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| Spain
Getting Around - Internal Travel |
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Air
Domestic flights are run by IBERIA
(IB), Air Europa,
Binter and Spanair.
Scheduled flights connect all the main towns as well as to the Balearic
and Canary Islands and enclaves in North Africa. Air taxis are available
at most airports. Reservations should be made well in advance.
Sea
There are regular hydrofoil and car and passenger ferry sailings
from Algeciras to Tangier and
Ceuta (North African enclave), Málaga
and Almeria to Melilla in North
African. Barcelona, Valencia and
Alicante to the Balearic Islands,
and Cádiz to the Canary Islands.
There are also inter-island services, including a catamaran service
linking Barcelona with Palma de Mallorca,
which takes 3 hours and runs twice a day. For further information,
contact Trasmediterránea c/o Southern Ferries (telephone
number: (020) 7491 4968; fax number: (020) 7491 3502).
Rail
The state-owned company RENFE
operates the railway network which connects all the regions on the
Iberian peninsula. It is mainly a radial network, with connections
between Madrid and all the major cities. There
are also some transversal services connecting the northwest coast
with the Mediterranean coast. There are also services from the French
border down the Mediterranean coast. The Principal trains are air
conditioned, and many have restaurant or buffet service.
Reservations for passenger services in Spain may be made in the
UK through the Spanish Rail service (see above), European
Rail Travel (telephone number: (020) 7387 0444; fax number:
(020) 7387 0888; e-mail: sales@europeanrail.com,
Freedom Rail
(telephone number: (0870) 757 9898; fax number: (01253) 595 151;
e-mail: sales@freedomrail.com,
and Ultima Travel (telephone number: (0151) 339
6171, fax number: (0151) 339 9199).
Discount Rail
Travel
The Spanish rail system is one of the cheapest in Europe and various
discounts are on offer. Travellers under 26 years can purchase a
RENFE Tarjeta Explorerail, which allows unlimited travel on all
but some regionales and fast trains. It can be bought in Spain,
or in the UK from selected travel agents, and is available for 7,
15 and 30 day periods.
Travellers can also enjoy savings by using any one of the European
passes available, such as the Euro Domino Freedom Pass,
which enables holders to make flexible travel arrangements. The
pass is available in 19 European countries, but must be bought in
the country of residence for which a valid passport or other form
of ID has to be shown. In the UK, this pass is available from Rail
Europe, 178 Piccadilly, London W1, UK (telephone number: (0870)
837 1371; e-mail: reservations@raileurope.co.uk).
The tickets are valid for three, four, five, six, seven or eight
days within one month.
Also available from Rail Europe, the Inter-Rail
Pass allows up to fifty per cent reductions for second-class
rail travel in 28 countries, the pass is now also available for
those aged over 26 and is more expensive. The Rail Senior
Plus card entitles senior citizens to 30 per cent discount
on rail travel into and out of Spain, even during peak hours. This
discount does not apply when only travelling internally. The card
is available from most British Rail stations.
Note:
Seat reservations are required on all intercity trains. This ruling
applies to the passes and cards mentioned above.
High-Speed
Trains
The Ave service averages 300kph and connects Madrid
and Seville in two hours 15 minutes, with twelve
services each way via Córdoba. Some services
also stop at Ciudad Real and Puerto Llano
(La Mancha). The stretch from Madrid to Lleida
has been in operation for several years. Planned completion of the
Madrid to Barcelona leg is due in 2006, and the high-speed border
connection with France in 2010. Also, in 2010, the stretches from
Cordoba to Malaga, Madrid to Valencia and Madrid to Valladolid should
be ready. The Talgo 200 connects Madrid
and Malaga thrice-daily in 4 hours 35 minutes.
Holders of most of the cards and passes mentioned above qualify
for discounts, albeit less substantial than the rates quoted above.
Tourist Trains
The Andalus Express and Transcantábrico
offer a pleasant way of discovering their respective regions. There
are also a number of privately-run narrow-gauge railways located
in Spain, mainly in the north of Spain as well as the Mediterranean
coast and the Balearic Islands, which run at a leisurely pace through
picturesque scenery. For more information on tourist trains, contact
the Spanish National Tourist Office (see Contact
section).
Road
There are more than 150,000km (95,000 miles) of roads. Motorways
are well-maintained and connect Spain north–south. Tolls
are in operation on some sections and have to be paid in Euros.
Trunk roads between major cities are generally fast and well-maintained.
Rural roads are of differing quality.
Traffic
regulations
Traffic drives on the
right. Side lights must be used at night in built-up areas.
Spare bulbs and red hazard triangles must be kept in all vehicles.
Traffic lights: two red lights mean ‘No
Entry’.
Parking laws are rigorously
enforced.
The speed limit for motorways is 120kph (80mph)
in general, but for buses and lorries the limit is 100kph (60mph)
and in built-up areas the limit is 50kph (30mph), for other roads
it is 90kph (56mph).
Documentation
Most foreign licences including Canadian, EU and US are accepted.
Third Party insurance is compulsory, plus maybe a Green Card if
bringing your own car, and isavailable from insurance company.
Bus
There are buses which are efficient and cheap, operating between
cities and towns. Departures are generally from a central terminal
at which the operators will have individual booths selling the tickets.
Most places have a bus link of some kind, even in the more remote
villages. Bus tickets cannot be bought in advance though seats may
be reserved locally 1 or 2 days in advance.
Car
hire
All major car hire companies are represented in major cities. Motorcycles:
No person under 18 may hire or ride a vehicle over 75cc. Crash helmets
must be worn.
Motorcycles
No person under 18 may hire or ride a vehicle over 75cc. Crash helmets
must be worn.
Taxi
Services are available in and between all cities.
Urban
Transport
Traffic in Spanish cities is normally very heavy, and urban driving
takes some time to adjust to. City public transport facilities are
generally good. Barcelona, Bilbao, Madrid
and Valencia have metros and buses. Pre-purchase
multi-journey tickets are sold. Other towns and resorts are well
served by the local buses. Metered taxis are available in most major
cities and a two to three per cent tip is customary.
Travel
Times:
The following chart gives approximate travel times from Madrid to
other major cities and towns in Spain. |
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| |
Air |
Road |
Rail |
Barcelona |
1.00 |
8.00 |
8.00 |
Bilbao |
0.50 |
5.00 |
6.00 |
Canary
Is. |
2.30 |
- |
- |
Málaga |
1.00 |
5.00 |
7.00 |
Mallorca |
1.00 |
- |
- |
Palma |
1.10 |
6.00* |
5.00* |
Santander |
0.50 |
5.00 |
6.00 |
Seville |
0.55 |
6.00 |
7.00 |
Valencia |
0.50
|
5.00 |
4.00 |
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| Note: *Plus nine hours
by boat (three hours by catamaran). |
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