Holidays in Spain by car hint. The best routes in spain by car. Driving itinerary from Barcelona: Medieval cities and lava plateaus

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

How to start your trip to Spain

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

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

This review will focus on our second trip to Spain this year. The first took place in February, and we traveled around the island of Tenerife. Now, thanks to the availability of an open six-month Schengen visa, we decided on a completely independent trip by car.

Route selection

With the starting point of our path, we decided easily. Barcelona is probably the most interesting city in Spain. It is always full of tourists. Many of our friends have been here and shared their impressions with us. So Barcelona is a must-visit destination, and not for a single day. But where to go next?

There are many famous and interesting cities in Spain. For example, Madrid, Valencia, Seville. But in my travels I am attracted not so much by cities as by nature. And where in Spain is the most beautiful nature, and what would be within reach by car from Barcelona? After clicking on the photos on Google Earth, I realized that I really want to visit the north of Spain - the coast of the Bay of Biscay. After all, the three components of beautiful nature are the sea, mountains and fewer people. These conditions were there. So we also decided on the final destination of the route - it was the city of Bilbao, the capital of the Basque Country.

The province of Aragon with its capital, the city of Zaragoza, is very well located between Barcelona and Bilbao. These three points became the mainstay of our route. Well, when the time came to draw up the route in more detail, we supplemented it with the cities of Lleida and Huesca. In addition, our return trip was quite close to the border with France, and we passed several beautiful reservoirs.

If we put the reference points of our route on the map, we get the following scheme:

Hotel booking

We booked hotels in three cities: Barcelona, ​​Zaragoza and Bilbao. To do this, we used the booking.com service and a Visa Classic card. In Barcelona, ​​we had the Catalonia Park Güell hotel, located near the Vallcarca metro station. In Zaragoza, we had a modest but well-located dvushechka Hotel Hispania. In Bilbao, we lived in a four-star hotel with Silken Indautxu parking.

A little later, we will issue detailed reviews for each of these hotels, and post them here.

Flight Moscow-Barcelona

For the flight, we booked tickets on the Vueling airline website. Two round-trip tickets for the May holidays cost us about 50 thousand rubles. I will assume that in normal periods, the flight will cost you half the price. Please note that Vueling is a discount airline, therefore meals on board are paid, and the minimum ticket does not include the cost of carrying luggage.

We rent a car

We rented a car by prior reservation through the website at Hertz. Here, of course, some subtleties surfaced. Comparing the websites of several well-known car rental companies such as AVIS and Europcar, I saw that Hertz has the lowest price for a B-class car on the dates indicated. It was only when I received the car that I found out that this price includes only minimal insurance, and if there are any damages on the car, including scratches, you will have to pay for them within 900 euros. Full insurance costs twice as much. So, I advise you to immediately pay attention to this if you book a car via the Internet.

Otherwise, they were satisfied with the car rental. We were given a practical new Peugeot 208, in perfect condition. It was equipped with some kind of small and not very powerful engine, but it steered well on mountain roads and consumed an average of only 5.2 l / 100 km of 95th gasoline. I really liked the machine.

Sights of Barcelona

	Fortress on top of the hill of the same name in Barcelona, ​​from where you can see the city from a bird's eye view.
	The Spanish Village is an open-air museum. Here are collected examples of characteristic architecture from all regions of Spain.
	The Gothic quarter of Barcelona is the place in the city where the oldest buildings have been preserved.
Sagrada Familia
	Sagrada Familia, or the Church of the Sagrada Familia, is one of the main symbols of Barcelona, ​​and perhaps the most famous long-term construction in the world.
	Park Güell is perhaps the most famous and most visited park in Barcelona. Antonio Gaudi participated in its creation, and the house-museum of the architect is also located there.
	The story of how we got from Barcelona by train, and then by cable car to the unique mountain of Montserrat, on which the monastery of the same name is located.

