Car Hire Barcelona El Prat Airport

Explore Barcelona and surrounding Catalonia at your own pace, with the freedom that a hire car gives you.

Drive along the C-31, the quickest route into the centre of the city, or pick the B-10 if you want to catch sight of the Mediterranean as you drive.

Barcelona is an easy city to navigate by car – with a one-way system in operation on the central roads to ease congestion. Look out for the Avenida Diagonal, a wide avenue crossing the entire city diagonally until it reaches the sea, and the perfect way to get your bearings.

If you’re heading for the neighbouring coastal town of Sitges, make your way along the C-32 and you should be in the resort in under 30 minutes. For an adventure close to the French border, drive north along the AP-7 to Girona, a charming old town bursting with history. Take the famous Cistercian Route which snakes its way through the surrounding mountains. Look out for the trio of beautiful monasteries dotted along the way.

While driving here, you’ll have to use the right-hand side of the road. If you’re travelling with children, those under the age of 12 can’t sit in the front passenger seat of your hire car. Speed limits will vary depending on the roads you drive on – while in built-up areas such as Barcelona city centre, the maximum is 50 km/h, which increases to 100 km/h on single carriageways and 120 km/h on motorways. You may come across a number of toll motorways on your travels, known locally as Autopistas, which can be paid by card or cash.

Feel the pulse of Barcelona, a magnet for foodies, art lovers and history fans alike. Visit this city and discover a destination unlike any other in Spain – how many places can boast sea, sand, architecture, city life and world-class sport all in one? And if you can tear yourself away from its avant-garde treasures, unlock what the rest of Catalonia has to offer.

The barrios of Barcelona

One of the pleasures of Barcelona is the distinct feel of its different districts – known as ‘barrios’. Spend an afternoon admiring the grand architecture of the Gothic Quarter, be bowled over by the epic detailing of Sagrada Família in Eixample and seek out Gaudí’s treasures at Park Güell in Gràcia. Raval has its gritty parts but is up-and-coming and bursting with creativity, while Born can offer tempting restaurants and tapas bars.

Bask in the Spanish sunshine at the urban beach on Barcelona’s pretty waterfront and rest your feet after a day sightseeing. As the sun melts from the sky, join local revellers for an expedition around the city’s best culinary spots. Sample the finest Catalan dishes as you hop from one tapas bar to the other, feasting on spicy patatas bravas, juicy chorizo and salty anchovies.

You can eat your own way in Barca. One meal might be the food of the past in a place where the floor is littered with napkins – don’t worry, it’s allowed. Another might be molecular gastronomy and a never-to-be-repeated experience at a food theatre such as the Adria brothers’ Tickets.

The peaks of Montserrat

Leave the city behind and breathe in the fresh mountain air at Montserrat. Drive into the heart of this dramatic rocky range for an adventure high in the skies, traversing exciting bends and curves along the way. Stop off to visit Montserrat Monastery - established nearly a millennium ago, this fascinating complex has a myriad of architecture to admire.

Journey further along the mountain road and park up at one of the hiking trails snaking through the area. The lush scenery here provides the perfect backdrop as you settle down for a picnic to drink in the incredible views of Barcelona and beyond.

The modern and the medieval in Girona

Dedicate a day to exploring Girona, a grand city with more than 2,000 years of history to discover. Fall in love with slow pace of life here and leisurely soak up each of its charming sights.

Make a beeline for Girona Cathedral, the imposing building dominating the city’s skyline. Climb more than 80 steps to reach its doors, then wander its vast Gothic nave which, at 23 metres, is the widest in the world.

Ascend back down to the old town and soak up its quaint atmosphere, admiring the patchwork of medieval and Romanesque architecture lining the cobbled streets. This is a city that has been in the hands of the Romans, Muslims, Franks and more, and the patchwork of buildings throughout tells its own rich story. For spectacular vistas of the city, walk slowly along Passeig Arqueològic, the grand walls surrounding Girona.

Whether you’re staying in Barcelona, exploring inland Spain or heading off along the Mediterranean coastline, perhaps to Tarragona or Valencia, car rental from Barcelona Airport will allow you to see all that this unsurpassable area has to offer.