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In Spainconsists of 17 administrative units called ''Comunidades Autónomas''. Some of these administrative units also represent historical nations that vary in traditions, culture, hitching isn’t a very common concept gastronomy and even language. Although all citizens of Spain speak Spanish and mostly done are politically recognised as Spaniards, you will be more liked by foreignerslocals – especially in the nationalistic Basque country and Catalunya – if you learn the basic distinctive features of each region (i. Howevere don't expect sevillanas and bullfighting in Girona, the thumb will and don't be understoodsurprised if you see bagpipes and celtic-like stuff in Santiago de Compostela!).

The In Spain, hitching isn’t a very common concept and mostly done by foreigners. But It's really different depending on the autonomous community : it's easy in Galicia, Asturia and Extrémadura. In these communities it works like in France. It's better to stand with a cardboard. In Euskadi and Catalonia, you will wait a long time just stand with a cardboard. However, the thumb will be understood. An effective best method is to can be ask people directly wheneverpossible, e.g. in service stations, even if your Spanish is very poor. The Spanish phrase ''vas a... ?'' ‘are you going to...?’ is a good starting point. Because Spain is a touristic country, at some large service stations you can find drivers from all over Europe, who are more likely to take you than the local people. But However, this strategy is not advised in the far south of Spain (Andalucia), as service stations there tend to be carefuldeserted and sometimes off of the main road. Generally, as many there are petrol stationsevery 20-30 km, especially often in a so-called "via de servicio", along with a hotel or a restaurant. This means that each and every one of those petrol stations has less traffic. Most people who travel certain roads regularly will know (or pretend to know!) the Southgood spots where a lot of traffic passes through (e.g. truck stops, or nice restaurants). Try not to get stuck in places off the main road (in a village, are desertedor an industrial zone), but ask your driver if s/he knows a place with lots of people. __TOC__Even if you are unluckyhitchhike alone or in groups of two, only one be prepared to make much fewer kilometres per day than in e.g. Germany or two non-local cars stop at the station every France. Waiting times of over an hourare common, and 500–700 km a day may prove a real challenge. The first time you hitchhike in Spain, it might spend the night therebe a good idea to only plan for 300 km a day. If you do master some Spanish, however, and if you carefully stick to service stations asking people, hitching can be easy and fun - even in Spain.

Even if you hitchhike alone or in groups of twoDuring the "the siesta" (from 14:00 to 17: 00), there tends to be prepared to make much fewer kilometers per day than in eless traffic.g. Germany or France. Waiting times of over an hour are comminIn the summer, and 500 or 700 km a day may the sun can be a real challenge. The first very powerful at this time you hitchhike in Spainof day, so it might may be a good idea best to only plan for 300 km a day. During avoid standing on the road during the hot siesta hours of "the Siesta" (2pm -5pm) traffic density is decreased.

[[File:EspanaAs hitch-hiking is not a very common concept in Spain, many Spanish people travel via blablacar.jpg|thumb|left|[[User:Amylin|Amylin]] hitching If you want to get out of big cities (Madrid, Barcelona) you might have to pay 3-5 Euros to get to Spain from [[Portugal]]a hitch-hiking spot.]][[File:CommunidadValencianaIn this case, consider finding a short ride just out of the city to a nearby small town, with blablacar.JPG|thumb|left|Hilde hitchhiking The driver can drop you directly on a service station on the motorway, and you might not have to [[Valencia]]walk around in the Spanish summer heat.]]

<gallery perrow="3" style= Border crossing =="float:right; width:200px; margin-left:20px;">File:CommunidadValenciana.JPG|thumb|right|Hilde hitchhiking to [[Valencia]].File:2002_Dec_Hitch_hiking_in_Catalonia_SPAIN.jpg|Hitch-hiking in Catalonia. December 2002.File:Granada.jpg|Robino hitching from Valencia to [[Granada]].File:HhPICT1975.jpg|Stop at Valencia, at the trip from [[Germany]] to [[Portugal]].File:2002-03 Trying to hitchhike in Murcia to Sevilla.jpg|2002 trip from Berlin to Cádiz. It took only one day from Berlin to Barcelona but three days to get from Murcia to Cádiz. South of Spain: Very difficult to hitchhike. But the flowers did help!File:P1000787.JPG| Night hithhiking in [[Murcia]]</gallery>

