The best itineraries in spain. In Spain by car: route along the coast. Car rental in Spain

I have long wanted to go to Spain, and to see this country precisely “from the inside”, that is, to observe the life of ordinary people, especially in the provinces, and in general to feel the mood of this wonderful country. So, I propose a report on a trip to Spain by car. If the descriptive side seems boring, feel free to scroll down, there are brief results and useful tips.

Route: Barcelona - Zaragoza - Logroño - Madrid - Leida - Salou - Barcelona.

The first day of the trip began in the resort town of Salou. This city was chosen for the reason that the prices for hotels here are much lower than in Barcelona. In general, when traveling to Spain, even on my own, I recommend buying tickets through a travel agency. This greatly simplifies the paperwork, and the price is cheaper. I bought a ticket from the Natalie Tours company at the Pronto tariff - it turned out even cheaper. The company proved to be quite worthy, quickly and comfortably delivered me to the hotel, and more was not required. Having freed myself from luggage, I continued the journey on my own.

By the way, if your tour does not include a transfer to a hotel, then at the Barcelona airport at the information desk they will explain in detail in Russian how best to get to the point of interest to you. Very comfortably!

Tarragona

What else is good about the resort of Salou? And the fact that it is within easy reach of Tarragona, an ancient picturesque town. From the railway station of Salou to Tarragona can be reached by train in 10 minutes, a round-trip ticket costs a little more than 3 euros.

Tarragona is a typical Spanish town with narrow streets, the remains of the walls of Roman fortresses, which have merged with the city and often serve as a wall for houses attached to them. Antiquity, antiquity and the present are so harmoniously connected here that the feeling of traveling not only in space, but also in time, does not leave during the entire walk through this cozy and friendly city.

I really liked the people in Tarragona. Here's someone who really knows how to relax! On this day in Tarragona there was a small celebration dedicated to local wine. Winemakers from nearby farms arrived, set up tents and began to treat them with wine. You buy a glass for 5 euros, and they give you a special ticket with five detachable numbers. Each number is one tasting. The tasting is quite serious - they pour half a glass of wine! And the wines are all very tasty and very different. We took one glass for two, remembering that tomorrow we have to drive.

What is pleasantly surprising in such holidays: wine flows like water, there are a lot of people, and at the same time everyone calmly communicates, drinks, wash glasses in the washbasins installed nearby, and pour again. And yet I did not see a single policeman and not a single broken glass! Ah, Europe!

And the time was already approaching evening, and it was necessary to return. The last trains leave after eight o'clock, so you can't go out late.

Salou - Barcelona - Zaragoza

So, having in my hands the train schedule photographed yesterday, I get on the train and go to Barcelona, ​​the cost is about 7 euros, the travel time is an hour and a little. Be careful, there are two types of trains: Catalonia Express - an electric train, for which there are always places, Regional Express - a high-speed train, tickets for which are sold in advance, and they are not allowed to enter it with tickets for an electric train, although this train stops in Salou, and in Barcelona. You can also distinguish an electric train from a high-speed train by the number of stops, which is also indicated in the schedule. High-speed trains stop only at major stations.

I rented a car from Sixt and upon arrival in Barcelona we went to the office of this company. We are me and my fellow traveler, whose help in preparing and implementing our trip turned out to be truly invaluable.

The process of getting a car is very, very simple: when booking via the Internet, all information is entered in advance, and at the office all that remains is to sign the contract and receive the keys. Upon receipt of a car on a bank card, a security deposit equal to approximately half of the rental price is blocked. Moreover, Sixt allows you to use a debit card. Other car rental companies I have worked with only accept credit cards.

We decided to leave Barcelona using the navigator, which for some reason directed us in a completely different direction, and we had to decently circle around Barcelona and the surrounding area, until, finally, we reached the A2 highway in the direction of Zaragoza.

A bit about the roads of Barcelona. In the city center, traffic is predominantly one-way, which is convenient, especially when turning left. It is almost impossible to park a car for free. You either have to put your car on the blue lane and pay for parking, or use underground paid parking lots. Outside the city, a toll road begins almost immediately, and the tariffs here are quite high. But more on that later.

In the meantime, we are driving to Zaragoza along a beautiful, flat road, the speed on which is practically not felt and every now and then it strives to exceed the permissible 120 km / h, it is better not to abuse it, because in Catalonia there are especially many cameras that measure speed. Along the way, every now and then there are gas stations where you can relax, have a bite to eat, wipe the car, and of course, fill up the tank with gasoline.

We arrived in Zaragoza when it was already getting dark, so we only managed to see the city in the evening light of lanterns. The first thing you notice when approaching the city center is the most beautiful building of the Basilica Nuestra. The majestic building, which combines western and eastern architectural elements, stands out so brightly against the backdrop of the narrow streets of this small city that you involuntarily think that some supernatural force has installed it here.

Food and restaurants

After walking around the center of Zaragoza, we finally decided to eat. We hoped that the prices here would be lower than in Barcelona, ​​but the difference was small. In addition, at this time, only Tapas remained from food, that is, snacks. These are such small sandwiches or pieces of meat or fish - in general, portions of food that are taken from the display case and warmed up without requiring special preparation. Tapas are available in almost every restaurant and are in demand when the kitchen closes. And the kitchen in Spanish restaurants closes in the afternoon, from 4 pm to 8 pm, and after 11 pm. So, if you want to have a good dinner - try to keep within three hours from 8 to 11. Here is such a local feature!

In general, we had no choice but to be content with Tapas, which, by the way, were very, very good, especially when paired with fine Spanish wine.

The hotel Cesaraugusta, in which the room was pre-booked, was about twenty minutes walk from the center, so I recommend this inexpensive hotel for travelers to Zaragoza. True, the use of the underground car park cost us an additional 16 euros per night.

Zaragoza - Logroño

Being so close to the Rioja wine region and not seeing the birthplace of the famous Spanish wine - we could not miss this opportunity. Moreover, I wanted to look at provincial Spain, free from tourist trails. So, we set a course for Logroño, the capital of the Rioja region. Long before entering this region, you begin to pay attention to the endless vineyards that stretch along the road and stretch for many, many kilometers, and the mountains and hills characteristic of Spain have been replaced here by a more flat landscape. It is amazing how people were able to create so many vineyards on this not the most fertile soil.

Thinking about this, we discreetly drove to Logroño. Having circled around the city center for a bit and realizing that parking a car for free is an impossible task, we left the car in the underground parking.

Logroño is a small provincial town, but there is something to see here. In the very center there is a large cathedral, surrounded by small cozy streets, where there are many restaurants where you can have a tasty and inexpensive meal. The Pilgrimage Route of St. James passes through Logroño, and many hikers can be found on the Piedra Bridge. The city has several wineries called Bodegas. Almost in each of them you can book a tour of the farm and its cellars. Wineries here look completely different from those in Russia. Characteristic Bodegas is a small two-story building surrounded by a vineyard, on the ground floor of which you can buy wine produced directly on this farm.

Having entered one of the wine-growing farms, we bought wines and, saying goodbye to this cozy and friendly city, we headed to the A12 highway, which was supposed to lead us first to the city of Burgos, and then, moving to the A1 highway, to the capital of Spain, Madrid.

Logrono – Madrid

The A12 (N120) is free and passes through many small towns, in one of which we decided to stop because we started to feel tired. Having ordered tea in a local tavern, we looked at the locals with interest, and they looked at us. In the bar, despite the weekday, it was noisy, people were drinking wine and discussing something heatedly. It is worth noting that the inhabitants of the villages in Spain are very different from the urban population. It can be seen that in the villages people live poorer, which explains the high growth of the urban population. But this simplicity and unpretentiousness of the Spanish province is perceived as native, remotely resembling our Russian village. At the same time, according to my subjective observation, what distinguishes an ordinary Spaniard from a Russian is calmness, relaxation and a positive mood. People here are confident in the future, and this is read in the facial expression and manner of communication.

"Jamon"

Jamon was hung on the walls of the bar - a characteristic feature of Spanish drinking establishments. Jamon is a cured pork ham. It resembles something between bacon and ham, while it does not contain chemical additives. For the preparation of jamon, most likely, the meat of young pigs is used, because it tastes very soft and tender. Jamon is served in the form of thin slices, for cutting which a special tool has been developed, with the help of which a piece of pork is tightly fixed in a horizontal position, so that it is more convenient to cut. Jamon can be seen everywhere - it is sold in supermarkets, served in hotels for breakfast, offered as a snack in restaurants and bars.

After observing the life of the Spanish hinterland, we continued our journey. The road on the Logroño - Burgos section was constantly under repair, so the speed had to be reduced to 60 km / h, and in cities - to 50. Moreover, as Garmin's electronic navigator told us, security cameras often come across here.

Having reached the city of Burgos, we, without stopping in it, turned to Madrid, since we no longer had time for sightseeing. What to do, the route sometimes has to be corrected on the spot, because, as Kozma Prutkov said, one cannot embrace the immensity.

And here we are on the A1 highway, aka E5, going to Madrid. This is a free state highway, which is very nice after yesterday's road costs when leaving Barcelona, ​​where there are toll terminals almost every 10 kilometers. However, the quality of the road here is noticeably worse, in some places it is simply impossible to drive the permitted 120 km / h, because the car shakes in order, and the track winds around mountains and valleys. With all this, there are practically no pits on the road, and the roadway wears out evenly, becoming covered with longitudinal cracks. I was also pleased that there is no track on the well-worn road, which is so characteristic of Russian roads. That's what the ban on the use of studded tires means.

