Driving to Spain and France
Driving
Getting to French Catalunya (Catalonia) by car is achievable in a long days driving though it’s probably a good idea to break the journey along the way if you’re not too pressed for time and even more so if you’re heading into Spain.
Though it may take longer driving is the perfect way to see more of the country and you have the added advantage of being able to stop wherever takes your fancy and not having to hire a car once you arrive. The French and Spanish Catalan motorway systems are excellent, though you need to allow for tolls which can mount up over a long distance. Details of tolls for all routes can be found at the autopista website and the autoroutes website for French Catalunya and most online route planning services now give you an idea of what you’ll spend too.
The A9 is the principal autoroute through French Catalunya passing north to south right past Perpignan. There’s a cursory customs check if you’re heading south and you join straight onto the autopista A7 which takes you past Girona, Barcelona, Reus and Tarragona and on to the border with the Comunidad Valenciana, the next autonomous community south of Catalunya. The other principal autopista route is the A2 which starts between the A7, south of Barcelona, and heads west towards Lleida.
The scenic route
There's some pretty spectacular views to be seen from the autopistas and autoroutes through much of Catalunya but if you have time on your hands and fancy meandering your way along then why not go right through the Pyrenees. If you're travelling outside the ski season there shouldn't be too much traffic taking the N20 from Ax-les-Thermes towards Andorra and the CG2 and CG1 through the principality onto the N145. From here you have one of three options which all eventually take you to Barcelona.
◊ The N260 and the C14 south until C26 and C55 east towards Cardona.
◊ The N260 east then the E9 (C16) south towards Berga
◊ The N260 east until the N152, continuing east until Ribes when it turns south towards Vic becoming the C17.
Taking the train
A real alternative to flying and a great way of seeing the scenery without having to concentrate on driving is the high speed TGV and Talgo trains. Connections are available all the way from London Waterloo and although prices aren’t as competitive as low cost airlines they have become more so in recent years. An early morning departure from Waterloo could have you in Perpignan by late afternoon with just one change in Paris or in Barcelona by that evening with a change in Paris and Perpignan. Though no high speed connection exists right the way to Barcelona at the moment, it is under construction and within a few years journey times will reduce even further.
Long distance buses
Long distance buses are a slower and more cramped, though a cheaper alternative to the train and are available from major cities throughout Europe to Barcelona and Perpignan.
