Spain

Spain is much more than a package holiday destination. With a very diverse range of landscapes, cultures and languages, Spain is defiantly a place to stop and experience what is going on around you.

Regions

Articles

Recommended Spain

  • Barcelona
  • Tapas
  • San Sebastian
  • Pamplona
  • Santiago de Compostela

Campsites and free camping in Spain

Campsites are found in all popular coastal regions, and many inland areas. Free camping is possible in many areas. Read more.

Vehicle ferries to and from Spain

There are many ferries to chose from when getting a vehicle to and from Spain. See the ferry section.

Driving in Spain

Spain has the second highest accident rate in western Europe, but with care you should have no problems. Read more.

Crime

Spain is a relatively safe and crime-free country. Vehicle break-ins are amongst the biggest problems, so always secure your vehicle, and leave nothing on display. Sensible parking can also reduce you risk of a break-in.

Costs in Spain

Spain is cheaper than France, but not as cheap as Portugal. Fuel is the cheapest of the western countries. Food is good value.

Information

CurrencyEuro (€)
Capital cityMadrid
Time zone+1hr GMT
ReligionCatholic and Muslim
Emergency numbersGeneral emergency 112
Police 092
Local police 091
International operator 1008
Electricity220v continental
Border crossingsSpain is a Schengen state

 

Geography

Spain is the second largest country in western Europe, after France. Spain is the second most mountainous country in Europe. The north of Spain is endless mountains, as the Pyrenees become the Picos de Europe mountains. These landscapes are stunning, and well worth visiting. The Atlantic ocean has left a rugged and beautiful coast line, with some of the best surfing in Europe.
The south and eastern coasts of Spain are lapped by the warm and calm Mediterranean ocean. A world apart from the northern shores.
Inland the capital of Madrid, high on its perch, is boiling in summer and freezing in winter.

Spanish food and drink

Spain is home to pallea and the wonderful experience of tapas. Seafood is cheap and excellent. Wine and beers are good. Read more.

Spanish languages

Almost everywhere in Spain the Castillian language, what we know as Spanish, is spoken (Castellano or Espanol in Spanish). It is spoken at breakneck speed. Knowing some will help you out, as English is not so widely spoken in Spain as it is in France and Portugal.

Below is a guide to the languages spoken in Spain. Do not consider Catalan and Galego to be dialects of Castillian (or Spanish), they are all considered seperate languages.

LanguageRegionComments
CastillianCentral Spain, and generally all over SpainWhat we know as the “Spanish” language. Also spoken in South America.
CatalanCatalunya (Barcelona) and The Balerica Islands.A distinct language, but has similarities to Castilian and French. Is difficult to understand.
Basque (Euskara)Basque (Euskadi)Unlike any other language. Signs are written with a distinct font.
GalegoGaliciaSounds like a combination of Catalan and Portugese
BabelAsturiasA minority langague

Health

Health care is excellent and generally free, but European residents need to get a E-111 card from your home country. In towns at least one pharmacy will be ‘on-call’ and open around the clock. Manned by highly trained staff, they can be a good first of call as many prescription drugs (like antibiotics) can be bought over the counter after a consultation. No drugs, even ibuprofen, are available from supermarkets, only the pharmacy.

Opening hours

Spain’s traditional long lunches, and in some places, siestas, are still common. General opening hours are 10:00 – 14:00 and 17:00 – 20:00, Monday to Saturday. Although these hours can vary widely from place to place. Banks generally open at 08:30 and large supermarkets will open all day. If you need to do something important in town, go early or late in the day, or you can be kicking your heals waiting for shops to open. Most smaller shops will shut at midday on Saturday and all day on Sunday.

Surfing in Spain

Spain has a massive variety of breaks, big swell, and warm weather. The most hyped waves include Mundaka and Rodilles. See surfing in Spain.

Related Web Sites

  1. BBC casting Vanlife
    Now Casting Worldwide looking for adventurers who are joining the growing movement and living the vanlife If you or someone you know is living out of their van we would like to interview them asap for a BBC-produced true documentary series. Please complete the form below and a casting director will be in touch. Feel free to email with any questions or problems [email protected]
    https://vanlife.castingcrane.com

    Reply

  2. motorhomes
    We are looking to buy a motorhome, with end bed, large fridge,
    seperate shower from the loo, in same compartment of course, and side seating opposite the dinette. If you have a ‘van you wish to sell with all those facilites, we are ready with cash to buy. Will
    pay up to €30,000 for one in good condition, year 2000 plus, and not too high mileage. We are seasoned caravanners so know exactly what we are looking for.
    Please contact us if you are a serious seller as we are serious
    buyers. Thank you.

    Reply

  3. Buy a camper in Spain
    Looking to buy a camper in Spain preferably 4 berth on Spanish plates.Up to 10.000 euros. Can anyone out there help please Thank you Herbert.

    Reply

  4. free camping motor home sitges
    Does any one know of sites free or very low costs close to the center of Sitges spain .garages etc for small transit motor home

    thanks
    peter

    Reply

    1. Im in Sitges right now.
      I’m

      Im in Sitges right now.
      I’m staying at the Camping Sitges campsite. For 1 person it’s €15 per night.
      Today I saw several motorhomes camping on the seafront.
      It’s a metered parking area, however these vans where near the roadabout at the very southern end of the beachfront, next to the golf course hotel. I think there mustn’t be meters there.

      Reply

  5. NOW OPEN! CAMPERSTOP CAÑAVERAL, Cáceres province, Extremadura
    NOW OPEN !
    CAMPER STOP CAÑAVERAL™
    42,5 km north of Cáceres city, or 41 km south of Plasencia city, Cáceres province, Northern Extremadura.
    Near the E-803 / A66 motorway, take off ramp 508.
    GPS: 39º46’59 87”N – 6º23’46.65” W

    Cañaveral, April 23, 2011.
    WELCOME!
    You’ll see the village of Cañaveral nestled in the foothills from the motorway A-66 / E803, 42,5 kms North of Cáceres city (or 41 kms South of Plasencia city). -Take off ramp 508 and follow the signs to Cañaveral village, under 1 km.
    -Stop at the PETRONOR petrol station: ALWAYS OPEN from 06:30 – 23:00 hours, ask for CAMPER STOP info “inglés”, please register with your name and e-mail address, sothat we may keep you informed of developments at this new facility.
    Introductory tariff, valid until May 15th, 2011: unit price: €.3 / 24 hrs, €.5 /48 hrs. Longer stays at reduced tariff! Our facility only accepts RV campervans.
    -To CAMPER STOP: Drive on through the village on the main road N630. At the end of the village, follow sign CAMPER STOP>, turning sharply right before green-painted communal Sportscenter + municipal swimming pool. Park on large former football field behind the Sportscenter; please leave the access road and heliport clear! There is lots of space for up to 100 RVs, free nature all around, clean air, quiet.
    -24 hour constant safety controls by friendly municipal police staff.
    -Fresh water gratis at the petrol station, soon fresh water- and electricity shall be installed at Camper Stop Cañaveral. For now you’ll find a fresh water drinking fountain in the small park at the entrance of the sports complex. From there you may also fill up your water tank, if you have the necessaries for this on board.
    -N.B. The as yet lacking facility for discharging and flushing chemical toilet or black water tank shall be installed shortly elsewhere in the village.
    -Our village (1,600 inhabitants) offers you everything you might need, from banks, cash-points, shops, to village supermarkets, bars, restaurants, vehicle workshop; from Cañaveral there is a direct train connection to Cáceres, Plasencia, Madrid, and even Lissabon.
    -We are the ideal sally point for visiting the many beautiful spots in the province. All relevant tourist info is freely available.
    -Please direct all your questions in English to:

    Manager Hendrik/Enrique: sms to (0034)627 678 027, or: [email protected]
    I’ll thankfully receive your e-mails with your points of view and constructive critique. Cañaveral´s Mayor Emilio Durán and his staff, all villagers and I are determined to make your stay with us an enjoyable one!
    Please do help us with your suggestions, and do inform your camper friends and -acquaintances about our facility, for which we offer you our warmest thanks! ****

    Reply

    1. christopher.warburton May 19, 2012 at 12:43 pm

      holyday tour
      hi can you send me details of your site as i will be traveling from santandar to visit you

      Reply

  6. Campervan hire in the balaerics/and Italy
    I would love to explore the natural beauty of either of these continents. Ideally at my own pace and choice.
    I would like to know if there are places that rent campers, at a very reasonable price in either Menorca, Majorca or the Almafi Coast down to Sicily of Italy.

    Any Ideas where I can start looking?

    I have tried searches on the web but it results in nothing.

    Please Help.

    Thanks.

    Reply

  7. Any waste water dumping stations in Western, S.W. Spain?
    We plan to drive through Spain from Western France, near Pyrenees, going to the Algarve.
    However, we cannot find any adequate waste water dumping sites anywhere along the A-66 route: From San Sebastian, to Burgos, to Valladolid, to Salamanca, to Caceres, to Sevilla. Then West to Huelva and then to Algarve. We know there is a waste water dumping site just inside Portugal, but what about in Spain?

