For information on travel to and within the Canary islands and the Balearic islands see the respective sections
Air
Spain's national airline is IBERIA
(IB). For free advice on air travel from the UK call the Air Travel Advisory Bureau on (0171) 636 5000 (London) or (0161) 832 2000 (Manchester).
Approximate flight times From London to Barcelona is 2 hours; to Ibiza is 2 hours 20 minutes; to Madrid is 2 hours and to Málaga is 2 hours 20 minutes.
From Los Angeles to Madrid is 13 hours.
From New York to Madrid is 7 hours 25 minutes.
From Sydney to Madrid is 29 hours 5 minutes.
International airports Alicante (ALC) (Altet) is 12km (7 miles) southwest of the city. Airport facilities include a duty-free shop bank bureau de change car hire and restaurant. Coach service runs to the city (0700-2335). A taxi service is available to the city. There is a taxi connection between Alicante and Valencia Airport.
Barcelona (BCN) (del Prat) is 13km (8 miles) southwest of the city. Airport facilities include a bank restaurant bar several car hire companies hotel reservation and tourist information desks and duty-free shops. Bus service to the city departs every 15 minutes (0700-2300). Rail service is every 30 minutes (0645-1015). Taxi service to the city is available.
Bilbao (BIO) is 9km (6 miles) north of the city. Bus and taxi services to the city are available. Airport facilities include a restaurant duty-free shop tourist information desk and car hire.
Madrid (MAD) (Barajas) is 13km (8 miles) northeast of the city. Airport facilities include restaurants and bars (0700-2400) bank several car hire offices hotel reservation and tourist information desks and outgoing duty-free shop. Coach service departs to the city every 20 minutes (0455-0130). Taxi service is available.
Málaga (AGP) is 11km (7 miles) southwest of the city. Airport facilities include duty-free shop bank restaurant and car hire. Bus runs every 30 minutes (0700-1030). Train service runs every 30 minutes (0700-1040). Taxi service to the city is available.
Santiago de Compostela (SCQ) is 10km (6 miles) northeast of the city. Buses and taxis are available to the city centre.
Seville (SVQ) is 12km (7 miles) from the city. Taxis are available to the city centre.
Valencia (VLC) (Manises) is 10km (6 miles) from the city. Airport facilities include several car hire firms bank restaurant bar and duty-free shop. Taxis are available to the city centre.
For more information on airports contact Aena (Web site: http://www.aena.es).
Sea Brittany Ferries (tel: 0990 360 360)operates a service to Santander (on the north coast) from Plymouth taking 24 hours. P&O European Ferries (tel: 0990 980 555) operates a twice-weekly service from Portsmouth to Bilbao (Web site: http://www.poef.com).
Rail There are direct trains between Madrid–Paris and Madrid–Lisbon as well as Barcelona–Paris Barcelona–Zürich–Milan and Barcelona–Geneva. These services are called Talgo Estrella or Train-Hotel. On other international services to and from Spain a change of train is necessary. Motorail services run between Paris and Madrid. Reservations can be made in the UK. Contact Rail Europe in London. Tel: (0990) 848 848.
Road The main route from the UK is via France. The main autoroutes to Spain from France are via Bordeaux or Toulouse to Bilbao (north Spain) and via Marseille or Toulouse to Barcelona (east Spain). A number of coach operators offer services to Spain. In the UK Eurolines departing from Victoria Coach Station in London serve more than 20 destinations in Spain. For further information contact Eurolines 4 Cardiff Road Luton LU1 1PP. Tel: (01582) 404 511. Fax: (01582) 400 694.
