By car in Spain. Traveling in Spain with a rental car

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 which case), 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!

The Spanish kingdom is a state unique in every respect. Therefore, every traveler should see it at least once. But in order not to miss anything interesting and to fully enjoy the beauties of completely different regions of the country, you will need a car. You should find out more about how car rental works in Spain and what you need to pay attention to at the stage of planning a trip.

Why you should still take a car

A variety of attractions, resorts and simply beautiful places are the main incentives that encourage guests of the country to travel around its expanses by car. There are quite a few positive aspects of this method of transportation:

• the opportunity to see the country from Bilbao to Marbella and from Salamanca to Girona;
• lack of connection to the public transport schedule;
• saving time;
• incomparable convenience when traveling with children;
• the ability to drive right at the airport, if you take care of booking a car at home;
• convenience of booking (this can be done via the Internet without leaving home);
• the possibility of renting a car anywhere in the country, including the islands: Ibiza, Tenerife, Menorca, Lanzarote and others;
• liberal pricing policy and a large fleet of vehicles;
• if you wish, you can book a passenger car with a driver if you are not confident in your own driving skills.

To avoid unnecessary steps and hassle, learn more about how to rent a car in Tenerife.

The cost of providing a vehicle for rent in different regions and different companies is not the same. It will differ even in Blanes and Santa Susanna, despite the fact that both municipalities are located in Catalonia.

Average prices look like this:

• middle-class car with mechanics - 30-90 euros per day;
• luxury cars - from 130 euros.

Additional services in the case of car rental will increase the total amount each time. On the one hand, it will still be cheaper than taxi rides, and on the other hand, you can save money and travel by bus, but at the expense of your vacation time.

Where can I rent a car

Rental services are provided by a large number of companies that are available in almost any city on the continental and island parts of the country. They can be divided into two groups:

• large international companies;
• small local firms.

You can book a car directly at the company's office or by leaving a request on its website. The following services are well established:

• Centauro is an international company with offices in Spain, Portugal and Italy. In the Kingdom of Spain, its offices are located in Benidorm, Madrid, Valencia, Barcelona, ​​Seville, as well as in Ibiza and Mallorca. The choice of vehicles is possible from small cars to convertibles and SUVs. The car park has about 16 thousand units.
• GoldCar is a wide network of car rental offices around the world, including Andorra, Greece, Croatia, Cyprus, Mexico, Iceland, Morocco and, of course, Spain. Provides services even to young drivers aged 19-20 years. With the help of filters on the site, you can filter out vehicles with any number of seats, with any gearbox, type of fuel and bodywork. In the off-season, you can find offers that are ideal for the price.
• Drivalia is a local service with offices in Alicante, Valencia, Bilbao, Girona and Mallorca. You can pick up a car directly from the airport. The company's fleet consists of 2000 vehicles. This is one of those companies where you can rent a car without having a credit card with you. Great for those who stay in the suburbs of large cities, such as Lloret de Mar or Tossa de Mar. The rules for drawing up a contract of employment are the same in all representative offices of the company.

To understand the intricacies of the process of formalizing contractual relations with a transport company, study it using the example of one of the regions of the country, which is described in the article “Car rental in Valencia”.

• Record Go - provides an opportunity to get a car immediately upon arrival. Characteristic features of the company: no queue, round-the-clock support, “personal driver” service. Judging by customer reviews, here you will find low prices and excellent service.
• HolidayCars is the most popular service in Calpe and Tenerife. Does not charge customers an additional fee for the reservation and cancels it free of charge two days before the day of the rental. The insurance covers the franchise in full. 24/7 support is provided. Most often, they turn here about hiring a minivan.
• Enterprise - has more than 7600 representative offices in different parts of the world. In Spain, the company's office can be found at all airports in the country. You can use the services of the service in small towns, as well as in the island part of the country.
• Hertz - the company's offices are located around the world. In Spain, you can contact the representative offices in Tarragona and Salou (Costa Dorada), Salamanca, Malaga, the Canary Islands.
• FireFly is an international company. In Spain, you can pick up a car at the office of a company that provides transfers from 10 major airports in the country, including Madrid, Malaga, Barcelona, ​​Girona and some others.

The sooner you deal with the issue of booking a car, the more likely you are to choose what you are counting on. If you are planning a trip during the season and intend to rent a car on site upon arrival, you should keep in mind that in this case there is an increased risk of being left without a vehicle at all, since the demand for cars at this time of the year is extremely high. If you have a need to rent a motorhome, then you need to start implementing this part of the travel plan in advance.

What are the conditions for renting a car in Spain?

The conditions for car rental in each transport company can be very different. But there are a number of general requirements that are universal throughout the country:

• the driver has the rights of an international format;
• age - from 21 years old;
• driving experience - from 1 year.

It should be borne in mind that you can also drive a vehicle on Spanish roads on the basis of a domestic certificate if it meets European standards (a plastic card with a name and surname duplicated in Latin).

