Map of toll roads in Spain. Toll roads in Spain. Areas with special payment

Your trip to Spain will be unforgettable if you decide to rent a car. Today I will talk about my real experience, about the many nuances of driving on Spanish roads: where to park, what determines the cost of travel on the motorway, fines, basic traffic rules and speed limits.

Before traveling to Spain, I debated for a long time which option to choose: travel as standard, like many people do, on foot, or rent a car. I liked the latter more, since I am an avid motorist, and it was also interesting for me to see the country, and not just a few famous attractions. In addition, I already had experience traveling by car in Italy, which turned out to be very successful. It was really cool and awesome. Although there was one problem. You can learn the nuances from the article Roads in Italy.

For independent travel Good communication is necessary, various situations may arise along the way. You can simply get lost or you may need to call somewhere. After my trip to Italy, I still had an Orange SIM card. In principle, I was happy with everything about it. I decided that I would take it. But then I remembered that the tariff in Spain is different. I went to the website to check how everything would work there. I saw that when purchasing a new SIM card, a bonus of 1 or 2 GB is provided, depending on the balance. I decided to take the second one. Moreover, the previous trip showed that sometimes voice communication is needed. I took a SIM card with a 2 GB bonus and distributed the Internet to 2 phones and a tablet without any problems. Everything is very convenient.

Car rental and toll roads

If this is your first time renting a car abroad, then know that most companies require a passport and an international driving license. Also, some put forward a number of other requirements, for example, driving experience of at least 2 years and age from 21. The cost of renting a car in Spain starts from 30 euros and can reach up to 80 per day, it all depends on the class of the car. Don't be surprised if you are asked to leave a deposit equal to the rental price (I left 50 euros). After returning the vehicle, the deposit is returned in full, verified from personal experience.

Now I’ll tell you more about my trip to Spain. I flew to Barcelona and rented a middle class car for 50 euros + the same amount of deposit. It was possible to leave your credit card instead of a cash deposit, but I didn’t dare.

Roads in Spain can be tolled or free. By the way, if you travel on toll highways, it’s both faster and more economical due to lower fuel consumption. In this case, you need to calculate everything and think twice about the route. Just like in Italy, moving through tunnels is also paid.

But the fare is calculated a little differently, the price depends on several factors:

• on how many kilometers traveled;
• what category of vehicle;
• season;
• traffic congestion, or rather, whether you are in rush hour or not.

For example, for the distance from Barcelona to Valencia, which I covered, I had to pay 40 euros (347 kilometers), highway AR-7. I got acquainted with the prices in advance so that the invoice would not be a shock to me. Before your trip, I advise you to do the same. You can find approximate tariffs on the website of the Spanish motorways (costs are updated once a year). But keep in mind that these are only approximate prices, because if you get there during rush hour, it will be more expensive. In addition, a lot depends on the chosen highway and the season of your trip.

Parking in Spain

Parking in Spain is not so simple; if you are not prepared, you can get into trouble. To prevent this from happening to you, I’ll tell you the main subtleties and nuances.

Parking rules may differ on weekdays and weekends; it is also important to consider the time of day. In some places you need to get a permit if you want to park during business hours.

Parking spaces are especially tight in the center of Barcelona; you have to try very hard to find a free space. Before parking your car in the blue zone, you need to buy a ticket from a special machine. Please note that you can pay from 9 to 14.00 and from 16.00 to 21.00 weekdays, on weekends - from 9 am to 2 pm.

If you can't find a surface parking space, don't despair, because many large Spanish cities have underground parking areas. By the way, before entering, I advise you to read the information on a special board that indicates the number of free parking spaces. This will save a lot of time. You need to pay at the ticket office or at special stations, not like with us before you park the car, but after, when you are leaving.

By the way, in small towns The Ora Zona system is current - you buy a parking ticket at any retail point of sale, for example, at a tobacco kiosk. You can park the car for 30, 60 or 90 minutes, very convenient. I did this in Valencia. I bought a ticket for an hour, parked the car and went to enjoy the local cuisine. If you are late, you will have to pay extra for the extra time. But be careful, if there is a tow truck sign in the parking lot, then if you are 10 minutes late, you may no longer see your car. I saw something similar, it was not a pleasant sight, I really felt sorry for the guy...

