How are toll roads designated in Spain? Toll roads in Spain
It is useful to study the roads of Spain for those who plan to rent a car. There are several types of roads in this country, but the main division is toll and free. If you want to save money, you can go around any toll road in Spain using a free one! It does not happen that the path can only be paved along a toll road. Of course, the budget option may take more time, but it exists. To make sure, you can go to the road map of Spain or the official website: all this is posted at the end of the article.
Road map of Spain. Part 1.
Road map of Spain. Part 2.
The following classification of roads in Spain is not particularly important when traveling, but is quite interesting.
- Autopista is a road in Spain whose lanes are divided according to directions. On the signs they are designated AP; there are no single-level autopista intersections; there can only be multi-level interchanges.
- Autovía is a similar type of road, lanes in different directions are also separated, you can exit in limited places. Both autovía and autopista are Spanish expressways. They are located outside populated areas.
- Vía para automóviles is a Spanish highway where all lanes are located on one common platform, but exits are limited. You cannot pull over to the side of the road unless there is an emergency.
- Carreteras convencionales – roads with different characteristics. In Spain, these highways are divided into subtypes.
- Vía de servicio are service roads in Spain. They are located close to the main ones, for example, in places with large industrial zones.
It is also worth paying attention to toll roads in Spain. We will discuss them below, but here we will clarify that only autopista is paid.
Toll roads in Spain
In Spain, toll roads are marked with the PEAJE sign. On some of them you need to pay upon entry, on others upon departure. In the second case, at the entrance you will receive a ticket card, which describes the exits and also indicates the place of entry. Thus, the cost of a toll road in Spain depends on the distance.
You can pay for most roads at vending machines. There are separate lanes for trucks, as well as for paying with TeleTAC cards, which are clearly visible. The system helps speed up payment: the driver does not have to stop, since his car has a special device that allows him to pay for the road in Spain remotely. In addition, there are separate payment lanes bank cards and paying cash to people rather than to machines.
If you need a receipt from a toll road in Spain, then just press a special button.
Cost of toll roads in Spain
The cost of toll roads in Spain increases in sections with tunnels. In other parts, travel will be cheaper, but will significantly save travelers time. Specific prices on different sections of toll roads in Spain are described below.
Parking in Spain
Parking in Spain often requires a fee, especially in the city center. During working hours, in some places you can’t even park without a special permit - the cities are so busy.
If the parking zone in Spain is marked in blue, then you need to purchase a ticket from the machine. Payments are due at specific times, so please inquire in advance.
Underground parking in Spain is common. They often indicate in front of them whether there are empty seats. You can pay for underground parking at the ticket office.
Illegally parked cars in Spain can be towed from many parking lots. This is usually indicated by a special sign, be careful. You will subsequently have to pay about 100 euros for towing!
Tunnels in Spain
The cost of toll roads in Spain depends on the specific section. Below are the most popular tunnels in Spain and the prices for them passenger cars up to nine seats with two axles. If the car is towing a vehicle with two axles, then the cost of toll roads in Spain is usually higher.
- The Cadi tunnel in Spain is about 5 kilometers long. The fare is a little more than 12 euros. Located near Barcelona.
- The Vallvidrera tunnel, also located near Barcelona, but only 2.5 kilometers long. The cost of this toll road in Spain is about 4 euros.
Spain road map
A road map of Spain is becoming less and less popular as many car rental offices offer cars with navigators. However, on the website we offer to download detailed map roads in Spain, because a car without a navigator will cost less. It shows the main European routes, including those passing along the roads of Spain.
In addition, the road map of Spain is useful for those who want to plan their route in advance.
http://www.aseta.es/Eng/index.php?Seccion=mapa – official website of Spanish roads in English.
Have a nice trip to Spain!
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The length of the public road network in Spain, including the Canary and Balearic Islands, is 683.175 km. Almost all of them are paved roads. The length of highways is 17,109 km, of which almost 3,000 km are .
Toll roads
In Spain there are tolls for using roads. Travel through some tunnels is also subject to payment.
The road toll system in Spain depends on several parameters: distance traveled, vehicle category, season and even rush hour during the day.