However, the presence of this document will be sufficient only for the transport company and the police, but in the event of an insured event, your insurer will certainly require an international driver's license. You need to get them at home. And do not forget that they are valid only together with Russian rights.

As for the choice of a car, this right is granted directly to the client. Color, model, type of gearbox and other nuances - all this is at the request of the customer. However, when receiving a car, you must be vigilant, since not all companies are conscientious about their work and may offer a faulty vehicle.

You can pick up the car at the airport, railway station or international bus stops. This point should be clarified when making a reservation. The same goes for returns.

In some cases, you can leave the car anywhere in the country and even abroad - for example, you pick it up in Torrevieja and leave it in Madrid. But in this case, you need to clarify the question regarding additional payment.

Most likely, the company will want to increase the amount of the lease, taking into account the distillation of the vehicle to the city where the fleet to which it is assigned is located.

It is important to know: if you no longer need the car, but the contract has not yet expired, the money for not using the vehicle is not returned.

As for the age limit for the driver, some companies raise it to 23 years. In any case, the customer, who is not yet 25 years old, will have to pay an additional fee. The same requirement applies to those drivers who have already crossed the 75-year milestone.

At the booking stage, it is also necessary to specify the availability of a child seat in the car. It is usually provided for an additional fee. However, sometimes it turns out that such a chair is cheaper to buy in the nearest supermarket.

Special attention should be paid to such a clause in the contract as "Mileage limitation". It happens that the limit indicated in it may turn out to be unprofitable for you, and you will have to pay a fine for exceeding it.

In addition, be sure to check whether you can leave Spain on a rented vehicle if you suddenly want to ride, for example, to Portugal for a couple of days.

A special point of relations with a transport company is insurance. The size of the franchise in Spain, as a rule, is 300-500 euros. This means that in the event of an insured event, you will have to pay exactly this amount. If the damage caused exceeds it, the difference is paid by the insurer.

For this reason, the best option is to rent a car with a zero deductible. However, in this case, the value of the lease itself may be prohibitive.

To travel abroad, you will need a separate type of insurance policy.

The fuel policy of different companies may also differ. Most of them provide a car on a "full tank - full tank" basis. Occasionally, some companies allow you to return the car with an empty tank. In this case, it is in the interests of the customer to use as much gasoline as possible, since no one will compensate for the remaining fuel.

What documents are needed

To rent a motorhome or any other type of vehicle, you will need the following package of documents:

1. Driver's license (international + domestic).
2. International passport.
3. Bank card.
4. Voucher if the booking was made online.

All paperwork must be in the name of the person who will drive the car. It is very important that they have a sufficient validity period.

This is especially important for a payment card, since many landlords prefer to "freeze" a certain amount of money in the tenant's account.

This condition must be specified when making a reservation. It is best to find a company that agrees to conclude an agreement without blocking the deposit. It should be borne in mind that cash payments in Spain are not very common.

Issue price

Many factors can affect the total bill of your trip in a rented car:

• the region and even the city where the vehicle will be booked;
• its brand, size, equipment;
• duration of the lease;
• Additional services;
• seasonality;
• fuel cost.

The base value of this service by region is shown in the table:

City	Prices in euros per night economy class	Price for 1 day deluxe class
Malaga	7-10	60-220
Barcelona	30-60	75-435
Alicatne	14-20	20-420
Girona	27-50	70-250
Madrid	35-120	180-420
Toledo	50-90	104-120
Seville	25-75	80-400
Bilbao	75-160	140-230

You can compare the conditions of different companies on the website

And do not forget that companies most often block about 500 euros in your account as collateral.

• on weekends, rental will cost less than during the week;
• getting a car at the airport will cost more;
• booking a car upon arrival may cost more than when ordering in advance;
• it is better to return the car on weekdays;
• each company always has seasonal offers.

And do not forget to add the cost of gasoline to the total check, which in June 2019 cost 1.32 euros per 1 liter.

Features of traffic rules in Spain

It is not difficult to understand the traffic rules in this state - they are not much different from those that apply in other EU countries. In doing so, you need to pay attention to the following points:

• the advantage of movement always belongs to pedestrians, not cars;
• circular intersections may turn out to be unusual - in this part of the road, the main one is the one who moves in a circle;
• throwing cigarette butts and debris out of car windows threatens with a fine;
• speed limit signs. If they do not prescribe anything, then in built-up areas you can move at a speed of up to 50 km / h, outside them - up to 90 km / h, on a national road - up to 100 km / h, on a highway - from 60 to 120 km /h;
• blood alcohol content is allowed up to 0.25 ppm. The fine for non-compliance with this requirement may exceed 500 euros;
• everyone must wear seat belts, including passengers in the back seat;
• using a mobile phone (except for a fixed speakerphone) is prohibited.

And here it is not allowed to use radar detectors and radar detectors. But no one forbids the use of navigation devices that indicate the placement of such devices on the roads.

Where to park

The most difficult question for drivers in Spain concerns parking. In big cities, get ready to get nervous and fork out for parking. Almost all parking spaces in significant settlements are paid. The amount of payment depends on the city and region.

Our tips will help you deal with the situation:

1. You can recognize paid parking by green or blue markings. Leave the vehicle behind the green line can only those who live in the area. White markings indicate free parking, but it is almost impossible to find it in a noisy city.
2. In each paid zone there is always a sign with the price per parking space, as well as a parking meter where you can pay. For these purposes, it is better to have cash with you, since debiting funds from the card is not always successful.
3. After receiving the coupon, it must be put under the windshield.
4. If you leave your car in a place not intended for this, be prepared to pay a fine of 100 to 200 euros.

conclusions

Renting a car to travel around Spain is not a luxury, but a necessity. This makes it possible not to tie your stay in the country to the schedule of public transport and see as many sights as possible. Such pleasure will cost quite a moderate amount - 30-40 euros per day, although its value can vary markedly depending on the region and brand of car.

There are a large number of companies providing such services in the country. However, having decided to rent a car, you should carefully read the contract and pay attention to the details.

Spanish rental: Video

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 pleasantly surprises 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 schedule of electric trains 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 receiving 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 a lot of 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, combining 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 at 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 of 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 nine. The only thing left was to try to take 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!

It is not difficult to organize an independent trip to Spain! Find out what kind of visa you need for a holiday, how much tickets, accommodation and food cost in 2020. We share tips on safety, rules of conduct and selection of excursions.

What are the attractions of Spanish resorts? Excellent, clean sea and good service. An independent trip to Spain allows you to get acquainted with the cities that have played a unique role in the history of mankind, and the creations of great architects.

During a visit to this country, tourists get unforgettable impressions from beautiful landscapes, vibrant national holidays, festivals and delicious Spanish cuisine. With proper planning of expenses, an independent trip to Spain turns out to be quite budgetary.

- - - - - - - - - -

Visa

To enter the country, a tourist visa (type C) is issued. It is not difficult to get it on your own, since Spain is loyal to both package and amateur tourists.

Standard documents are collected: a questionnaire, hotel and ticket reservations, insurance, financial and economic guarantees, etc.

Don't forget about insurance! Issue it on services or. Cost - from 300 rubles per week.

The visa is prepared in 4-6 days. During the peak tourist season, the time increases to 10 days. The maximum term is 3 months. You must pay a consular fee of 35 euros, and when applying to the visa center - another 15-20 euros.

(Photo: Jimmy G / flickr.com / Licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0)

Airfare

Several airlines fly from Russian cities to Spanish resorts. Many of them offer direct flights to the airports of Madrid, Barcelona, ​​Palma de Mallorca, Alicante, Costa del Sol and Malaga. The flight from Moscow takes an average of 4.5 hours. The road from St. Petersburg is slightly shorter.

The highest prices for air tickets are at the peak of the summer tourist season and on New Year's Eve. The cost of tickets for the summer of 2020 for a direct flight to Spain from Moscow in both directions starts from 12 thousand rubles, and from St. Petersburg - 8 thousand rubles. On New Year's holidays from Moscow to Barcelona you can fly for 11,500 rubles, and from St. Petersburg - for 13,800 rubles. In the low season, the cost of air tickets to Spain is reduced.

When planning an independent trip to Spain in 2020, it is worth considering that, in addition to direct flights, there are flights to Spanish resorts with transfers in major European cities. They usually cost a little less. You can save money by booking tickets in advance - no later than 2-3 months before the trip. In addition, low prices for air tickets are during sales and promotions.

(Photo: argonavigo / flickr.com / Licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0)

When is the best time to go

The choice of season for independent travel to Spain depends on your goals. From the middle December to end April fans of skiing and other winter sports come to the country. very soft, but there is enough snow at the ski resorts.

Lovers of colorful festivals and blooming almonds like early spring. FROM May the influx of tourists to the resorts of the Costa Brava and other coastal areas of the country begins. The peak of the beach season comes in the summer months, and the largest influx of vacationers falls on July And August.

In the first half of autumn, in addition to a beach holiday, tours to historical sites are popular in Spain. IN October the beach season ends, and there are noticeably fewer vacationers on the coast. At the end of autumn, independent trips to Spain, as a rule, are of an excursion nature.

(Photo: pixabay.com / ApartUP Patacona Deluxe)

Where to book a hotel in Spain

When traveling on your own to Spain, it is not difficult to book suitable hotels, as well as rent a room or a separate apartment in the private sector. In seaside resorts, accommodation prices depend on the distance from the sea. Hotels and guesthouses on the first line are more expensive. In addition, prices change depending on the season. In the cold season, they are 30-70% lower than in summer.