At the site of the car that was towed there should be a sticker indicating the address and telephone number. But I advise you to carefully monitor the time, otherwise you will spend a lot of nerves and money (towing will cost 100 euros), after all, it’s a foreign country and a rented car. Also, be careful and do not park in spaces for disabled people; the fine here is 200 euros.

Basic traffic rules in Spain

If you decide to see the country by car, you will have to familiarize yourself with the basic traffic rules. The following speed limits apply in Spain:

• in populated areas you can drive no more than 50 kilometers per hour;
• outside the populated area up to 90 km per hour;
• on a highway up to 100 km;
• On the motorway the speed limit is 120 km per hour.

There are also restrictions on the minimum speed - at least 60 km on the autobahn.

I’ll say right away that in Spain it’s better not to break traffic rules. If you think that no one sees you and you can press on the gas a little harder, then this is not so. Since 2010, speed cameras have been installed everywhere. If the rules are violated, the policeman is given a photo of the car and, near the nearest control point, the motorist will be fined a significant, large amount. I don’t recommend experimenting; it’s a very expensive pleasure, as my friends told me. By the way, if a tourist does not have the opportunity to pay the fine on the spot, he may be detained.

They are no less strict about alcohol here, although Spain is famous for its wines, you should not drink before your trip. The maximum level of alcohol in the blood is 0.5 ‰, if the driving experience is less than two years, then no more than 0.3 ppm is allowed. If the indicators are exceeded, you will have to pay 500 euros for violation. If the blood alcohol level is twice the permissible limit, then such a rash act will cost 1,000 euros. The same amount will have to be paid if this is a repeated violation.

If you refuse a test for the presence of alcohol or drugs in your blood, you will be fined 500 euros.

I note that talking while driving a car is prohibited unless there is a special talking device that allows you to communicate without using your hands. And also, when I stopped at a gas station, I noticed a crossed out phone number. After talking with the employees, I learned that I needed to turn off my phone while refueling, which I quickly did. Otherwise, you will be fined 200 euros.

Payment of fines

Police officers have the right to demand payment of a fine on the spot. At the same time, the person is given a receipt for payment. If the tourist cannot pay in cash, vehicle delayed until payment is received. By the way, in Spain there are special conditions for tourists: in case of violation and payment of the fine on the spot, a 50 percent discount is given. True, the tourist loses the right to appeal the decision. It is also possible to receive a receipt by mail, but it must be paid within 20 days using the Internet or any banking institution (in this case there is also a 50 percent discount). By the way, local authorities can track the violator by his license plate number and send him a fine receipt to his home. Therefore, I do not advise you to break the rules. What makes me happy this time is that, having the experience of traveling in Italy, I did not receive a single fine, which is what I wish for you.

Spain captivated me with its beauty; the local people are very friendly and welcoming. Behind short term I was able to see a lot interesting places, which are simply not accessible to most tourists without a car. Enjoy freedom, because having a car, you can go anywhere in the country and see unique places. Let me tell you for sure, it was worth it, I would do it again. Despite many nuances, I strongly advise traveling this way. After all, this is a real buzz and pleasure.

Traveling around Spanish territory by car is a guarantee that your holiday will be complete and comfortable. Some tourists come here for own cars, others prefer to rent them. But whatever the solution to this issue, it is important to know that roads in Spain are divided into several categories, and 10% of their total length are toll highways.

What you need to know about Spanish roads

The road map of the Kingdom of Spain is quite extensive. All routes were built on historically established routes, so the network developed in stages and somewhat chaotically. The only exception is the highways, which were built as part of the country's transport system development program.

Most highways originate in Madrid. Some coastal regions can also boast of them.

