Madrid and Northern Spain

Easter week starts on Monday 11 and many cities and towns in Spain will celebrate it with beautiful processions / religious parades (religious beliefs are really low in Spain but we love our traditions!!). Monday 18 is a day off in several autonomous communities in Spain (i.e. Basque Country), but to my knowledge it´s a working day in Segovia and no problems with visiting sights. Even if it were a holiday, all sights would be open.

Several years ago we were in Spain during Easter. The processions (parades) were spectacular and magical. Easter lasts a week not a weekend. Most Spaniards are on holiday and travel from the cities to their hometowns and festivities and family gatherings are everywhere.

But on the downside: the hotel rates in popular areas double or triple. Express trains are often sold out weeks in advance. Decide what you are doing and make reservations now!

Thank you for your replies. This is very helpful.

While cities outside of Sevilla might be less crowded, the hotel rates are at least doubled and finding a budget hotel is near impossible. As others have said, this is a holiday week and many families travel. So sites and transportation will be crowded and hotel rates are crazy.

That said, I did splurge when I found out I was going be in Sevilla during Semana Santa and stayed in a junior suite(only thing available). It was well worth it and I even got to see two processions and sit in on Palm Sunday mass(I'm not a Catholic). Once in a lifetime experience.

Madrid itself is likely to be the least crowded city in Spain, since this is THE time when all the people who can afford it leave town on vacation.
By April 18, the travel madness will be over and hotel rates will be back to normal.