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[['''Barcelona]] ''' is the capital of [[Catalonia|Catalunya]], a region in [[Spain]] (and [[France]]).  == Hitching in == === From France === When on the main motorway from France to Barcelona, some cars are being stopped at the border for identity and luggage check. When going to Spain (Catalunya), there are several big rest areas on that road. You can either ask your driver to let you out next to towns such as [[Rubí]] and [[Sant Cugat]] where you can go to Bracelona by train, or get out of the car at a rest area and wait for another ride to Barcelona. A train ticket generally cost you around €2,20 (Sant Cugat/Rubí)  If you get dropped on the coast road leading to Barcelona (11) it should be really easy to keep hitching through the towns and villages until the city. I did the last 60km on this road in 4 or 5 short lifts but never waited more than 2/3 mins, just hopped out of each car and thumbed the next one almost instantly wherever I was dropped.  You can also ask the driver to leave you at the junction by the university (''Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona''). There is a [[roundabout]] right by the motorway ramp. The only challenge is that your driver has to be going from the junction of ''Barbera de valles'' on the right site of the motorway as it gets split - otherwise you leave the car at ''Castellbisbal'' [[rest area|service station]]. == Hitchhiking out ==

Walk out of the station through the exit on the left=== North towards [[Girona]], and take the road that follows the rail track. After a left-turn[[Figueres]], take the third street to the right and follow it until you get on ''C/ de Bellaterra''. You should be able to spot a rest area after less then a 5 minute walk from here. To hitch South[[La Jonquera]], stay on that side, to hitch North, take the footbridge.* ([[http://www.wikimapia.org/#yFrance]]) {{Aes|AP-7}} =41491092&x=2093883&z=15&l=0&m=s&v=2 Location]

Alternatively, In general your chances of being picked up are much better with cars with French number plates. For the options below it might be easier to stay on the train one more stop and to get off at ''Bellaterra''. Exit the station, walk s good to the left following the main street. You will then reach a bridge over the motorway. After the bridge, turn left at the next street that is parallel to the motorway. After 200 meter and a small tunnel have an idea about how many French cars you are at the same rest areacan expect.

There is now If you want to go further into France but only find a construction site jsut outside the train station, and the road bends away fromt he tracks. Do not follow the dirt road that seems car going close to follow the tracks as this takes border be careful about where you to wasteland that boarders some private property and some bracken slopeget dropped. See below experience at La Jonquera, last service station in Spaun. Following this routeThe first service station in France, Village Catalan just after alot of walking le Boulou is totally dead, it looks like nobody stops there. If you come can get a little further to an industrial parkPerpignan Sud Paeage, that leads to exit 42 and use a sign for Narbonne you should get a town called Rubi, although the slip road onto the main motorway is very busy, lift at least as for as La Palme Service station after 4 hours of hitchingexit 40, not one person stopped, not reccomendedquite a good spot for a longer lift into France.

'''Option 2:''' Take a ''Renfe'' train to ''Castellbisbal'' station from either ''Barcelona Sants'' (Line C4 to ''St.Vicente de Calders'', platform 1, buy a 2 zone ticket), ''Plaça Catalunya'' or ''Arc de Triomf''. Look at this link, it will show you how to walk there:* [http://maps.google.de/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=BV-1501&daddr=BV-1501+to:41.468055,1.978912&hl=en&geocode=FY3TeAIdtQoeAA%3BFUzeeAIdvAceAA%3B&mra=dme&mrcr=0&mrsp=2&sz=16&via=1&sll=41.469149,1.978118&sspn=0.007943,0.01929&ie=UTF8&ll=41.471769,Option 1.97505&spn=0.007942,0.01929&t=h&z=16 Way to walk]After exiting the train station go to the left, above the railroad and take the next small street to the right.You will arrive at the petrol station within 10 to 15 minutes. If you are trying to get to Madrid and you use this route, stay on the side going south and try putting Lleida on your sign, because i think most people here are not going through Zaragoza. For orientation: you can see the C33 Motorway service station from the train on your right just before you reach ''Castellbisbal''. * [http://www.wikimapia.org/#y=41469502&x=1974599&z=16&l=0&m=s&v=2 Location] '''Option 3:''' Take the metro and get off at ''Monumental''. From there pass by the ''Plaça de Toros'' (Bullfight Arena) and start hitchhiking at the last traffic light by the ''Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes'' / ''Carrer Padilla before'' streets corner where the road leads to the motorway C-31. When the light turns red ask people if they're heading towards the motorway. If yes, ask them if they can take you to the first petrol station (''"gasolinera"'')... Off you go to France!* [http://www.wikimapia.org/#y=41400908&x=2183522&zGasolinera Galp Montcada Norte =17&l=3&m=h&v=2 Location Option3]