Tariffs for travel on major highways for 2019:| Highway | Route (distance) | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| AP-2 | Zaragoza - AP-7 (225 km) | € 24.60 |
| AP-4 | Seville - Cadiz (95 km) | € 7.45 |
| AP-6 | Madrid - Adanero (74 km) | € 12.70 |
| AP-7 | A9 (France) - Barcelona (156 km) | € 14.70 |
| AP-7 | Barcelona - Valencia (347 km) | € 37.50 |
| AP-7 | Valencia - Alicante (178 km) | € 17.60 |
| AP-7 | Cartagena - Vera (97 km) | € 10.90 |
| AP-7 | Malaga - Guadiaro (105 km) | € 16.20 |
| AP-8 | A63 (France) - Bilbao (105 km) | € 15.50 |
| AP-9 | Ferrol - A3 (Portugal) (196 km) | € 21.55 |
| AP-15 | Tudela - Irurzun (112 km) | € 5.70 |
| AP-36 | Ocaña - La Roda (150 km) | € 13.60 |
| AP-41 | Madrid - Toledo (60 km) | € 7.65 |
| AP-51 | Villacastín - Ávila (26 km) | € 1.45 |
| AP-53 | Santiago de Compostela - Dozón (57 km) | € 6.00 |
| AP-61 | Segovia - AP-6 (28 km) | € 1.35 |
| AP-66 | Campomanes - León (78 km) | € 13.35 |
| AP-68 | Bilbao - Zaragoza (298 km) | € 32.85 |
| AP-71 | León - Astorga (43 km) | € 5.15 |
| R-2 | Madrid - Guadalajara (59 km) | € 6.15 |
| R-3 | Madrid - Arganda del Rey (39 km) | € 3.30 |
| R-4 | Madrid - Osana (58 km) | € 6.00 |
| R-5 | Madrid - Navalcarnero (28 km) | € 3.55 |
| C-32 | Montgat-Palafolls (57 km) | € 4.93 |
| C-32 | Castelldefels - El Vendrell (49 km) | € 5.32 |
| C-33 | Barcelona - Montmeló (29 km) | € 1.66 |
The tariffs in the table are for cars and motorcycles in the summer (at rush hour, tariffs on some roads, for example around Madrid, are slightly more expensive).
These are indicative fares, calculated once at the beginning of the year based on the Spanish motorway website, provided that traffic between points is carried out on the same motorway.
For example: Zaragoza - AP-7 (€ 24.60), subject to movement only via the AP-1 motorway. When traveling on a different route, the fare may differ in one direction or another.
Areas with special payment
Cadi tunnel
The Cadi Tunnel is located in the province of Barcelona. The Cadi tunnel has a length of 5.026 m. It is the third longest tunnel in Spain. It was opened on October 30, 1984.
Tariffs for 2019: Tariffs for 2019:* Rush hours are weekdays at the following times:
- 07:30 – 10:30 (morning)
- 17:00 – 21:00 (evening)
Buy a road map of Spain and Portugal from Amazon online store with delivery .
Basic traffic rules in Spain
Speed Limit
Standard speed limits in Spain (unless otherwise indicated on signs).
Cars:- in a populated area - 50 km/h
- outside the populated area - 90 km/h
- on the road - 100 km/h
- on the motorway - 120 km/h
- in a populated area - 50 km/h
- outside the populated area - 70 km/h
- on the road - 80 km/h
- on the motorway - 90 km/h
It is prohibited to drive on highways vehicles whose speed according to technical characteristics does not exceed 60 km/h.
For vehicles equipped with snow chains, the maximum permitted speed is no more than 50 km/h.
Speed cameras
Speed cameras are widely used in Spain. As of August 2010, some cameras (on the AP-7 in Castellon, the AP-7 in Murcia, on the A-31 in Alicante and the A-52 in Zamora) are equipped to alert the nearest police officer in the event of speeding, committed by the driver of a foreign car.
The police officer receives a photo of the car and has the right to stop vehicle and impose a large fine on the spot. If the fine is not paid immediately, the car may be detained. It is planned to install more such cameras in the future.
Alcohol
Maximum permissible blood alcohol level 0.5 ‰.
