Getting Around Spain

As the fourth largest country in Europe, Spain’s landscape is vast. But with 59 airports and a reliable network of high-speed trains, the country’s nearly 200,000 square miles are ready for exploration.

Most travelers will fly into either the country’s capital city, Madrid, or Barcelona in the heart of Catalonia. Short flights are the most convenient mode of travel between major cities, such as from Madrid to Barcelona or Barcelona to Seville. Flying is also the best option for reaching the Canary Islands, Ceuta, and Melilla.

For cities and destinations without airports, Spain’s high-speed AVE trains are convenient, fast, comfortable, and reliable. For the AVE trains, tickets should be booked in advance as popular trains do sell out and seat selection is available online.

Driving around Spain is another convenient option as most cities are connected by highways, which include an A or E in the road number. Road numbers that include an AP are toll roads (make sure to have cash or a credit card on you) and sometimes have less traffic. Remember that non-EU driver’s license holders must obtain an International Driver’s Permit in order to drive in Spain. Other transport options include private transfers, ferries, and busses.
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How to Get to Mallorca

Mallorca—the largest of the scenic Balearic Islands—sits off of Spain's Costa Blanca (White Coast). Because it’s an island, getting to Mallorca is not as straightforward as... read more

How to Get to Ibiza

Ibiza—one of the scenic Balearic Islands—sits off of Spain's Costa Blanca (White Coast). Because it's an island, getting to Ibiza is not as straightforward as driving your car.... read more

Map of How to Get from Seville to Ronda
How to Get from Seville to Ronda

Ronda, the city set in the mountainous region of Málaga, is a quick 79 miles (127 km) from Seville, the Andalusian city that's famous for flamenco dancing. The quickest way to... read more

Map of How to Get From Barcelona to Begur
How to Get From Barcelona to Begur

The distance between Barcelona and the beach town of Begur, located on the Costa Brava, is 66 miles (106 km). The easiest and quickest way to make the trip is by car (1 hour and... read more

How to Get to the Costa Brava

Costa Brava is Spain’s stretch of coastline that starts north of Barcelona and ends on the border with France. It's known for impeccable scenery and picturesque coastal... read more

Menorca
Map of How to Get from Ibiza to Menorca
How to Get from Ibiza to Menorca

The Balearic Islands of Ibiza and Menorca are approximately 149 miles (240 km) apart, with the island of Mallorca sitting almost directly between them. The quickest way to get... read more

How to Get to the Spanish Riviera

The Spanish Riviera is well-connected to the rest of Spain, especially other major cities like Madrid, Barcelona, and Bilbao. Direct flights are available from all three cities,... read more

Map of How to Get from Girona to Cadaqués
How to Get from Girona to Cadaqués

The distance between two destinations in Spain’s Catalonia region, the medieval city of Girona and the seaside town of Cadaqués, located on the region’s Costa Brava, is 32 miles... read more

Map of How to Get from Granada to Málaga
How to Get from Granada to Málaga

The distance from Granada in western Andalusia to the port city of Málaga on the Costa del Sol is about 56 miles (90 km). The most comfortable way to get from Granada to Málaga... read more

Map of How to Get from Mallorca to Ibiza
How to Get from Mallorca to Ibiza

Mallorca, the largest of Spain’s Balearic Islands, is approximately 122 miles (196 km) from the neighboring island of Ibiza. Their proximity makes it relatively easy to travel... read more

Ronda, Spain
Map of How to Get from Málaga to Ronda
How to Get from Málaga to Ronda

The distance from Málaga on the Costa del Sol to the scenic mountainside town of Ronda is about 63 miles (102 km). The most comfortable way to get from Málaga to Ronda is by... read more

Map of How to Get to Basque Country
How to Get to Basque Country

Basque Country is one of Northern Spain’s most scenic and popular regions, well-known for its beaches, architecture, and foodie scene. Getting to the region is fairly easy, with... read more

Cádiz
Map of How to Get from Seville to Cádiz
How to Get from Seville to Cádiz

The distance from Seville (Sevilla) in western Andalusia to the port city of Cádiz is about 75 miles (121 km). The most comfortable way to get from Seville to Cádiz is by hiring... read more

A panoramic view of Toledo
Map of How to Get from Madrid to Toledo
How to Get from Madrid to Toledo

The distance from Madrid to the historic city of Toledo is about 45 miles (72 km). The most comfortable way is to hire a private transfer or self-drive directly to Toledo, a... read more

Map of How to Get from Madrid to Valencia
How to Get from Madrid to Valencia

The distance between Madrid and Valencia is 222 miles (357 km). The quickest mode of transportation to get from one city to the other is by plane, a quick one-hour flight. You... read more

Map of How to Get from Ronda to Málaga
How to Get from Ronda to Málaga

The distance from the scenic mountainside town of Ronda to Málaga on the Costa del Sol is about 63 miles (102 km). The most comfortable way to get from Ronda to Málaga is by... read more

Granada, Spain
Map of How to Get from Ronda to Granada
How to Get from Ronda to Granada

The distance between Ronda and Granada in Spain's Andalusia region is 111 miles (179 km). The easiest and fastest way to make the trip is with a rental car or private transfer,... read more

Landscape of La Rioja
Map of How to Get from Madrid to La Rioja
How to Get from Madrid to La Rioja

Madrid, Spain’s capital city, is located about 200 miles (329 km) from the wine region of La Rioja. Getting from one city to the other is relatively easy, with the combination... read more

Ronda, Spain
How to Get from Marbella to Ronda

The distance from Marbella on the Costa del Sol to the scenic mountainside town of Ronda is about 40 miles (63 km). The most comfortable way to get from Málaga to Ronda is by... read more