'''Option 4 - towards [[France]]'''Take a Renfe train from Passeig de Graciaon the R2 or R2 Nord line, direction: St Celoni, and get Granollers Centre (R2) or Macanet-Massanes (R2 Nord). Get off at station ''Montcada y Reixag station (journey i Reixac''. Train will take you about 10min)20 minutes. Exit the train station to the left, through the second exit in the direction of the train. Walk under the railways and pass through the station building. At the other side you will find yourself at a pedestrian commercial small shopping district with a one way street. Follow it to the right. Pass the church, traffic lights , and cross the pedestrian bridge. Once over the bridge, turn left and follow the fenced in school playground around to the right. You should now see the motorway above you and parking below the motorway. Continue walking straight following the motorway until you pass Lasalle Collage see the road dip down and as you are to the right under the motorway, turn rightrailroad. Walk Go under a small railway the bridge . Up ahead and as soon as to your left you are at the other side, turn leftwill see a very broken vertical turnstile and a sign saying "forbidden" (see a picture here: http://imgur. There is a turning gate with passage prohibitedcom/MLxJc29). Cross it Ignore the sign and continue follow the foot path to the right, to the service road along the motorway. This service road till you get to Agrip station "La Pausa". It takes less than 10 min walking from goes right into the train back of a Gasolinera Galp Montcada Norte petrol station.

=== West, towards [[Zaragoza]], [[Madrid]] ===Choose the Also you can get to same petrol station in by metro L11 till stop Torre Baró | Vallbona + 3 km walk next to river to to Montcada district and find a train stop ''CastellbisbalMontcada i Reixac'' . Than follow directions as described above (Option 2).

=== Anecdotes = Option 2: AP-7 Motorway Service Station Bellaterra ====Copied from [[Talk:Barcelona|the talk page]]:: ''"I hitched from Castellbisbal in August 2006. Instead of walking back along the tracks, I crossed the road and walked down the hill, by some allotments. The guy who worked at the station pointed to the two mountains and told me to go between them. I did, and it worked. I passed under a bridge via a dirt track (the road was being built as I passed) and just past that, on my right, was the service station. I hoped the fence, crossed the footbridge, and hitched south in the shadow of a big 'X' monument. After about an hour and a half, I got picked up by an off-duty police who'd been in Barcelona for a health check up. He gave me a ride all the way to Amposta, and sang Kylie Minogue songs. Good times."''

I feel this is not anymore possibleTake train [http://www.fgc.net/accesible/cat/viatjar/s2.htm S2] from ''Barcelona Plaça Catalunya'', direction Sabadell-Rambla, and get off at ''Bellaterra''. (2 zones). Turn left out of the station and walk 1.6km along C/ de Bellaterra. After you have crossed over the motorway bridge, as since 2008 there is you will see a new high speed train track small road to the left. Walk ≈400 along this road ("AVE"you will pass through a small tunnel) running almost paralell to the service station.<br/ >When asking locals, ask how to walk to Hotel Bellaterra, as Spanish people are clueless about hitchhiking and any other question will be answered with useless answers about how to reach the motorway (EDIT: the hotel is closed and has big safty fences on both sides. so you have to take climb two gates to get to the new bridge which has some pedestrian walk way as wellrest area).<br/ >

PS I tried today the very central (and thus fast to reach) There are not too many drivers going north so option 3) and waited only 5 min (ok i was accompanied by a girl and had a huge Montgat sign) to get a ride from Gran Via /Padilla street outside of Barcelona along the coast. The willing driver can stop on a marked area. see the google map foto link: http://maps.google.de/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=de&geocode=&q=barcelona+bullfight&sll=51.344339,10.415039&sspn=13.601146,38.847656&ie=UTF8&cd=1&ll=41.400646,2.18356&spn=0,359.998814&t=h&z=20&layer=c&cbll=41.400771,2.183726&panoid=3eh7O_7dn2E6LO-SVdRxKw&cbp=12,259.6,,0,12.74in theory only cars on the right hand side lane of the 3 lanes going out of barcelona can use this "stop ober possiblity" marked on the street, but our driver crossed the still red traffic light to make it to the right even from the middle laneis probably much better.

== Getting in ==Option 3: Barcelona Gran Via ==== Take the metro L2 and get off at ''Monumental''. From there, pass by the ''Plaça de Toros'' (Bullfight Arena) and start hitchhiking at the last traffic light by the ''Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes''/''Carrer Padilla'' before street corner where the road leads to the motorway C-31. When the light turns red, ask people if they're heading towards the motorway. If yes, ask them if they can take you to the first petrol station (''"gasolinera"''). [http://www.wikimapia.org/#y=41400908&x=2183522&z=17&l=3&m=h&v=2 Location Option3]<br/ >This is a good option to start hitching from the city itself. It works pretty well if you know how to hitch from petrol lights, have a big sign or know some Spanish. === From France = Option 4: Petrol station Barcelona Beach ====When Take bus H16 from ''Plaça Catalunya'' direction Fòrum and get off at ''Cementiri de l'Est''. Head towards the beach, cross over the highway bridge, and you will see McD and the Repsol petrol station on the main motorway left.[http://maps.google.de/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=de&geocode=&q=barcelona&aq=&sll=43.846165,7.51585&sspn=0.063015,0.154324&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Barcelona,+Provinz+Barcelona,+Katalonien,+Spanien&t=h&ll=41.392763,2.20439&spn=0.004129,0.009645&z=17&layer=c&cbll=41.392668,2.204321&panoid=THN4T4qwi_RHw72drz6r8A&cbp=12,328.03,,0,-0.5 photo-link]This is a good option to start hitching from France near the beach itself in Barcelona. It works pretty well if you know some Spanish or even Catalan as you have to ask the drivers at the petrol station. ==== Option 5: Port ==== Barcelonahas a huge Port where ferries from Morocco, some cars are being stopped at the border for identity Balearic Islands and luggage checkItaly arrive. When There are many cars going further north or to Spain (Catalunya)France. If you stand with a sign next to the passenger terminal where the cars leave the port, there are several big rest areas on that roadyou can hitch a long-distance lift. You can either ask your driver It may be useful to let you out check the timetables first, but keep in towns (with train stations) and cities along mind that roadferries can be easily delayed by some hours. === South towards [[Valencia]], such as [[GironaAlicante]] or {{Aes|AP-7}} & West towards [[RubíZaragoza]] and , [[San CugatMadrid]] (latter two are better options), or get out of the car at a rest area and to wait for another ride to {{Aes|A2}} === ==== Option 1: AP-7 Motorway Service Station Porta de Barcelona. A train ticket generally cost you between €1,30 (San Cugat/RubíCastellbisbal) and €10 (Girona).====

You can also ask the driver to leave you at the junction by the university (Take Renfe train R4 direction ''Universitat Autonoma St.Vicenç de Calders'' from either ''BarcelonaSants'', ''Plaça Catalunya''). There is a [[roundabout]] right by the motorway ramp. The only challenge is that your driver has to be going from the junction of or ''Barbera Arc de vallesTriomf'' on the right site of the motorway as it gets split - otherwise you leave the car at , to ''Castellbisbal'' [[service station]].

You can also try From the train station, go left and take the dirt road that leads out and cross under the railway tracks on your right. Walking on this road, you'll come across a surfaced road on your right, that will lead to get a ride bigger road. When you reach this bigger road, you'll see a bridge on your right. Turn left here, and then immediately to the right, to a small street, at the [[Costa Brava]] - there end of which you will find many train stations with trains to Barcelonacan see a "stop" sign from the distance. There is Go straight until it turns into a cheap train service along dirt road, keep going on the dirt road until you reach the coast all petrol station. There will be other roads left and right, ignore them. This whole walk from the way station to Barcelona the service station shouldn't take you much more than 30 minutes (as of 2004besides, you can find signs on the last road that directly takes you to the service station, showing you that you're on the ticket for right way to the longest distance was 4 euro"área de servicio").