Attractions of Zaragoza

	The Basilica de Nuestra Señora del Pilar is one of the largest and most beautiful temples in all of Spain, and by far the main architectural landmark of Zaragoza.
Aljaferia Palace
	The palace-fortress of Aljaferia was built by the Moorish in the 11th century. Then he served the Catholic kings, and in our time is used for the meetings of the Parliament of Aragon.
Exhibition area EXPO 2008
	The World Expo 2008 site is touted as one of Zaragoza's iconic landmarks. Pavilions and other objects are made in an interesting and modern architectural style. However, connector desolation reigns here.

North coast of Spain, Bay of Biscay

Beauties of the Bay of Biscay - Cape Bilano, lighthouse and island
	A story about a hiking trail, in the municipality of Gorlis, about 25 km from Bilbao. Here you can see the Lighthouse, located on the cape, the island, the ruins of the fortress of the 18th century.
Gaztelugatxe island, to which a man-made bridge leads
	A story about the amazing island of Gastelugache, located off the coast of the Bay of Biscay. It is connected to the mainland by a man-made bridge, and at the top of the island there is a secluded chapel, which can be reached by a winding staircase with 237 steps.
The fishing town of Lekeitio
	The city of Lekeitio is one of the interesting places in the Basque Country. Here is a harbor where many private boats and boats moor, as well as fishing trawlers. In addition, there is a beautiful lighthouse on the cape.
	Grod Bilbao is the capital of the autonomous community of the Basque Country.

Results

Summing up our independent trip around Spain by car, I want to say that anyone who has a driver's license and a desire to be free to move and see the beauties of this wonderful country can repeat this experience.

Today is a post about Spain in general and about Catalonia in particular from an experienced traveler Galina Ignatova. Galina travels and maintains a travel blog Travel Diary. The resource is useful, bright and with a soul. I strongly recommend it, especially to those who prefer to travel around Europe or are going to discover European countries.

Planning a trip to Spain: what you need to know

When you are going to Spain for the first time, it is very difficult to choose where to go and what to see first. After all, Spain, or officially the Kingdom of Spain (Reino Espanol), consists of 17 autonomous regions, each with its own parliament and its own government. All of them are very different in architecture, cuisine, customs. But if you are going there for 2-3 weeks, then it is better to choose one region.

First of all, for example, we wanted to see Madrid and Barcelona, ​​and since we planned the trip for the end of September, we also wanted to sunbathe and swim. Therefore, it was decided to fly to Catalonia, whose capital is Barcelona.

Visa to Spain

Getting a visa to Spain on your own is not at all difficult, just contact the visa center of the Spanish consulate, fortunately, they are now available in all major cities. The website of the Spanish Consulate in Russia http://www.spainvac-ru.com/moscow/ has all the necessary information. At the first application, as a rule, you are issued a six-month Schengen, at the second - an annual one.

Flying to Spain is also easy. Very economically possible to Madrid, Barcelona and Malaga. The main thing is to take care of this issue a few months before the trip.

Resorts of Spain

The most popular resorts in Catalonia are the Costa Brava and Costa Dorada, which are located north and south of Barcelona.

Sliding Curved Bridge Rambla del Mar

Costa Dorada- translates as "golden coast" and is located from Barcelona to the province of Tarragona. On this coast there are many large and not very resorts - Salou (Salou), La Pineda (La Pineda), Sitges (Sitges), Cambrils (Cambrils) and others. This coast is famous for its golden sand beaches, modern high-rise hotels, nightclubs and many different entertainments for every taste.

Costa Brava, without a doubt, is one of the most picturesque places in Spain. This is the northern coast of Catalonia, which stretches from the French border to the city of Blanes (near Barcelona). Translated from Spanish, Costa Brava means "wild coast" or "coast of the brave." This coast is famous for its very beautiful views, sheer mountains stretch for 80 miles along the coast, and the coastline, meanderingly indented with small bays, due to its unattractiveness for the construction of ports, has preserved magnificent landscapes untouched.