It should be taken into account mountainous terrain Spain, thanks to which many highways are quite winding and often offer travelers steep descents and ascents. Hard-to-reach regions of the country are connected by numerous tunnels and bridges.

All highways in this area can be divided into three groups:

• toll roads (autopistas) – have several directions, are marked on signs with the letters AR, are distinguished by the presence of multi-level interchanges and a small number of sharp turns. The speed limit is 130 km/h, although many allow themselves to increase it to 140 km/h. However, due to the large number of cameras and radars, it is better not to do this;
• free (autovías) – located mainly in the suburbs major cities and serve as bypass roads. Some of them are laid in underground tunnels and mines. As a rule, a free road differs from a toll road by a lower speed;
• of national importance - these roads are characterized by a significant speed limit. Traffic on them is allowed in both directions. Crosses those encountered on the way spanish cities, towns and villages, mountains, beaches, fields. Essentially, these are the roads that have been here at all times, but over the years have been updated and linked to expressways.

The last group of roads promises a more pleasant journey. As a rule, they do not have fences, and therefore provide an opportunity to admire the beauty of the local landscapes. If you came here as a tourist, rented a car and want to see everything that the country is so famous for, then form a route along these routes.

It should be borne in mind that the first two types of highways significantly save time due to accelerated movement along them.

The fastest highways in the country are:

• M-50 – connects the Madrid R-2 highway and the northern A-1;
• AP-41 is a toll road connecting Toledo and Madrid;
• The A-45 is a toll-free highway between Malaga and Cordoba.

The two main highways along the Mediterranean coast are the A7 and A2. At the same time, the second one lies closer to the seashore in the Costa Brava region, so it is more convenient to get to any resort town in this region. If you need to quickly cross the country from Barcelona to the French border, choose the A7.

When you move in south direction, you should know that both of these roads are mirror images of each other and only 100 km from Barcelona they begin to diverge. For this reason, when approaching the Catalan capital, you need to be extremely careful not to miss the right exit. Otherwise, you can go in a completely different direction.

Road maps in the kingdom are in less and less demand, in most cases due to the fact that many companies provide their clients with a navigator when renting cars. However, you will have to pay for this as a separate service.

Therefore, to help you save a little, we suggest using a detailed map of all Spanish highways. It will come in handy if you want to plan your travel route around the country in advance.

There is no way to avoid traffic congestion in Spain. However, if you know where and when the main traffic congestion occurs, you can successfully avoid them.

Most traffic flows near large populated areas occur on weekdays. Usually it is 7.00-10.00 am in the direction of entering the city. In the evening, the same situation is observed from 19.00 to 21.00, but this time when leaving the populated area. If you get stuck in a traffic jam at this time, you are guaranteed to spend a couple of hours in it.

On weekends, it is better to leave the city either early in the morning or in the afternoon, since everyone tries to leave in the first half of the day. It is better to plan your return home on Sunday before 5 pm, otherwise you may end up in a jam later.

Toll roads

The amount of money that will have to be set aside to drive along a particular highway depends on several factors:

• types of vehicle;
• time of year (different rates apply in summer and winter);
• time of day (day or night);
• tracks.

Therefore, when choosing a route, it will be useful to study on the map how to get from one point to another. The fact is that it often happens that a toll road runs parallel to a free one. In this case, you can save a lot of money.

The leader in the number of toll highways is Catalonia - approximately 633 km. It is followed by Valencia - 367 km, then Galicia - 327 km. But in Northern Asturias, only 22 km of roads are tolled.

The cost of travel on such routes is shown in the table:

All tariffs given apply to motorcycles and passenger cars and are relevant for summer season. Please note that prices may be slightly higher during peak times.

Moreover, the greater the distance, the higher the tariff. For example, to get from Marbella to San Sebastian or Bilbao, you will have to plan a considerable budget.

At the same time, the distance from Madrid to Guadalajara and to Osuna is approximately the same, and the difference in the price of travel along the highway will be slightly more than 3 euros.

When entering a toll highway, you will be warned several times that there is a toll section of the road ahead. Moreover, you will be offered free detours. If you are not in a hurry, take advantage of this opportunity.

