The national airline is IBERIA (IB) (website: www.iberia.com).

None.

Madrid (MAD) (Barajas) is 13km (8 miles) northeast of the city. To/from the airport: Bus and underground services depart to the city regularly. Taxi service is available. Facilities: Restaurants and bars, bank, several car hire offices, hotel reservation and tourist information desks, and outgoing duty-free shop.

Barcelona (BCN) (el Prat) is 3km (2 miles) southwest of the city. To/from the airport: Bus and rail services to the city depart regularly. Taxi service to the city is available (journey time - 30 minutes). Facilities: A bank, restaurant, bar, several car hire companies, hotel reservation and tourist information desks and duty-free shops.

Alicante (ALC) (Altet) is 12km (7 miles) southwest of the city. To/from the airport: Bus service runs to the city regularly. A taxi service is available to the city. There is a taxi connection between Alicante and Valencia Airport. Facilities: Duty-free shop, bank, bureau de change, car hire, tourist information and restaurant.

Málaga (AGP) is 10km (6 miles) southwest of the city. To/from the airport: Buses run regularly throughout the day. A train service runs regularly also. A taxi service to the city is available. Facilities: Duty-free shop, bank/bureau de change, restaurant and car hire.

Valencia (VLC) (Manises) is 8km (5 miles) west of the city. To/from the airport: An aero bus takes passengers into the city. Other buses travel to the city frequently throughout the day. Taxis also run. Facilities: Several car hire firms, bank/bureau de change, restaurant, bar and duty-free shop.

Spain boasts over 30 international airports, run by AENA (Aeropuertos Espanoles y Navegación Aérea) (website: www.aena.es).

For information on travel to and within the Balearic Islands and the Canary Islands, see the respective sections.

Main ports: Barcelona (website: www.apb.es), Cadiz (website: www.puertocadiz.com), Santander (website: www.puertosantander.es), Valencia (website: www.valenciaport.com/cultures/es) and Vigo (website: www.apvigo.com).

Brittany Ferries (tel: 0870 366 5333, in the UK; website: www.brittany-ferries.com) operates a service to Santander (on the north coast) from Plymouth (journey time – 18 hours). P&O European Ferries (tel: 0870 520 2020, in the UK; website: www.poportsmouth.com) operates a service from Portsmouth to Bilbao (journey time – 35 hours).

The quickest route by train from the UK is through the Channel Tunnel with connections from Paris to Spain. Eurostar operates direct high-speed trains from London (Waterloo International) to Paris (Gare du Nord) and to Brussels (Midi/Zuid). It takes 2 hours 40 minutes from London to Paris (via Lille) and 2 hours 20 minutes to Brussels. For further information and reservations, contact Eurostar (tel: 0870 518 6186, in the UK or +44 1233 617 575, outside the UK; website: www.eurostar.com); or Rail Europe (tel: 0870 584 8848, in the UK; website: www.raileurope.co.uk).

There are direct trains between Madrid–Paris and Madrid–Lisbon, as well as Barcelona–Paris, Barcelona– Zürich or Milan, Barcelona-Montpelier and Barcelona–Geneva. These services are called Estrella, Talgo or Train-Hotel. On other international services to and from Spain, a change of train is necessary. However, work on the AVE (high-velocity train) route between Madrid and Barcelona is expected to be completed in 2007, after which the French border connection is expected to be fully operational in 2010 and it will be possible to connect with the French TGV (high-velocity route) and the rest of the high-velocity routes in Europe. Motorail services run between Paris and Madrid. For more information, contact the Spanish Rail service (tel: (020) 7224 0345; website: www.spanish-rail.co.uk).

InterRail: offers unlimited first- or second-class travel in up to 30 European countries for European residents of over six months with two pass options. The Global Pass allows travel for 22 days, one month, five days in 10 days or 10 days in 22 days across all countries. The One-Country Pass offers travel for three, four, six or eight days in one month in any of the countries except Bosnia-Herzegovina and Montenegro. Travel is not allowed in the passenger’s country of residence. Travellers under 26 years receive a reduction. Children’s tickets are reduced by about 50%. Supplements are required for some high-speed services, seat reservations and couchettes. Discounts are offered on Eurostar and some ferry routes. Available from Rail Europe (website: www.raileurope.co.uk/inter-rail). 

Eurailpass: offers unlimited first-class train travel in 17 European countries. Tickets are valid for 15 days, 21 days, one month, two months or three months. The Eurailpass Youth ticket is available to those under 26 and offers unlimited second-class train travel. The Eurailpass Flexi allows either 10 or 15 travel days within a two-month period. The Eurail Selectpass is valid in three, four or five bordering countries and allows five, six, eight or 10 travel days (or 15 for five countries) in a two-month period. The Eurail Regional Pass allows four to 10 travel days in a two-month period in one of nine regions (usually two or more countries). Children receive a 50% reduction. The passes cannot be sold to residents of Europe, Turkey, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia or the Russian Federation. Available from The Eurail Group (website: www.eurail.com).

The main route from the UK is via France. The main motorways to Spain from France are via Bordeaux or Toulouse to Bilbao (northern Spain) and via Marseille or Toulouse to Barcelona (eastern Spain).

Eurolines (tel: 0870 580 8080, in the UK; website: www.eurolines.com) runs regular coach services to Spain. Passes: Travellers can book a 15- or 30-day pass.

Domestic flights are run by Iberia (IB) (website: www.iberia.com), Air Europa (website: www.air-europa.com), Binter (website: www.binternet.com and Spanair (website: www.spanair.com). Scheduled flights connect all main towns as well as the Balearic and Canary Islands and enclaves in North Africa. Air taxis are available at most airports. Reservations should be made well in advance.

There are regular hydrofoil and car and passenger ferry sailings from Algeciras to Tangier and Ceuta (North African enclave); Málaga and Almeria to Melilla (North African enclave); Barcelona, Valencia and Alicante to the Balearic Islands; and Cádiz to the Canary Islands. There are also inter-island services, including a catamaran service linking Barcelona and Palma de Mallorca. For further information, contact Trasmediterránea c/o Southern Ferries (tel: (902) 454 645; website: www.trasmediterranea.es).

The state-owned company RENFE (website: www.renfe.es) operates a railway network connecting all the regions on the Iberian peninsula. It is mainly a radial network, with connections between Madrid and all the major cities. There are also some transversal services connecting the northwest coast with the Mediterranean coast, as well as services from the French border down the Mediterranean coast. Principal trains are air conditioned, and many have restaurant or buffet service. Reservations for passenger services in Spain may be made in the UK through the Spanish Rail service (see above), European Rail Travel (tel: (020) 7387 0444; website: www.europeanrail.com), Freedom Rail (tel: 0870 757 9898; website: www.freedomrail.com) and Ultima Travel (tel: (0151) 339 6171).

High-speed trains: The Ave service connects Madrid and Seville in 2 hours 15 minutes, with several services each way via Córdoba. Some services also stop at Ciudad Real and Puerto Llano (La Mancha). Planned completion of the Madrid to Barcelona leg is due shortly, and the high-speed border connection with France in 2010. Also, in 2010, the stretches from Córdoba to Málaga, Madrid to Valencia and Madrid to Valladolid should be ready. The Talgo 200 connects Madrid and Malaga in 4 hours 35 minutes.

Tourist trains: The Andalus Express and Transcantábrico offer a pleasant way of discovering their respective regions. There are also a number of privately-run narrow-gauge railways in Spain, located mainly in the north of Spain as well as the Mediterranean coast and the Balearic Islands, which run at a leisurely pace through picturesque scenery. For more information on tourist trains, contact the Spanish National Tourist Office (see Contact Addresses).

Tarjeta Explorerail: allows unlimited travel on all but some regional and fast trains to travellers under 26. It can be bought in Spain, or overseas from selected travel agents, and is available for seven-, 15- and 30-day periods.

InterRail’s One-Country Pass: offers travel for three, four, six or eight days in one month within Spain. Travel is not allowed in the passenger’s country of residence. Travellers under 26 years receive a reduction. Children’s tickets are reduced by about 50%. Supplements are required for some high-speed services, seat reservations and couchettes. Discounts are offered on Eurostar and some ferry routes. Available from Rail Europe (website: www.raileurope.co.uk/inter-rail). 

Note: Seat reservations are required on all intercity trains. This ruling applies to the passes and cards mentioned above.

Traffic drives on the right. Motorways are well-maintained and connect Spain north–south. Tolls are in operation on some sections and have to be paid in Euros. Trunk roads between major cities are generally fast and well-maintained. Rural roads are of differing quality.

Bus: There are bus lines which are efficient and cheap, operating between cities and towns. Departures are generally from a central terminal at which the operators will have individual booths selling tickets. Most places have a bus link of some kind, even the more remote villages.

Car hire: All major car hire companies are represented in major cities. Drivers must be over 21 to hire a car.

Motorcycles: No person under 18 may hire or ride a vehicle over 75cc. Crash helmets must be worn.

Regulations: Side lights must be used at night in built-up areas. Spare bulbs and red hazard triangles must be kept in all vehicles. Traffic lights: two red lights mean ‘No Entry’. Parking laws are rigorously enforced. The speed limit for motorways is 120kph (80mph) in general, but for buses and lorries the limit is 100kph (60mph); in built-up areas the limit is 50kph (30mph); for other roads it is 90kph (56mph).

Documentation: Most foreign licences including Canadian, EU and US are accepted. Third Party insurance is compulsory, plus a Green Card if bringing your own car (available from insurance company).

Traffic in Spanish cities is normally heavy, and urban driving takes some time to adjust to. City public transport facilities are generally good. Barcelona, Bilbao, Madrid and Valencia have metros as well as buses. Pre-purchase multi-journey tickets are sold. Other towns and resorts are well served by local buses. Metered taxis are available in most major cities and a 2 to 3% tip is customary.

The following chart gives approximate journey times (in hours and minutes) from Madrid to other major cities and towns in Spain.

	Air	Road	Rail
Barcelona	1.00	8.00	8.00
Canary Is.	2.30	-	-
Mallorca	1.00	-	-
Palma	1.10	6.00*	5.00*

* Plus nine hours by boat (three hours by catamaran).