Driving in Spain: Advice & Tips
Before you hit the wheel in Spain, it’s best to be well informed about the rules of the road, classification of roads and laws of driving. If you are ...
Find out more about driving in Spain
Other places to visit in Spain
The country has such diversity to offer in terms of sight seeing places that it is best to choose a car hire in Spain to make the most of your Spanish...
Popular tourist destinations to visit in Spain
History of Spain
The history of Spain reflects the amalgam of influences from the different cultures that have lived in the country. Parts of the country have been inhabited by the ancient Iberians, the Phoenicians, the Greeks, the Romans and the Islamic Moors from North Africa. The Romans and the Moors especially left a great historical imprint on the country. Today, Spain is a member of the European Union. It is governed by a constitutional monarchy, and comprises 17 autonomous communities and two autonomous cities, Ceuta and Melilla, both of which are on the coast of North Africa.
Central Spain is mainly known for its historic Spanish cities, many of which have UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including Salamanca, Valencia, Madrid, Segovia and Toledo. Madrid, as the capital of Spain since 1576, also hosts many historical Spanish monuments like the Royal Castle and museums like the Prado and Reina Sofia, with paintings by world famous artists like Velasquez, Goya, Miró and Picasso. To do justice to this country’s rich historical lineage, you must hire a car in Spain and explore its many places and cities, each of which has an interesting story to tell.
The geography of Spain
Spain is amongst the fifty largest countries in the world, with the largest part of its territory located in the Iberian Peninsula. About 88 percent of its boundary is water; it is surrounded to the north by the Bay of Biscay, France, and Andorra; to the east by the Mediterranean Sea; on the south by the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean; and on the west by Portugal and the Atlantic Ocean. Several great rivers bisect the country, including the Tagus, the Guadalquivir and the Ebro. The vast geographical area and the climate ranges combine to create a wet Spain in the North and mountainous areas, green Spain with luxuriant forests in the center of the country and a dry Spain in the Mediterranean. The country is marked by a great and varied landscape and with a cheap car hire in Spain, you can explore mountains, plateaus, river valleys and the delightful Mediterranean coast.
Weather in Spain
Think hot sunny days with clear blue skies when imagining Spain’s weather. While this is true, it would be more appropriate to say that as the country spans many latitudes it has very diverse climates, experiencing a huge range of weather conditions, depending on location. In fact, the weather of Spain is the most diverse in Europe — so much so that it is not uncommon that you could be skiing in one part while it’s beach weather in another! It is a myth to think that the weather in Spain is always good. If you are planning to visit the country in the winter, its best to hire car in Spain as you can expect rain and overcast days almost everywhere in the country. It's also worth noting that the months of July and August can be too hot in so many cities. The further south down the Mediterranean coast you travel, the hotter it becomes. I f getting a tan is what you are looking for, you might be tempted to visit Spain at the hottest time of year. However, May, June, September and October are more comfortable times to get bronzed. When traveling to Spain in the hot months, consider visiting the north of Spain. Places like Bilbao and Santiago de Compostela are much cooler than cities down south.