7 things to know before road tripping across Spain
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Here's how to pull off the ultimate Spanish road trip.
Car hire
A road trip allows you to discover Spain at your own pace.
You'll find the top car rental companies at transport hubs, airports and ferry terminals. They range from budget-friendly Go Mobility to Sixt, with luxury labels including Audi, BMW and Range Rover. If your itinerary is one-way, you'll need the unlimited kilometres package to allow for photo stops and scenic detours.
Select the best insurance cover option, with motorway tolls included. Budget for the additional security deposit (around $1000) and remember it can take a few weeks for the company to release funds back to your credit card.
Driving rules and distances
The Nansa Valley in Cantabria is a driver's paradise.
While Spaniards drive on the opposite side of the road to Australians, basic road rules (and common sense) apply. The motorways are fast, smooth and not-so-friendly. With a cruising speed limit of 120km per hour, locals don't tend to give way to merging traffic, so slow down and cross lanes from behind. Same advice for roundabouts. Give way to the left and stay in the outside lane.
If you're not stopping, allow at least a full day to drive from east to west. If you're planning to explore the country's full perimeter, you'll need about two weeks to cover the approximately 3000km journey.
Best pit stop
Look for this sign and pull over immediately.
Just north of Madrid on the E-90 highway is one of the best roadside restaurants in Spain, 103 Horno De Asar. This 140-year-old provedore, cheese bar and patisserie is open daily and the owner tells us the Terreznos el Alma pork dish is his best seller. 'It's traditional Rioja port crackling. We grill the meat gently, then fire up the skin so the crackling puffs right up.'
Best camping
San Sebastian is within easy reach from Camping Igara.
Gran Camping Zarautz in Basque country tops our camping list for its views of the Bay of Biscay. The year-round campsite has safari tents, hostel accommodation and campervan sites. The onsite restaurant, balcony bar and barbecue get full points, as do the wellness retreat, sauna, laundry and playground. grancampingzarautz.com
Another Basque gem is Camping Igara close to San Sebastian, home to glamping, cabins, a restaurant, social lounge, solarium and barbecues. During peak season the pool and bar are a lively community social hub and there's a shuttle bus into town.
If winging it, download the Park4Night app which has an interactive map that pings camping locations as you cruise around.
Best surf beaches
Mundaka's famed left hand barrel.
Some of Spain's best surfing is in Basque country. Start at Zarautz on the N-634 highway. It's a charming town with the longest beach (2.5km) in the region. An hour down the highway is Mundaka, known for its classic left-hand barrel. This charming town hosts an annual surfing circuit and surfing film festivals. Board rentals are available in town from $A24 per hour.
Best food
The Flysch cliffs near San Sebastian supply its restaurants with impeccable seafood.
With the most Michelin-starred restaurants per capita in Spain, San Sebastian gets full marks from food lovers. For an unforgettable a la carte experience head to Arzak, Akelarre or Martin Berasategui's eponymous restaurant with its stunning views of the Gipuzkoa mountain range.
For something more chilled, try La Cepa de Bernardo in the Old Quarter. This 100-year-old bar has some of the best pintxos (skewered bites) in town and plates of Iberian cured prosciutto, potato omelette and octopus caught off the spectacular local Flysch rock formations.
Weekend drives
Catalonia in northeastern Spain is home to the Costa Brava, a must-visit for its photogenic villages and gorgeous beaches. But for a weekend of art and culture take the 100km route known as the 'Dalí Triangle' for its connection to surrealist artist Salvador Dalí. Three towns make up the triangle and are home to off-beat museums dedicated to his life and works.
Take the E-15 motorway from Barcelona to start the tour at the Dalí Theatre-Museum in Figueres. Then drive for about an hour through medieval towns to Portlligat for the Salvador Dalí House. The final stop is the Gala Dalí Castle in Pubol. The C-260 leg between Portlligat and Pubol gets overcrowded so avoid the coastline during peak season.
Calella de Palafrugell on Catalonia's Costa Brava.
For another short drive, head south to Málaga's 60km 'Raisin Route' linking whitewashed Moorish towns in an area known for its prosperous raisin production in the 19th century. Start at Moclinejo to learn more about the local wine, Muscatel, and complete the trip in the hills at Totalán.
Originally published as 7 things to know before road tripping across Spain
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