Bilbao to Barcelona

[Wjklewis]

My wife and I are in the process of planning next years summer trip. From Ireland we can get a ferry to Bilbao. Our thinking at the moment, is to get to Barcelona and catch a ferry to Italy. We have two weeks or so to do that leg. I don't really know anything about Spain, but seems to be good for van life in general. We would appreciate any information you could share., places to see, routes to take, Toll roads? (should I get a tag), Aires. Just anything that would help us plan our trip.

 

[Mark1965]

Barcelona is straight forward to get to from Bilbao, basically head towards Zaragoza/Lleda and it wll be signed pretty much from there on in.The Port of Barcelona is that side of Barcelona and again you will see the signs for it easily. There are plenty of small towns en route, most have facilities for Camper Vans etc.

I know you can get the ferry across to Genoa and also 3 other Ports around that area including Rome.

Regarding Tolls, there are good roads from Bilbao to Barcelona and most are not tolls. If there are they are not expensive like the French ones! We drove from Calais to Lake Como and then on to Venice and Rimini, then Sorrento,Rome and Pisa this summer. We had a fantastic time and the Italian Motorways and Main roads are in good order.
The Italian Tolls are very cheap and its not really worth going out of your way to avoid them. Some are so cheap its more of an inconvieniance queing to pay than the actual fees!

Anyway you will have a great time, Have you not thought of getting ferry from Ireland to France and then driving down to the Med and then along into Italy Via Nice, Monaco and then into Italy. We drove back this way and it was fantastic scenery all the way.
Depending on when you are going i recomend the ACSI camping directory and Card to get discounted site fees (depending on the season dates). The directory is good just for locating sites..
Mark

 

[Wjklewis]

Thanks Mark, thats very helpful. We have done the Dublin to Cherbourg ferry twice so thought Spain might be a wee change. I know I should not be but I am a little apprehensive about driving in Italy. I have heard that they are mad drivers. What was your experience? My wife wants to see Pompeii and Lake Garda.
We hope to go Mid-May home mid-August. I have taken note of the ASCI directory.

 

[Mr porky]

Haro is a lovely town in the rioja region, they have a free aire or a campsite.

 

[Bleau’s]

Drove down to Pompeii last year no problems driving in Italy and we stopped at a site across from the entrance to Pompeii so an easy walk we liked Lucca for something a bit less commercial

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[Barclaybasher]

The ferry gets into Bilbao at 8 am, Barcelona is 7 hours drive away on pretty empty dual carriageways (until you get to Barcelona).
I have never stopped on that route in 20+ years apart from rest breaks as the ferries I use to get to Mallorca leave around 10-11pm.
Apart from the section to Logrono the route is pretty flat and boring.....
Doing it again in January

 

[BillyBear]

You could pop along the coast a short way from Bilbao to the town of Zumaia and the Flysch. Strange rock formations and well worth a visit. There are so many places to visit on the way down to Barcelona that will soon eat up your two week trip down that way. Zaragoza is worth a visit and not far from Belchite a town destroyed by war or Albarricin which has been described as Spains prettiest village. The above is four places you could go. Step off the motorway and explore a little as flat and boring it is not.

 

[Wjklewis]

Drove down to Pompeii last year no problems driving in Italy and we stopped at a site across from the entrance to Pompeii so an easy walk we liked Lucca for something a bit less commercial

Do uou know the name of
the site?

 

[Bleau’s]

Do uou know the name of
the site?

Will look for it and post it when I find it

 

[Razamataz]

The ferry gets into Bilbao at 8 am, Barcelona is 7 hours drive away on pretty empty dual carriageways (until you get to Barcelona).
I have never stopped on that route in 20+ years apart from rest breaks as the ferries I use to get to Mallorca leave around 10-11pm.
Apart from the section to Logrono the route is pretty flat and boring.....
Doing it again in January

Do the exact same journey in late August… by car.
Normally arrive in Barcelona around 2/3 pm … always early for palma ferry ⛴

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[pandas]

Do uou know the name of
the site?

Sounds like Camping Zeus - right opposite the main entrance. very tight fit between the trees. Several others nearby though. Also next the train station so easy to get to the Amalfi coast and Herculaneum

 

[pandas]

My initial thought is that Spain (and Portugal) has loads to see, of course ditto Italy except they are almost in two different continents. If you ended up in say Nice you could ferry to Corsica > Sardinia > into Naples (or Sicily) > all the sites you mentioned on the way back up through Italy including Florence of course. Recon that would take you a few months - 3.

 

[Bleau’s]

Yes it was camping Zeus but we was on the overspill new area with a different entrance easily got in with a 9 metre tag axle also stayed at hu Firenze in Florence and happy village camping roma near Rome with a courtesy bus to the station.

 

[Wjklewis]

Guys great info, many thanks