Discussing the features of Spanish roads, we did not notice how time flies. When we drove up to Madrid, it was already completely dark. Our Express By Holiday Inn was not located in the capital itself, but in the suburb of Alcobendas, located 10 km from Madrid. The location of the hotel is convenient for car travelers, because it is located in close proximity to the A1 highway, i.e. we did not have to stop by Madrid at all. Another nice point is free parking at the entrance to the hotel.

Madrid. On foot and by subway

The whole next day was devoted to a walk around the capital of Spain. A ten minute walk from the hotel was La Granja metro station, from which you can reach the very center of Madrid in about an hour. The peculiarity of the local metro is that at such a remote station there is a double tariff. That is, at the Tres Olivos station, you need to transfer to another train by buying another ticket. In total, a trip to the center costs 2 euros. Tickets are sold at vending machines that accept cash from 5 cents to 20 euros, as well as credit cards. Debit cards, unfortunately, do not work.

In the Madrid metro, as in the Barcelona metro, there are turnstiles at the entrance and exit, which somewhat disappointed me after the Berlin and Prague metro, in which there are no turnstiles, and instead of them, punchers were installed at the stations to “activate” tickets.

The center of Madrid is somewhat reminiscent of Moscow: a small historical part with ancient temples and small winding pedestrian streets turns into imperial palace ensembles surrounded by parks and fountains, and a large street surrounds the central part of the city, the most famous part of which is Gran Via, where fashionable shops are located and restaurants. There are many beautiful parks in the city center where you can rest and breathe fresh air. In general, the center of Madrid is a very comfortable and pleasant place for walking, despite the status of the city as a capital.

But there are quarters in the center of Madrid that are not at all suitable for romantic walks. For example, the area between La Latina and Lavapies stations. Just a few steps from the center, and you find yourself on the streets with signs in oriental languages, scurrying around, as we called them, “marginal personalities”. Many simply stand along the houses and look at the passers-by. Those looks make you feel uncomfortable.

Food in Madrid

It was nearing evening, and we decided to eat. Many restaurants are concentrated in the small streets between Calle Mayor and La Latina metro station, not far from the Basilica de San Miguel church. We were looking for a restaurant where, firstly, a lot of people, and secondly, low prices. The main menu with prices is posted, as a rule, in front of the entrance to the institution. A large number of visitors indicates the popularity of the restaurant.

After a long and painful search, we went into a pub that was overflowing, where, without thinking twice, we ordered a “bull's tail” - another Spanish national dish. The tail of a bull killed in a bullfight is considered a special delicacy, but we, not being fans of this medieval custom, were content with a dish of an “ordinary” bull. Dishes in Spain are usually large and can be safely ordered for two, which we did. And they did not regret it at all, because this delicious dish turned out to be very satisfying. I would like to separately praise the Spanish beer. Dense, with thick foam, and very tasty.

In the meantime, it was completely dark outside, and we hurried to the hotel in order to have a good rest before tomorrow's trip, because tomorrow we were waiting for the longest route on our trip to Spain.

Madrid - Leida - Salou

After breakfast, we left the hotel and headed along the R2 highway towards the A2 highway going to Barcelona. The quality of the road here is excellent, but there are frequent repairs and the road narrows to one lane. The speed limit on the repaired section is usually 60 km/h. Local motorists, as well as truckers, do not pay much attention to restrictions, and can safely drive 80-90 km / h at an allowable 60, but we tried not to succumb to the temptation to “sink” the pedal, despite the fact that the cars behind us now and then beeping headlights.

In general, there are enough fans of "poking fun" in Spain. You go 125 km/h at 120 allowed, and you are easily overtaken by local racers, disappearing from view in a matter of seconds. Needless to say, on such a beautiful road, you want to speed up the pace, but every time you stop yourself at the thought that there is no desire to receive an envelope with a bill for hundreds of euros by mail.

In the meantime, beautiful views opened up to our eyes, and, passing one of the ancient cities of Torija, we decided to make a “halt”. A well-groomed town with narrow streets, through which one car barely passes, is surrounded by a beautiful medieval castle, picturesquely located on a hill. By the way, this province is called La Mancha. Yes, yes, it is from here that the famous Don Quixote of La Manchesky comes from!

The next stop was made in the town of Alhama de Aragon, located in a picturesque place on a narrow river at the foot of the mountain. This place itself is conducive to relaxation: an old church on the banks of the river, small well-kept houses located on a quiet and clean street, and of course, amazingly beautiful nature.

We liked staying in these provincial towns so much that after a few kilometers we made another stop, this time in the city of Calatayud, deciding at the same time to have a bite to eat and buy groceries. By the way, prices in provincial supermarkets differ little from those in the capital.

And again the road, and again stunning views. Mountains, in the valleys of which small villages are picturesquely located. Endless verdant fields and meadows, among which ancient ruins appear from time to time or just an old dilapidated house, which they decided to leave as a decoration - all this cannot be described in words, and even captured in a photograph.

