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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, there are petrol stations every 20-30 km, as many 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 stationshas less traffic. Most people who travel certain roads regularly will know (or pretend to know!) the good spots where a lot of traffic passes through (e.g. truck stops, especially or nice restaurants). Try not to get stuck in places off the Southmain 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.That being saidIf you do master some Spanish, hitching from service station to service station is a lot easier than just standing on the roadhowever, it can even go quite well and if you speak basic Spanish. Just make sure you get carefully stick to service stations as often as you asking people, hitching canbe 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). If you arrive by the ferry from [[Africa]] you should try to get a ride on the ferry or at the port. There are lots of people from [[Morocco]], who went to visit their families and now return. You’ll see number plates from many other European states. === Crossing Spain to get to Portugal ===If you just want to get to Portugal, you'll want to to keep your hitch journey in Spain as short and quick as possible. This will happen by sticking to the the main road (AP-1, A-62, mostly "autovia") from Bayonne/San Sebastian to Salamanca / Vilar Formoso (the portuguese border near Guarda). Even if you come from, say, Montpellier, it's recommended to hitch up to Bayonne and cross the basque country.

A good technique is to stay in one of the last service stations on the A63 in France before the spanish border, and wait for someone who can take you all to way to Portugal. Portuguese plates (1/3 of portuguese nationals live outside Portugal) or tourists (20 million invaded Portugal in 2016) will pass there.  Otherwise, don't let your drivers drop you at just any gas station along the way - try your best to stick to busy ones (on the right side and near the highway, Repsol and Galp). 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 last Cepsa gas station on the right side of the road, 5kms before the border. Gas is cheaper in Spain.  == Myths and truths about hitchhiking in Spain ==# '''It is illegal to hitchhike in Spain.'''<br>''Truth'': 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 a private motorway. Therefore, '''it is absolutely ''legal'' to hitchhike in Spain'''.# '''It is ''impossible'' to travel hitchhiking in Spain'''.<br>''Truth'': While it is definitely harder to catch a ride in Spain than in Germany, it is not impossible if done smartly. Actually, in many areas in the countryside or the north of Spain where there are very few means of public transportation, hitchhiking is done frequently by locals who need to take rides from town to town (Galicia and its messy bus network is a great example of this). However, many old Spaniards believe that hitchhiking culture died in the 70s, and there is a lot of fear around, because of some cases of theft or rape when hitching. To get a ride in Spain you will need to put more effort and think tactical: '''hide the hippy clothes in your backpack and look clean, smile, know a 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'''.<br>''Truth'': Indeed, Barcelona and Madrid score very high in the 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 rear pocket. The best advice is to avoid as much as possible the touristy areas. == Language (s) ==

Aside from Spanish, other recognised spoken languages are Galician, Basque, Catalan, Aranese, Astur-leonese and Aragonese. Only the first three are legally oficial official and have a considerable number of speakers. But don't panic! Everybody speaks perfect Spanish and won't feel uncomfortable talking to you. Younger Spaniards will easily understand you in English as well. Obviously , big co-official languages like Basque, Catalan and Galician are widely used in their respective regions, and learning a handful of words or at least showing your interest in local languages may make the driver loosen up.

== Sleeping Resources =={{nomadwiki}}===Wild camping and Bivouacking === It is legal to wild camp * [https://www.facebook.com/groups/174166089591892/ Facebook group for free hitchhiking in Spain as long as you camp when the sun sets and leave early in the morning]* [https://warmroads. This is called pernoctation and the forest guards will not bother you if you explain that you know what you are doing. Remember that lighting a fire is forbid de/hitchhiking-in most of the Spanish regions.  If you go to Spain during the summer months (June-August) it will be warm enough in the night to bivouac (sleep outdoors without a tent). However, it is recommended to take a thick sleeping bag because temperatures can drop to 10 celsius degrees in the north, the ''meseta'', and hilly areas. Although it might seem very bohemian and romantic, avoid sleeping in a beach. Especially if it is populated by drunk people and ''guiris'' (Spanish despective word for stereotypical north2-European tourists that come to Spain for cheap alcohol and street sex). Chances are you will get stolen by pickpockets who go to those beaches to take advantage spain/ Short anlyses of the wealthy, drunk ''guiris''.  ===Squatting === Despite the fact that many houses have been shut down lately, 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.] ===Hostels and Pensions === There are plenty of backpacker's hostels in big and not{{wikipedia-so-big cities in link|Spain that you will find online through sites like www.hostelworld.com . A cheap hostel you can find online might cost between 10 and 20 euros depending on the season and the region (Basque Country, Catalonia and Madrid are usually more expensive than the rest of the country).  Now, here is the little secret that Spaniards know and you don't, A vast majority of cheap ''pensiones'' do not appear on the internet and you will hardly find any information on google or tourism offices. This is probably because the owner of the "pension" or hostel might be an old lady that rents a room in some kind of not very legal way. ''Pensiones'' can vary in cost and luxury, depending on the number of stars you find under the "P" sign. The best thing to do is to go to the city hall and ask for the yellow pages book ''Páginas amarillas'', call the pensions and ask for the price. You will need to speak Spanish here, or find someone that can speak Spanish for you because most old ladies do not speak English. It is a good idea to ask the locals if they know a cheap place to stay, or even ask so to other pension owners. }}===Pilgrim hostels (Camino de Santiago) ==Maps = Camino de Santiago is a legendary long hiking pilgrimage trail that can be started from almost anywhere in Europe. It ends in Santiago de Compostela, a beautiful city in the heart of Galicia. Obviously, this trail reaches its highest fame rate in Spain, where it is known by everyone and is even part of folklore. Nowadays, pilgrims that go to Santiago are backpackers from all around the world with varied reasons for walking (some religious, some for fun etc). There is a broad net of ''albergues de peregrinos'' (pilgrim hostels) all around Spain for the pilgrims to spend the night after a day of walking. Those are undoubtedly the cheapest accommodation in the country. The price can vary from 5 to 10 euros and even some religious centres offer it for free or the will. In most cases, to use the pilgrim albergues you will need to prove that you are a pilgrim with a ''credencial'', a passport with the stamps of the towns that the pilgrim has passed by in his journey. You can get your credencial in any church/city hall through which the Camino passes. Lately, people do the Camino in many different ways and directions, Some even by car. So do not be shy about asking the ''albergue'' owners for a bed or help. If you are friendly, they will be too. == Maps ==