Getting to Lloret de Mar
Located on the Mediterranean coast between Barcelona and the French border, Lloret de Mar is very well served by public transport.
By car, by plane or by train: there are several ways to get to Lloret de Mar.
Travelling to Lloret by car
The town of Lloret is on a very good motorway, the AP 7, that runs down from the French border. Turn off at exit number 9.
In Spain most of the road network is free, however some motorways have tolls. The cost of Spanish tolls varies according to the section you drive on and there is always an alternative or B-road option which is free.
If you choose to come to Lloret de Mar by car and to drive on the coast, here is some practical information. First you should know that Spanish driving laws are generally the same as UK laws. Besides, to drive in Spain, if you are a citizen of the European Union you only need a valid UK driving licence.
As to speed limits in Spain, you will notice that they are lower than in the UK. So you should be careful. Also please note that the authorised blood alcohol limit is 0.5g/L.
You must have a high visibility waistcoat inside your car (not in the boot) as well as two warning triangles. If you find yourself in a situation where you have to get out of your vehicle on the hard shoulder you must wear this jacket. If you do not you may be fined 90€.
In the event of an accident the number to dial is 112. If there are only material damages, call the Mossos de Esquadra (regional police) on 088.
To find out more about emergency numbers, consult our article “Which numbers to call in case of emergency in Lloret de Mar”
Travelling to Lloret by train
You can travel to Lloret de Mar by train. Thanks to the high speed Paris-Barcelona line, you can reach the Costa Brava departing from London on the Eurostar and changing in Paris, from where it is a 6-7 journey. To book a London-Barcelona train ticket, go to a train station or use the website voyages-sncf.com.
Once you arrive in Barcelona, you should take a suburban train called “rodalies” which will take you to Blanes in 1h30. With departures every half hour from Barcelona, there is no need to book your ticket in advance. From there, a bus or a taxi will take you to Lloret de Mar.
Travelling to Lloret by plane
Another way of travelling to Lloret de Mar from the UK is by plane. With two airports nearby, Girona and Barcelona, the seaside resort is very well served.
There are regular low cost flights to the Costa Brava from the main cities in UK. Especially during the high season, you can choose from a wide range of flights to Girona or Barcelona-El Prat.
Girona is the closest airport to Lloret de Mar, however flights to Barcelona-El Prat are often cheaper.
Once you arrive at the airport, it is easy to get to Lloret. From Girona, a bus will take you to the centre of Lloret de Mar. If you land at Barcelona, there are shuttles to Lloret with the SARFA bus company almost every hour. They can drop you at the Lloret de Marbus station or at Fenals beach.
If you would rather take your time, this little stopover at Barcelona may be the opportunity to visit the city!
Another possibility for getting to Lloret de Mar from one of these airports is to rent a car. If you have a lot of luggage and there are many of you, this may prove to be a sensible choice. This would also enable you to leave Lloret de Mar and to visit the Costa Brava and the hinterland.
Renting a car in Spain
To rent a car you will need to produce your British passport, a credit card and a valid driving license at the agency.
In Catalonia you will find the same major rental companies as in the UK (Sixt, Hertz, Europcar…) as well as other smaller companies. In all cases, it is important to find out about rental terms and options.
For example, adding a second driver will lead to an additional daily charge, as is the case for drivers under 25 or those who have been driving for less than 5 years. Finally you will often be asked to block a large deposit on your credit card or to pay an additional insurance fee.
You should also think of asking what fuel you should use in your car and translate it. For your information, “gasolina” means petrol and not diesel… A detail which could help you avoid some difficult situations!
Prepare for your holidays in Lloret de Mar now: