Car Hire in Barcelona

Why hire a car in Barcelona?

The capital of Catalonia and Spain’s second-largest, Barcelona is not just politically important, it is also one of Europe’s most exciting cities to visit. More than La Rambla and Gaudi, the city is a true cultural metropolis, and also offers access to a wealth of interesting Catalan day-trip destinations.

Top ways to enter Barcelona

• Barcelona Airport. Serving over 50 million travellers annually before the pandemic hit, Barcelona El Prat is one of the busiest airports in all of Southern Europe. The airport is just 15 km (9 miles) southwest of the city centre, a trip that can be made in about 25 minutes.

Top sights and activities

• Architecture of Gaudí. Love it, loathe it, or simply remain deeply perplexed by it, there’s no denying that the buildings designed by Antoni Gaudí are a big part of the Barcelona experience. Naturally, the Sagrada Família is the most famous work by the Catalan visionary, but there’s also La Pedrera, Casa Batlló, and many other imaginative buildings to explore.
• Gothic Quarter. The oldest area of the old town of Barcelona, El Gòtic is one of the most distinctive parts of the city. The area has plenty of famous landmarks, not least the Palau Reial Major complex (the former residence of Aragonese kings) and La Mercè Basilica, but the main draw of the quarter is its timeless ambience.
• Camp Nou. Barcelona is a city very rich in architecture and art, but one of its main jewels is, in fact, its largest football club, FC Barcelona. Although having acquired an increasingly global face over the last two decades, it started out as a symbol of Catalanism and solidarity, and as such retains an important place in the local culture. It’s a great idea to go to a match at Camp Nou, the home stadium which is the largest in Europe, but a visit to the club’s museum is also worth it.

Traffic and parking

• The speed limits are 50km/h (31mph) in built-up areas, 90km/h (56mph) on most standard roads, 100km/h (62mph) on standard roads that are either one-way roads, roads with more than two lanes for at least one direction of traffic and roads with shoulders more than 1.5m wide, and 120km/h (74mph) on motorways (called autovías in Spain).
• The car’s documentation and proof of insurance always have to be inside a vehicle.
• The driver and all passengers are required to wear seatbelts.
• Children up to the age of 12 and measuring less than 135cm travelling on the front seat of a car must be seated in a child restraint system adapted to their size and weight.
• Unnecessary use of audible warning devices (horns) is prohibited
• The legal alcohol limit is 0.05% for experienced drivers and 0.02% for novice drivers
• The emergency number is 112.
• There parking areas in Barcelona can be generally divided into three parking types: free parking, the Green Area and the Blue Area. Do note that some paid parking areas may become free at the weekend.
• The Green Area (Àrea Verda) can be recognized by green painted lines. The price will vary depending on the location. You cannot park in the Green Area for more than 1 or 2 hours.
• The Blue Area (Àrea Blava) is a paid parking area for everyone, with time limits varying between 1 and 4 hours depending on the place. If you want to park here, you must purchase a ticket at the machines on the sidewalk and place it in a visible area of your car.
• There are also free parking opportunities in Barcelona. Although many are not in the city centre, you may find a lot of them convenient. Some examples are: the subterranean parking of supermarket La Maquinista (Calle Potosí, 2), the area next to Parc Ciutadella (Calle de Ramón Turro), Montjuic area close to Fundación Miro and area around Calle Icaria
• There are also many paid car parks in Barcelona, varying in price and proximity to the city centre. Look up the one that might suit you the best on the official website.

Toll roads

Most of the roads in Spain are toll-free. Toll roads are called ‘carretera de peaje’. On maps and road signs, all toll roads have to include a letter P after the road type. The payment methods vary depending on the road, but most accept cash. Regardless of the region, the average estimated price is €9.5 ($11.25) per 100km by car. See the official website for prices and more information.

Ideas for day trips

• Lleida. Most visitors to Catalonia tend to stay close to the coast, but the interior of the region can be just as rewarding to visit. One such fascinating destination is Lleida — a city inhabited since prehistory and later important for Romans which offers plenty of ancient landmarks and ambience, not to mention the access to the idyllic countryside that surrounds it. The drive from Barcelona will take just under two hours.
• Girona. The capital of the northernmost province of Catalonia, Girona is so much more than just its airport which is favoured by low-cost carriers. Known for its long and varied history, it is home to the Arab Baths (now turned into a museum) and one of the best-preserved Jewish quarters in Europe. Located an 80-minute drive from Barcelona, Girona also provides access to the pristine Costa Brava region.

Most popular cars

The most hired car in Barcelona is the Seat Leon, followed by the Fiat Panda and the Fiat 500. The most popular car types are mini, economy, and compact.

Car hire prices in Barcelona

• Convertibles - starting at US$34 per day
• Small cars - starting at US$22 per day
• Medium cars - starting at US$24 per day
• SUVs - starting at US$24 per day
• Large cars - starting at US$31 per day
• Station wagons - starting at US$54 per day
• People Carriers - starting at US$53 per day
• Premium cars - starting at US$61 per day

Money-saving and other tips

These are some good methods to save money on your hired vehicle:

• Compare rates of different car providers
• Book your car well in advance
• Plan your route before you go
• Know your fuel and mileage requirements
• Visit during the month when the rental prices are the cheapest. According to our data, visiting Barcelona is the cheapest in January.