Here is the cost of hotels and apartments in popular resorts in Spain in the summer of 2020. Prices for daily accommodation are indicated in rubles:

We advise you to book hotels in advance, as in the high season there are few good options or only expensive ones. For example, in August in Almeria, the popular beach resort of Andalusia, 90% of hotels are booked on Booking, and prices start at 3,000 rubles per room.

(Photo: croc_star / flickr.com / Licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)

Transport prices

For sightseeing, many tourists prefer rent a car. Depending on the class of the car, rent for a day will cost from 20 to 120 euros. For a week you need to pay about 300 euros. Renting a motorcycle is cheaper. It is inexpensive to rent a bicycle: for 2 hours - 6 euros, and for a day - 15 euros.

In the budget of independent travel in Spain, it is worth considering the price of gasoline - 1.17 euros per 1 liter, as well as the cost of travel on toll roads. For example, a road trip from Barcelona to Girona costs 6-7 euros. Paid parking will cost 6 euros for 2 hours.

Rent a car online at Skyscanner Car Hire. You just have to choose the place where you want to pick up the car!

When traveling independently in Spain, it is convenient to ride on public transport. In Barcelona, ​​one trip by metro or bus costs 2.15 euros, and a single ticket for 10 trips costs 10 euros. Save those who buy a single day pass for 8.4 euros.

(Photo: ptfreak_vienna / flickr.com / Licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0)

Barcelona go bunk tourist buses. A ticket for them for one day costs 23 euros, and for two days - 30 euros. The routes of such buses are laid through the main attractions. Tourists can get off at the desired stop, inspect the memorable place and after a while get on any passing bus to continue their trip around the city.

Taxi quite expensive in Spain. For travel from Barcelona airport to the city center, you will have to pay 25-30 euros, and the car covers this distance in less than half an hour.

Transfer from the airport can be booked in advance online on the KiwiTaxi service. Upon arrival, a car will be waiting for you.

Between Spanish cities and resorts there is a good bus service. Those who travel independently in Spain often use intercity buses. Travel from Madrid to Barcelona, ​​depending on the bus class, costs from 32 to 40 euros, and from Madrid to Malaga - 25 euros.

Another option for moving around the country - domestic airlines. A ticket from Barcelona to Ibiza costs 35 euros, to Tenerife 55 euros and to Malaga 70 euros.

Public transport in Spain

Food prices

One of the main items of expenditure in an independent trip to Spain is food. Breakfast for two in a cafe will cost 16 euros, lunch - 20-30 euros, and dinner - 40-100 euros. Prices in restaurants, excluding alcoholic beverages, are 3-10% higher. Tipping is 5-10% of the value of the check. Some cafes add 15-20% for the opportunity to have breakfast "al fresco".

Here are the prices for popular dishes and products in Spain:

• paella with shrimp - 10-15 euros;
• a portion of mussels - 8 euros;
• coffee with a croissant - 2 euros;
• pears, 1 kg - 2 euros;
• oranges, 1 kg - 1 euro;
• jamon, 1 kg - 15-49 euros;
• Catalan sausages for frying, 1 kg - 11-14 euros;
• cheese, 200 g - 1 euro;
• freshly squeezed juice - 3.5 euros;
• sangria, 1 l - 11 euros;
• local wine, 1 bottle - 4-15 euros.

It is worth considering that in Spanish cafes and restaurants the day off is Monday or Sunday, and every day they are closed for a lunch siesta. In restaurants, pay attention to Menu del dia or "menu of the day". Dishes on it are offered at a discount.

(Photo: Juanedc / flickr.com / CC BY 2.0)

Prices for entertainment and souvenirs

For those who want to bring nice souvenirs: magnets, mugs, key rings and other small crafts cost from 0.5 to 10 euros, a Spanish fan - 5-35 euros, and ceramics - from 6 to 50 euros.

For entertainment in Spain, you need to plan a separate expense item. For the entrance to the nightclub take 5-10 euros. For an adult ticket to the Port Aventura park - 55 euros, and to the Salou karting center - 30 euros.

When planning a trip to Spain, do not forget about spending on a beach holiday:

• banana ride, 30 minutes - 40 euros;
• ride on a hydro scooter, 30 minutes - 40 euros;
• snorkeling - 20-25 euros;
• diving for beginners - 50 euros;
• motor boat ride, 1 hour - 60 euros.

Interesting facts about Spain

Prices for excursions

During a trip to Spain, you can organize independent excursions, because they are inexpensive:

• Palace Guell in Barcelona - 8 euros;
• aquarium in Barcelona - 7 euros;
• ticket for travel to Montserrat - 19.5 euros;
• Pubol castle - 8 euros;
• castle in Girona - 7 euros;
• Dali Theater Museum - 12 euros.

We advise you to buy only those excursions that you cannot organize yourself. Many interesting author's individual and group tours are offered on the Sputnik8 websites and, for example:

• - 50 euros;
• - 50 euros;
• - 39 euros;
• - 132 euros;
• - 180 euros.

Prices are per person.