== Barcelona Public Transport ==The Barcelona public transport system consists of an underground metro, trams, area trains, and buses. Day passes are a little more than 5 euro, and cover the whole transport system, buses, trams, metro, and area trains (Rodalies and FGC). Single passes are for the metro only, and cost 1.30. The best deal is the TOption 2: AP-10, which is 10 rides for 7.20 - .72 per ride. These tickets will also let you into the RENFE system, but you risk getting controlled if you go very far (more than 2 hours or so). Motorway Service Station Bellaterra ====

The entrances sometimes have turnstiles and sometimes have sliding electronic gates. It is easy Follow the instructions as per "heading north to jump the turnstiles or slide underneathGirona option 2" above. It is possible to climb Cross over the electronic gates, but that will only work if the station is deserted. Also, you can open them hanging with all your weight on them (but only on those letting people out). Also, it is easy footbridge to pass more than one person through the electronic gates on only one ticket, though they will beep when you do this. Some gates are monitored, others are not. The TMB employees dress in red, or red and white striped shirts. If they spot you, some will turn their head, others will tell you to go back and pay. Controllers sometimes come services on the trains, other times they check as you're getting off (easy to escape). The fine is 40 euro, 20 if you pay it the same day. You have 30 days to pay. In most north side of cases though it is possible to avoid getting fined by playing "stupid tourist" who thrown away his ticket and can't speak the language or saying that you have no money and you will never pay it anywaymotorway for hitching south.

Many stops have multiple entrances and some are easier :This place is not recommended for going south or west.Also the entrance from the highway to jump than othersthis petrol station is 10km before the petrol station. Most of that cars that passed in this place were going to barcelona center... Use option 1, much better.

Urquinoana: most entrances are turnstiles, the main ones are often patrolled; the smaller ones only sometimes. It is more than sure that you will find at least one entrance unpatrolled(Petrol station on Granvia de l'Hospitalet leading to motorway C-32).

Arc de Triomf: at least one entrance unpatrolledTake metro L1 Red line to ''Bellvitge'' station. Turn right out of the station and walk south ≈300m along Rambla Marina to the Avenida De La. Turn right and walk west ≈200m to the Galp petrol station.

Maria Cristina: electronic gatesTake Renfe train S2 train from ''Placa de Catalunya'' to ''Volpelleres''. Get out on the left side(taking the direction of the train as reference) of the station. Walk straight out along Carrer Mare de Déu del Roser, almost always patrolledgoing a bit uphill. Bear left at the end of the road and you will see a roundabout with a petrol station. At the roundabout, take the exit Carrer de Vallespir and walk ≈150m till you get to the roundabout junction with the C-16 motorway. Stand at the entrance slip-road direction Manresa.<br/ >Probably you will not find a ride to Andorra but from Manresa you can take the road in direction Berga. For us it worked out quite well.

CanyellesThe Barcelona public transport system consists of an underground metro, trams, area trains, and buses. Day passes are a little more than 5 euro, and cover the whole transport system, buses, trams, metro, and area trains (Rodalies and [http: gates//www.fgc.net/eng/index.asp FGC]). Single passes are for the metro only, and cost eur 2.00. The best deal is the T-10, which is 10 rides for 11 eur (1.10 per ride). There is also a pink ticket for older Spanish people 10 rides for 4 eur, but dont show this ticket to gate guards/ticket inspectors. These tickets will also let you into the RENFE system, infrequent patrolbut you risk getting controlled if you go very far (more than 2 hours or so).

Catalunya: very busy stationThe entrances sometimes have turnstiles and sometimes have sliding electronic gates. It is possible to jump or slide underneath, or climb over the electronic gates with distracted patrols . If you get caught your risk is 40-100 euro - if you're not able to talk your way out of it. Control happens sometimes at the exits of stations, very rarely on the trains. Walk out by stairs slowly and look forward for them

On the stations with electronic gates, the best options is to wait for somebody to pass through a gate with a ticket, and walk directly behind them. This way you can across the gate. Sometimes, if you don do it quickly enough, a short buzzing alarm might activate, but this is largely ignored. == Blackriding long distance trains==On train station Barcelona Sants Estacio: , where most of the long distances trains leave. You need to go threw a control similar like on airports. They check your ticket, they scan your luggage, you even need to put down jacket to go thre scanner. This makes it nearly impossible to get in long distance trains without ticket. The main entrance through gates for short distance trains are separated so you can't just buy few euro ticket to village near by. To get to the platforms of long distanes trains you would need a ticket at least to Girona or Taragona or something. When you come blackriding TGV from france you need to go out from the platform and then you would need again to go threw the stupid control to get next train station so it doesn' t help you anyhow. At least leaving from the TGV is heavily patrolled; smaller entrances may be less sono problem as there are no gates on the exit.

