Arrival & Transport

Spain is the most popular flight destination for Germans — accordingly, there are direct connections from practically every German airport to the major Spanish destinations.

Main Airports

Airlines & Prices (Round Trip)

Low-Cost: Ryanair (from €40 return!), Vueling (strong from/to Barcelona), easyJet, Wizz Air
Network Carriers: Lufthansa, Iberia, Eurowings, Condor
Charter/Package: TUIfly, Corendon (especially Canary Islands)

Flight Booking Tips

• Early Bird Wins: Barcelona and Madrid are cheapest 3–4 months in advance. Book Canary Islands flights in winter (peak season!) at least 4–5 months ahead.
• Flexible with Airports: Those heading to Andalusia often find cheaper flights to Málaga than to Seville. For northern Spain, sometimes Bordeaux (France) + rental car is cheaper than Bilbao.
• Carry-On Trap: Ryanair and Vueling allow only a small bag (40×20×25 cm) in the basic fare. Trolley carry-on costs an extra €8–25. With Eurowings and Lufthansa, the trolley is included.
• Domestic Flights: For long distances (e.g., Barcelona → Canary Islands, Madrid → Seville), there are cheap domestic flights from €20–40 with Vueling, Iberia Express, or Ryanair. Often faster than the AVE.

For road trips and rural regions (Andalusia's white villages, northern Spain, Canary Islands), a rental car is the best choice. Spain's roads are excellently developed, gasoline is cheaper than in Germany, and rental prices are among the lowest in Europe.

Prices (Small Car, e.g., Seat Ibiza)

Providers & Booking

Recommended: Book through comparison portals — billiger-mietwagen.de and CHECK24 have the best full insurance packages without deductible. Direct booking with the provider is almost always more expensive.

Reliable Providers: Sixt, Europcar, Enterprise, Hertz — more expensive, but less stress upon return.

Cheap Locals: Goldcar, Record Go, OK Rent a Car, Centauro — often 30–50% cheaper, but: aggressive upsells at the counter! Only book with full coverage through the comparison portal.

Important Rules

• Speed Limits: Urban areas 30–50 km/h, country roads 90 km/h, expressways 100 km/h, highways (Autopista) 120 km/h. Speed cameras are common and fines are hefty (from €100).
• Toll Roads (Peajes): In Catalonia and the Basque Country, there are toll highways. Barcelona → Girona about €8, Barcelona → French border about €13. The AP-7 on the Costa Brava was tolled but has been free since 2021! Payment: card or Telepeaje transponder.
• Parking: Blue zones (Zona Azul) = time-limited, about €1–2/hour. Green zones = for residents. White lines = free. In old towns (e.g., Seville, Granada, Córdoba), entry is often only for residents — clarify beforehand!
• Gasoline: About €1.45–1.60/liter (2025). Cheaper than in Germany. Cheapest gas stations: Alcampo, Carrefour, BonÀrea.
• Warning Triangle: Two warning triangles and a safety vest are mandatory. Usually in the trunk of rental cars — check!
• Alcohol Limit: 0.5 per mille (novice drivers under 2 years: 0.3 per mille).

Spain's railway network by Renfe is the backbone of long-distance travel — and the high-speed train AVE (Alta Velocidad Española) is among the best in the world. With speeds up to 310 km/h, it connects major cities quickly, comfortably, and often cheaper than flying.

The AVE Network — Spain's Pride

Spain has the second-longest high-speed network in the world after China (over 3,400 km). The AVE is punctual (Renfe refunds the ticket price for delays over 15 minutes!), comfortable, and worth the journey.

Main AVE Connections

Iryo & Ouigo — the AVE Competition

Since 2022/2023, there is competition on the main routes:

• Iryo: Italian provider (Trenitalia/NTV), runs Madrid–Barcelona, Madrid–Seville, Madrid–Valencia. Modern trains, often cheaper prices than Renfe. From €18.
• Ouigo: French SNCF subsidiary, budget trains Madrid–Barcelona and Madrid–Valencia. Base price from €9 (!), but without luggage and comfort. Perfect for budget travelers.

The competition has significantly lowered prices — Madrid → Barcelona for under €20 is no longer uncommon.

Other Train Types

• Alvia / Avant: Fast trains on non-AVE routes, e.g., to Northern Spain (Madrid → Bilbao 4h 30, from €25; Madrid → San Sebastián 5h, from €25). Comfortable, but slower than AVE.
• Media Distancia: Regional trains for medium distances, e.g., Seville → Cádiz (1h 40, €12), Valencia → Alicante (2h, €10). Cheap, no reservation required.
• Cercanías: Suburban train networks in major cities (Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Seville, Málaga, Bilbao). €1–3 per ride. Ideal for airport transfers and suburbs.
• Trenhotel: Night trains, e.g., Barcelona → Galicia. Romantic, but slow — more of an experience than efficient transport.

Booking & Saving Tips

• Early Bird Fare "Promo": Book 60–90 days in advance — AVE tickets often cost only €25–35 instead of €80–110. Non-refundable, but exchangeable.
• Renfe App: The official app ("Renfe Horarios") is the best source. Also bookable via trainline.com or thetrainline.com (small fee).
• Spain Pass: For frequent travelers, there are multi-trip cards (e.g., 4 trips on any AVE routes). Worth it from 3–4 long-distance trips.
• Luggage: On the AVE, 3 pieces of luggage per person are included (no extra charge). More generous than airlines!

Spain has one of the best and cheapest long-distance bus networks in Europe. Buses reach places that no train goes to — especially in Andalusia, the Canary Islands, and rural regions.

Main Bus Companies

Advantages of the Bus

• Network Coverage: Buses also go to small villages that have no train station. For Andalusia's white villages, the Alpujarras, and rural northern Spain, the bus is often the only public transport.
• Price: Often 30–50% cheaper than the train. ALSA offers early bird prices ("Sólo ida web") with up to 50% discount.
• Comfort: The buses are modern, air-conditioned, with Wi-Fi and power outlets. On long distances, there are toilets on board.
• Flexibility: Tickets can often be exchanged or canceled until shortly before departure.

Important Bus Stations

• Madrid: Estación Sur (Méndez Álvaro) — central bus station for almost all long-distance buses. Directly at the Méndez Álvaro metro station (Line 6). Coordinates: [40.3922, -3.6873]
• Barcelona: Estació del Nord — near the Arc de Triomf. Coordinates: [41.3930, 2.1875]
• Seville: Estación de Autobuses Plaza de Armas — centrally located on the Guadalquivir. Coordinates: [37.3908, -6.0029]
• Granada: Estación de Autobuses — slightly outside, but well connected by city bus. Coordinates: [37.1740, -3.6072]

Spain's major cities have excellent public transport networks. You don't need a rental car in Barcelona, Madrid, and Valencia — on the contrary, it would be a burden.

Madrid

Madrid's Metro is the second-largest subway network in Europe (after London) with 13 lines and over 300 stations. Clean, safe, reliable — operates from 6:00 to 1:30.

• Single Ride: €1.50–2.00 (depending on zones, in the city center €1.50)
• Tourist Card (Abono Turístico): 1 day €8.40, 3 days €18.40, 5 days €26.80, 7 days €35.40 — unlimited rides in Metro, Bus, and Cercanías (Zone A). Worth it from 5–6 rides/day.
• Multi-Card: 10 rides for €12.20 (€1.22/ride) — the best deal for most tourists.
• Airport Surcharge: The Metro to the airport (Line 8) costs an additional €3. Alternative: Cercanías C1 to Terminal 4 (€2.60, no surcharge).

Barcelona

Barcelona's transport network combines Metro (8 lines), Bus (over 100 lines), Tram, and FGC (regional trains, e.g., to Montserrat). The Metro runs Mon–Thu 5:00–24:00, Fri until 2:00, Sat continuously, Sun until 24:00.

• Single Ride: €2.40
• T-Casual (10 rides): €11.35 (€1.14/ride!) — valid for Metro, Bus, Tram, and FGC within Zone 1. Non-transferable.
• Hola BCN! (Tourists): 2 days €16.40, 3 days €23.80, 4 days €31.00, 5 days €38.20 — unlimited rides including airport Metro.
• Airport: Metro L9 Sud (Airport Zone, not included in T-Casual, single ticket €5.50). Alternative: Aerobús (€6.75, every 5 min. to Plaça Catalunya, 35 min.).

Valencia

Compact network of Metro (6 lines, plus Tram) and city buses of EMT Valencia. The old town is easily walkable.

• Single Ride: €1.50 (Zone A)
• Bonobús (10 rides): €8.50 (€0.85/ride)
• Valencia Tourist Card: 24h for €15, 48h for €20, 72h for €25 — Metro + Bus + discounts at museums.
• Airport: Metro Line 3 and 5 to the center (approx. 25 min., €4.90 including airport surcharge).

Seville

Seville has only one Metro line (Line 1), which is of little relevance to tourists. The city thrives on Bus (Tussam), Tram (MetroCentro, through the old town), and above all: on foot. Seville's old town is wonderfully walkable.

• Single Ride Bus: €1.40
• Bonobús (10 rides): €6.50 (€0.65/ride)
• Bicycle (Sevici): Seville's bike rental system is excellent — flat city, wide bike paths. Weekly pass €14.50 for short rides.

Taxi & Ridesharing

Taxis in Spain are significantly cheaper than in Germany:

• Base Fee: €2–3, then about €1–1.20/km
• Example Ride (Madrid, 5 km): approx. €8–10
• Airport Transfers: Fixed prices — Madrid Barajas → Center: €33 (fixed), Barcelona El Prat → Center: approx. €40
• Apps: FreeNow (formerly mytaxi), Cabify (Spain's Uber alternative, legal and reliable), Uber (only in Madrid and Barcelona, limited availability)