International Travel to Spain
Air
National Airline: IBERIA (IB) (www.iberia.com)
Many low-cost and luxury airlines fly in and out of Spain from/to UK.
There is not Departure Tax applicable in Spain.
Approximate Flight Times
Barcelona to London – 2 hours
Ibiza to London – 2 hours 20 minutes
Madrid to London – 2 hours 20 minutes
Malaga to London – 2 hours 45 minutes
Madrid to Los Angeles – 12 hours 20 minutes
Madrid to New York – 8 hours 35 minutes
Madrid to Sydney – 30 hours
Major Airports
Over 30 international airports in Spain. Major airports include Madrid (MAD), Barcelona (BCN), Alicante (ALC), Malaga (AGP), and Valencia (VLC). Detailed information on airports in Spain can be collected from –
AENA (Aeropuertos Espanoles y Navegacion Aerea),
Calle Arturo Soria 109,
Madrid 28043
Tel: (90) 240 4704 (customer service line)
Website: www.aena.es
Sea
Major ports
Barcelona (www.apb.es), Cadiz (www.puertocadiz.com), Santander (www.puertosantander.es), Valencia (www.valenciaport.com/cultures/es), and Vigo (www.apvigo.com).
Besides, Brittany Ferries (Tel: (08703) 665 333; www.brittany-ferries.com) also operates a service to Santander (on the north coast) from Plymouth twice weekly. There’s another ferry service provider, P&O European Ferries (Tel: (08705) 202020; www.poportsmouth.com), which operates a twice-weekly service from Portsmouth to Bilbao.
Rail
Railways offer the quickest route to Spain from UK through the Channel Tunnel connecting Paris and Spain. Eurostar (Rail Service by Belgium, UK, and France) operates a high-speed train service from London to Paris (2 hours and 40 minutes) and Brussels (2 hours and 20 minutes). For more information, contact –
Eurostar
Tel: (0870) 600 0792 (travel agents) or (08705) 186 186 (public; within the UK) or +44 (1233) 617 575 (public; outside the UK); a £5 booking fee applies to all telephone bookings
Website: www.eurostar.com
Rail Europe
Tel: (08705) 848 848
Website: www.raileurope.co.uk
There’s direct train service, called Estrella, Talgo or Train-Hotel, between Madrid–Paris and Madrid–Lisbon, Barcelona–Paris, Barcelona– Zurich or Milan, Barcelona-Montpelier and Barcelona–Geneva.
Several other projects are underway for better international train connectivity between Spain and other countries. For further information on rail routes, passes, discounts, etc., contact –
Spanish Rail Service
Tel: (020) 7224 0345
Website: www.spanish-rail.co.uk
Road
From UK, you can reach Spain on motorways via France. The major motorways from France to Spain are via Bordeaux or Toulouse to Bilbao (northern Spain), and via Marseille or Toulouse to Barcelona (eastern Spain). Spain is also well connected by road with neighbouring countries. For further information, contact –
Eurolines,
52 Grosvenor Gardens,
London SW1W 0AU
Tel: (08705) 143 219
Website: www.eurolines.com
National Express
9 Ensign Court, 4 Vicarage Road,
Edgbaston,
Birmingham B15 3ES
Tel: 08705 808 080
Website: www.nationalexpress.com
SPAIN
