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Good to know
- Nearest airport
- Josep Tarradellas Airport Barcelona-El Prat (BCN)
- To city centre
- 13 km
- Centre access
- Low-emission zone
- Parking in the centre
- Paid zones
- Region
- Catalonia
- Main roads
- AP-7, C-32, C-31, the B-20 ring road
- Population
- 1,731,649
- City IATA code
- BCN
- Time zone
- Europe/Madrid
- Currency
- EUR
- Driving side
- Right-hand traffic
- Rental offices
- 26
- Rental companies
- 10
Compare car rental in Barcelona
500+ rental companies. Free cancellation on most bookings.
Where to pick up a car in Barcelona
Rental desks by area, with the distance from the city centre.
Train stations
Offices 12Barcelona-Passeig de Gràcia
Barcelona-Estació de França
Further from the centre
Offices 11el Raval
la Nova Esquerra de l'Eixample
la Barceloneta
la Vila Olímpica del Poblenou
el Parc i la Llacuna del Poblenou
Diagonal Mar i el Front Marítim del Poblenou
el Bon Pastor
Almeda
Can Claris
Rental companies in Barcelona
Offices come from open map data — not every one can be booked through our search.
Sixt
- Offices
- 6
Enterprise
- Offices
- 3
Europcar
- Offices
- 2
Alamo
- Offices
- 1
Budget
- Offices
- 1
Centauro
- Offices
- 1
Drivalia
- Offices
- 1
Hertz
- Offices
- 1
National
- Offices
- 1
OK Mobility
- Offices
- 1
Barcelona by car
Barcelona is hemmed in between the sea and the Collserola ridge, and the ring roads carry most of the traffic. A car earns its keep on the coast and in the hills behind the city rather than inside it.
Driving in Barcelona
Barcelona is reached by AP-7, C-32, C-31 and the B-20 ring road. Barcelona has a low-emission zone: check the sticker rules before driving into the centre. Parking in the centre is paid and marked by zone. Streets in the old centre are narrow, a smaller car is easier.
Where to park
Street parking is colour-coded: blue bays are metered and open to anyone, with the ticket left on the dashboard, green bays are reserved for residents, and free white bays do not exist in the centre. Free spaces turn up a few metro stops out, and city car parks operate across Barcelona.
Arriving by road
The B-20 Ronda de Dalt skirts the mountain side and the B-10 Ronda del Litoral follows the coast, while the Ronda del Mig is made up of Travessera de Dalt in the north and Gran Via de Carles III. Diagonal Avenue crosses the grid diagonally, Meridiana Avenue leads to Glòries, and Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes carries traffic east to west through the centre.
From the airport without a car
Barcelona-El Prat Airport has metro line L9 calling at its Airport T1 and Airport T2 stations, while the commuter train departs only from Terminal 2, reached from Terminal 1 by a free shuttle. The Aerobús runs to the city centre, and after late landings the N18 night bus heads for Plaça Catalunya via Plaça d’Espanya.
Popular searches in Barcelona
One click to the results with the filter already set.
Popular districts
- Eixample
- Sants
- Sant Martí
Day trips from Barcelona
- Sitges34 km
- Tarragona83 km
- Girona85 km
Rules of the road in Spain
- Speed limits
- 50 / 90 / 120 km/h
- Alcohol limit
- 0.5 ‰
- Motorway tolls
- motorway tolls paid at the barrier
- Must carry
- a reflective vest and a warning triangle
- Emergency number
- 112
What kind of car do you need?
Typical capacity for the category — the exact model is confirmed by the rental company at booking.
Frequently asked questions
Spain: which side of the road do they drive on?
On the right. Speed limits are posted at the roadside and differ between towns, open roads and motorways.
Which currency will I be charged in?
Prices are usually set in EUR. The rental company sets both the price and the deposit, and shows them before you book.
Can I drive the car into another country?
Often yes within the EU, but never assume it. Crossing a border has to be allowed by the rental company and usually costs extra, so check the terms before you book.
Is there a low-emission zone in Barcelona?
Yes. Barcelona has a low-emission zone covering the centre, and cars have to meet its emission rules to drive in.
Where do I park in the centre of Barcelona?
Parking in the centre is paid and marked by zone.
Do I need an International Driving Permit?
An International Driving Permit is recommended alongside a non-EU licence.
What are the speed limits in Spain?
50 km/h in towns, 90 km/h on open roads, 120 km/h on motorways.
Are the motorways tolled?
Motorways charge at the barrier. Payment is by cash or card.
Where can I pick up a rental car in Barcelona?
At Barcelona-Passeig de Gràcia: OK Mobility and Sixt. At Barcelona-Estació de França: Sixt and an independent office. At Barcelona - Sants: Alamo, Budget, Centauro, Drivalia, Enterprise, 2 other companies and an independent office. In the city centre: Enterprise, Europcar and Sixt. In el Raval: Sixt. In la Nova Esquerra de l'Eixample: Sixt and an independent office. In la Barceloneta: an independent office. Elsewhere in the city: Enterprise, Europcar, Oscar, Sixt and 3 independent offices. More rental desks are at Josep Tarradellas Airport Barcelona-El Prat.