For drivers with less than 2 years of experience, the permissible blood alcohol level is 0.3 ‰.
If your blood alcohol level exceeds the legal limit, the fine will be €500.
If the blood alcohol level exceeds the permissible limit by 2 times or the violation is committed repeatedly within a year, the fine will be € 1,000.
If illegal drugs are found in the body, the fine will be € 1,000.
The fine for refusing to take an alcohol or drug test will be €500.
Low beam
The use of low beams is only required when driving through tunnels.
Transportation of children
Children under 3 years old can travel only when using suitable child restraint systems suitable for their weight.
Children aged 3 years and under and under 135 cm tall must use a child seat or booster seat appropriate for their weight.
Children over 135 cm tall can use regular seat belts.
The fine for violating the rules for transporting children is € 200. In this case, the vehicle may be detained.
Seat belts
Using seat belts Necessarily for front and rear passengers.
Fine - € 200.
Talking on the phone
It is prohibited to use a telephone that is not equipped with a technical device that allows hands-free negotiations while the vehicle is moving. At a gas station, your mobile phone must be turned off while refueling.
Fine - € 200.
Fines
Police officers have the right to collect fines on the spot for traffic violations. An official receipt will be issued.
Foreign drivers must pay the fine in cash immediately or their vehicle may be impounded until the fine is paid. If you pay the fine immediately on the spot, you will receive a 50% discount, but you will lose your right to appeal.
If you received a fine receipt by mail, then if you pay the fine within 20 days via the Internet or banking institutions(las oficinas de Correos o en cualquier sucursal del Banco Santander), its amount is also reduced by 50%, and the driver is also deprived of the right to appeal the decision.
If you do not pay the fine within 30 days from the date of receipt of the notification of the imposition of a sanction, a decision is made to forced collection fine
There is a small nuance here, which is that it is very difficult to determine exactly when you received this notification, and cases of receiving a 50% discount 2 months after the adoption of the resolution are not uncommon.
Fines for speeding vary internally settlement and beyond.
Fines for speeding in Spain:| Over speed | ||
|---|---|---|
| up to 20 km/h | € 100 | |
| 21 - 30 km/h | € 300 | € 100 |
| 31 - 40 km/h | € 400 | € 300 |
| 41 - 50 km/h | € 500 | € 300 |
| 51 - 60 km/h | € 600 | € 400 |
| 61 - 70 km/h | € 600 | € 500 |
| over 70 km/h | € 600 | |
In 2014, the requirements for overtaking cyclists were tightened. The minimum permissible distance to them when overtaking should be at least 1.5 meters. In this case, it is allowed to partially or even completely occupy the oncoming lane, provided that no interference is created for oncoming cyclists.
Since 2014, Spain has formally adopted the 2011 European Directive “to facilitate the exchange of data at borders regarding road safety violations.”
Now the authorities of the state where the traffic rules were violated have the right to track the violator by license plate number, even in another state, and send a receipt to pay the fine to his homeland. In case of refusal to pay the fine, the case against the motorist will be transferred to the authorities of the offender’s home country for examination and collection of a fine.
This directive covers eight types of violations: speeding, not wearing a seat belt, running a red light, exceeding the permissible level of alcohol, driving under the influence of drugs, riding without a helmet, using mobile phone or any other means of communication while driving.
Helpful information
Petrol
1.29 1.43 1.20 0.72 as of 02/15/2020
In Spain, unleaded petrol is available in 95 and 98 ( Gasoline sin plomo) and diesel fuel ( Gasoleo "A" or Gas-oil). Leaded gasoline is not available.
Note that gasoline prices in the Canary Islands are € 0.20-0.22 less than the national average.
There are a small number of gas stations (LPG) called "Autogas".
Coordinates of LPG gas stations (96 Kb).
Emergency numbers
- European emergency number - 112
- Police - 091
- Ambulance - 061
- Fire service - 080
Required equipment
Equipment that necessary have in your car:
- Warning triangle- in case of an accident, 2 signs are recommended (otherwise local authorities may impose a fine if only one is installed)
- Spare wheel- or a kit for its repair
- Reflective vest- mandatory when exiting a car stopped on the roadway or side of the road. However, it is not necessary to carry it in a car. Spanish police cannot fine a foreign driver who does not have a reflective vest in their car. Fine - € 200.
Winter equipment
Winter tires
In the summer, the police pay attention to the driver’s “dress code.” For example, for driving bare-chested or wearing flip-flops, the driver can be fined €80. The front passenger's legs thrown up on the dashboard can cost €100.
Tow trucks have priority right of way.
The use of navigation software that indicates the location of fixed speed cameras is permitted.
At the same time, operating navigation equipment while driving is punishable by a fine of € 200.
The use of radar detectors has been prohibited since May 2014. If they are used, the fine is € 200. For the use of anti-radars, the penalty is much more serious - up to € 6,000.
If the radar detector is combined in one device with a navigator, then it must be deactivated.
The holiday season is starting, some of the readers of this site will probably go for a ride around Europe and, perhaps, directly in Spain, so at the request of some of these readers I wrote a short article about the features of toll roads in Spain, but this is also, with minor modifications, suitable for toll roads in France, Italy and some other European countries.
The roads in Spain are divided into free (Autovia) and toll (Autopista). When approaching a toll road, road signs always indicate the sign Peaje, enclosed in a red circle. The toll road is always several rows long, there are no traffic lights or crossings, the speed limit is 120 km/h. At the same time, there are very few places where radars are installed; signs warn about them, so in reality many drivers drive on highways at a speed of 140-150 km/h.
There are two types of tolls for these roads: either they immediately charge you money to pay for the next section, or they give you a special check that you will need to insert into the machine when you exit the toll road, and there they will write to you how much you need to pay. Keep in mind that you can ride for quite a long time with this check if the track is long and you don’t leave it. But don’t hope that they forgot about you: at the congress they will definitely count for everything and the amount there may turn out to be quite substantial. In Spain I didn’t encounter this, but in France I had to: I was traveling from Spain to Burgundy, at the entrance to France I took a ticket and then drove with it for seven hours. When I left the highway, they counted 64 euros.
When approaching a payment point, carefully monitor where and what types of payment are accepted. If there is only the letter T or the inscription Telepeaje (aka Via-T) hanging above the payment point, you cannot go there, this is payment with a transponder that hangs on the car window. In Spain, such a transponder is ordered from a bank and personal account looks like a credit card.
Automático lettering and image plastic card- here you can only pay by card. And keep in mind that there are various tricks with these cards. For example, in Spain, in addition to Spanish ones, Russian cards also worked without problems, and in France, the Spanish debit card did not work, but the Russian credit card did.
Well, the Manual inscription and the image of coins show that here you can pay in cash or by card. Attention - even when only Manual, you can always pay there with a card: you give it to the point employee to pay.
It often happens that all the icons - T, map and coins - can hang over some corridor. This means that any type of payment is acceptable. However, if you are going to pay by card, then it is better to look for corridors with a picture of a card without coins - there will simply be less queues there, because the longest queues are where they accept cash.
For example, in the photo below from left to right: payment by card, two points only for the transponder (automatic payment), one point also for cards (the inscription targetes in Catalan, also known as tarjetes in Spanish; why is there an inscription here and not a picture - and therefore that this item can be switched either way - only for the transponder or only for cards), the last two are cards.
Also in some places there is an option called Pago Exacto - this is payment without change: payment with coins is thrown into a special basket as you drive by.
In some places, there may be a “3+” icon above some driveways - this means that if there are at least three people in a passing car, there will be a discount on payment. You can go there with any number of people in the car, just if there are less than three people, there will be no discount.
Where are the most toll roads in Spain? The answer is simple - in Catalonia. I have traveled almost all of Spain; there are no such number of toll roads as in Catalonia anywhere else. According to statistics, there are 633 kilometers of toll highways in Catalonia. For comparison, in Valencia there are 367 kilometers of them, and in Asturias there are only 22 kilometers of tolls.
Here is a map of all toll roads in Spain.
Detailed tariffs for each site can be viewed (in Spanish).
Well, here’s another sign from which you can get an impression of the price level.