On the way to Salou, we decided to stop by Leida to rest and refresh ourselves a bit. And not in vain: here, on a hill under which the main part of the city is located, a huge ancient cathedral rises, and right next to its walls you can sit in a cozy inexpensive cafe. From here you have a beautiful view of the city and the surrounding area.

Leaving Leida, we decided to leisurely get to Salou on a free road, since there was very little left to go, and we felt the high cost of local roads on the first day of the trip. Moreover, it was already dark, and I didn’t want to go fast.

We arrived at the hotel quite late, so we could not park our car in the underground parking, which costs 6 euros per night here. But the hotel explained to us that paid parking spaces, marked in blue, can not be paid until 8.00 the next morning. So the car was left in the "free" parking lot, and the alarm clock was set for 7.30 in the morning.

Salou - Barcelona

The next day we finally decided to take a walk around Barcelona. After leaving the hotel, we drove to the already familiar AP7, aka E15. Deciding to save money on travel on a toll road, we turned onto the free "serpentine" highway C32, which offers amazing views of the Mediterranean Sea. Closer to Barcelona, ​​the track widens and becomes smoother, but the speed limit here is 80 km/h, and there are warnings about speed cameras all around. This is how the Catalans force drivers to drive on toll roads!

So we are in Barcelona. You can park here in the underground parking, which costs about 3 euros per hour, or you can park on the paid blue markings, where there are occasionally empty spaces. Three hours in such a parking lot cost us 2.5 euros, since from 14:00 to 15:00 there is a free lunch hour.

In the evening, we returned the car to the Sixt parking lot and said goodbye to our wonderful four-wheeled assistant, who took us to every point on the route in a regular and comfortable way. Very pleased with the process of returning the car. It is enough to give the keys to the car and the navigation system to the Sixt employee in the parking lot and calmly continue the journey on foot. No formalities!

I don’t know why, but in spirit Barcelona reminded me of Rostov-on-Don. A hot, southern city, the narrow central streets of which are crowded with noisy people and many cars. The famous Rambla is also reminiscent of Rostov's main pedestrian street, Pushkinskaya. I involuntarily remembered that a couple of days ago Madrid reminded me of Moscow in the same way. Yes, many cities have similar features, which is great.

Carried away by an evening walk around Barcelona, ​​we realized that we were late for the last train, which leaves here at half past eight. The only thing left was to try to catch the last bus, which goes to Tarragona at midnight and costs 11 euros. So, saying goodbye to my fellow traveler, I got on the bus, and after an hour and a half I ended up in Tarragona.

Industrial area near Salou

I don’t know what came over me, but I decided to walk from Tarragona to Salou. Having spent more than three hours on this path, I “enjoyed” the view of the industrial regions of Spain at night. Oh, it's worth seeing! But the picture is better. Black smoking monsters emitting an ominous hiss, hung with fluorescent lamps, among other things, emitted a sometimes disgusting smell. Such a contrast with what I saw a couple of hours ago is simply amazing. Feeling like you're in some kind of nightmare. And it's three kilometers from Salou! And La Pineda is less than a kilometer away.

The next day, having washed away my previous unpleasant impressions in the cool May sea, I went to Barcelona in order to continue my acquaintance with this unusual and amazing city. But I am ready to say with confidence that traveling around Europe by car gives an incomparably greater impression than walking and traveling by public transport.

Summary and tips for traveling in Spain

So, let me summarize the above and sum up some of our journey.

Route: Barcelona - Zaragoza - Logroyo - Burgos - Madrid - Leida - Salou - Barcelona. The length is 1600 km, the duration is just over 4 days.

Car expenses
Gasoline - 120 euros. The cost of a liter is about 1.16 euros, on the highways the prices are about the same, in the city it is more expensive.
Toll road - 62 euros (4 euros per 100 km), the most expensive section: Barcelona - Zaragoza (8 euros per 100 km).
Parking - 25 euros.
In total, about 200 euros per car (12 euros per 100 km).

Hotels
Contrary to reviews, the staff at all three hotels we visited spoke good English. Each hotel has a spacious bathroom with a bidet. In general, I would like to praise Spanish hotels for the high level of services provided. The cost of inexpensive 3 * class hotels is from 35 to 50 euros. It is best to book in advance via the Internet, otherwise, most likely, it will be more expensive. Parking next to the hotel is free, if space and markings allow. If there are no places, then underground parking will cost 15-20 euros per night.

parking
White line along the road with marked parking spaces - free parking.
Blue line - paid parking.
Green line - parking for local residents. Travelers are not allowed to park on the green line.
Yellow line - parking is prohibited. You can park the car for a short time with the alarm turned on, but you should not move far from the car.

Parking machines
Located near the places marked with blue markings. The cost of parking is about euros per hour. Standard usage scheme: throw the required number of coins and press the "ticket" button. It often happens that parking machines do not give change. The machine will issue a ticket, which indicates until what time you can leave the car. The ticket must be placed under the windshield of the car so that the traffic officers can see that you have paid for parking. If the paid interval includes free hours, they will be automatically added and taken into account in the time marked on the ticket. Information about free slots is indicated on the machine. Usually this is from 14:00 to 15:00 (lunch) and from 20:00 to 8:00 (non-working hours).

Underground parking
We drive up to the barrier and press the button on the machine, take a ticket and drive through. Upon returning to the car, we approach the machine and pay for parking. The vending machine is the best way to change the accumulated change! :) We insert the coupon, the amount is displayed. We lower the money, press the button (if necessary), the machine will issue a coupon and change. If you make a mistake, click "reset", the machine will return everything back.

Refilling the car
When renting a car at a rental office, ask what kind of fuel it needs. For gasoline engines, Gasolina 95 is usually used. Refueling procedure: first we fill in gasoline, then we go to pay. Next to the column, you can find a brush lying in a special container. This brush can, if necessary, wipe the windows and headlights of the car. There are paper towels hanging at the exit from the gas station. Very comfortably!

After 20:00 refueling can become difficult as this is not working time. In this case, you can use the machine to pay for refueling, but I did not understand how it works.

Toll roads
They are marked with the sign Peaje (Toll) in a red circle. We are looking for a gate with the inscription "Manual", to pay in cash, or a gate with a card image, where you can pay with a credit card. If there are no inscriptions, then you just need to drive up to the machine, press the button and get a ticket, like in a parking lot. And when passing the next gate, give the ticket to the cashier and pay the amount displayed on the scoreboard.

Traffic rules in Spain
Speed ​​in cities - up to 50 km/h, outside cities - up to 100 km/h, on highways - up to 120 km/h. Locals violate, it is not worth repeating after them: there are many cameras, the presence of which is warned by the corresponding signs. When passing a roundabout, if there are no special signs, the one who is at the intersection has the advantage, that is, we yield only at the entrance - very convenient. Yellow signs are temporary, usually indicating road repairs, and the section of their operation is usually marked with a yellow stripe.

Public transport
Prices for intercity trains can be found on the official website of the Spanish Railways http://www.renfe.com/
Electric trains have an unpleasant property of being late for 10-15 minutes - here it is considered in the order of things. At lunchtime, the interval between trains increases significantly. No one canceled the siesta :)

In general, siesta, relaxation, wine - all this vividly characterizes Spain, a country where you want to relax, and where you want to return to relax!

Spain is a country with an unimaginable mixture of vibrant cities and the burning sun above them. Stunning landscapes and unique historical monuments attract a lot of travelers from all over the world all year round. It has everything for an unforgettable vacation: surfers and divers come here in the summer, those who are not indifferent to skiing come in the winter. Spain is good at any time of the year - the sun shines here all year round, and it rarely rains.

Do not ignore the beautiful sandy beaches of the best resort in Spain, Canaries. In addition to a relaxing, beach holiday, the birthplace of flamenco and bullfighting offers the delights of a varied noisy nightlife. And the bonus of this dreamland is the biggest and cheapest shopping villages where you can buy fashionable things straight from the podium at an outlet price. Spain took care of its guests and prudently prepared a “public” Schengen visa for tourists, which allows you to visit European neighbors for a couple of days without any hassle.

The capital of Spain is the city of Madrid. Large and most popular cities: Granada, Barcelona, ​​Seville, Bilbao, Cordoba, etc.

Spanish visa

To visit Spain, citizens of the Russian Federation and the CIS countries need to purchase a Schengen visa. You can apply for a visa through the Visa Application Centers of Spain in the cities of Russia. The package of necessary documents is standard "Schengen". The only feature is the obligatory presence of photocopies of all pages of passports, both internal and foreign (4 spreads per A4 sheet). Add a service tax to the visa fee of 35 euros - 1186 rubles. Children under the age of six are issued a visa free of charge. Remember that the original documents submitted to the consulate (except for the passport) are non-refundable.

How to get there

The easiest way is by plane. There are direct flights from Moscow to Spain, both regular and charter. Regular flights fly every day from January to the end of March. Planes fly to Barcelona from Sheremetyevo airport and to Madrid from Domodedovo. Twice a week, aircraft depart from Domodedovo airport to Alicante and 4 times from Sheremetyevo to Malaga. At the opening of the holiday season, you can take tickets to Tenerife and Murcia. If you want to save on the cost of air tickets, you can make a transfer in Kyiv, Riga, Vienna, Warsaw, Stuttgart, etc.

There are other ways to get out of our country to Spain. For example, by train. True, keep in mind that you won’t be able to get to Spain without transfers. The most convenient way is to get to Paris by direct train, and from there to Barcelona, ​​also by train or bus. By the way, if you are not tired of long and tiring trips, then you can go from Moscow to Barcelona and Alicante by bus. But keep in mind, the cost of such a trip will be comparable to air tickets to Spain.

