Barcelona may well be Spain's second city, but it has so much to offer a holidaymaker both within the city and the wider region of Catalonia in Spain's north east. And a car hire is the easiest way to get about the area and to make the most of what is on offer.
Most people will pick up their car rental on arrival at one of the region's three airports; Barcelona, Gerona and Reus, all served by frequent flights from the UK. All three have a range of car hire providers on site, although it pays to use price comparison and to pre-book in order to get the best possible price for cheap car rental.
So what is there to explore in your hire car?
There is a good road network around Barcelona making it easy to get in your hire car and get out and about.
- Barcelona city. For many driving in the city is a challenge, however it has an easy to navigate road system to offset the manic driving of many Spaniards. The outer reaches of the city are easy to access by car and make it a worthwhile choice for anything outside of the city centre. Montserrat and its monastery and mountains are an easy drive from the city. If you are planning a city break to Barcelona with accommodation in the city centre, then car rental may not be for you, so check on parking restrictions close to your hotel.
- Head North to the Costa Brava and take in places such as Blanes, Tossa de Mar and Lloret, all beach resorts, Figueres for the Dali Museum and Cadaques, the quintessential white fishing village. Or visit the village of Pals, considered to be one of the most beautiful of villages in Spain. Picture postcard perfect.
- Head further north into the border area and the mountains of the Pyrenees and one of the smallest countries in Europe, Andorra.
- Go south and head to some of the best of the region's beaches at Sitges or further still to the resorts of Salou and Cambrils, red hot favourites with the Brits. And nearby Port Aventura provides a theme park experience for all of the family
- Head inland for wine tours around Penedes, the spa town of Caldes de Montbui and the Sant Miquel monastery.
Follow out tips for stress free Barcelona car rental
- Driving Licences - You need either the standard two parts of card ID and paper licence, or if you are still using the old green licence with no photo card, you will need to obtain an international driving licence to take with you as well as the green licence.
- Hardly anyone takes cash deposits these days, so a credit card is essential when picking up your car.
- Spanish driving can be a very different to the UK. Always ask for information on road signs as well as checking on the quirks of Spanish roads. Your rental company will be able to offer free road maps and should be happy to answer any questions that you have.
- Check which fuel type is needed for your rental vehicle. The vast majority will run on unleaded or diesel. Unleaded is sold as Sin Plomo and comes in two grades of Octane, 95 and 98. Diesel is often referred to as gas-oil. Don't get it wrong when filling up - it's a costly mistake to make. Fuel prices are fairly standard wherever you buy, so shopping around will not save you much. Some stations are self service, however many are staffed to do the job for you.
- There are many tolls on Spanish motorways as well as some main roads. So it's wise to have cash handy for these in case it is not possible to pay by card.
- The police do not tolerate speeding and will issue on the spot fines for infringements of the speeding laws. Always have your licence with you at all times and ensure you have means of payment.
- You must be 18 to drive in Spain. Drivers under 21 can expect to pay an additional premium when hiring a car.
- Seat belts in the back and front of cars are compulsory and children need to be seated in child seats
- Parking is a challenge in many cities and towns, especially Barcelona. So if you are heading to the city in your car hire then we advise you park in a multi story car park. Street parking usually requires permits and expensive pay as you go machines.
- Spain drives on the right hand side of the road.
Read our general tips for renting a car http://www.travelsupermarket.com/c/tips-and-guides/car-hire-top-tips/
Related Links:
Barcelona Flights
Barcelona Hotels