There are also several toll tunnels in Spain. One of them is the Tunnel del Cadi in the Catalan Pyrenees. Its length is more than five kilometers. For regular passenger cars, the fare is €12. If you are traveling, for example, from Barcelona or Girona to Andorra, then this tunnel will be on your way. Of course, you can drive around, but it will take you a lot of time and through the mountains.
Another toll tunnel is also in Catalonia: the Valvidrera tunnel. There the cost is about 4 euros.
Now let’s answer the question of how much toll roads can speed up your movements and whether you can try to bypass them.
It all depends on distances. For example, you can get from Barcelona to Blanes via a toll highway (there are three points, all together about €5), or you can take the N-II national highway, which runs along the coast. On the N-II there are towns and traffic lights everywhere along the road, but on the toll road you drive like a bullet. However, the time difference will be about 15-20 minutes. Whether it makes sense to go around the high-speed toll highway for 15-20 minutes, everyone decides for themselves.
As for long-distance destinations, the use of toll highways can significantly save time. For example, a trip from Barcelona to Valencia by toll roads- 3 hours 43 minutes. And for free - 4 hours 51 minutes. The savings here are very significant.
How much time you will lose if you go around toll roads can be easily checked in the navigation program. First, plan a route using toll roads, and then select the “Avoid toll roads” option and see how much longer the journey takes.
Of the inappropriately high prices for toll roads, I know of only one section - this is the C-16 highway, which begins just after the Valvidrera toll tunnel. This route leads north towards , and so on, navigators often point it out. So, it’s better not to go there, because first you will pay for travel through the tunnel, and then on C-16 there will be toll points quite often and for some reason the amounts there are very high - 5-7 euros each (usually 1.5-2 .5 euros). In the end, I somehow paid about 23 euros for a trip towards Montserrat - and didn’t go there anymore, especially since there are at least three detour options and you literally lose 15-20 minutes of time.
Before we started living in Spain, we never had the opportunity to understand and feel the difference between free and toll roads. In three months we managed to drive almost 15 thousand km here (okay, 4 thousand of them were the road from Moscow, but the remaining 10 thousand km were local).
What catches your eye in general after Russia:
In Russia they DO NOT know how to drive fast. Try to keep the speed limit of 80 km/h along the serpentine road, which is allowed by the rules; at first it was difficult to drive even 50 km/h - this is the recommended speed in some sections. We can talk for a long time about how much experience we have and a powerful car, but local grandfathers on 30-year-old Citroen heels really beat almost any Russian on the serpentine) At least go study again;
There are a LOT of cars on hand. It is clear that the BMW 7 Series will have an automatic transmission, but Peugeots, Golfs, Focuses, Fiats, Citroens, etc. - like the ones on the handle;
Passing at speeds up to 50 km/h is not accepted. Pinch and squeeze too. If you turn on the turn signal on the highway, you can stop without looking in the mirror - they will definitely let you in;
If you are driving on the main road, the one driving on the secondary road will brake at the VERY LAST moment. He will let you through, we will smile, but at first it is very strange and unusual;
Many old cars are in good condition. A couple of times we tried to buy something like a W210 or E39... well, they are only good from the outside, even taking into account the price of 4-6 thousand euros, the body yes, but years are years and runs of 300-500 thousand km. .. In the end, we settled on a car with a guarantee. By the way, even 20-year-old cars here offer a warranty from 1 month to 1 year (this is if you buy it from a dealer). But you get to good things quickly; there are no 20-year-old cars with low mileage yet));
Typical ad:
Now to the roads:
Free roads are much more beautiful and interesting. They pass through cities, beaches, mountains, fields, cafes, restaurants. As tourists, we used to often travel only on toll roads. Very in vain;
Free roads are noticeably slower. Constant speed limits of 50-70 km/h, traffic lights at pedestrian crossings, constant circles (in Spain they really love them. At first you don’t understand, but we’re already into it);
A nuance, if you want to stop at a store, cafe, or gas station that you see on the horizon, you need to go to the backup 300-500 meters away. Extremely unusual;
Toll roads almost always have a limit of 120 km/h, but people go under 200 km/h. Most cars cruise at 125-130 km/h. There are few cameras. The fines are large. Police on the roads are rare. But this is Catalonia and not the season. In the south, people say that not everything is so happy.