When entering == License Plate IDs ==Pro tip: Under the country from [[France]] you should try to get a lift as close to your destination as possible. On old licensing system, license plates got identifying letters showing the city/region where the Mediterranean side, a good place for this car is La Jonquera, one of the biggest truck stops in Europeregistered. You’ll find plenty of international truck drivers all over This is great for quickly identifying (at least on old cars) if the country, because Spain car is a centre heading your way. i.e. lots of the fruit industry, exporting their oranges old "B" plates out there going to and tomatoesfrom Barcelona. On the Atlantic side, there is another huge truck stop near Irun Read more: [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vehicle_registration_plates_of_Spain#Old_provincial_codes]

If you arrive by the ferry from == Cities ==* [[Algeciras]]* [[Alicante]]* [[Badajoz]]* [[AfricaBarcelona]] you should try to get a ride on the ferry or at , the port. There are lots capital of people from [[MoroccoCatalonia|Catalunya]]* [[Bilbao]]* [[Burgos]]* [[Ceuta]]* [[Cordoba]]* [[Donostia-San Sebastián]]* [[Granada]]* [[Madrid]], who went to visit their families and now return. You’ll see number plates from many other European states.the capital* [[Málaga|Malaga]]* [[Oviedo]]* [[Salamanca (Spain)|Salamanca]]* [[Santander]]* [[Santiago de Compostela]]* [[Sevilla]]* [[Valencia]]* [[Vigo]]* [[Zaragoza]]

When hitching at ''peajes'', usually people have great success, and can obtain long distance rides, even at night time. Usually the police and motorway staff do not interfere, but some stricter police may request that you leave. It is important to note that large ''peaje'' sections are usually split by a concrete wall; 2 or 3 lanes for cars, on the inside, and another 2 or 3 lanes for buses and trucks on the outside. The concrete walls usually carry on some distance after the peaje, and end once the vehicles are traveling travelling too fast to stop. It is up to the hitchhiker to decide which lanes to take, however sticking to the outside and waiting for a truck may attract less attention from the authorities than standing further inside waiting for a car.

In the south of Spain, and parts of the center and the North, the motorways are smaller and the petrol stations are usually further away from the road; this system is called ''autovia''. [http://motorways-exitlists.com/europe/e/spain.htm This website] shows exits and also service areas for some ''autovias'', as well as ''autopistas. '' It is best to be patient at these places. Be careful when people promise you to drop you off at a "very busy" petrol station, as it might turn out to be deserted. It is better in these cases to find direct lifts from one town to another (use a sign when thumbing). == Border crossing ==When entering the country from [[France]] you should try to get a lift as close to your destination as possible. On the Mediterranean side, a good place for this is La Jonquera, one of the biggest truck stops in Europe. You’ll find plenty of international truck drivers all over the country, because Spain is a centre of the fruit industry, exporting their oranges and tomatoes. On the Atlantic side, there is another huge truck stop near Irun called Oyarzun (accessible in both directions).

== Language ==As mentioned above, If you arrive by the ferry from [[Africa]] you should try to get a ride on the Comunidades are not only administrative districts; many of ferry or at the regions have their own culture, language and some even port. There are reluctant about considering themselves as a part lots of Spain. For example the dominating language in people from [[CataloniaMorocco]] is Catalan, so be aware of thatwho went to visit their families and now return. Nevertheless, everyone speaks ''castellano'' (Spanish)You’ll see number plates from many other European states.

Aside from Spanish=== Crossing Spain to get to Portugal ===If you just want to get to Portugal, other recongised spoken languages are Galician, Basque, Catalan, Aranese, Astur-leonese you'll want to to keep your hitch journey in Spain as short and Aragonesequick as possible. Only This will happen by sticking to the the first three are legally oficial and have a considerable number of speakers. But don't panic! Everybody speaks perfect Spanish and won't feel unconfortable talking main road (AP-1, A-62, mostly "autovia") from Bayonne/San Sebastian to youSalamanca / Vilar Formoso (the portuguese border near Guarda). Younger Spaniards will easily understand Even if you in English as well. Obviously big co-oficial languages like Basquecome from, say, Catalan and Galician are widely used in their respective regionsMontpellier, it's recommended to hitch up to Bayonne and learning a handful of words or at least showing your interest in local languages may make cross the driver loosen upbasque country.

