Barcelona
Barcelona is the capital of Catalunya, a region in Spain (and France).
Hitching Out
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South or North, towards Valencia, Girona, Perpignan, France
Option 1: Take a train 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 highway 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.
Alternatively, it might be easier to stay on the train one more stop and to get off at Bellaterra. Exit the station, walk 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 you are at the same rest area.
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. Walk back up the railtracks in the direction 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.
A new AVE high speed train line now separates the Castellbisbal station from the service station, however, it is still easy to get to the latter one: leave the train station, cross the AVE tracks on the big bridge right in front of you, on the other side take the first small road on the left, it soon changes into an unpaved road that leads you around the hill; after about 10 minutes you reach the service station (right after the point where the highway bridges over the ave). For orientation: you can see the service station from the train on your right just before you reach Castellbisbal.
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 highway C-31. When the light turns red ask people if they're heading towards the highway. If yes, ask them if they can take you to the first petrol station ("gasolinera")... Off you go to France!
West, towards Zaragoza, Madrid
Choose the petrol station in Castellbisbal as described above (Option 2).
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."
Getting in
From France
When on the main highway 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 in towns (with train stations) and cities along that road, such as Girona or Rubí and San Cugat (latter two are better options), or get out of the car at a rest area and to wait for another ride to Barcelona. A train ticket generally cost you between €1,30 (San Cugat/Rubí) and €10 (Girona).
You can also ask the driver to leave you at the junction by the university (Iniversitat Autonoma de Barcelona). There is a roundabout right by the highway 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 service station.
You can also try to get a ride to the Costa Brava - 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).
Staying in Barcelona
Hospitality exchange networks have many members in Barcelona, however, you have to plan your stay well ahead since it is quite a popular destination.
Other options include sleeping on the beach, in parks and elsewhere.
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.
Another option is sleeping by the roundabout of the Colom monument near the port at the end of Las Ramblas although the traffic nearby can be quite noisy. You can sleep near statues of lions and as long as you are low-key about it, both police and locals probably won't disturb your stay. Hitchhiker Zac did this is October 2006 and had no problems with thieves, but discretion is wise nonetheless.
Another great option is to 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 Placa de Catalunya and getting off at Beixador 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.
You can also 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 in.
More information
- Hitchbase has some more options on alternative ways to hitchhike out of Barcelona.