What to watch

Spain has a very rich history. This land was ruled by the Romans, Catholics, adherents of Islam, Almoravids, Nasrids and Sephardim. In almost every corner of Spain, monuments of past eras have been preserved - ancient castles, aqueducts, majestic palaces and medieval monasteries. In addition, the country has many beautiful parks and reserves.

During an independent trip to Spain, it is convenient to combine a beach holiday with an excursion program. Many tourists like to visit large Spanish cities - and Valencia, where interesting museums and monuments are concentrated. Among vacationers, trips to Girona, Zaragoza, Burgos, Seville, Segovia, Cuenca, Toledo, Granada, Cordoba and are popular. Fans of religious sights visit the monasteries of Montserrat, San Juan de la Peña, Escorial, Sacromonte, San Esteban and other Christian shrines in Spain.

The most popular natural attractions in Spain among independent travelers:

• the dunes of Maspalomas;
• zoo "Loro Park" on;
• the vineyard valley of La Rioja;
• Ordesa i Monte Perdido National Park;
• Lagunas de Ruidera Natural Park;
• viewpoint Fuente De;
• Teide volcano;
• botanical garden Marimurtra;
• Palmitos park;
• Cape San Juan de Gaztelugatxe.

Map of attractions in Spain

The cost of an independent trip to Spain for two

The budget of any independent trip to Spain consists of mandatory expenses, without which you cannot do without. To them are added expenses that everyone plans at their own discretion. Take, for example, a week-long trip for two. Mandatory expenses will include:

• visa processing - 110 euros;
• plane tickets - 360 euros;
• accommodation in a 3 * hotel - 400 euros;
• meals - 400 euros;
• insurance - 10 euros.

Total: 1280 euros.

Additional expenses for independent travel in Spain include spending on transport, excursions, visiting entertainment centers, buying gifts and souvenirs. For a budget trip, it is worth setting aside at least 300-500 euros for additional expenses.

(Photo: Jose Castanedo / flickr.com / Licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

For an independent trip to Spain, it is useful to find out in advance about the mentality of local residents, national traditions and features of the tourist infrastructure. To make the trip go with a bang, get acquainted with the recommendations of experienced tourists:

• It is better to immediately bring euros to Spain, not dollars. This will save on currency exchange.
• In order not to pay a commission for withdrawing money, try to use ATMs less often. We advise - withdrawal from any ATMs around the world without commission, if the amount exceeds 3000 rubles.
• When choosing a hotel or guesthouse, pay attention to where it is located. Are there public transport and shops nearby, what is the level of crime.
• To spend less, choose catering establishments located away from tourist routes. It is more profitable to buy fresh vegetables and fruits in the markets than in shopping centers.
• The Spaniards do not like to rush, so you should not expect fast service from them in cafes and restaurants.
• The country has excellent public transport and a clear navigation system, so it is not difficult to lay independent routes in Spain.
• If you plan to visit several museums and attractions in the same city, purchase a discount tourist card. Such cards are sold in Madrid, Barcelona, ​​Valencia, Tarragona, Malaga, Cordoba, Granada, Salamanca and some other Spanish cities. Thanks to discount cards, you can save on public transport, the cost of tickets to museums and attractions, get a discount in shops and when visiting restaurants.
• The inhabitants of Catalonia are very patriotic and do not consider themselves Spaniards. While relaxing in the resorts of this part of the country, beware of expressions: "Spain is beautiful!" or "I love Spain!"
• When shopping in Spain, always issue receipts for VAT refunds. With the help of them, it will be possible to return part of the money spent.

(Photo: rbrands / flickr.com / Licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0)

First photo: Patrice_Audet / pixabay.com.

On the Mediterranean coast there are many large and small, famous and not so luxurious and modest resort towns. Among all this diversity, Barcelona stands apart. Bright, controversial, proud and, of course, unusually atmospheric. This is a city of geniuses, unrecognized and recognized talents, and, of course, art lovers. A city that can rightfully be called the resort capital of the Mediterranean. However, even with all this diversity and splendor, sometimes you want to travel around Spain by car, starting the route from Barcelona and discovering every day more and more new corners of Catalonia and beyond.

The easiest and fastest way to get to Barcelona is by plane. Every day, at least 10 regular flights from Russia arrive at El Prat International Airport. In addition, you can consider options with transplants. You can find the cheapest and most convenient option and book tickets on the Aviasales website. Other ways are railway and bus. In both cases, you will have to get from Moscow to Paris, and then make a transfer. It is worth noting right away that such a journey will take a lot of time.

Where to stay in Barcelona

Barcelona is a big city, and there are hotels of different star ratings, from luxury to economy class, in almost every area. There are more than 200 of them in total. And this is not taking into account the numerous apartments, hostels and campsites. And, despite this, during the season, places must be booked in advance. A distinctive feature of the Barcelona fives is that design hotels and so-called "boutiques" are often found among them. Even here, the love of art, typical of the Catalan capital, could not be avoided. By the way, not always traditional - among such hotels there are often avant-garde ones. As for the price, it varies - from 200-300 euros per day for a double room in luxury hotels in the central part of the city to 5-10 for a "bed" in hostels. Here, as they say, everyone chooses for themselves. Fortunately, there is something.

