Spain Transport & Getting Around

Transport & Getting Around

The main gateway to Spain is Madrid's Barajas airport (www.aena.es) although many European direct flights serve other centres, particularly Barcelona's Aeroport del Prat, Malaga, Palma de Mallorca and Valencia. Charter flights and low-cost airlines (mostly from the UK) are flying direct into a growing number of regional airports. Iberia, Spain's main national carrier, flies to most Spanish cities (many via Madrid) from around the world but is generally the expensive way to go.

To travel around Spain, train and bus services are generally efficient and cheap although short-distance trains can bear long delays. Ferries and hydrofoils link the mainland with the Balearic Islands and Spain's North African enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla. If you plan to rent a car, consider one with GPS navigation and taking full coverage insurance instead of franchise. Air conditioning is a must and you will want a car hire company that gives you the free roadside assistance of trained mechanics. Spanish drivers can be unpredictable and some of the roads on the Southern area of Malaga and the Costa Del Sol are notoriously dangerous. In mid-sized and major cities, moving around by car is both expensive and nerve wracking with expensive parking fines. Cycling is a good option with lanes available in mid-sized and large cities. As Spain is the second most mountainous country in Europe, you have to be fit to choose this mode of transport.

If travelling with friends, another option is to discover Spain on a small group private tour with your own driver. There is just your own small group (maximum of 6 people), no fixed schedules and you can relax whilst being escorted around the country.