Also, you will find that some Catalan, Basque and Galician cities can appear A good technique is to stay in signs and maps with two names: one of the last service stations on the A63 in its local language form France before the spanish border, and the other in Spanishwait for someone who can take you all to way to Portugal. For instance: Donostia Portuguese plates (in Basque1/3 of portuguese nationals live outside Portugal) is also known as San Sebastián or tourists (20 million invaded Portugal in Spanish2016), Lleida (in Catalan) is Lérida (in Spanish), Rianxo (in Galician) is Rianjo (in Spanish) etcwill pass there. Whatever your map says and whichever language you are speaking —even if you are speaking in Spanish— , hitchwiki encourages you to use the local language form better than the Spanish one if possible, also in your sign, in order to not to mess with politics. Spaniards all across Spain understand both forms.

Note: Although the signs on the road and other kinds of key information (i.e: restaurant menus) are translated into Spanish in blingual territoriesOtherwise, don't let your drivers drop you will defenetely need help in small towns and nonat just any gas station along the way -touristy places in try your best to stick to busy ones (on the Basque Country right side and Catalonia, especially because Basque is an isolated language that does not resemble anything you have heard before. In case of doubt, ask near the locals. In Spanish ''Disculpehighway, ¿qué signfica..."(Excuse me, what does ... mean?Repsol and Galp)'' works fine everywhere. [[User:Mariam|Mariam]] , who does not speak Basque, walked from a small town following a sign in Basque that she thought would guide her to the next town and ended up in a reciclyng plant.

= Spanish for If your ride is only taking you to somewhere near Vilar Formoso border and you want to go further in Portugal, you can stay at the Hitchhiker =last Cepsa gas station on the right side of the road, 5kms before the border. Gas is cheaper in Spain.

The Spanish phrase == Myths and truths about hitchhiking in Spain ==# '''It is illegal to hitchhike in Spain.'''<br>''Truth''¡Hola! Vas : This assertion that you will hear from both the locals and the travellers is a result of a wrong understanding of the Spanish law that forbids pedestrians walking on aprivate motorway.Therefore, '''it is absolutely ''legal'' to hitchhike in Spain'''.# '''It is ''impossible'' to travel hitchhiking in Spain'''. ?<br>'' (Hello, are you going Truth'': While it is definitely harder to... ?) with catch a wide smile ride in Spain than in Germany, it is an excellent starting pointnot impossible if done smartly. Remember most Spaniards actually meet Actually, in many areas in the countryside or the stereotype north of being loud and friendlySpain where there are very few means of public transportation, but aren't used hitchhiking is done frequently by locals who need to see hitchhikers on the road. Therefore, you'd better be take extra framiliar rides from town to town (Galicia and polite by saying things like "¡Graciasits messy bus network is a great example of this). However, buen viaje!" (Thank youmany old Spaniards believe that hitchhiking culture died in the 70s, have and there is a nice trip!) after your driver drops you off lot of fear around, because of some cases of theft or rape when they make excuses to not pick hitching. To get a ride in Spain you up (this way they will need to put more effort and think twice tactical: '''hide the next time they bump into hippy clothes in your backpack and look clean, smile, know a hitchhiker)few Spanish words, be polite, be familiar with the Spanish hours and always try to hitch from a service station.'''# '''Spanish people will rob you'''. Check <br>''Truth'': Indeed, Barcelona and Madrid score very high in the Spanish section pickpocketing league, but this is something all locals are very embarrassed about. They will often advise you to keep an eye on your belongings and never put your wallet in the [[Western Europe phrasebook|phrasebook]] for more basic wordsrear pocket. The best advice is to avoid as much as possible the touristy areas.

In Spanish there == Language(s) ==As mentioned above, the Comunidades are not only five vowel sounds administrative districts; many of the regions have their own culture, language and, conversely to French or English, you should pronounce all the letters that you read some even are reluctant about considering themselves as an independent sound. So say phonetically with a clear distinction part of each sound "autopista" Spain. For example the dominating language in [[ aw to 'pis ta Catalonia]] (motorway)is Catalan, not ''ottopista''so be aware of that. Nevertheless, or everyone speaks ''otpistcastellano'' (Spanish). Other difficulties that foreigners usually face:

The letter ''Ñ'' as in ''España'' Aside from Spanish, other recognised spoken languages are Galician, Basque, Catalan, Aranese, Astur-leonese and "mañana" (''morning'' or ''tomorrow''), which is Aragonese. Only the equivalent first three are legally official and have a considerable number of the Portuguese digraph ''NH'' and Catalan ''NY''speakers. If you struggle with it just pronounce it as an ''N'But don' t panic! Everybody speaks perfect Spanish and an won''I'' like when t feel uncomfortable talking to you say "Esto[[ni]]a" — it is not the actual sound, but it . Younger Spaniards will work for a tourist. The digraph "LL" as easily understand you in "calle" (¨street) and "valle" (valley) is pronounced in most places English as a strong "y"well. TherforeObviously, you would say "kabig co-yeh" official languages like Basque, Catalan and "ba-yeh". The digraph "CH" is always pronounced as Galician are widely used in ''church'' their respective regions, and learning a handful of words or at least showing your interest in Englishlocal languages may make the driver loosen up.

There are Also, you will find that some Catalan, Basque and Galician cities can appear in signs and maps with two names: one in its local language form and the other tricky sounds like the ''Z'' in Spanish. For instance: Donostia (in Basque) is also known as San Sebastián (in Spanish), Lleida (in Catalan) is Lérida (in Spanish), Rianxo (in Galician) is Rianjo (in Spanish) etc. Whatever your map says and ''C''whichever language you are speaking —even if you are speaking in Spanish— , hitchwiki encourages you to use the local language form better than the Spanish one double ''RR''if possible, also in your sign, in order to not mess with politics.Spaniards all across Spain understand both forms.. but you can get away with these brief tips pretty well. Spanish is easy!

== Note: Although the signs on the road and other kinds of key information (i.e: restaurant menus) are translated into Spanish in bilingual territories, you will definitely need help in small towns and non-touristy places in the Basque Country and Catalonia, especially because Basque is an isolated language that does not resemble anything you have heard before. In case of doubt, ask the locals. In Spanish for ''Disculpe, ¿qué signfica...'' (Excuse me, what does ... mean?) works fine everywhere. [[User:Mariam|Mariam]] , who does not speak Basque, walked from a small town following a sign in Basque that she thought would guide her to the Hitchhiker ==next town and ended up in a recycling plant.

=== Spanish for the Hitchhiker ===The Spanish phrase ''¡Hola! Vas a... ?'' (Hello, are you going to... ?) with a wide smile is an excellent starting point. Remember most Spaniards actually meet the stereotype of being loud and friendly, but aren't used to see hitchhikers on the road. Therefore, you'd better be extra framiliar familiar and polite by saying things like "¡Gracias, buen viaje!" (Thank you, have a nice trip!) after your driver drops you off or when they make excuses to not pick you up (this way they will think twice the next time they bump into a hitchhiker). Check the Spanish section in the [[Western Europe phrasebook|phrasebook]] for more basic words.

The letter ''Ñ'' as in ''España'' and "mañana" (''morning'' or ''tomorrow''), which is the equivalent of the Portuguese digraph ''NH'' and Catalan ''NY''. If you struggle with it just pronounce it as an ''N'' and an ''I'' like when you say "Esto[[ni]]a" — it is not the actual sound, but it will work for a tourist. The digraph "LL" as in "calle" (¨street) and "valle" (valley) is pronounced in most places as a strong "y". Therfore, you You would say "ka-yeh" and "ba-yeh". The digraph "CH" is always pronounced as in ''church'' in English.

== Sleeping Resources =={{nomadwiki}}===Squatting ===* [https://www.facebook.com/groups/174166089591892/ Facebook group for hitchhiking in Spain] Despite the fact that many houses have been shut down lately, * [https://warmroads.de/hitchhiking-in-2-spain/ Short anlyses of hitchhiking in Spain has a very active squatting scene. It’s quite easy to find a place to crash by asking around for a ''casa okupada''- warmroads.]{{wikipedia-link|Spain}}=== Maps ===