This is especially true for those traveling in Andalusia and Catalonia, where great amount picturesque places that can be admired from observation platforms.

Pay for use toll road possible in several ways. On some of them this can be done upon entry, on others upon exit.

When approaching such a highway, you will see that it is divided into many lanes. Above each of them there is an indication of how exactly you can pay.

The options are as follows:

• payment via the TeleTAC system. It allows you to make a payment remotely. For this purpose, a special device is installed in the car. Most often it is used by local residents;
• only by card;
• by card or cash;
• through operators.

The last option is the safest for those who doubt themselves. And if you couldn’t figure it out, there is always a button to call an operator on the turnstile.

On many devices you will see a 3+ button. If you have more than three passengers in the cabin, feel free to press it. A little later, the system will recalculate your payment, make a discount and return the difference to your card, provided that you paid with it.

Travel through toll tunnels

Driving this or that section of the route through the tunnel will also cost a certain amount of money:

• Cadi Tunnel – located in Catalonia, province of Barcelona. Its length is 5 km. Year of opening: 1984.

• The Vallvidrera tunnel is 2.5 km long and is also located in Catalonia.

Traffic rules on Spanish roads and fines for violating them

Regardless of whether you are going to rent a car in Spain or you intend to come here with your own, in any case you need to know what traffic rules apply on the roads in this country:

• documents: driver's license (for foreigners, international standard + national license is best), technical passport for the car, insurance;
• all persons in the car must wear seat belts;
• transportation of children is allowed only in special seats appropriate to their age;
• Using a mobile phone is prohibited. The handsfree system must be connected to the speakerphone;
• the permissible alcohol limit is 0.5 ppm for experienced drivers; if driving experience is no more than 2 years, then 0.3 ppm;
• Speed ​​control is carried out by cameras and radars. Most often they are installed on the back of a sign placed above the road;
• You can only use low beams in tunnels;
• speed on highways is 130 km/h, in the city – 40 km/h, outside the city – 80 km/h.

It is prohibited to install anti-radar equipment in a car - the fine for using it is 200 euros.

Driving while intoxicated will cost 5,000 euros. Pedestrians who cause an accident will have to pay the same amount.

You can pay the fine on the spot with a 50% discount. However, in this case, the driver is deprived of the opportunity to appeal the claim if he does not agree with it.

For more information about what you need to know about driving on Spanish highways and how violation of the rules is punished, read the article “Rules” traffic in Spain".

Gas stations

The Spanish road, whether tolled or not, usually has a very good surface and numerous areas where you can rest, wash and refuel your car. A gas station is usually a whole complex, including a store, a cafe, and an automatic car wash.

When refueling, you must first pay for the required amount at the cash register, and then return to the car and insert the pistol into the gas tank. Most gas stations follow the self-service principle.

Two years ago, the well-known chain Repsol in Spain developed its own mobile app, which allows you to pay at more than 300 gas stations remotely.

Parking

Spanish traffic regulations strictly regulate where, when and for how long you can park your car. Moreover, the rules affect not only the time of day, but also the day of the week and even certain days during the month. In some areas of the city, you can park your car during business hours only with special permission.

In populated areas, parking is carried out on even days on the even side of the street, on odd days, respectively, on the side where the houses with odd numbers are located.

Violating parking rules will not only result in a fine, but the car will definitely be taken to the impound lot.

All parking areas are painted in specific colors. However, parking in the yellow zone is prohibited. Blue ones are paid parking lots equipped with parking meters. But you can leave your car there for only a few hours. The best option is underground parking.

conclusions

The most convenient way to travel around Spain is by car. But in this case, you will have to familiarize yourself not only with the traffic rules, but also with the features of the entire road system.

All trails here are divided into free, paid and of national importance. The main difference is the speed of movement on them and the arrangement.

Toll highways most often have special fencing and allow speeds of up to 130 km/h.