For a beach holiday, we chose a little-known place among our tourists - the town of Empuriabrava. It is also called the Spanish Venice, as there are more than 30 water channels. It is located 160 km from Barcelona and 25 km from the French border.

Empuriabrava is located in an ecologically clean area of ​​Spain, in the heart of the largest Gulf of Roses on the Costa Brava, where there are no industrial enterprises, and has a unique mild climate.
If you choose the Costa Brava for your vacation, be sure to visit:

• - in Figueres - the city in which the famous Dali Museum is located;
• - in snow-white Cadaqués, where Dali met his Gala;
• - in delightful Girona, with its colorful houses along the waterfront.

Views of Girona

Flights to Spain

Prices in Spain for housing and food

We always prefer to stay in apartments rather than hotels. This is very convenient, especially when traveling with children. You can always cook something yourself from local products. Prices for apartments here are from 50 to 100 euros per day.

Here are the prices for housing in Spain and reviews:

Food prices in supermarkets are approximately the same as in Russia. Something cheaper and something more expensive. Restaurants and cafes on every corner. It is better to book accommodation for 12-14 days by the sea, so that it is convenient to travel on excursions to neighboring towns. And plan a few days for Barcelona - it deserves it!

souvenir photo with a living sculpture

Barcelona - travel itinerary

Barcelona is an amazingly cosmopolitan city. It is more European than Spanish. And great for hiking. I always try to find apartments that are within walking distance of the main attractions of the city. Although Barcelona has a very convenient public transport system, we prefer to get to know the city on our own two feet.

The night before, we mark the route of the next day on the map and go ahead in the morning. For example, we devoted the first day to Gaudi's objects, and the route was as follows: Plaza Catalunya, Calveta House, Mila House, Amalter House with the oldest chocolate shop on the ground floor, Batllo House and Sagrada Familia.

On the way we went to one of the oldest pastry shops in the city - Mauri (Rambla Catalunya, 103). Since 1929, this place has been delighting the people of Barcelona with delicious pastries. This is a very atmospheric place with a great interior. And there, indeed, everything is very tasty.

The second day we devoted to Park Güell. We took all sorts of goodies with us and had a picnic there. After all, there are many tourists only in the monumental (now paid) part of the park, and in the free park zone it is almost free. We examined everything, then walked along the terraces of the park, climbed higher, the view of the city from there is wonderful. Had a great day there.

Be sure to take the cable car to Montjuic and take a walk there. And in the evening go down to the Plaza de España and admire the magical fountain.

And of course, you need to go around the entire historical center of the city - this is the Gothic Quarter with its beautiful Cathedral, the Raval district with its oriental flavor and the Barceloneta district with the old port of Vell.

The architecture of this city is simply amazing, one can only envy the people of Barcelona.

Spanish cuisine

The Spanish cuisine is also great. Of the Catalan dishes you need to try:

• - butifarra - traditional Catalan sausages. This dish is usually served with white beans, but a variant with salad and french fries is now common;
• - Mar i Muntanya - is called "between the sea and the land." This dish with an interesting name implies an unusual combination of products: chicken and shrimp on one plate with a sauce of tomatoes, onions and garlic;
• - Catalan paella with seafood;
• - churros with hot chocolate for breakfast;
• - Crema Catalana is a delicious Catalan dessert reminiscent of French creme brulee. Made with milk, eggs, caramel and caramelized sugar;
• - Panellets - an original Catalan dessert made from almonds and sweet potatoes;
• - Turron (turron) - a traditional sweet of Catalonia, made from almonds, honey and sugar. This is a very sweet and tough delicacy, which is good to bring as a traditional souvenir. There are several different variants of the turron. Many candy stores allow you to taste small pieces before buying.

And of course, Sangria is a traditional soft drink made from wine and fruits. Chilled sangria is especially pleasant on a hot summer day.

On one of the evenings, arrange yourself a trip to tapas bars, as is customary among the Spaniards.

