Spain by campervan – Barcelona, Valencia & the Mediterranean coast
Spain by campervan along the Mediterranean coast – from the French border via Barcelona and Valencia to Andalusia. Spain was the longest leg of our journey. Van Life European Adventure and the country where we felt most at home: perfect climate, cheap food, relaxed locals and a van-life scene that is unparalleled in Europe.
Barcelona – Gaudí, tapas & the best city beach in Europe
Barcelona is a city that everyone should see – especially (or even more so) as a camper. Sagrada Familia, the Park Güell, The Ramblas and the Gothic Quarter (Barri Gòtic) are easily explored on foot. And afterwards you simply head to the Barceloneta Beach. Tip: Park in the north of the city (e.g., in the Badalona area) and take the metro in.
Danger: Van life is becoming increasingly restricted in Barcelona and Catalonia. Free camping within the city limits is prohibited. Police also conduct checks at night.
Valencia – The underrated pearl of the Mediterranean coast
Valencia impressed us much more than Barcelona (and I know that's a controversial opinion). City of Arts and Sciences It's architecturally stunning, the old town charming, and the food – Valencia is the home of paella! – is sensationally good and inexpensive. An authentic paella meal with wine costs €12-15.
The Turia Gardens, The riverbanks, a former riverbed transformed into a 9 km long park, are perfect for jogging, cycling, or simply relaxing. And the best part: Valencia is significantly less touristy and cheaper than Barcelona.
Camper tips for Spain's Mediterranean coast
Free standing: Strictly forbidden in Catalonia and the Balearic Islands. South of Valencia, the rules become more relaxed. There are still many tolerated spots on the Costa Blanca and in Murcia.
Cost: Spain is ideal for van life – cheaper than France or Italy. Campsites: €18-30/night. Diesel: ~€1.55/L. Supermarket: Mercadona is the best chain (cheap, good quality). Eating out: Menú del Día (set menu) for €10-13 – 3 courses with a drink!
FAQ – Spain by campervan
Is it possible to camp freely in Spain with a van?
It varies greatly by region. Catalonia: no. Andalusia: more relaxed. Inland: possible almost everywhere. General rule: Not directly on the beach and not in tourist areas.
What does van life cost per day in Spain?
€40-60 for 2 people – one of the cheapest van-life countries in Western Europe.
Which is better for campers: Valencia or Barcelona?
Valencia: significantly more relaxed, cheaper, fewer restrictions for campers. Barcelona: more impressive, but more stressful and more expensive.
We continued on to Andalusia. Back: Southern France | Van Life Overview | Request Collaboration
After Portugal, we were most excited about Spain on our trip, partly because we could finally use our learned Spanish skills. 😁 We weren't quite able to converse yet, but at least we could order food and drinks! 😂
However, we didn't get very far into Spain initially, as we made our first stop just beyond the border in Parc Natural del Cadí-Moixeró. Here, we went on a beautiful hike and spent the night at over 2000 meters altitude and just below 0 degrees overnight. 😋 This was actually our first time camping together, and we squeezed into a hammock and shared a sleeping bag – which worked out better than expected, and the night was pleasantly warm. The next morning, we set off early to the summit, where we had a wonderful view of the surrounding area. 😍😎
The city that never gets boring: Barcelona ☀️🎉
Next, we headed to Barcelona – a city that never gets boring. This is already my third time in Barcelona, but there's always something new to discover! We parked outside the city in nature, so we had to take the bus into the city every day – still much better than being in the middle of the city. In addition to the usual attractions that Barcelona has to offer, we also drove to the Muntanya de Montserrat, a mountain range 30 minutes away, where we had a beautiful campsite directly below the famous rock formations. From there, we went hiking and enjoyed a beautiful sunset with a view over the valley in the evening. 🌄
Valencia – definitely worth a visit! 🥰
Valencia really surprised us on our trip. Neither of us had been there before, but I had heard only good things about it, so we decided to stay for several days. We didn't regret it! In addition to the great fairgrounds with their futuristic buildings, we were especially impressed by the city center, which is really diverse and has beautiful restaurants and cafes. On our last day, we visited the city beach and met many new people at a beach meetup – it's just a shame that we had to move on so soon... 😬
Snorkeling on the Costa Blanca 🤿🐠
We were particularly excited for the next few days... the Costa Blanca supposedly has the best snorkeling spots in all of Spain. So, we bought a snorkel mask and went to the first spot: Denia. There, we had a dreamy campsite right at the snorkeling spot, so we went straight into the water when we arrived and saw an incredible number of fish despite the dusk! 🤗 We spent the next few days in the water, including at a hidden cave, where we saw huge schools of fish again.
We continued along the Costa Blanca to Calp – a real tourist town with a beautiful, long sandy beach. The setting is completed by the Parc Natural del Penyal d'Ifac – a rock on which many different bird species are at home and which is also the smallest national park in Spain. 😁👍
From Alicante to Almeria 🚐
In Alicante, we used the time to work, as there wasn't much to do, but we had another first-class campsite right on the cliff coast (we've been incredibly lucky with our campsites in general). Of course, we still checked out the city center of Alicante, which is very nice, but one day was sufficient.
Afterwards, we made a brief stop in Cartagena (which is not necessarily a must-see) and then continued our journey to Almeria. Here, our drive along the coast came to an end for the time being and we continued inland. However, since there are simply so many amazing places along the southern coast of Spain, the rest will be covered in SPAIN PART 2. 😜🤠
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