Toll roads cost money. When we traveled from Barcelona to Alicante - this is 550-600 km, in total we paid more than 50 euros. Although everything usually costs 1-2 euros.
Pay attention to the 3+ button. If there are three or more people inside the car, then you need to press. Then they will check using the cameras to see if there were 3 or more people in the car and give a discount (it will be returned to the card).
If you go to Andorra, there is a tunnel there, 5 kilometers long, costs 19 euros, passes in 3 minutes. On the way back we tried to take the free route. As a result, we drove around for 2.5 hours along a mountain serpentine road at a speed of 30-40 km/h (it was simply impossible to go faster, because there were constant turns, ascents and descents). But very pretty.
The Kingdom of Spain amazes with the beauty of its unique architectural monuments, which, together with colorful traditions, ancient history and beautiful landscapes, will not leave any tourist indifferent. P. Picasso, S. Dali, A. Gaudi and other famous creators left a huge cultural heritage, which annually attracts travelers from all over the world to Spain. When planning a trip to this wonderful country by private car, do not forget that parking in Spain has its own characteristics, without which you can ruin your vacation.
Parking options
In Spain, parking is regulated by local authorities according to legislation set by the government. Various types of signs and special road markings are used to indicate parking restrictions.
There are above-ground and underground parking spaces. Underground parking is usually paid. Ground ones can be either paid or free - they differ in the colors of the road markings.
Parking rules in Spain
As in other countries, in Spain road signs indicating that parking is permitted are rectangular or square in shape, with a white border and the letter “P”.
Parking rules vary depending on the day of the week, time of day or specific week of the month - all this information is indicated on the signs.
If you are traveling in a rented car, you can find the answer to your basic questions in the article: ““.
In some places you must have a permit to park during working hours, called Horas laborables.
In areas marked with a blue or blue line of road markings - zona azul, there are ticket terminals - expendedores de tickets para estacionamiento. Often, next to such markings there is a sign with the image of a hand lowering a coin. When using such parking, the driver is required to buy a ticket and place it under the windshield of the car.
Payment occurs immediately after parking the car. The maximum parking time at one time does not exceed two hours. On weekends and holidays This type of parking is usually free.
In some cities, zona azul parking lots operate under the Ora Zona system. In this case, parking tickets can be purchased at tobacco kiosks and other retail outlets. They give you the right to park for 30, 60 or 90 minutes.
In coastal areas, such as the Costa Brava, parking in the blue zone is free in winter, but in summer there is a charge for longer periods than usual.
There are free parking spaces on the streets of Burgas, Murcia, Salamanca and other popular tourist cities in Spain. If the road markings are white or completely absent, this means that parking is permitted.
A parking zone marked on the road with a yellow line means that parking is prohibited.
A green zona verde or orange zona naranja road marking line indicates the possibility of parking for persons with a special permit or local residents from nearby houses. This is a subtype of the blue parking zone, but in this case residents have advantages over city guests.
Next to such a zone there is a sign with inscriptions that should be read carefully.
A sign that reads “Area Preferent” allows a vehicle to stop for a maximum of two hours. For residents of an area where such parking is available, the cost will be several times lower, while others will have to pay the full amount.
On the sign where it says “Area Preferent”, you also need to look at what hours and on what days you need to pay, and when this is not necessary.
"Area Resident" allows parking exclusively to residents of the area. Their cars have stickers on the windshield of a specific color assigned to a given area. If you are not a resident, then leaving your car there is prohibited.
Sometimes a wheelchair sign may be drawn along with the blue or yellow lines. It indicates the possibility of parking for cars of people with disabilities.
There are also unloading zones where parking is only permitted for unloading and loading for a maximum of 30 minutes. These zones are free and are marked with yellow diagonal lines on the asphalt.
In many cities, private driveways and garage doors have a sign that reads "Prohibido estacionar." Parking in front of this sign is often prohibited. 