But in order to admire the Spanish landscapes, you should choose roads that run through cities, villages, beaches and fields. They are most often free, but the speed on them should not exceed 80 km/h outside the populated area.

Spain Traffic Rules: Video

Today I will talk a little about toll roads in Spain, in particular in Andalusia and Catalonia. For tourists they are not particularly needed, only if you need to get there quickly. The permissible speed on them is 120 km/h, but many go 140. But you must admit, it’s more pleasant to ride along the sea, stop in different towns and observation platforms than driving along a concrete fence for several hours in a row.

Just recently we drove along the AP-7 toll road from to. We needed to go skiing in the morning hot-air balloon, and next time don’t be late. The pleasure is not cheap! The journey cost about €9 and the same for petrol. I told you how we rented a car.

Toll road payment procedure

Before entering the toll road, you will be warned several times and offered free detours. There are several payment options:

1. When you enter you receive a ticket, when you leave you pay
2. You pay only upon departure or upon entry

You can pay in cash, bills, coins or by bank card(but be careful with it! More on that below)

Before the payment points, the road is divided into many lanes (see photo at the beginning):

1. Blue tracks for automatic payment using devices under glass (not for us!)
2. Payment only by cards (cards on signs)
3. Payment by cards and cash
4. Manual – payment through an operator, this is the easiest way :-)

If you have any difficulties with payment, click on the contact button and an operator will come to you and help you pay.

Be careful when paying by card!

I had an unpleasant incident with payment. I think it's like that for everyone. When leaving the highway, I paid for the fare with my card. We took out about €7. Then a day later you receive an SMS about the withdrawal of €1 with the description: parking peaje Madrid. Then another day, then again upon arrival home! I haven’t been to Madrid, which means it’s being removed or blocked by the highway payment office.

For what? After all, I already paid €7. Apparently for some reason they check the map after each trip on the toll road. They say that in a month they will return the blocked euros.

But I did not conduct experiments and blocked Tinkoff map. The bank returned the money to me and reissued the card for free. Next time I will pay cash for toll roads.

What do you think about these write-offs?

I don't advise you to count by hand. Most convenient service to calculate route costs, this is . The site is ugly, but very functional. It works throughout Europe, maybe even more. You ask from where and where, and it offers several route options. It shows how much you will spend on travel, gasoline and how long you will be on the road. So you will decide for yourself the optimal time-money path.

There is also a purely Spanish site -. It contains more accurate data on road tolls, but it doesn’t show anything other than the price.

Well, don’t forget about good old Google Maps. He builds routes between cities well. In the options there is a checkbox to avoid toll roads.

How can I save up to 20% on hotels?

It’s very simple - look not only on booking. I prefer the search engine RoomGuru. He searches for discounts simultaneously on Booking and on 70 other booking sites.

The Kingdom of Spain amazes with the beauty of its unique architectural monuments, which, together with its colorful traditions, ancient history and its beautiful landscapes will not leave any tourist indifferent. P. Picasso, S. Dali, A. Gaudi and other famous creators left a huge cultural heritage, which annually attracts travelers from all over the world to Spain. When planning a trip to this wonderful country on personal car Don’t forget that parking in Spain has its own characteristics, without which you can ruin your holiday.

Parking options

In Spain, parking is regulated by local authorities according to legislation set by the government. To indicate parking restrictions, use Various types signs and special road markings.

There are above-ground and underground parking spaces. Underground parking is usually paid. Ground ones can be either paid or free - they differ in the colors of the road markings.

Parking rules in Spain

As in other countries, in Spain road signs indicating that parking is permitted are rectangular or square in shape, with a white border and the letter “P”.

Parking rules vary depending on the day of the week, time of day or specific week of the month - all this information is indicated on the signs.

If you are traveling in a rented car, you can find the answer to your basic questions in the article: ““.

In some places you must have a permit to park during working hours, called Horas laborables.

In areas marked with a blue or blue line of road markings - zona azul, there are ticket terminals - expendedores de tickets para estacionamiento. Often, next to such markings there is a sign with the image of a hand lowering a coin. When using such parking, the driver is required to buy a ticket and place it under the windshield of the car.

Payment occurs immediately after parking the car. The maximum parking time at one time does not exceed two hours. On weekends and holidays This type of parking is usually free.

In some cities, zona azul parking lots operate under the Ora Zona system. In this case, parking tickets can be purchased at tobacco kiosks and other retail outlets. They give you the right to park for 30, 60 or 90 minutes.

In coastal areas, such as the Costa Brava, parking in the blue zone is free in winter, but in summer there is a charge for longer periods than usual.

There are free parking spaces on the streets of Burgas, Murcia, Salamanca and other popular tourist cities in Spain. If the road markings are white or completely absent, this means that parking is permitted.

A parking zone marked on the road with a yellow line means that parking is prohibited.

A green zona verde or orange zona naranja road marking line indicates the possibility of parking for persons with a special permit or local residents from nearby houses. This is a subtype of the blue parking zone, but in this case residents have advantages over city guests.

Next to such a zone there is a sign with inscriptions that should be read carefully.

A sign that reads “Area Preferent” allows a vehicle to stop for a maximum of two hours. For residents of an area where such parking is available, the cost will be several times lower, while others will have to pay the full amount.

On the sign where it says “Area Preferent”, you also need to look at what hours and on what days you need to pay, and when this is not necessary.

"Area Resident" allows parking exclusively to residents of the area. Their cars have stickers on the windshield of a specific color assigned to a given area. If you are not a resident, then leaving your car there is prohibited.

Sometimes a wheelchair sign may be drawn along with the blue or yellow lines. It indicates the possibility of parking for cars of people with disabilities.

There are also unloading zones where parking is only permitted for unloading and loading for a maximum of 30 minutes. These zones are free and are marked with yellow diagonal lines on the asphalt.

In many cities, private driveways and garage doors have a sign that reads "Prohibido estacionar." Parking in front of this sign is often prohibited.

In addition, parking is always prohibited in places where there are yellow markings or a solid yellow line on the asphalt, and next to it there is a sign with a crossed out letter E, as well as on:

• highways or toll roads;
• in places where the vehicle blocks the visibility or passage of other vehicles;
• roads intended for cyclists or public transport;
• pedestrian crossings;
• in loading and unloading areas (more than 30 minutes);
• in front of the "Vado Permanente" sign;
• in areas of entry and exit of transport;
• taxi ranks.

You can also leave your car in the parking lots in shopping centers or next to the store. As a rule, these are paid parking lots, but in some cases there is no charge. For example, large shopping centers have free afternoon hours, which are extended by purchasing goods in the store for a certain amount.

In the underground parking lot located next to the shops, conditions are different. It is available to customers absolutely free of charge, provided they make purchases in the store. To take advantage of this offer, you must present your parking receipt at the checkout counter.

Underground paid parking "Parking Publico" is located in commercial and residential buildings and usually occupies several floors (for example, like a multi-storey car park in Malaga). There is a sign at the entrance indicating the number of available seats. The inscription “libre” means that there are free seats, and “ocupado” means that there are no seats.

Parking maps in Spain

Generally, on-street parking in the central areas of major tourist cities or near famous landmarks, such as the Alhambra in Granada, is very limited.

Therefore, to find a parking space, it is better to use special Internet services such as Car Parking Europe or Parkopedia. Available there interactive map With exact address parking lots and their tariffs.

Free parking spaces in big cities are mostly located on the outskirts and are often not marked on maps.

For example, it is almost impossible to find free parking in Barcelona on the map. On the popular Parclick service you will see more than 200 parking lots, but all of them will be paid.

Take a sociological survey!

Cost of parking in big cities

The average cost of parking in the capital of Spain will cost 1.5-3 euros per hour, and the price for 24 hours will be 25 euros and more.

In Valencia, an hour of parking costs 2-3.5 euros, while the cost per day in some parking lots within the city does not exceed 8 euros, while the average price per day in the central part of the city reaches 17-25 euros.

In Seville, an hour of parking costs 1-2 euros. There are also several parking lots where the first hour of parking is free. They will charge an average of 18-20 euros per day.

In the central part of Bilbao, parking price per hour is 2-3 euros, and per day - 16-18 euros.

In Barcelona, ​​an hour of parking costs on average 2-4 euros, and a day - 26-35 euros.

Some car parks, such as the private car park network SABA, offer customers passes for a certain number of days or months. Their purchase will allow you to save 80% or more per month, if you take into account the daily cost of parking.

In this case, the private parking space will be designated “plaza reservada” or “reservado”, and no one else will be able to park there.

How to pay for parking

Payment for a parking space in a street parking lot occurs at parking meters, which are located along the parking area. Cash and credit cards are accepted for payment.

The payment system is simple: select the required amount of time, insert a card or throw coins and press the payment button. Sometimes the machines do not provide change, so when using cash you should take care of changing it in advance.

The receipt will indicate until what time you can leave the car. If the paid interval includes free hours, they will be automatically added and taken into account in the time marked on the receipt.

In the underground parking lot at the entrance in front of the barrier, a ticket is taken from a machine. Payment occurs upon return to the car. You need to insert the coupon into the payment terminal, then the amount to pay will be displayed. After this, the terminal will issue a ticket, which is presented at the exit from the parking lot.

A sample parking ticket includes the following information:

1. date of validity;
2. time of leaving the parking lot;
3. cost per used parking space;
4. payment time;
5. coupon number.

Fines

IN last years Fines for illegal parking in Spain have increased significantly. A minor violation of the rules results in a penalty of 100 euros or more (or 20% less for prompt payment).

If the vehicle is towed, an additional towing fee of approximately €100 will apply.

Conclusion

Tourists in Spain who do not know parking rules may encounter difficulties throughout their holiday. Understanding a few basic rules will help you avoid these problems: when parking, you should always pay attention to the road markings and their color along the side of the road, as well as the inscriptions of the signs.

Free parking is available on the outskirts of medium-sized cities, while in large cities such as Madrid and Barcelona they are practically non-existent, so it is better to use paid parking there.