Other options === Sleeping in public areas === Options include sleeping on the beach, in parks , nearby hills, roofs of buildings and elsewhere. Note that parks in Barcelona close at night, and may not be that easy to get into one.   Ciutadella park is closed at night, but may be accessed by the entrance facing the Arc de Triomf. The bars of the fence near the gate are wide enough to slip through if you're not very big. You're unlikely to be disturbed during the night but the Police might wake you up after 8am and ask you to move on. Another user got inside and pitched a tent. It is safer if you are not alone. Lot of criminals and junkies also sleep there dont talk and dont trust anyone. Attach your bag to tree with rope when you sleep.  Small park just in front of the Cosmo Caixa Museum where you can easy use a tent. By public transport, you can get the L7 to the end ''Av. Tibidabo'', than walk 5 minutes direction top of the hill, turn on the ''Carrer d'Isaac Newton'' just before the bridge on the left and continue. You will find this huge building, with a big submarine in front of it. When you have museum on your back, submarine on your right, there is some [http://goo.gl/maps/MxfX2 stairs] in front of you, between entrance of museum and submarine, you will see the main door of this park after few stairs, it might be close if its late, so you can go to the top of this stairs, than jump on the left side, go under the stairs to the other side, and there is the spot. 2 options: (1) near the bench, better for the ground, but you might be visible at the morning, and woke up by a guardian; (2) right after geting out from under the stairs, the ground is shitty, you might need good stake to setup your tent, mostly in windy time, from there, the guy who open the door at the morning, can't see you, and he don't go into the park at all, so you can sleep till late!  Take the metro from "Placa de Catalunya" to Canyelles station, walk about 200 yards uphill from the station and find some nice hills to camp/sleep out/hang a hammock. You can meet wild boars  Take a late train to the park in the North-West of Barcelona. For example, you can take the S2 to ''Sabadell'' (ticket zone 1) leaving from ''Plaça de Catalunya'' and getting off at ''Baixador de Vallvidrera'': there is a big park which is nearly like a forest, and you will find a very good and lonesome place to stay within 500 meters from the station.   Parc de la Pau small and clean park next to the beatch (15 min from metro to station Besos Mar, next to Dechatlon shop, street Career de la Pau)...   Mountains next to Camp De Futbol Canyelles (metro Valldaura and next to Institut Escola artístic Oriol Martorel, street Camí Antic de Sant Llàtzer) === Sleeping in empty or occupied buildings and rooftops ===Roofs and similar structures are quite fine sleeping places. Sleeping in abandoned houses is recommendable although it is considered a crime, "trespassing" unless you have a banner with the squatting "N" hanging from a balcony, window etc. The cops are going to put this down and inform the landlord. If they do not want you to stay and if you have been there for less than a week they can evict you right away. So in case you want to stay somewhere for less than a week having a banner is most likely not worth the hassle... You can just stay in a squat that has already gone through the registration process. Most of those houses are in Barcelona. === Thieves ===

When staying on the beach in Barcelona, you may notice thieves. They walk around and observe people on the beach for hours before stealing anything. Even though they aren't usually hostile or confrontational, they can steal clothes off your back while you're asleep. The only sure way to keep your things safe is to bury it in the sand and sleep on top of it. Sleeping with your head on your bag is just not enough. These thieves are very professional, and they look for people sleeping rough not just on the beach but in the central districts too.

Another great option Wild boars are abundant in Barcelona, there are hundreds of them. Stay away from the canes. this is to where they live and sometimes they spend the night there. Don't take a late train food to the park in the North-West your place. on't provoke wild boars! They unafraid of Barcelonahumans. For exampleIf something happens, back off slowly. Wild boar usually don't attack unless they feel threatened. They will probably stay away from you can take the S2 but they will come to sniff your tent once you''Sabadell'' (ticket zone 1) leaving from ''Placa de Catalunya'' re inside... I did nothing and getting off at they went away... It''Baixador de Vallvidrera'': there is s best if you stay next to a big park which is nearly like a forest, and tree that you can climb on if anything happens. If you will find see a very good mother and lonesome place to her cubs stay within 500 meters from the stationfuck away.

You can also take the metro from "Placa de == Free internet ==Free wireless and Apple demo computers with limited internet access at Apple Store (Plaza Catalunya" to "Canyelles" station, walk about 200 yards uphill from the station and find some nice hills to camp/sleep out/hang a hammock in.)

== More information ==* [http://www.hitchbase.com/ergebnisse.php?LANGNomadwiki & Trashwiki =eng&abfrage%5Bstartort%5D=164 Hitchbase] has some more options on alternative ways to hitchhike out of Barcelona.* [http://www.tmb.net TMB.net] Barcelona public transport website

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