How To Reach Spain

Spain is a European country that has been at the centre of the crusades and been the powerhouse of Christendom 1500 years ago, fought battles and danced the flamenco, played amazing football and also fired the great Inquisition. Today Spain is a swoon-worthy mix of the old and the new, its grand palaces and churches, cobble-stone streets and Victorian architecture waiting to mesmerise tourists. If you are already sold and smitten, then start planning your trip to this powerhouse of history and culture. Here’s a guide to tell you how to reach Spain.

Flying to Spain is the best way to reach the country from India. The country has three main international airports you can choose from, depending on your holiday destination - Barcelona International Airport, Madrid International Airport and Malaga International Airport. The cities of Mumbai and Delhi have regular flights to Spain that are around 12 hours long and have one or two stop-overs. You will need to apply for the Spanish Visa well in advance of your traveling dates.

Spain is surrounded by countries like France, Andorra and Portugal. So you can take a road journey into Spain from any of these countries. The roads and highways are for the most part well paved and maintained, making for a smooth clear drive. You can hire a car with a chauffeur or if you have an international driving licence then you can choose to drive yourself. Note that the tolls and highway taxes are a little expensive in Spain so be prepared, and also check for your routes as some roads are unsafe for drive at night.

You cannot travel to Spain by train from India but you sure can do that from anywhere in Europe. The Eurail trains make sure that your train journey to Spain is a memorable one. Other private rail networks are also available from countries like France, England and Italy. All the European Union countries are connected to Spain via trains and make for scenic inroads into this country. If you are doing a Europe tour then make sure you catch a train instead of a flight to Spain.

The sea routes to Spain are very well used by the cruise ships and ferry services. You have many luxury cruises traveling from Italy, France, UK, Morocco and Algeria to the Spanish coast of Barcelona. For Spanish islands, you can use ferries to go hopping between the mainland and others like Ibiza, Canary etc.

In Spain, the best way to travel long distances is to take the high-speed train, also known as the Alta Velocidad or AVE. These trains are fast, convenient and easy on the pocket compared to road (high tolls and highway taxes) or air. They run between all major cities and are the most preferred way to go cross-country. You can surprisingly cover the distance of 500 km from Madrid to Barcelona in less than 3 hours. For getting around in a city, you should take the local transport like buses, metro and night buses. Ubers are also now available in cities like Barcelona and Madrid.