This time, we decided to take the kids on a trip to Spain and drive north from Barcelona. We ultimately chose Sixt Car Rental, and the entire experience was very smooth. I’m sharing the details for everyone’s reference.
🚗 Sixt Car Rental Experience
We chose Sixt, which had transparent pricing; 8 days for just 156 euros (manual transmission)!
When we arrived at the store, we said we didn’t want to buy insurance, as we used the rental car insurance included with our Amex credit card. They didn’t push any additional insurance and directly helped us decline all coverage.
From exiting customs to getting the car, it took less than half an hour!
🏙 Driving in Barcelona
The city has a slow pace, and the road conditions are simple. In the Gothic Quarter, you basically move at 10 km/h, and it’s not difficult to drive at all;
Most drivers are polite;
There are underground parking lots everywhere in the city, which are clean and safe. I bought a BSM parking pass 👇
🅿️ Parking Tool: Buy directly from the official website.
I bought a BSM 3-day pass for 61 euros;
There are over 40 BSM underground parking lots in Barcelona, and you can enter and exit them unlimited times;
The parking lots automatically recognize your license plate, so there’s no need to scan a card or look for a ticket booth;
It’s recommended to stay at a hotel next to a BSM parking lot to save a lot on parking fees!
🚗 Driving Outside the City: Super Easy!
After leaving Barcelona, driving became increasingly easier:
Good road conditions: The highways are very wide, and there aren’t too many cars.
Strict speed limits: Many places have speed limits of 90 or 120 km, with electronic speed cameras.
Beautiful scenery: Especially the section from Girona to Rupit, the mountain roads are not difficult to drive, with green trees and stone villages on both sides, like driving through a postcard 🌲⛰️
Most small towns have dedicated parking for tourists (some are free, some cost 1-2 euros per hour)
For example, parking in Rupit, Besalú, and Montserrat is very convenient, with a 5-10 minute walk to the town center.
The parking spots are marked on the map.
The parking machines also have an English interface, and paying with a credit card is no problem!