Shopping in Barcelona

And yet, be sure to leave 1-3 days for shopping in Barcelona. This city is a paradise for shopaholics. Especially during sales periods. Large sales in Barcelona are held, as well as throughout Europe, twice a year. Winter sales start in the second week of January, right after the holidays, and end at the end of February. Summer sales start at the beginning of July and end at the end of August. But keep in mind that in August many Spaniards have a rest and many shops and cafes may be closed. Discounts during sales reach 70%.

You can talk about Barcelona and Spain endlessly, you want to come back here again and again.

Car rental in Spain

If you prefer to travel by car and feel confident behind the wheel, pay attention to this car rental service.

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:

You can compare the conditions of different companies on the website www.rentalcars.com

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

Distance 109 km. Travel time is about 1 hour 20 minutes one way without stops. The route will be toll highway C-32 (12.55 euros).

Port Aventura is a major theme park and one of the most visited in Europe. It is divided into 6 areas - Mediterranean, Polynesia, China, Mexico, Wild West and Sesame Street. Here you will find both extreme attractions (for example, free fall from a height of 100 meters), and for the smallest, as well as various shows and performances. Each region has restaurants with cuisines from the respective countries.

Also part of the resort are the Caribe Aquatic Park and the Ferrari Land Park. At the box office you can buy combined tickets to several parks at once. However, we advise you not to rush and spend the whole day in PortAventura. In the evening, be sure to stay for a beautiful fireworks display in honor of the closing of the park.

The cost of an adult ticket is 47 euros, for children (4-10 years old) - 40 euros. Current prices can be found on the website.

2. Montserrat Monastery (Monasterio de Montserrat)

Distance 61 km. Travel time - about 1 hour one way without stops.

Montserrat is a Benedictine monastery located high in the mountains and attracts pilgrims from all over the world. It offers panoramic views of the mountain valleys.
By car, you can drive up to the monastery itself; there is free parking near its walls. An alternative option to climb the mountain is the cable car (Aeri de Montserra), the trip will take about 5 minutes. In this case, the car will have to be left in the parking lot at the foot of the mountain (also free). A round-trip ticket costs 10.30 euros. The opening hours of the cable car vary depending on the season, details can be found on this website.
The monastery is available for visits daily from 07:00 to 20:30, (from December to June - from 07:00 to 19:30).

3. "Dali Triangle" - Figueres, Pubol, Cadaqués

Distance 197 km. Travel time is about 3 hours one way without stops. There will be a toll highway AP-7 on the route (about 10 euros).

The famous "Dali triangle" includes three cities that are inextricably linked with the life and work of the famous surrealist Salvador Dali.

The first stop on your way will be a small town Pubol. Here is the castle that Dali gave to his wife Galya. Currently, it has been turned into a museum, and the interior has remained the same as in the old days. The entrance ticket costs 8 euros. There are discounts for students and pensioners. Opening hours vary by season, see this page for up-to-date information.

Next stop on your way - Figueres. It was in this city that Dali was born, and the main attraction here is his theater-museum. The exposition of the museum is the largest collection of paintings by the artist. Here, in the crypt, the artist himself is buried.

The entrance ticket costs 14 euros, there is a system of discounts. Opening hours vary by season, see this page for up-to-date information.

The final stop on the route will be Cadaqués. The city is known primarily for the stay here of Salvador Dali. Once here, you will understand why the great artist loved and was so inspired by this place - the town is amazingly beautiful. Almost all houses in the city are snow-white.

The most visited attraction is the Salvador Dali Museum. The entrance ticket costs 11 euros. We advise you to book a tour - here they are passionate about their work and tell really interesting things. Museum hours vary depending on the season. Up-to-date information can be found on this website.

4. Andorra

Distance 199 km. Travel time - approx. 2 h 30 min one way non-stop. Roads are free.

A great idea for a day trip is to visit the small mountain principality of Andorra, located on the border of Spain and France.
The capital - Andorra la Vella - is a fairly compact city that is easy to get around on foot. The main attractions, conveniently, are concentrated in the Old Quarter.
If you have had time to walk along the narrow medieval streets of the capital and see the old mansions, we advise you to go to the largest mountain thermal center in Europe - Caldea. The entrance ticket costs from 30 euros, detailed information on tariffs can be found on this website.

