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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 ==

=== North towards [[Girona]], [[Figueres]], [[La Jonquera]], ([[France]]) {{Aes|AP-7}} === In general your chances of being picked up are much better with cars with French number plates. For the options below it's good to have an idea about how many French cars you can expect. If you want to go further into France but only find a car going close to the border be careful about where you get dropped. See below experience at La Jonquera, last service station in Spaun. The first service station in France, Village Catalan just after le Boulou is totally dead, it looks like nobody stops there. If you can get a little further to Perpignan Sud Paeage, exit 42 and use a sign for Narbonne you should get a lift at least as for as La Palme Service station after exit 40, quite a good spot for a longer lift into France. ==== Option 1:Directions: C33 Motorway service station Gasolinera Galp Montcada Norte ==== Take a Renfe train from Passeig de Gracia on the R2 or R2 Nord line, direction: Granollers Centre (R2) or Macanet-Massanes (Line 2R2 Nord) with direction: St Celoni. Get off at station ''Montcada y Reixag station, (this journey i Reixac''. Train will take you about 10 20 minutes and costs you . Exit the train station to the left, through the second exit in 2009 1,30)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. Continue walking straightOnce 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 following the buildings where motorway until you will see the tall highway bridge. Follow that road dip down and to the right, until under the railroad. Go under the railways, bridge. Up ahead and to your left you will find see a very broken vertical turnstile and a 'sign saying "forbidden' passage on your left" (see a picture here: http://imgur.com/MLxJc29). Cross it Ignore the sign and continue along follow the road foot path to the right, to the service road along the motorway. After 2 minutes you will find yourself at This service road goes right into the Agrip back of a Gasolinera Galp Montcada Norte petrol station "La Pausa". It takes 10   Also you can get to 15 minutes walking from the same petrol station by metro L11 till stop Torre Baró | Vallbona + 3 km walk next to river to to Montcada district and find a train stationstop ''Montcada i Reixac''. Than follow directions as above. ==== Option 2: AP-7 Motorway Service Station Bellaterra ====

====Option 2Take train [http: //www.fgc.net/accesible/cat/viatjar/s2.htm S2] from ''Barcelona Plaça Catalunya'', direction Sabadell-Rambla, and get off at ''Bellaterra====There are two ways of getting at this rest-area on both sides ''. (2 zones). Turn left out of the highway - heading North station and Southwalk 1.6km along C/ de Bellaterra. After you have crossed over the motorway bridge, connected with you will see a bridgesmall road to the left. There are not many drivers going North though, and the Walk ≈400 along this road (Spanishyou will pass through a small tunnel) ones who do don't seem 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 eager answered with useless answers about how to pick up hitchhikers. Almost no traffic from Barcelona going North reach the motorway (EDIT: the hotel is going through here, so closed and you miss out on all have to climb two gates to get to the French drivers - option 1 is probably much betterrest area).<br/ >

First There are not too many drivers going north so option 1 is through Stprobably much better. Joan station. :Directions: Take a train [http://www.fgc.net/accesible/cat/viatjar/s2.htm S2] from ''Barcelona Plaça Catalunya'' to ''Sabadell-Rambla'', and get off at the ''St. Joan'' station (2 zones). It is another 10–15 minute walk to a good [[rest area]] at the AP7 which is the main motorway to go to the North (towards Girona and France ([[Perpignan]])) or to the South. Walk out of the station through the exit on the left, and take the road that follows the rail track. After a left-turn, 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, stay on that side, to hitch North, take the footbridge. [http://www.wikimapia.org/#y=41491092&x=2093883&z=15&l=0&m=s&v=2 Location]

The second option might be easier, stay on the train one more stop and to get off at ''Bellaterra''. ==== Option 3:Directions: Exit the station, take the exit on the left and walk to the left following the main street. After a while 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 you are at the same rest area. When asking locals ask how to walk to Hotel Bellaterra, as Spanish people are clueless about hitchhiking any other question will be answered with useless answers about how to reach the highway.::Note: There might still be a construction site just outside the train station, and the road bends away from the tracks. Do not follow the dirt road as it will result in fatal hitchhiking attempts.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=Option 3: Barcelona Gran Via==&m=h&v=2 Location Option3]<br/ >

==== Experiences ====I tried today this central and easy to reach option 3) and waited only 5 minutes with two people and a huge Montgat sign to get a ride from Gran Via /Padilla street outside of Option 4: Petrol station Barcelona along the coast. The willing driver can stop on a marked area. See a [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&spnBeach =0,359.998814&t=h&z=20&layer=c&cbll=41.400771,2.183726&panoid=3eh7O_7dn2E6LO-SVdRxKw&cbp=12,259.6,,0,12.74 photo-link]. In theory only cars on the right hand side lane of the 3 lanes going out of Barcelona can use this "stop possibility" marked on the street, but our driver crossed the still red traffic light to make it to the right even from the middle lane.

=== West, towards [[Zaragoza]], [[Madrid]] =======Option 15: BellaterraPort ====Follow the instructions as per option 2 above. Stay on the same side of the highway as where you are walking. This option is easy to reach but you might find more cars heading towards your direction if you follow the next option as per below.

Normally not too much Barcelona has a huge Port where ferries from Morocco, the Balearic Islands and Italy arrive. There are many cars going further north or to France. If you stand with a sign next to the passenger terminal where the carsleave the port, you can ask them for take you hitch a long-distance lift. It may be useful to a highway petrolstation like "El Bruc" for continuecheck the timetables first, but keep in mind that ferries can be easily delayed by some hours.

