When Spain was part of the Roman Empire, it was celebrated Lupercalia, the god of fertility on 15/2. The tradition of celebrating the first arrival of spring, preparing for the spring harvest already in mid-February, stretches even further back in time than the Roman Empire. In mid-February, the very first spring was celebrated by preparing for sowing and paying tribute to the “feminine creative energy”. It is no wonder that our modern Valentine's Day ended up on this very date.
Valentine's Day falls on Saturday, February 14, 2026. Around 60 percent of all Swedes now celebrate this holiday and most have no idea what to buy, except for a tulip or two. However, travel always works very well. Just before the pandemic, a record was broken in booking travel as a gift. The most booked destinations are cities like New York, Barcelona and Paris – and of course trips to the sun!
Several hotel operators usually run a big hotel sale every year. Prices for hotel bookings are reduced by up to 40 percent until the end of February. This is usually customary, but the sales have not occurred in the same way since the pandemic and we will see what happens in 2026 and beyond. Hotels in Madrid, Valencia and Barcelona, among others, are usually included in the sale. In any case, it is cheaper than usual to book a hotel in many places in Spain right now.
However, the big travel trend in 2026 is that people prefer to book an apartment or house and experience the destination as if they were part of the locals.
Now the quality-conscious traveler would rather live a little more secluded, in a fresh home with its own kitchen and pool, in a genuine area. We would suggest that if you really want to treat your loved one to something really special, book a trip in the spring to our favorite town on Costa Del Sol , Nerja. If you book accommodation on the coast through one of the companies It is also possible to order extra romantic additions, such as a bouquet of flowers and champagne and waiting for you upon arrival. Nerja overall is a romantic town, with many cozy restaurants along the cobblestone streets, horse-drawn carriages, nice and quiet beaches, walking paths up to the mountains, etc.
Here you can book cheap flights to Costa del Soland the rest of Spain.
How is Valentine's Day celebrated in Spain?
In much the same way as in Sweden, on the same date and with flowers and a visit to a nice restaurant. However, they celebrate another "lover's day", Saint George's Day, April 23.
We are of course talking about the same Saint George as killed dragons to save the beautiful princess and who scouts around the world have as their patron saint. In Catalonia this day is called La Diada de sant Jordi, or The Day of the Rose (Rose Day) and is an official holiday.
It was in the 20th century that a bookseller was struck by the fact that on this particular date (although in different years) the famous authors Josep Pla, Miguel Cervantes and William Shakespeare died, so this day is certainly worth celebrating with a rose, or why not with a classic book as a gift?