If you are an avid car traveler and are not afraid of a long road, then you can go to Spain in your own car. The most interesting and optimal route to the destination is as follows: Moscow - Minsk - Brest - Warsaw - Prague - Nurberg - Strasbourg - Lyon - Barcelona (3550 km). From there: Barcelona - Lyon - Geneva - Bern - Zurich - Munich - Prague - Warsaw - Brest - Minsk - Moscow (3600 km). On the first day of the journey, leaving Moscow, try to drive the maximum distance, if possible, about 1400 km. Stay overnight somewhere near Warsaw. After moving to Prague, etc. Try to spend the night somewhere outside of major cities, in order to save money (much cheaper). Keep in mind that out of the 7,000 km that you will drive there and back, 4,500 km will be occupied by the territory of Europe, where the average price of gasoline is 1.3 euros. Therefore, you will spend about 25,000 rubles only on European fuel, not counting other expenses. Therefore, you should go for at least 30-40 days.

If your goal is to relax and sightseeing specifically in Spain, then it is better to get to it by air, and then rent a car. How to do this, we will describe below.

Car rental in Spain

Renting a car in Spain and going on an amazing journey through this sunny country is a great opportunity to discover the diversity of Spanish cities, feel the rhythm of non-capital streets, enjoy the local hospitality and learn a couple of phrases in the local language. By the way, car rental in Spanish will sound like "alquiler de automóviles".

The approximate cost of renting a C-class car with insurance and a navigator is 70-90 euros / day, there are cheaper options - up to 30 euros.

On weekends, you can rent a car at a lower price. If you book a car in advance on the Internet, you can also save money, plus this method guarantees that the selected car will be available. Renting a car immediately upon arrival at the airport will cost more. Returning the car after business hours is again an additional cost. A rented car in Spain can be used to travel to neighboring countries within the Schengen area. True, in this case you will have to pay extra for "foreign" insurance. It is forbidden to leave the territory of the European Union on a rental car.

Keep in mind that if you do not understand Spanish and Catalan, you can ask for a contract in English.

Documents and insurance

To rent a car in Spain, you must provide an international driver's license and a credit card. The driver must be at least 21 years old (in some companies 23 years) and have a driving experience of 1 year (in some companies at least 2 years). Many firms block a certain amount on your credit card as collateral (approximately 500 euros). The rental car should only be returned with a full gas tank.

The rental price usually includes limited insurance with a deductible (300 - 500 euros). For an extended franchise or with a reduced amount, you will have to pay extra.

Types of insurance in Spain

 TPL (Third Party Liability) - limits the driver's liability in case of material damage to other persons.

 CDW (Collision Damage Waiver) - limits the driver's liability in case of damage to the rented car.

 TP (Theft Protection) - limits the liability of the driver in case of theft of the rented car. EP (Extended Protection) - limits the driver's liability for lawsuits against him by third parties in the event of significant damage (material and / or health and life).

 PAI (Personal Accident Insurance) - sets the amount of compensation in case of physical damage to the driver and / or passengers.

 The phrase "limits liability" means that your financial liability in these cases is removed partially (insurance with an excess) or completely (insurance without an excess).

Fuel and refills

In Spain, you can fill your car with unleaded 95 or 98 petrol (gasoline sin plomo) and diesel (gasoleo A or gas-oil). Check with the rental office in advance which type of fuel is suitable for your car. Renting a car that runs on diesel tends to be more expensive. But if you are planning long routes, it will still turn out to be more profitable.

The price per liter of 95th gasoline in Spain is 1.41 euros. If you are interested in current fuel prices in Spain, you can look here.

Remember that while refueling your car, your mobile phone must be turned off.

Traffic Laws

The vast majority of Spanish autobahns are equipped with photo and video cameras. Some technical complexes send warnings to the nearest police station about violation of the speed limit by the driver of a foreign car. In these cases, the police officer has the right to stop the violator and issue a fine, which must be paid immediately on the spot.

It is obligatory to turn on the dipped beam headlights during the day only when crossing tunnels. Radar detectors in Spain are allowed to be used, but radar detectors are banned (fine up to 6,000 euros).

When renting a car, be sure to check the presence of the following equipment in it: 2 emergency signs (the installation of both is required in case of emergency), a vest with reflectors (put on when leaving the car on the side of the road or the roadway), spare wheel. It will also be useful to stock up on a set of bulbs for headlights, a first aid kit and a fire extinguisher.

In Spain, the following speed limits apply: built-up area - 50 km/h; outside the city - 90 km / h; highway - 100 km / h; motorway: 120 km/h. The minimum speed on the motorway is 60 km/h.

