Campervan hire at Barcelona Airport
Land at El Prat, collect the keys at the terminal and hit the road without ever setting foot in the city. We hand over our Volkswagen California Ocean T7 — pop-up roof, two-burner kitchen, fridge, parking heater and beds for four — at Terminal 1 or Terminal 2 of Barcelona Airport, and it's driven on a standard car licence (EU category B or equivalent).
Check-in is done beforehand from your phone (details, licence and signature), so on arrival day all that's left is a quick walk-around of the van and off you go. Pickup and return are chosen separately, so you can start at the airport and finish at Sants railway station, Barceloneta, Mataró or Girona Airport.
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Delivery at Terminal 1 or Terminal 2 of Barcelona Airport
Barcelona–El Prat has two terminals about 4 km apart, and it pays to know which one you land at, because you can't walk between them. Vueling, Iberia and most long-haul carriers use T1; Ryanair, easyJet and Wizz Air use T2. The terminal is printed on your boarding pass, and if you get it wrong there's a free shuttle bus between the two that takes about 10 minutes.
When booking you choose T1 or T2 as your pickup point and we confirm the exact meeting spot in the terminal by WhatsApp (+34 669 91 20 57). The delivery fee is €50 per leg at either terminal, and the return is chosen separately: drop the van at the same terminal or at another location.
If your flight lands at Girona–Costa Brava Airport (common on many Ryanair routes), we also deliver there for €90 per leg; from Girona you're little more than half an hour from the first coves of the Costa Brava.
Land, inspect the van and drive off: check-in is already done
Before your trip you complete the digital check-in from your phone: personal details, a photo of your licence and the contract signature. That means no paperwork at the airport: we go over the California together, show you the roof, kitchen and heater, and you leave with the keys. A second driver is free — they just need to complete the check-in too.
Bring your passport or national ID, your driving licence and the main driver's credit card. We ask for drivers aged 26 or over with a category B licence held for at least 2 years. If you're from outside the EU, your licence must be valid in Spain; if it isn't, you'll need an International Driving Permit, issued in your home country before you fly.
The deposit is €1,500 as a pre-authorisation on your credit card: nothing is actually charged if all goes well, and the hold is released after the return. Unsure whether your licence qualifies? Email hola@campervan.cat before booking.
Timing and packing tips for arriving by plane
Book the handover with some slack: landing, passport control if you're arriving from outside Schengen, and baggage reclaim can easily take 45 minutes to an hour. Give us your flight number when booking, and if it's delayed, message us on WhatsApp to adjust the meeting time.
On the way back, plan to return the van about two hours before a European flight and three before an intercontinental one, allowing time for the inspection. If you land at night or after a long-haul flight, don't set off on a two-hour drive: spend the first night close by, in Castelldefels or Sitges, under half an hour away, and start the route rested.
Bedding can be hired with your booking so it doesn't take up suitcase space; the two-burner kitchen and fridge are built into the California, so there's no need for camping stoves or gas cartridges (which can't fly anyway). Pack layers: it's hot on the coast, but Pyrenean nights get cool even in summer.
Prices and the airport delivery fee
Rental runs from €85/night in low season to €140/night in summer, with a minimum stay of 3 to 7 nights depending on the season. A 30% down payment confirms the booking; the balance is paid before pickup, and the booking calendar shows the exact price for your dates before you commit.
Delivery fees are charged per leg and chosen separately for pickup and return: Barcelona Airport T1 or T2, €50; Sants station, €36; Barceloneta, €36; Mataró (Via Europa), free; Girona Airport, €90. A typical combination — pickup at T1, return at Sants to catch a train — comes to €86 in total.
100 km per day are included. If you're heading for the Pyrenees or driving the full length of the Costa Brava, upgrading to 200 km/day for €10/day, or unlimited mileage for €30/day, is usually worth it.
Where to go from the airport without driving into Barcelona
From El Prat you never need to cross Barcelona. Heading north, the AP-7 motorway loops inland around the city and puts you on the Costa Brava in about an hour and a half: Tossa de Mar, Palamós, Begur and the coves of Palafrugell. Heading south, the C-32 gets you to Sitges in half an hour, and just beyond lies the Penedès wine region — Vilafranca and Sant Sadurní d'Anoia, home of cava — about 45 minutes away.
Montserrat is an hour away on the A-2, and the Pyrenees about two: the Cerdanya valley via the C-16 and the Cadí tunnel, or the Berguedà if you'd rather stop halfway. For quiet beaches and light traffic, Tarragona and the Costa Daurada are an hour south on the AP-7, with the Ebro Delta two hours away.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know whether I land at T1 or T2?+
It's on your boarding pass. As a rule of thumb, Vueling, Iberia and long-haul airlines use T1, while Ryanair, easyJet and Wizz Air use T2. If your terminal changes, let us know on WhatsApp — we deliver to both for the same fee.
How much does delivery at Barcelona Airport cost?+
€50 per leg, at T1 or T2. Pickup and return are charged separately, so collecting and returning at the airport comes to €100 in total; at Girona Airport the fee is €90 per leg.
Can I pick up at the airport and return somewhere else?+
Yes. Each leg is chosen separately: return at Sants station or Barceloneta (€36), Mataró (free) or Girona Airport (€90). A typical example is flying into T1 and returning at Sants to continue by train.
What documents do I need on handover day?+
Passport or national ID, a category B driving licence held for at least 2 years, and a credit card for the deposit; the driver must be 26 or over. If your licence was issued outside the EU and isn't valid in Spain, you'll also need an International Driving Permit.
What if my flight is delayed?+
You give us your flight number when booking; if it's delayed, message us on WhatsApp at +34 669 91 20 57 as soon as you know so we can adjust the meeting time at the terminal.
How does the deposit work?+
It's a pre-authorisation on your credit card: the amount is held but never charged, and it's released after the van is returned without incident.