In addition, parking is always prohibited in places where there are yellow markings or a solid yellow line on the asphalt, and there is a sign with a crossed out letter E nearby, as well as on:
- highways or toll roads;
- in places where the vehicle blocks the visibility or passage of other vehicles;
- roads intended for cyclists or public transport;
- pedestrian crossings;
- in loading and unloading areas (more than 30 minutes);
- in front of the "Vado Permanente" sign;
- in areas of entry and exit of transport;
- taxi ranks.
You can also leave your car in parking lots in shopping centers or next to the store. As a rule, these are paid parking lots, but in some cases there is no charge. For example, large shopping centers have free afternoon hours, which are extended by purchasing goods in the store for a certain amount. 
In the underground parking lot located next to the shops, conditions are different. It is available to customers absolutely free of charge, provided they make purchases in the store. To take advantage of this offer, you must present your parking receipt at the checkout counter.
Underground paid parking "Parking Publico" is located in commercial and residential buildings and usually occupies several floors (for example, like a multi-storey car park in Malaga). There is a sign at the entrance indicating the number of available seats. The inscription “libre” means that there are free seats, and “ocupado” means that there are no seats.
Parking maps in Spain
Generally, on-street parking in the central areas of major tourist cities or near famous landmarks, such as the Alhambra in Granada, is very limited.
Therefore, to find a parking space, it is better to use special Internet services such as Car Parking Europe or Parkopedia. An interactive map with the exact addresses of parking lots and their tariffs is also available there.
Free parking spaces in big cities are mostly located on the outskirts and are often not marked on maps.
For example, it is almost impossible to find free parking in Barcelona on the map. On the popular Parclick service you will see more than 200 parking lots, but all of them will be paid.
Take a sociological survey!
Cost of parking in big cities
The average cost of parking in the capital of Spain will cost 1.5-3 euros per hour, and the price for 24 hours will be 25 euros and more.
In Valencia, an hour of parking costs 2-3.5 euros, while the cost per day in some parking lots within the city does not exceed 8 euros, while the average price per day in the central part of the city reaches 17-25 euros.
In Seville, an hour of parking costs 1-2 euros. There are also several parking lots where the first hour of parking is free. They will charge an average of 18-20 euros per day.
In the central part of Bilbao, parking price per hour is 2-3 euros, and per day - 16-18 euros.
In Barcelona, an hour of parking costs on average 2-4 euros, and a day - 26-35 euros.
Some car parks, such as the private car park network SABA, offer customers passes for a certain number of days or months. 
Their purchase will allow you to save 80% or more per month, if you take into account the daily cost of parking.
In this case, the private parking space will be designated “plaza reservada” or “reservado”, and no one else will be able to park there.
How to pay for parking
Payment parking space in street parking occurs at parking meters, which are located along the parking area. Cash and credit cards are accepted for payment.
The payment system is simple: select the required amount of time, insert a card or throw coins and press the payment button. Sometimes the machines do not provide change, so when using cash you should take care of changing it in advance.
The receipt will indicate until what time you can leave the car. If the paid interval includes free hours, they will be automatically added and taken into account in the time marked on the receipt.
In the underground parking lot at the entrance in front of the barrier, a ticket is taken from a machine. Payment occurs upon return to the car. You need to insert the coupon into the payment terminal, then the amount to pay will be displayed. After this, the terminal will issue a ticket, which is presented at the exit from the parking lot.
A sample parking ticket includes the following information:
- date of validity;
- time of leaving the parking lot;
- cost per used parking space;
- payment time;
- coupon number.
Fines
Fines for illegal parking in Spain have increased significantly in recent years. A minor violation of the rules results in a penalty of 100 euros or more (or 20% less for prompt payment).
If the vehicle is towed, an additional towing fee of approximately €100 will apply.
Conclusion
Tourists in Spain who do not know parking rules may encounter difficulties throughout their holiday. Understanding a few basic rules will help you avoid these problems: when parking, you should always pay attention to the road markings and their color along the side of the road, as well as the inscriptions of the signs.
Free parking is available on the outskirts of medium-sized cities, while in large cities such as Madrid and Barcelona they are practically non-existent, so it is better to use paid parking there.
Parking in Spain: Video