The use of seat belts is mandatory for both the driver and all passengers in the front and rear seats. Children can only be transported using a special child car seat. Talking on a mobile phone while driving, without using a headset, is also prohibited.

fines

It is better to pay small fines issued by traffic police immediately on the spot after receiving an official receipt. For foreign citizens, this condition is mandatory, otherwise the car may be detained. There is also a pleasant moment here - payment on the spot guarantees a 50% discount.

Driving under the influence of alcohol is strictly prohibited. The permissible level of alcohol in the body of a driver in Spain is 0.5 ppm. For drivers whose experience has not exceeded two years, the maximum dose of alcohol in the blood is allowed - 0.3 ppm.

The most common fines are: speeding - 140-520 euros; parking in the wrong place - 90 euros; parking under the “no stopping” sign, driving on a red traffic light, unauthorized overtaking - 200-300 euros; ignoring seat belts - 150 euros; conversations on a mobile phone without a special headset - from 90 euros; transportation of children without restraints - from 90 euros; exit to the oncoming lane - 400-500 euros.

Most small towns have traffic lights that are controlled by radar. So, for example, if you exceed the speed limit, then a red traffic light will turn on on your way.

Toll roads

For travel on some roads in Spain you have to pay. Moreover, the amount of payment directly depends on the distance that you have traveled. Payment can be made in cash or by credit card. Local residents sometimes equip their cars with a device from which tolls on such roads are automatically charged without stopping the vehicle. For them, special dedicated stripes are provided, which are indicated by a blue circle with white spaces inscribed in a black square.

There are also toll tunnels in Barcelona, ​​for which you will also have to fork out. The Cadi tunnel, 5 km long, costs 12.26 euros and the 2.5 km Vallvidrera tunnel costs 3.53 EUR or 3.97 euros during peak hours (from 07.30 to 10.30 and from 17.00 to 21.00 on weekdays).

Parking in cities in Spain

In the centers of large cities in Spain, as elsewhere, there are big problems with parking - the number of car parking spaces is limited and it is sometimes quite difficult to find a free place. The parking zone marked in blue means that the parking of the car must be paid for by taking a ticket from the machine. Often you need to pay for parking on weekdays from 9 am to 2 pm, and from 4 to 9 pm. Saturdays - from 9.00 to 14.00. But there are exceptions to this rule as well. In some places, it is impossible to park a car during working hours without a special permit (Horas laborables).

Underground parking is called aparcamiento subterráneo, at the entrance is always indicated the quantitative availability or lack of space (completo). You can pay for your stay in the underground parking at the exit from there.

Some cities have the Ora Zona system, which means you can buy a parking ticket at a small shop or tobacconist. He, in turn, gives you the right to leave the car for 30, 60 or 90 minutes.

Parking near the sidewalk in the presence of a yellow stripe nearby or the inscription Vado is strictly prohibited.

Car rental companies in Spain

International companies: Europcar, Avis, Hertz,.

Local rental car: Gold Car.

Rental offices: TravelJigsaw.ru, Easy Terra, Rent Spain,.

Rent a car in Lloret de Mar: Olimpia Rent.

Sights of Spain

Spain is a wonderful country in which the climate perfectly matches the human idea of ​​a happy and comfortable life. In addition, since the country is a member of the European Union, the tourist infrastructure and other benefits of civilization are well developed here.

Spain is the birthplace of bullfighting, which is definitely worth a visit. The ticket price for this spectacular performance is 50 euros. Old people, children and pregnant women are not recommended to walk.

After a merciless and stormy bullfight, guests of the country should calm down and visit the motionless, majestic architectural monuments of Spain.

A visit to the medieval Gothic castle of Bellver, which is located on the island of Mallorca, will help you feel the breath of past knightly times. Of course, over the five centuries of its existence, the ancient building has lost its former charm, but it is still an object of the country's cultural heritage.

If you are in Barcelona, ​​pay a visit to the Sagrada Familia, which is an authentic example of the monumental art of the Middle Ages.

In addition to the "standard" tour of Barcelona, ​​vacationers in northern Spain can go to Santiago de Compostela, one of the most significant cities of medieval Christianity and simply stunningly beautiful place.

If you are on mainland Spain in winter, then in addition to conquering the top of the Sierra Nevada, be sure to go on an excursion to Granada, Seville or Cordoba.

In addition to all other attractions, you can lay routes on a rented car to the famous monasteries of Spain, which are visited annually by 10 to 12 million tourists. For example, the monastery of St. Pilar (Zaragoza), Montserrat (Barcelona), the monastic ensemble of Torreciudad (Huesca) and Lourdes in France.

Do not forget about the wonderful museums in Spain, which exhibit very interesting expositions.

Conclusion

Of course, Spain is a country that is a must to visit. Here you can not only fully relax, but also gain a lot of unforgettable impressions. Well, in order to ensure that your movement around the country is not hampered by anything, whether it be a public transport schedule or an inappropriate time for an excursion, use a rented car and spend your vacation with pleasure!

