-phone distractions, keep within speed limits, wear seatbelts and stop to rest every two hours or around every 200 kilometres.
A major operation is already in place
To manage the holiday surge, DGT says more than 7,000 personnel and over 8,500 technical resources are being deployed. That includes 5,700 Guardia Civil traffic officers, 657 operators in traffic control centres, and aerial support made up of nine helicopters and 39 drones, alongside monitoring cameras, variable-message panels and other roadside systems.
For anyone thinking of heading off later today, the message is straightforward: this is one of the worst moments of Easter to be caught on the wrong road at the wrong time. Leaving earlier, delaying departure, or at least checking conditions before you go could make the difference between a manageable journey and a long, frustrating one.