The entire state is a duty-free zone, so it is profitable to shop here.
You can find detailed information on how to spend time in Adorra on this one.

5. Carcassonne (Cité de Carcassonne)

Distance 303 km. Travel time - approx. 3 h one way non-stop. The route will have toll highways AP-7 and A-9 (total cost 40.60 euros).

The small French city of Carcassonne is home to two UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

First of all, Carcassonne is known for its ancient fortress, which is unique not only because it has been perfectly preserved, but also because of its size (it is rather a whole fortified city). You can take a whole day to see it.

The best views of Carcassonne itself are from the west (for example, from the old bridge over the River Aude or the A61 highway). Keep in mind that all parking lots are paid directly at the fortress walls.

Entrance to the territory is free. You can take an audio guide (the cost is 4.50 euros). You can also order a tour of the fortress (3.50 euros - 1 hour, 4 euros - 1.5 hours).

Opening hours vary depending on the season: from October 1 to March 31 - daily from 09:30 to 17:00, from April 1 to September 30 - daily from 10:00 to 18:30.

The second UNESCO World Heritage Site within the city is the Canal du Midi, linking the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea. Currently, mainly tourist ships move along it, so if you wish, it is quite possible to ride on it.

6. Girona

Distance 102 km. Travel time - approx. 1 h 30 min one way non-stop. There will be a toll highway AP-7 (8.90 euros) on the route.

Girona is a city of contrasts, where modern urban culture coexists with a well-preserved historic center with medieval architecture. The old Jewish quarter is also located here. Girona is relatively small and great for walking.

7. Zaragoza

Distance 302 km. Travel time - approx. 3h 30 min one way non-stop. The route will be toll highway A-2 (14.45 euros).

Zaragoza is a city whose appearance was formed under the influence of Roman, Arab, Christian, Jewish cultures. The main attractions are concentrated in the Old Town.

Here you will see the largest Spanish baroque church, the Moorish palace of Aljaferia, the Cathedral of San Salvador, the most beautiful stone bridge over the Ebro River, the modern building of the expo center, as well as various objects reminiscent of the Roman period.

8. Valencia

Distance 349 km. Travel time - approx. 3 h 30 min non-stop one way. The route will have a toll highway AP-7 (38.20 euros).

Valencia has everything to be considered a European capital - the historical center, medieval walls and towers of the old city, architectural masterpieces of world importance ("City of Arts and Sciences"), an excellent public transport system. However, only 800 thousand people live in the city, so it does not reach the status of a metropolis. In addition, while Valencia manages to avoid tourist routes: during the summer holiday season, the main flow of tourists tends to Alicante.

As a result, travelers get the following benefits - free tables in restaurants, no traffic jams (if you are used to traveling in a rented car),
low prices for groceries and museum tickets (on Sunday admission to most Valencia museums is generally free).

9. Driving route from Barcelona: Medieval cities and lava plateaus

Distance - 181 km.
Travel time- 3 hours non-stop one way. With full stops - 10 hours.

This unusual car route runs through the volcanic region of Garrocha. Charming small medieval towns with suspension bridges, fortress walls and narrow streets, extinct volcanoes and frozen lava flows await you. In addition, in each of the towns you can taste local liqueurs, wines and cheeses. So you will also have a gastronomic trip!

10. Driving itinerary from Barcelona: Cistercian monasteries and Priorat wineries

Distance - 271 km.
Travel time- 4 hours 50 minutes one way non-stop. With full stops - 10-12 hours.

For lovers of history and wine, we have prepared a detailed itinerary for a road trip through the mountainous part of Catalonia. You are waiting for the Cistercian monasteries, the Templar castle, the wineries of the famous Priory wine region, picturesque mountain valleys, beautiful serpentines, as well as delicious food and unforgettable impressions.

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