Map of How to Get from Madrid to Segovia
How to Get from Madrid to Segovia

Segovia is just 60 miles (96 km) north of Madrid, making it a great day trip from Spain’s capital city. The fastest and most convenient way to travel between the two is by... read more

How to Get to La Rioja

La Rioja is one of Spain’s northern provinces, known for its historical and hilly villages, as well as its world-famous wine region. The capital of La Rioja is the city of... read more

Aerial view of La Latina district in Madrid.
Map of How to Get from Málaga to Madrid
How to Get from Málaga to Madrid

The distance from Málaga to Madrid is about 332 miles (535 km). The most comfortable way to get from Málaga to Madrid is by flight, while the cheapest way is by bus. Madrid is a... read more

Map of How to Get from Madrid to Bilbao
How to Get from Madrid to Bilbao

Bilbao—the largest city in Basque Country—is 247 miles (397 km) north of Spain’s capital, Madrid. The two cities are well-connected by bus and train routes, as well as major... read more

Rooftops in Cadiz, Spain
Map of How to Get from Malaga to Cádiz
How to Get from Malaga to Cádiz

The distance from Malaga on the Costa del Sol to the port city of Cádiz is about 145 miles (233 km). The most comfortable way to get between the two cities is by hiring a... read more

Ronda, Spain
Map of How to Get from Cádiz to Ronda
How to Get from Cádiz to Ronda

Ronda, a city set in the mountainous region of Málaga, is 90 miles (144 km) from Cádiz, the Andalusian hub—and one of the world's oldest cities. The quickest way to make this... read more

Seville, Spain
Map of How to Get from Cádiz to Seville
How to Get from Cádiz to Seville

The distance from the port city of Cádiz to Seville (Sevilla) in western Andalusia is about 75 miles (121 km). The most comfortable way to get from Cádiz to Seville is by hiring... read more

Map of How to Get from Madrid to Granada
How to Get from Madrid to Granada

Madrid and Granada are separated by 260 miles (418 km), and as these two destinations are fairly close, there are many convenient ways to make the journey, but the best option... read more

Map of How to Get from Bilbao to La Rioja
How to Get from Bilbao to La Rioja

The distance from Bilbao, a major port city in the Basque Country of Spain, and the renowned wine province of La Rioja is 60-70 miles (97-112 km) depending on where you plan to... read more

A beach on the Costa del Sol (Photo courtesy of Pixabay)
How to Get to the Costa del Sol

The Costa del Sol is a popular destination for sun lovers in Spain. Famous for its hot summers and white-sand beaches, this section of Spain’s southernmost coast is undoubtedly... read more

Cádiz, Spain
Map of How to Get from Ronda to Cádiz
How to Get from Ronda to Cádiz

Ronda is a beautiful cliff-stop city set in the mountainous region of Málaga. It's just about 90 miles (144 km) from Cádiz, a gorgeous seaside hub and one of Europe's oldest... read more

Map of How to Get from Madrid to Córdoba
How to Get from Madrid to Córdoba

The distance between Spain’s capital, Madrid, and the ancient Andalusian city of Córdoba is 183 miles (295 km), traveling south. The easiest and fastest way to make the trip is... read more

Plaza de Espana in Seville (Photo courtesy of Dalia Goldberg)
Map of How to Get from Toledo to Seville
How to Get from Toledo to Seville

The distance from Toledo to the Andalusian city of Seville is about 307 miles (494 km). You have the option of going to Madrid by bus, car, or private transfer, and then taking... read more

How to Get to Toledo

Toledo is an ancient city, set just southwest of Madrid and near one of the country’s largest wine regions—La Mancha. Getting to the city is fairly easy. It’s well-connected... read more

Map of How to Get from Valencia to Córdoba
How to Get from Valencia to Córdoba

The distance between two of Spain’s greatest cities—Valencia and Córdoba—is 261 miles (421 km), traveling from Mediterranean coast of the country to the heart of Andalusia. The... read more

Map of How to Get from Bilbao to Pamplona
How to Get from Bilbao to Pamplona

Pamplona is just 96 miles (155 km) from Bilbao, making it a great day or overnight trip from Basque Country. The fastest and most convenient way to travel between the two is by... read more

How to Get to Costa de la Luz

Costa de la Luz is Spain’s scenic southwestern coastline on the Atlantic Ocean, known for some of the country’s longest and sandiest beaches. The biggest city on the coast is... read more

Aerial view of Malaga Harbor (Photo courtesy of Pexels)
Map of How to Get from Córdoba to Malaga
How to Get from Córdoba to Malaga

The distance from the historic city of Córdoba to Malaga on the Costa del Sol is about 107 miles (172 km). The most comfortable way to get from Córdoba to Malaga is hiring a... read more

Map of How to Get from Madrid to Seville
How to Get from Madrid to Seville

Madrid and Seville are 334 miles (537 km) apart, and the best way to make the trip is by a direct flight, which will take just about one hour. If you don't mind an extra hour... read more

Biblao, Spain
Map of How to Get from La Rioja to Bilbao
How to Get from La Rioja to Bilbao

The distance from the La Rioja wine region to Bilbao, a major port city in the Basque Country of Spain, is about 60 to 70 miles (97 to 112 km), depending on your starting point.... read more

Redondela
Map of How to Get from Vigo to Redondela
How to Get from Vigo to Redondela

Spain’s northern cities of Vigo and Redondela, both part of the province of Galicia, are approximately 8 miles (14 km) apart. Vigo is located on the northwest coast, next to the... read more