Page 246 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide 2017 - Northern Spain
P. 246

244      SUR VIV AL  GUIDE

       TRAVEL INFORMATION


       Spain has an increasingly efficient transport   increasingly cheap. Both the road and rail
       system. All the major cities have airports,    networks were greatly improved during
       and many international flights arrive at   the 1980s and 90s. Intercity rail services
       Madrid and Barcelona. One third of visitors    are efficient, but coaches are a faster and
       to Spain arrive by air. Aside from scheduled   more frequent option between smaller
       flights, and charter flights in summer, budget   towns. In much of rural Spain, however,
       airlines fly to many Spanish cities throughout   public transport is limited and a car is
       the year. Within Spain, too, especially when   the most practical solution for getting
       travelling long distances, flights are the    about. Ferries connect mainland Spain
       best option – comfortable, fast, and   with the UK.

       Arriving by Air
                           Santiago de Compostela    Terminal 1 operates some
       Spain is served by most   and Zaragoza; and Air Berlin    international flights (Ryanair,
       international airlines. Iberia,    has connections from   Delta and easyJet, among
       the national airline, has   Germany’s major cities to   many others); Terminals 2 and
       scheduled flights daily into   Santiago de Compostela,   3 operate domestic flights; and
       Madrid from all western   Oviedo (Asturias), Logroño and   Terminal 4, designed by British
       European capitals, and once    Bilbao. Increased competition   architect Richard Rogers,
       or twice weekly from most    among the budget airlines    operates most inter national
       east European capitals.  has forced all of the carriers    and some domestic flights
         All the major European air-  to lower their prices.  (including Iberia, American
       lines (Alitalia, Air Europa, Air     Of the US airlines serving   Airlines, British Airways and
       France, British Airways, CSA,   Spain, Delta Air Lines and   Vueling). Terminal 4 is a long
       Iberia, KLM, LOT, Lufthansa,   American Airlines fly to both   way from the others, but a free
       Malev and Swiss) fly direct    Madrid and Barcelona. Iberia   shuttle train runs between it
       to Madrid and Barcelona,    has a compre hensive service   and the Metro station next to
       Spain’s two main international   from the USA, as well as an   Terminals 1 and 2. Allow an
       airports. British Airways offers   indirect service from Canada.  extra 30 minutes if you are
       scheduled flights to Madrid             travelling by public transport
       and Barcelona daily from   International Airports  to Terminal 4.
       London Heathrow. Vueling                  Barcelona’s El Prat
       (a low-cost Spanish airline)    Most international services   international airport is located
       flies from London Heathrow    operate from Madrid and   12 km (7.5 miles) from the city
       to A Coruña and Bilbao.  Barcelona. Barajas airport in   centre, to which train services
         Low-cost airlines run many   Madrid, serving 49 million    run every 30 minutes, metro
       additional services. EasyJet    passengers each year, is 12 km   services every 10 minutes and
       has direct flights from London   (8 miles) from the city centre,   buses every 6 minutes. Terminal
       Stansted to Bilbao and Oviedo   which can be reached by    1 deals with Star Alliance, Sky
       (Asturias); Ryanair flies from   metro or shuttle bus. A taxi    Team and One World flights and
       London Stansted, Frankfurt    from the airport to the city    most inter continental flights,
       and Rome to Santander,   costs around €25–30.  while terminal 2 operates
                                               departures on low-cost and
                                               other international airlines, such
                                               as Jet2, Ryanair and Wizzair.
                                               There are two bus services from
                                               the city centre to Terminal 1
                                               and Terminal 2 and between
                                               terminals, too. A train also runs
                                               between the city centre and
                                               Terminal 2.
                                                 Altogether, Spain has 48
                                               airports. Of those located in
                                               the north, the following have
                                               the status of international
                                               airports: Oviedo (Asturias),
                                               Bilbao, A Coruña, Pamplona,
                                               San Sebastián, Santander, Vigo
       Bilbao’s modern international airport   and Vitoria. However, most




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