Parking in Spain: Video

Highways in Spain
According to Wikipedia, Spanish roads carry 90% of the country's passenger and 79% of freight traffic.
There is a good explanation for this - Spanish roads are quite well designed and built. Net highways provides excellent transport connections between major cities Spain, and also connects Spain with neighboring Portugal and France.
At one time, Spain received a large sum of money from the European Union to put its road network in order. I used this money very effectively. The roads in Spain differ from German autobahns only in the speed limit.
Autobahns go directly into cities and are conveniently integrated with the urban transport network.
The pavement on Spanish roads is of very high quality.
The center where major highways converge is, of course, Madrid. But also to Barcelona - largest port There are excellent roads on three sides: South-West, North-East and North-West.
The speed on Spanish highways is 120 km/h.
Road equipment
Road signs, indicators, fencing with reflectors, signs with route numbers, emergency call bollards - the highways of Spain are simply crammed with all of this.
CARRETERAS CONVENCIONALES are roads that do not contain the signs of the three previous roads. In other words, these are ordinary roads in Spain, which in turn can be divided into different subtypes. Depending on the presence and size of the shoulder, as well as the number of lanes on the road surface.
VÍ-A DE SERVICIO - service road. Sometimes it can be called VÍ-A LATERAL - side road. This is an additional road that is located next to the main road. Such roads in Spain can be found on industrial sites, next to large industrial zones, residential areas, etc.
CARRETARA DE CIRCULACIÓ-N is what is called the ring road in Kyiv. You can hear it in other places ring road. The road is encircling locality and connecting roads leading to the settlement.
From this above classification of roads in Spain, we should dwell in more detail on the roads that we indicated at the beginning of the list.
PEAJE - toll roads in Spain. The only Spanish toll road can be AUTOPSTA. Such a road assumes the presence of several lanes in one direction of travel; lanes in the opposite direction of movement are located on different roads. Exits from this road are limited. All interchanges are made at different levels.
TOLL ROADS IN SPAIN. The Spanish toll road is marked with a sign with the word PEAJE in a red circle. Payment on toll roads in Spain can be carried out in different ways. Up close big cities, sections of such roads are free to travel. In some areas you need to pay the specified amount immediately. In some sections, payment is made at the exit from the toll road in Spain. Often, when entering a toll road, you will have to take a ticket and pay when leaving the road. The ticket itself will list the exits from the Spanish toll road in the form of a small map.
The most expensive sections are the sections of the toll road in Spain with tunnels. For example, travel through the Cadí tunnel will cost you about 10 euros. Travel from Barcelona almost to France costs about the same.
At the entrance, exit or at divisions and junctions of such roads there are points for issuing tickets or payment. You will be notified of these points by signs, including those requiring you to reduce your speed. At this point the toll road will expand significantly. At the ticket issuing point, everything is simple - you need to stop in front of the barrier and wait until the machine issues a ticket. It must be saved until the end of the trip. If it is lost, you will have to pay the maximum, as if the trip was made from the farthest point of the toll road.
A little information for those who are going to travel to Europe for the first time. The easiest way to travel around Europe is through high-speed, usually toll, roads. They allow you to quickly arrive from point A to point B and are designed just for this. You won’t see much beauty or the country in general, but there are exceptions (for example, the A75 road in France along which we returned from Spain). Diesel fuel on the highway in both France and Spain, as I said above, is approximately 1.6 - 1.65 euros per liter.
Toll roads cost approximately 7-8 euros per 100 km. Road toll points are standard, both in France and in Spain. They look like a bunch of gates on the highway with barriers. In both of the above countries, payment is taken for the distance traveled.
At the entrance to the toll road you receive a ticket, at the exit from the toll section you pay the toll. The ticket comes out of the machine automatically, the main thing is to take it and then the barrier will open. There are several ways to pay. You can pay by card, you can pay in cash, you can pay through a machine, you can pay in person.
The easiest way is to pay with a bank card (we don’t take into account the “telepay” system, I think that’s what it’s called, correct me if I’m wrong). And so pay by card - drive up to the barrier, put the ticket into the machine (into the blinking slot), after that another slot will blink (sometimes the same one where the ticket was pushed), stick the card there, after a second the card pops out and the barrier opens, the whole way is clear, and the money was withdrawn. If something doesn’t work out, then in this case there are operators on duty at the payment point, and even if you do not press the help button, but stand for a very long time at a closed barrier, a person will definitely come up to you and help. Sometimes the machines break down, and then a person also comes and saves the world. In general, everything is simple and clear.
To understand which payment method to choose, look at the icons above the gates. There are clear pictograms. If you do not have a special “telepage” card, do not go through the gate with a pictogram in the form of a capital Latin letter “t”. Another feature of toll roads in Spain. A couple of days after arriving in Roses and, accordingly, after driving on toll Spanish highways, SMS began to arrive through the mobile banking system saying that I, in some kind of “Security”, had made a successful purchase for 1 euro. At the same time, I did not make any purchases from this organization, especially using the card.
Having rummaged through the Internet, we found out that toll roads in Spain are the security service of the organization servicing toll roads in Spain, they will check the authenticity of the credit card. In fact, money is not debited from the card, but only blocked on it. Money is blocked every time you pay for travel. The blocking falls off after a month. So if anyone encounters this, don't panic.
Read more about Spain in THIS report.
There are also some kind of local free highways (eg M-10 in Madrid, SE-30 in Seville, V-30 in Valencia, etc.).
Autobahns a Canary Islands(Tenerife and Gran Canaria) free.
The most expensive object to travel is the Cadi tunnel - 11 euros.
Here you can find out about prices for toll roads throughout Europe. Click on the map on the country you are interested in and the table will show travel prices.
Today there are at least 28 countries in Europe that have toll roads:
Is there more up-to-date information? Please share in the comments.
If you are interested in information about toll roads in other countries, follow this link.