Getting There By Road

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Road conditions in Barcelona are generally good, but be aware of steep and narrow mountain and countryside roads. Traffic drives on the right and the minimum driving age is 18. Speed limits are 120kph (74mph) on motorways, and 50kph (31mph) within towns, unless otherwise stated. A valid driving licence and third-party insurance are required to drive in Spain. National licences from EU countries are accepted, although drivers are advised to obtain an International Driving Permit. A Green Card is strongly recommended for all visitors and is compulsory for those from outside the EU. Motoring information can be obtained from the Real Automobile Club de Catalunya (RACC) (tel: 902 452 452; www.racc.es). * The speed limit on motorways in Spain has temporarily been reduced to 110kph (68mph). The new limit will remain in effect until the end of June 2011 at the earliest. The slowdown is intended to save energy in response to the surge in oil prices sparked by the unrest in Libya and elsewhere in the Arab world.

Emergency breakdown services
RACC (tel: 902 106 106). Alternatively drivers can contact the Ayuda en Carretera, run by the Guardia Civil, via the roadside SOS telephones located on both sides of the carriageway at 2km (1 mile) intervals.

Routes to the city
Barcelona is well-connected to the rest of Spain and Europe by a network of motorways. The A7 motorway is the main route to Barcelona from France, which is approximately six hours away. On the opposite direction, Valencia is within four hours’ drive away and Alicante five hours. A2 heads inland towards Zaragoza in the west via Madrid. The A19 hugs the coast for a short distance to the northeast of the city.

Driving times to the city
From Montpellier – 3 hours 15 minutes; Zaragoza - 3 hours; Valencia - 3 hours 30 minutes; Madrid - 6 hours.

Coach services
Eurolines international coach services (tel: 902 405 040; www.eurolines.es) use Estació Autobuses de Sants, situated next to the Central-Sants train station, Carrer Viriato, although services to France also stop at Estació del Nord, Avinguda Vilanova. Most long-distance coaches from other parts of Spain operate from the Estació del Nord. There are Eurolines services to major European cities, including Amsterdam, Frankfurt, London, Prague and Rome.