Are you planning a road trip to Barcelona? Nestled along the Mediterranean coast of Spain, lies the vibrant capital of Catalonia – Barcelona. Renowned for its unique blend of rich history, striking architecture, and buzzing atmosphere, millions of tourists from across the globe flock to experience this city. Visitors are captivated by the dynamic arts scene, world-class cuisines, lively street life, and distinct Catalan identity.
Not only are Holiday Cars here to help you pick the perfect vehicle, but we'll also give you the rundown on driving in Barcelona. Here is your guide to everything you need to know before you hit the road: from the rules of the road to required documents.
How to Plan Your Route and Avoid Traffic in Barcelona
Driving Rules and Regulations in Spain
Driving in Spain can be a wonderful experience with its superb scenery and diverse landscapes. The majority of the roads throughout the country are smooth and well-maintained. However, you might encounter winding and narrow lanes in rural and mountainous areas. It's important to be familiar with the general driving rules and regulations before jumping behind the wheel.
General Rules and Regulations
- The minimum age to hire a car in Spain is 21. However, some companies require a minimum age of 25. Most companies will also require a license for a minimum of one year and a credit card in your name.
- If in an emergency, dial 112.
- You can hire a car in Spain with a driving licence issued in the UK, EU, and EEA countries.
- You must have had your driving licence for over one year to hire a car in Spain.
- Always carry your full, valid UK driving licence and passport when driving a hire car in Spain.
- In Spain, drive on the right and overtake on the left.
- At all intersections, priority must be given to traffic approaching from the right unless there are road signs indicating otherwise.
- Avoid unnecessarily using your car horn. If you need to give another driver a warning, it is best to flicker your headlights instead.
- You are required to use hazard lights when parked on the side of the road at night.
- Vehicles weighing over 3.5 tonnes and higher than 10 metres must stay at least 50 metres from the vehicle in the front. This doesn’t apply if you’re in traffic, though.
- Wearing seat belts is compulsory and the fine for not wearing a seat belt is €200.
- Children under the age of 12 should not sit in the front seat.
- It is mandatory for children under the age of 12 or below 135cm to be seated on a booster seat.
- It’s commonplace in Spain for the car hire company to hand over the vehicle with a full tank of petrol. However, they will take €80 - €90 from your credit card to account for that. If you return the vehicle with a full tank, then they’ll refund you. If it’s partially full, then they’ll issue a partial refund depending on how much is left.
Speed Limits in Spain
- Spain’s speed limits and other road signs are presented in kilometres and metres.
- Residential areas: 20km/h
- Built-up areas: 50km/h
- Outside built-up areas: 90km/h - 100km/h
- Motorways: 120km/h
If you need to overtake a slower vehicle, you can exceed the limit by 20km/h. Motorways or dual carriageways are excluded from this rule. It's always best to use your judgement before speeding up to overtake.
Exceeding the speed limit can result in a fine between €100 and €500. The amount depends on the speed.
How to Navigate Toll Roads in Spain:
Spain has a huge motorway network with 30% of the structure consisting of toll roads. These toll roads are also known as autopistas or autovias de peaje. They are an integral part of Spain's transportation infrastructure and are owned by both public and private companies. Abertis, Cintra, and Itínere Infraestructuras are some of the major ones.
Spain has two types of toll roads:
- Concessionary Toll Roads: These are functioned by private companies who build, maintain, and operate under concession agreements with the government.
- Public Toll Roads: These roads are managed directly by the government or regional authorities.
There are several methods of payment for Spanish toll roads:
- Cash is widely accepted as long as the payment is made in Euros.
- Major credit/debit cards operate at many of the toll booths, and Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) is present at many. ETC is where the toll road automatically takes payment through an electronic tag attached to the vehicle.
The fee for using toll roads depends on numerous factors. Distance travelled, type of vehicle and the particular toll being used all impact the price. However, on average you can expect to pay €10 for short distances, €10-€20 for medium-length distances, and €20-€50 for very long trips across the country.
The AP-7 is the closest toll road to Barcelona which takes you to numerous exciting attractions and locations. Make sure to check out the charming coastal village of Sitges and the historic city of Tarragona.
Tips for Driving in Barcelona
Navigation: Barcelona can be both an exciting and challenging driving experience due to the city's congestion, narrow streets, and complex road work. Therefore, you must pay attention to traffic signals, speed limits, and road signs to avoid unnecessary accidents. It's best to plan your route using a GPS as the streets of Barcelona can be confusing.
Rush Hours: Being a newbie on the road, we advise embarking on your driving adventure when there are fewer vehicles around. If you can, avoid peak traffic hours such as mornings (8 am to 10 am) and evenings (5 pm to 7 pm). Traffic congestion is the worst during these periods.
Alcohol Limit: The legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) for drivers in Spain is 0.05%. This limit applies to both residents and tourists driving in Barcelona and throughout Spain. It is better not to drink at all when getting behind the wheel.
Drive Attentively: It's important to stay alert and attentive when driving in Barcelona as the streets can be quite chaotic. Monitor the actions of other drivers and be prepared to react quickly.
Parking Options and Tips in Barcelona
Parking in Spain
- If parking on a two-way street, vehicles must be parked on the right-hand side.
- Keep an eye out for road signs that indicate whether parking must be paid for or is completely restricted. You can pay for your parking spot through the automatic machines or parking metres nearby.
- Be aware that illegally parked vehicles may be towed away. You will then need to head over to the nearest police station to pay the fine. They may also request towing costs for your vehicle to be returned.
Parking in Barcelona
Barcelona is a hectic city and parking can sometimes turn out to be a challenge. There are limited spaces and quite strict regulations, but you can make life easier by preparing in advance. The city is divided into various colour-coded parking zones that operate on different regulations.
- Blue Zones: These typically require payment for parking
- White Zones: These offer free parking within certain time restrictions
- Yellow Zones: These are only for loading and unloading
- Green Zones: Zones reserved for residents only
It's important to abide by the parking regulations as they are strictly enforced and illegally parked vehicles may be fined or towed.
Another option is to utilise the numerous parking garages dotted around the central area. They offer both short-term and long-term parking. However, they can be expensive.
Car Hire Services and Prices in Barcelona
If you're flying in, then take advantage of the numerous reputable car rental agencies operating at the airport of Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN). It's always easier to book your vehicle in advance so you can compare prices in your own time, as well as be guaranteed a booking. You’ll find big-name brands here, including Europcar, Hertz, and Alamo. Prices start from €6.50 per day on HolidayCars.com.
Barcelona Airport and Car Hire Facilities
Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN) is southwest of the city centre at just a 20-minute drive away. The route is very straightforward and you can also get there on public transport. If you wish to hire a vehicle from BCN, then you'll find numerous car rental companies located in Terminals 1 and 2 such as Avis, Europcar and Sixt.