Barcelona

Barcelona is the capital of Catalunya, a region in Spain (and France).

Getting into Barcelona from France

On the main highway from France to Barcelona, some cars are being stopped at the border for checks. While riding into Spain (Catalunya), there are several big restareas along that road. You can either ask your driver to stop you somewhere along that road at towns that have trainstations, such as Girona, or better Rubí or San Cugat, or get out off the car at a restarea for a ride into Barcelona. A ticket generally cost you between €1,20 (San Cugat/ Rubí) and €10 (Girona).

You can also try to get a ride to the Costa Brava, where there are many trainstations with trains to Barcelona. There is a trainservice along the coast all the way into Barcelona.

Going South or North: Valencia, Girona, Perpignan, France

Option 1: Take train S2 from Barcelona Plaça Catalunya to Sabadell-Rambla, and get off at station St. Joan (2 zones). It is another 10-15 minute walk to a good restarea at the AP7, the main highway to the North (Girona and France in direction of Perpignan) or South.

Get out of the station on the left side, and take the road that follows the railtrack. After a leftturn, take the third street to the right and follow this until you get on C/ de Bellaterra. You should be able to spot the restarea after less then a 5 minute walk from here. To hitch South, stay on that side, to hitch North, take the footbridge.

• Location

Option 2: Take the Renfe train to Castellbisbal station from Barcelona Sants (Line C4 to St. Vicente de Calders, platform 1, buy a 2 zone ticket), Plaça Catalunya or Arc de Triomf. Walk back up the railtracks in the direction that you came from, for about ten minutes until you see a service station on your left. To hitch North, cross the road via the footbridge. To hitch South, stay on that side of the road.

Alternatively, you can walk out of the main exit of the train station, and take the first turn right. Walk straight on from there, keeping the highway on your right hand-side.

• Location

Anecdotes

Copied from 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."

More information

• Hitchbase has some more options on alternative ways to hitchhike out of Barcelona.