Barcelona

It features a rooftop pool and terrace overlooking the city.

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Barcelona

Just 10 minutes walk from Plaza Catalunya

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Hotel Lloret Ramblas

Barcelona

Located on the famous Rambla, close to Plaza Catalunya

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Car rental in Barcelona

If you are planning to travel around Spain on your own, it is most convenient to do this by renting a car - there are many companies in Barcelona that provide such services. Managers, as a rule, are ready to communicate with clients in advance, book a car for specific dates at their request, and even deliver it to the airport by the specified time. Protom payment for this will be purely symbolic. But it’s better to find out in advance where to look for parking during trips - in Spain they are not cheap and spontaneity in this matter can be very expensive, in the truest sense of the word.

Sights of Barcelona

How to get started in Barcelona? This question, probably, will not be answered even by experienced travelers who have visited it more than once. Someone prefers to walk along the noisy and always busy Rambla, someone prefers to look at it from the height of the Columbus monument, someone prefers to admire the legendary Sagrada Familia, someone prefers to enjoy the silence (yes, this is possible even despite the presence of hundreds of tourists) Park Güell… There are a lot of sights in Barcelona that have become its symbol. But still, despite the rather diverse “mast see” collage, you still have to single out something important for yourself. If you answer the question - where to go in Barcelona, ​​if there is only an hour to explore it, it will probably still be Rambla. Why? Because it is as controversial as the Catalan capital.

At first glance - cheerful and carefree. But one has only to peer into the sad faces of living sculptures, turn right (if you walk from Plaza Catalunya towards the embankment) and find yourself in the Boqueria market, colorful and devoid of any metropolitan flair, turn left, go a few blocks and stumble upon the Cathedral, which serves as a residence archbishop and built back in the 15th century (although it began even earlier - in the 13th century), it becomes clear that the Rambla, like Barcelona itself, is much deeper. Involuntarily, the lines of the Russian poet N. Rylenkov are recalled: “Here it is not enough to hear, here you need to listen attentively… Here it is not enough to see, here you need to peer…”. This is about her - the central pedestrian street of Barcelona.

If there is something in the world that is contradictory, ambiguous, but invariably captivating and amazing (in terms of architecture, of course), then this is the Sagrada Familia, or as it is also called the Sagrada Familia. It is truly unique - it is a building that keeps the memory of many historical events (construction began in 1882) and at the same time sounds in unison with modernity, linking eras and generations with an invisible thread. It should be noted that this is the only case in the history of architecture when an unfinished long-term construction (completion dates have already been postponed more than once and are currently scheduled for 2026), which attracts millions of tourists and is wildly popular.

And, finally, in order to understand Barcelona, ​​it is impossible to bypass the famous Camp Nou stadium. Football for the capital of Catalonia is like a second air, and there is nothing surprising in the fact that your favorite team is treated with awe and respect. It is no coincidence that the slogan “More than a club” flaunts on the podium. During the tour, guests can sit in the stands, visit the commentator's cabin and go to the edge of the field. And, of course, get acquainted with the museum exposition. Of course, these are not all the sights of Barcelona. The Olympic Park, the houses of Batllo and Mila, the Park Güell, the magnificent old port, the Picasso Museum, the mysterious Gothic quarter… You can go on for quite some time and what you have time to see depends solely on the availability of time. There is enough interesting stuff here for more than one week.

How to save money in Barcelona?

Everyone knows that Barcelona is an expensive city. If there is an opportunity to save, then why not take advantage of it?

• Skip-the-line tickets for the Sagrada Familia and Park Güell
• Transfer from and to Barcelona airport or one-way transfer from Girona airport - will allow you to quickly and comfortably get to the city center
• Hop-On Hop-jff Bus Tickets
• 20% discount on tickets to top museums (including Picasso, Joan Miro, MNSC), attractions (including Casa Mila, Casa Batllo and Camp-Nou), tours and bike tours, Hola Transport Card

Barcelona - Lloret de Mar - Girona - Vila Sacra

Having decided to go on an independent auto tour from Barcelona, ​​many tourists first of all go to the sides of Lloret de Mar. Moreover, in one day you can have time to visit several interesting cities at once. Having overcome literally 70 kilometers, travelers find themselves in a completely different reality. Despite the popularity of the resort, a calm, peaceful atmosphere reigns here. In addition, there are quite a few attractions in Lloret de Mar - San Juan Castle, located on the coast and which has become the hallmark of the entire Costa Brava, the romantic chapel of St. Christina, the patroness of the city, the gardens of St. Clotilde and others. For those who decide to spend the night in Lloret de Mar, the town opens up from a completely different side. With the sunset, it seems to come to life and the streets, which seemed quiet and calm during the day, turn into one big party. You can roam between the bars until dawn. The main thing is not to overdo it with cocktails, especially if you have plans to go further in the morning.

The next stop for many travelers is Girona, which is only 35 kilometers away. It is often called the immortal city (over the years of its existence, the city fortress managed to withstand 25 sieges, and this is really a lot!), Spanish Florence and even the city of Salvador Dali (although the museum dedicated to him is not located here, but in Firegas). Girona is not as famous and popular as its neighbor Barcelona, ​​but no less beautiful. The best way to start your acquaintance with Girona is with a walk through the Old Town. Small colorful houses of the 17th century with multi-colored facades, located on the embankment of the Onyar River, invariably fascinate and remind of the affairs of bygone days (someone compares them with Florence - and there really is some similarity), and Catalunya Square, which looks like a wide bridge and connecting the two banks, looks very unusual and even mysterious. And, of course, you can’t pass by the medieval Cathedral, the construction of which began back in the distant XIV century.

Vila Sacra is located just 20 kilometers from Girona. Why is it worth visiting this small cozy village? At least in order to breathe the air of the Spanish province, find out what the national cuisine is (not tourist-oriented, but really local!) And spend the night in a cozy hotel in order to go further to discover beautiful Spain with renewed vigor in the morning.

Vila Sacra - Empuriabrava - Besalu - Castelfiolite de la Roca

Curious tourists are unlikely to want to linger in Vila Sacra for a long time - a couple of hour evening walks will be enough to get around the entire village. Therefore, in the morning, after having a snack at the hotel, you can get ready for the journey - to the shores of the bohemian Empuriabrava. This resort town is often called the Spanish Venice. It is all "cut" by channels, their total length exceeds 35 kilometers - this is a world record. As in Venice, luxury villas have access to the water - locals often travel on yachts and boats. However, land transport can also be used to reach any point in Empuriabrava. In general, this is a very atmospheric town, a walk through which will surely give a lot of positive emotions and vivid impressions.

Of the attractions of the resort in the first place it is worth noting the beaches. Wide, sandy, almost endless ... In fact, there are two of them - one is well-maintained, and the second is wild. Despite the popularity of Empuriabrava, there is enough space for everyone even at the height of the tourist season. But lovers of architectural masterpieces, this town is likely to disappoint. It is not old, and there are no attractions as such. But in medieval Besalu, the first mention of which dates back to the 10th century, there are enough of them. It would be more correct to say that the whole city is one continuous attraction. It is small in area, only 5 square kilometers, and you can get around all the nooks and crannies in 2-3 hours. City landmarks are the El Castel castle and the bridge over the El Fluvia river. However, not only they, but also every house, every alley reminds of the former greatness.

Having enjoyed the color of bygone days, you can go further. Just 15 kilometers from Besalu is the village of Castelfollit de la Roca, very famous far beyond the borders of Spain. It is amazing in the first place because it is located right in the rock. And it was built neither more nor less than in the distant Middle Ages. Hence - a very unusual architecture and many buildings worthy of attention. Among them, the church of San Salvador and the museum located next to it stand out. From the observation deck you can enjoy stunning panoramic views of the surroundings. In general, Castelfollit de la Roca is not just colorful - it seems to be lost in time. Walking along its narrow streets, you begin to believe that a brave knight in armor, or a lady in a chic lush dress, is about to appear around the corner. Fortunately, there are very few tourists here and the stories of the guides do not disturb this mysterious atmosphere. But no matter how beautiful the village in the mountains is, it is unlikely to interest inquisitive travelers for more than 2-3 hours. Therefore, in the evening you can return to Vila Sacra in order to continue the journey in the morning and see a completely different Spain - to the Pyrenees.

Vila Sacra - Seira, Pyrenees

From Vila Sacra to Seira is not so close - about 350 kilometers. However, the roads in Spain are good and the path can be easily covered in 4-4.5 hours. Why, having decided to visit the Pyrenees, is it worth staying here? First of all, because Seira is a very cozy, colorful village where you can get acquainted with national traditions and feel the special spirit of the Spanish province. Secondly, housing here is not expensive - for the price of a room in a three-star hotel in Barcelona, ​​you can rent a two-story apartment with a mountain view. From the point of view of attractions, Seira is of no interest. They are simply not here. But the immediate surroundings deserve attention. The first place to go is the dam near the lake Estany De Cavallers. It is considered the most equipped and convenient for inspection. The building is really striking in its scale. In addition, dizzying views open up from the dam itself.

You can admire nature almost alone - getting to Estany De Cavallers is not so easy, you can do this only with your own transport. That is why there are not too many tourists here. In the dam area, there are simple places to rest (wooden tables and benches), but if you want to relax and have a picnic, then stock up on food in advance - there are no shops and other outlets here. Aiguestortes National Park is located near the lake. It is notable primarily for the fact that several routes for short trekking have been laid across the territory - the easiest one, designed for unprepared tourists, can be overcome in 2-3 hours. On the way there are swift mountain rivers, slopes rushing towards the clouds, almost abandoned bridges. Occasionally, somewhere in the distance you can see lonely houses. The landscapes are complemented by lonely walking cows with bells - almost alpine romance. Although the Pyrenean landscapes are not at all similar to the Alps. They are beautiful in their own way, bewitching and breathtaking.

Enjoying the beautiful, do not forget about returning home - from Aiguestortes to Seira is not so far, only 80 kilometers, but the road is quite difficult - a narrow serpentine. Therefore, it is better to overcome it before sunset.

Seira - Benasque

Just 22 kilometers from Seira is a place that is known to every lover of active winter recreation - the ski resort of Benasque. In winter, at the height of the season, there is literally “no place for an apple to fall”. But in the summer in a small town with a population of 2000 people, as if lost among the Pyrenean peaks, it is calm and quiet. There are several trekking routes of varying difficulty in the vicinity - designed for both amateurs and professionals who know a lot about hiking. The beauty of the surrounding landscapes amazes even seasoned travelers - glaciers, lakes, waterfalls ... not a single photograph conveys all this grandeur and magnificence. Benasque is not only a modern ski resort. The city has a rather interesting history, so there is nothing surprising in the fact that there are many architectural sights on its streets. Among them are the palace of the Counts of Ribagorets, the houses of Casa Huste, Casa Faure and Casa Martial del Rio. As you can see, this place has always attracted representatives of the Spanish nobility. In addition, the Romanesque church of the XIII century Santa Maria Maggiore deserves attention.

The Seira-Benasque road is not too long, only 22 kilometers, but it is worth deviating just a few meters from the main route and you can find yourself in truly fabulous places. One of them is the dam at Presa de Benasque lake. By itself, it is closed to the public, but there is an observation deck nearby, which offers a beautiful panoramic view of the dam itself, a tunnel through the rock (they are quite common in the Pyrenees) and the lake. Another place that would be a real crime to drive past is Lake Escarpinosa and the Posets Maladeta Park, which is located in its vicinity. Many call it the most beautiful thing in the Pyrenees. In any case, lovers of nature and beautiful landscapes will not remain indifferent.

You can end this day by staying at one of the Benasque hotels (in summer, the prices for accommodation in the city are very attractive, since the resort is empty) or by returning to Seira - it will be more convenient to continue the journey from there.

Seira - Montserrat - Castelldefels

Of course, these are far from all the interesting places of the Pyrenees, but if you are limited in time, the “must see” route can be considered complete on this route. On the way to Barcelona there is an object that you simply cannot pass by. This is the spiritual center of Catalonia, the holy of holies for local residents and Catholics around the world - the monastery of Montserrat. It is known primarily for the fact that it is here that the statue of the Black Virgin of Montserrat is located. The history of the monastery began over 1000 years ago. Since then, and to this day, it is considered to be active, however, now there are not too many monks, no more than 20 people. The monastery has a small museum where you can learn about the affairs of bygone days. In terms of architecture, the monastery of Montserrat is interesting primarily because it was almost completely rebuilt in the 19th century with the participation of the famous and controversial architect Antonio Gaudi. His ideas, connected with the unity of man and infinite harmony, here he embodied really very successfully.

Montserrat Monastery is located in a very picturesque place. Several trekking routes have been laid in its vicinity - for the convenience of tourists, there are signs everywhere, so you won’t get lost for sure. In addition, they pass through the most picturesque places and are designed for tourists with different levels of physical fitness - even those who are “on you” will cope with the conquest of the simplest ones.
How much time do you plan to visit Montserrat Monastery? A few hours is enough for someone, and someone is ready to stay here forever. For those who decide to stay and spend the night, there is a hotel near the monastery. True, the prices here are not low, tourist prices.

Having completed your acquaintance with the monastery and having breathed enough of the air of the monastery, you can return to the coast. Back to Barcelona? Of course, you can do that, but there are still many beautiful places in Catalonia where you can end up in the end. For example, a tiny and very cozy town of Castelldefels. It is known, first of all, for its endlessly long beach - a great place to put the final point and say goodbye to beautiful Spain. In addition, there are a huge number of restaurants with a wide variety of cuisines - from national Catalan to Japanese. Seafood dishes are considered a local "highlight". If you are lucky enough to get to Castfeldefels in July or October, then you can become a participant in a pirate feast or a chestnut festival, the fame of these events “spreads” throughout Catalonia.

Of course, this is not the only "Spanish" route that you can take to travel by car from Barcelona. Catalonia and neighboring regions are rich in sights, natural parks and all sorts of interesting places. Spain is many-sided, colorful and invariably hospitable. It opens to each traveler in its own way, but every tourist will certainly leave a piece of his soul here.