====Option 2: Castellbisbal==== Take a ''Renfe'' train to ''Castellbisbal'' station from either ''Barcelona Sants'' (Line C4 to ''St.Vicente de Calders''South towards [[Valencia]], platform 1, buy a 2 zone ticket), ''Plaça Catalunya'' or ''Arc de Triomf''.:Directions: Leave the station 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 most people are not going through Zaragoza. For orientation: you can see the service station from the train on your right just before you reach ''Castellbisbal''. [http://maps.google.de/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=BV[Alicante]] {{Aes|AP-15017}} &daddr=BV-1501+to:41.468055West towards [[Zaragoza]],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=41.471769,1.97505&spn=0.007942,0.01929&t=h&z=16 Way to walk[[Madrid]] and [http://www.wikimapia.org/#y{{Aes|A2}} =41469502&x=1974599&z=16&l=0&m=s&v=2 Location]:Since 2008 there is a new high speed train track ("AVE") running almost parallel to the motorway which has big safety fences on both sides. You now have to take the new bridge which even has a pedestrian walk-way.

===South to [[Valencia]] = Option 1: AP-7 Motorway Service Station Porta de Barcelona (Castellbisbal) ====Follow option 2 towards [[Madrid]]. West side of the road is towards Valencia.

== Getting in ===== From France ===When on the main motorway Take Renfe train R4 direction ''St.Vicenç de Calders'' from France to either ''BarcelonaSants'', some cars are being stopped at the border for identity and luggage check. When going to Spain (''Plaça Catalunya), there are several big rest areas on that road. You can either ask your driver to let you out in towns (with train stations) and cities along that road, such as [[Girona]] '' or [[Rubí]] and [[San Cugat]] (latter two are better options)''Arc de Triomf'', or get out of the car at a rest area and wait for another ride to Barcelona. A train ticket generally cost you between €1,30 (San Cugat/Rubí) and €10 (Girona)''Castellbisbal''.

You can also ask From the train station, go left and take the dirt road that leads out and cross under the driver railway tracks on your right. Walking on this road, you'll come across a surfaced road on your right, that will lead to leave a 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 junction by end of which you can see a "stop" sign from the university (''Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona'')distance. There is Go straight until it turns into a [[roundabout]] right by dirt road, keep going on the dirt road until you reach the motorway ramppetrol station. The only challenge is that your driver has to There will be going other roads left and right, ignore them. This whole walk from the junction of ''Barbera de valles'station to the service station shouldn' t take you much more than 30 minutes (besides, you can find signs on the right site of the motorway as it gets split - otherwise last road that directly takes you leave to the car at ''Castellbisbal'' [[service station]], showing you that you're on the right way to the "área de servicio").

You can also try to get a ride to the [[Costa Brava]] ==== Option 2: AP- there you will find many train stations with trains to Barcelona. There is a cheap train service along the coast all the way to Barcelona (as of 2004, the ticket for the longest distance was 4 euro).7 Motorway Service Station Bellaterra ====

== Barcelona Public Transport ==The Barcelona public transport system consists of an underground metro, trams, area trains, and busesFollow the instructions as per "heading north to Girona option 2" above. Day passes are a little more than 5 euro, and cover Cross over the footbridge to the whole transport system, buses, trams, metro, and area trains (Rodalies and FGC). Single passes are for services on the metro only, and cost 1.40. The best deal is north side of the T-10, which is 10 rides motorway for 7.45 - .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)hitching south.

The entrances sometimes have turnstiles and sometimes have sliding electronic gates. It :This place is easy to jump the turnstiles not recommended for going south or slide underneathwest. It is possible to climb over Also the electronic gates, but that will only work if entrance from the highway to this petrol 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 to pass more than one person through 10km before the electronic gates on only one ticket, though they will beep when you do thispetrol station. Some gates are monitored, others are not. The TMB employees dress Most of that cars that passed in red, or red and white striped shirtsthis place were going to barcelona center. If they spot you, some will turn their head, others will tell you to go back and pay. Controllers sometimes come on the trains, other times they check as you're getting off (easy to escape). The fine is 40 euroUse option 1, 20 if you pay it the same day. You have 30 days to pay. In most 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 anywaymuch better.

Jaume 1: the main entrance is busy and heavily patrolled; the entrance (Petrol station on the north side of Via Laietana is turnstiles with infrequent patrolGranvia de l'Hospitalet leading to motorway C-32).

Urquinoana: most entrances are turnstiles, Take metro L1 Red line to ''Bellvitge'' station. Turn right out of the main ones are often patrolled; station and walk south ≈300m along Rambla Marina to the smaller ones only sometimesAvenida De La. It is more than sure that you will find at least one entrance unpatrolledTurn right and walk west ≈200m to the Galp petrol station.

Hostafrancs: Take 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, going a bit uphill. Bear left at the end of the main entrance road and you will see a roundabout with a petrol station. At the escalator 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 entrances closest entrance slip-road direction Manresa.<br/ >Probably you will not find a ride to Andorra but from Manresa you can take the market are electronic gates; the entrances on either side of Creu Coberta have turnstiles and are almost never patrolledroad in direction Berga. For us it worked out quite well.

Maria Cristina: electronic gates=== Hitchhiking ferry to [[Mallorca]], almost always patrolled[[Menorca]], [[Ibiza]] ===

DrassanesThe 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).

Canyelles: The entrances sometimes have turnstiles and sometimes have sliding electronic gates. It is possible to jump or slide underneath, infrequent patrolor climb over the electronic gates. 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

Catalunya: very busy station, On the stations with electronic gates , the best options is to wait for somebody to pass through a gate with distracted patrols 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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