Along the coast of Spain by car: reviews, route, photos, interesting places and bays

Route by car in northern Spain.

Route along the coast of Spain by car: Barcelona - Pineda de Mar - Lloret de Mar - Tossa de Mar - Barcelona - Castelldefels

GPS coordinates Barcelona 41.399766, 2.181909
GPS coordinates Pineda de Mar 41.624980, 2.682758
GPS coordinates Lloret de Mar 41.700710, 2.839799
GPS coordinates Tossa de Mar 41.722753, 2.930422
GPS coordinates Castelldefels 41.275727, 1.980509
GPS coordinates Outlet La Roca Village 41.611505, 2.344471

We divided our trip to Spain geographically on the coast from Barcelona on the left and on the right. For the first 5 days we stayed in the small resort town of Pineda de Mar. Then we went to the other side of Barcelona - to the city.

Upon arrival in Barcelona, ​​we took it right at the airport. There are representatives of all possible car rental agencies, but we booked a specific model in advance and, as it turned out, it was not in vain that it was in our agency that we chose (according to price-quality criteria) that there was a huge queue and nothing could have happened without prior reservation .

From Barcelona, ​​already by car, we went to Pineda de Mar, where we had booked a hotel.

Car rental in Spain

Traveling in Spain by car is quite interesting. We traveled all over the coast and all the nooks and crannies, found many beautiful, interesting and completely deserted places. Therefore, when going to Spain, be sure to rent a car, so you will get much more from your stay in this country than if you were limited to public transport.
Roads in Spain, in particular in places along the route from Pineda de Mar to Tossa de Mar, are very good, all roundabouts.
The only thing I would like to warn you about is if you still don’t have much experience in car rental abroad – be very careful, rental offices are very fond of cheating. Therefore, choose a car rental company based on reviews, it is advisable to filter out those that require a credit card as collateral (to block funds in the account), because then, upon arrival home, you may find unauthorized debits from your card.

About our experience.

From Barcelona to Pineda de Mar

From Barcelona airport to Pineda de Mar, about 70 km along the road along the coast. The road is very good, beautiful views, so the distance is overcome very easily and takes less than an hour in time.

By the way, on the way from Pineda de Mar (or vice versa), if you take the bypass road, there is the largest and most famous Outlet for shopping lovers La Roca Village. This road is even better than the one along the coast, because it is smoother, easier and faster to drive.

Outlet on the map La Roca Village

Pineda de Mar and our holiday in this resort

Pineda de Mar(Pineda de Mar) is a very small resort town, so if you want to RELAX, you can safely choose it for living. Relatively large hotels, cafes, restaurants, pizzerias are concentrated on the coast. In the evenings it is crowded, you can walk and dine. But after walking 10 minutes from the coast inland, life stops in the evenings and in the hotels that are located there you are guaranteed a good sleep :) We chose a hotel closer to the highway (Carrer de la Riera), and we didn’t regret it at all - it’s quiet, the prices are lower, to the beach 10 minutes walking distance, with free parking was no problem.

Beach in Pineda de Mar- the most ordinary European public beach with yellow sand, quite large. We did not spend much time on it, but only three times an hour. It was more to our liking to drive along the coast by car and stop in interesting places, among which were other beaches, although in principle they are all the same there in terms of water and sand, just some public city ones, some quite secluded. We found one of these beaches in Lloret de Mar.

View from our hotel in Pineda de Mar

View from hotel, Pineda de Mar

Lloret de Mar

In the city center is one of the main attractions of Lloret de Mar - Castell d'en Plaja. The entrance to the territory is closed, because. it is private property. But you can walk along the path along the cliff around the castle.

Leaving the car somewhere in a dead-end street, we saw a pedestrian steep road along the coast. It had very beautiful views.

We found a secluded small beach, where we stopped with pleasure. But the road leading to it was not immediately found.

Secluded beach in Lloret de Mar

Tossa de mar

Riding in a car along Tossa de Mar, we drove into some kind of dead-end narrow street, from where a very beautiful view opened up.

Having traveled all the nooks and crannies and "explored" this area, we went to rest in the city, on the other side of Barcelona. For information on how to spend time in Castelldefels and what to see in the surroundings, read the following article.

You may also find it useful:

All routes described in this section are primarily aimed at independent travelers and include recommendations on various organizational issues. However, before proceeding to planning trips in Spain, it is worth paying attention to a number of other important issues.

How to start your trip to Spain

To begin with, it makes sense to decide how to get to Spain, and only then develop travel routes for Spanish cities and villages. The most obvious option is to use the services of one of the many airlines flying to Spain (by the way, you can search for air tickets at competitive prices). However, there are other possibilities that may well be more preferable for someone. Details are set out in the following materials:

If you do not have much experience in organizing independent travel, you should first read the article "