Travelling to Spain

Flights to Spain

Spain has international airports in most of the major regional cities and the entire country is well served by most of the international carriers as well as the low-cost airlines operating from the UK/Ireland and other European airports. The national airline is Iberia (IB). Internal connecting flights are also good (see the Spanish regional pages for more information on internal flights).

Information on Spanish airports and the companies serving them may be obtained from the Spanish Airports authority web page AENA

Ferries to Spain

A ferry to Spain from the UK is a viable option. There are two routes and operators:

Brittany Ferries

Plymouth (UK) to Santander (Spain). Crossing time 24 hours, Sailing up to 2 times a week.

P&O Ferries

Portsmouth (UK) to Bilbao (Northern Spain). Crossing time 30-35 hours, Sailing up to 2 times a week. Leaving on a Saturday at 21:15 would arrive in Bilbao on Monday at 08:00

If you are incorporating Spain in a European travel itinerary you may be interested in the Civitavecchia (near Rome, Italy) to Barcelona (Spain) route operated by Grimaldi Ferries.

Trains to Spain

Rail Europe offers Eurostar from the UK to Paris, change station and train to the Trainhotel Elipsos for an overnight service to Madrid or Barcelona. Elipsos also has a service from Zurich and Milan. Elipsos routes are as follows and overnight services operate in both directions*.

Francisco de Goya: Paris/Blois/Poitiers > Vitoria > Burgos > Valladolid > Madrid Chamartin
Joan Miro: Paris/Les Aubrais Orléans/Limoges > Figueres > Girona > Barcelona Sants Pau Casals: Barcelona Sants/Girona/Figueres > Perpignan > Geneva > Lausanne > Fribourg > Bern > Zurich
Salvador Dali: Barcelona Sants/Girona/Figueres > Perpignan > Turin > Milan Central

* Trainhotel Elipsos services operate daily however, trains Pau Casals and Salvador Dali operate a reduced service during the winter.

Coach/bus to Spain

Eurolines are a large group of independent coach companies operating together to form the largest European coach network. Two services are offered from London Victoria coach station to Madrid - the express Service 180 takes approximately 24 hrs and the slower Service 181.

Although coaches stop every few hours it might be a good idea to take your own snacks (no hot food) unless you really enjoy the food (and prices) at motorway service stations. A good book or Walkman is also a must.

Driving to Spain

Spain has an extensive road network much of which has undergone considerable improvement in recent years. The motorways (autopistas) in particular are well surfaced and signposted, although minor roads in towns and rural areas are extremely poor.

Much of the network is toll-free but if you are crossing the mountainous areas you might be better to consider the expensive toll roads (autopistas de peages) particularly if you are nervous of narrow roads with hairpin bends and sheer drops! Also towed caravans are not always allowed on some non-toll mountain passes.

Speed limits:

Motorway (Autopista - prefix 'A' or 'E') 120 km/hr
Dual carriageway (Autovia) 80 - 100 km/hr
National (trunk) roads (Carretera Nacional - prefix 'N' or 'CN') 60 - 100 km/hr
Country roads (Carretera Comarcal prefix 'C')
Open road 90-100 km/hr
Town 50 km/hr

Observe the speed limits, radar traps are frequent and the limits are implemented rigorously with on-the-spot fines.
Do not drink and drive - the alcohol limit is very low in Spain and random breath testing is common.

More travel information can be found on the getting around Spain page.

Buen viaje!