    Any help would be very much appreciated!
    Best regards,
    Antoinette

    Reply

  8. Campervan hire
    Where can I hire a 2 berth campervan from in either Spain or Southern France?

    Kind regards,

    Bree

    Reply

    1. Hi,
      these are on special for

      Hi,

      these are on special for return in march

      http://www.wickedcampers.co.uk/bookings-a-quotes/specials.html

      jamie

      Reply

  9. Where can we buy a camper van in Spain?
    would love to buy one, travel and sell it again but there is very little info about it

    Reply

    1. Hi Daniel
      Used vehicles are

      Hi Daniel

      Used vehicles are generally quite expensive in Spain, as there are limited used vehicles, as most are new.
      You’ll also probably need to know some Spanish to get a smooth transaction.

      It’s generally better to buy in the UK or Germany, where prices are cheaper. In the UK vehicles are right-hand-drive, which isn’t so good for touring around Europe.
      You’re more likely to find an English speaking seller in Germany. Also consider France, where used prices can be good.

      Where are you travelling from?

      Reply

    2. buying second hand motorhome in spain
      I have lived in spain for over 8 years now & still have the motorhome we came over in now on spanish plates. Where I store my motorhome always has caravans & motorhomes for sale.If more information is required notify me at this E-Mail address & I will try to help you as much as possible.

      Reply

      1. motorhomes
        hi,
        I hope you can help us. We want to but a nice motorhome, not too small or large, in Spain. We live near Granada and cannot seem to find anything.
        Regards,
        Tess and John.

        Reply

      2. Buy or register motorhome in Spain
        Hi
        Can anybody help with this. I want to buy a UK lhd motorhome and register it in Spain, can you tell me how much is the cost to register and (I know its not easy) but just how hard is it to do MH would be about £15,000. I own property in Spain (I know thats a must).

        Thanks for any help,

        Reply

      3. Motorhomes
        Hi Thank you for your help, if you see a motorhome for sale with shower, wc, hob etc, 4 berth around the price of 2,500-3,000euros, please contact me. many thanks

        Reply

      4. motorhome in spain
        Hi I know this post is from 3 years ago but i was reading this forum today 6-6-2013 as I want to buy a motorhome in Spain.
        Any information or help and advice you have to offer will be very much appreciated.

        Many thanks

        Reply

      5. storage
        we are looking for short and long term storage for our small motorhome near malaga. any help or contacts would be much appreciated

        Reply

      6. storage
        we are looking for short and long term storage for our small motorhome near malaga. any help or contacts would be much appreciated

        Reply

      7. buying a camper van in Spain
        Hi there
        We want to buy a camper van in Spain in June 2015. We will be driving to Italy. Is it better to buy in France? Would welcome.amy advice.

        Reply

    3. motorhome
      We have a 32ft motorhome that we wish to sell. seperate master bedroom. seperate shower room and toilet. sleeps 6 people . send us an email for more details we are in |Murcia Spain

      Reply

      1. hi do you still have the
        hi do you still have the van?could you send me any info and pictures thanks

        Reply

      2. motorhome
        hi, is your motorhome still available,
        many thanks

        Reply

      3. motorhome
        why dont you say the make of it, would help, or is it a secret. We have been looking for two years for an end bed, large fridge, separate shower from the loo inside, and dinette with seating at the side. If yours if anything like that we are interested.
        Thanks.

        Reply

  10. Andaluz
    Andaluz is also a separate language, but the only reason it was never credited as being one by the majority of Spain was because as a poor province, they could never muster enough money to apply to have the language given official status.

    It is another language, not just “lazy Spanish” …

    Reply

    1. Andaluz is NOT a separate language within Spain.
      I do not agree with you about Andaluz being a separate language. It uses a different way of pronouncing words. Example: Pasado in Castellano (true Spanish) is pronounced “pasao” in Andaluz.

      Reply

  11. Motorhome holidays in Spain
    Having moved here 3 years ago in my motorhome, I thoroughly recommend touring Spain inside a lovely house, be it permanent or temporary. There are no strict rules on having to stay on campsites, and if your motorhome has gas, there’s no reason why you should stay on a campsite. I live near Andalucia’s largest lake and you can park up next to it for the day for stunning views, swimming if you like too!

    Oh, and if you want a motorhome to rent, let me know, as I have one of those too!

    Amanda[at]casa-la-celada[dot]com

    Reply

    1. What about waste water dumping, Amanda?
      What is it with the Spanish, for not putting in waste water dumping stations for RV vehicles? How do you get around this problem, Amanda?

      Reply

    2. Camper van hire
      Hi,
      My friend and I are coming to Spain on the 4th of July and want to hire a van. Are u still over there and do u have any vans available? Thanks

      Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *