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Camping in Spain: beaches, cities and sangria

Beaches, cities and sangria! It is for very good reason that sunny and diverse Spain is one of the most popular countries for holidays in Europe. Soak up the culture in Barcelona or Valencia, discover the nature or relax by the sea. With its very pleasant climate and plenty of highlights, Spain is a great camping destination all year round.

The beautiful beaches of Spain

Spain is synonymous with sun, sea and sand. And with good reason! On the nearly five-thousand kilometre long coastline you will find vast sandy beaches in abundance. The coast is divided into several costas, such as the lively Costa Brava and the sunny Costa del Sol. Enjoy the fun-filled beaches while sipping a refreshing cocktail or sangria. Or seek out a little peace and quiet, instead.
Discover hidden gems such as Cala del Pi and Playa de Maro with their beautifully clear waters. The choice is yours!

Culture in the cities of Spain

Spain has a lot of options when it comes to city trips. Stroll around the Plaza Mayor in the capital city of Madrid and visit the royal Palacio Real de Madrid. In Barcelona, you can admire the Sagrada Familia and the special Parc Guell, among other sights. And of course for football fans, a trip to Camp Nou is not to be missed. Both cities offer a wealth of cultural highlights.

And Spain has even more great cities. Valencia and the southernmost cities of Seville, Granada and Málaga are well worth a visit. From historical streets and beautiful cathedrals to restaurants with the most delectable tapas. And you can wash it all down with a nice sangria!

From Mountains to Beaches: Discovering the Beauty of Inland Spain

Most people think of campsites in Spain in connection with a beach holiday. One of the most popular regions for camping in Spain is the Costa del Sol in Andalusia. Not without reason: sol is Spanish for sun; and you can be assured of 300 sunny days per year. But don’t spend the whole holiday lying on your beach towel however tempting that may be, because inland Spain is beautiful and a real experience!

Exploring Spain's Diverse and Scenic Campsites

There are many more campsites in Spain than just on the Costa del Sol. Besides the Costa del Sol in the south around Marbella and Torremolinos, the Costa Brava (Cataluña on the east coast near Barcelona) has developed into a gigantic holiday paradise that has an unbelievable number of delights to offer the spoilt tourist. Many tourists return each year to their favourite campsite on the ‘rugged coast’ of Spain which lives up to its name: rough, wild and impetuous, contrasted with miles of sandy beaches and sheer cliffs with intimate bays. And whichever of our Spanish campsites you visit you will never be at a loss for delicious food (Spanish dishes such as paella or tapas) and excellent wine. Quite simply, a holiday on a campsite in Spain means relaxation but also being immersed in a completely different culture!

Important information for your trip to Spain:

Petrol (Gasolina Sin Plomo 95/98) with 5 or 10 per cent ethanol (E5 or E10) is readily available (if you want to fill up with E10, check the filler cap, the owner’s manual or at the car dealership to see if your car can run on it. If not, fill up with E5). Diesel (Diesel/Gasóleo) and LPG (Autogas) are also readily available. The euronozzle adapter is used for refuelling with LPG.
Petrol stations are often open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Along motorways and in big cities, petrol stations are usually open from 6 a.m. to midnight, or day and night. There are also fuel dispensers in Spain.

The network of charging points in Spain is not yet complete. Be sure to plan your trip well.

Mountain passes in the Pyrenees may be temporarily closed or difficult to manoeuvre for cars with caravans or trailers. Be sure to check before travelling. For more information, see: alpenpaesse.de (in German).

Driving with dipped headlights is mandatory with poor visibility conditions, in the dark, in tunnels in tunnels and on tidal flow lanes.
You have to yield to the traffic on your right at junctions with two equivalent roads. Trams always have right of way. Traffic on a roundabout has right of way when indicated by a priority sign. On mountain roads, uphill traffic has the right of way over downhill traffic.
Holding a telephone while behind the wheel is not permitted, not even when stopped (hands-free calling is permitted). Drivers are also not allowed to wear headphones or earphones and are not allowed to operate devices while driving.
Children under 1.35 m in height are not allowed to sit in the front seat and must sit in a child seat in the back. It is permitted to use the function in your navigation software that warns of speed cameras or traffic inspections.
Winter tyres are not compulsory, but are recommended when driving in the winter in mountainous areas.

Loads that protrude from the rear, such as a bicycle rack, must be marked with a white reflective sign measuring 50 x 50 cm with 3 diagonal red stripes. On mountain roads it is mandatory to sound the horn at bends where visibility is restricted. No devices with a screen may be located within the driver’s field of vision (with the exception of navigation devices).
You may only enter a junction marked with criss-crossed yellow lines if you can pass through it without stopping. You are obliged to maintain a lateral distance of at least 1.50 metres when overtaking cyclists.
On an autovía, please be aware of cyclists and agricultural vehicles that may be driving along the emergency lane.

A warning triangle and a spare wheel (or tyre repair kit) are mandatory to have in the car. In vehicles with a Spanish licence plate, it is mandatory to have two warning triangles, a safety vest and an anti-theft device. It is recommended to have safety vests for all passengers.

A camper van or car/caravan combination may not be more than 4 metres high, 2.55 metres wide and 18.75 metres long (the caravan itself may not be more than 12 metres long). A car/caravan combination that is longer than 12 metres must be equipped with yellow ECE 70 reflective plates with a red border. In built-up areas, car/caravan combinations longer than 10 metres must maintain a distance of at least 50 metres from the vehicle in front.

Wearing a bicycle helmet is mandatory outside of built-up areas (except in the case of intense physical activity or heat). Children under 16 are always required to wear a bicycle helmet (also when riding at the back). In the dark (and in poor visibility conditions), bicyclists are required to wear a safety vest outside of built-up areas. Making calls or using apps on a mobile phone is prohibited. Bicyclists are not permitted to wear earphones or headphones. Children up to the age of 7 may be transported by an adult in a seat on the back of the bicycle.

Most Spanish autopistas (motorways) charge a toll. You can pay in cash, by credit card (sometimes with a debit card) or automatically with a toll badge (see tip below). You can recognise toll roads by the letters AP, and toll-free motorways (autovias) by the letter A. On road maps, this is indicated in the road numbers. For more information, see: autopistas.com and mitma.gob.es/carreteras/peajes-actuales.
Tip! If you have a toll sticker from the French Télépéage, check whether you can also use it to pay on Spanish toll roads. For more information, see: bipandgo.com.

Barcelona and Madrid have permanent environmental zones. However, there are plans to extend the environmental zones to all larger municipalities. The zones are indicated by a sign displaying the environmental stickers for the vehicles allowed into the zone. The environmental sticker (distintivo ambiental) is not available for vehicles registered outside of Spain. To demonstrate that your vehicle meets certain requirements, you can purchase the Danish, German, French or Austrian environmental stickers. The French vignette Crit'Air is also required for travelling through France, so it could be a good idea to get this one if you do not already have an environmental sticker.
For more information, see: sede.dgt.gob.es/es/vehiculos/distintivo-ambiental/equivalencia-distintivo-ambiental-ue.shtml, cercador.barcelona.cat/en (search for ‘low emission zone’) and madrid.es (search for ‘zona de bajas emisiones’).

Place your warning triangle at least 100 metres behind the car if it is obstructing other traffic (unless this is too dangerous due to heavy traffic). If it involves a Spanish (hired) car, place a second warning triangle in front of the car. All passengers are required to wear a safety vest.
In case of a breakdown, call the emergency number for your breakdown assistance insurance. You can also call the Spanish roadside assistance (RACE) on +34 900 112 222 or the Catalan roadside assistance (RACC) on +34 900 242 242. Towing on the motorway is prohibited.

Spain boasts over 1,000 campsites, with the busiest ones located along the Mediterranean coast. Booking is advisable here! Trees, shrubs and flowers make for beautiful campsites, but also help define the pitches and increase privacy.
Spanish campsites are generally well looked after. Especially on the costas, all the pitches often have their own TV, water and electricity connections. Free camping outside of campsites is generally prohibited.
In Spain, campsites are classified according to categories. Category 1 campsites offer the most in terms of luxury.
Blue gas cylinders cannot be refilled. It is best to purchase gas cylinders in Spain and return them when you leave the country.

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