Car Hire in Mérida

About Mérida

Mérida is a city in the western part of central Spain and belongs to the province of Extremadura. Two important rivers, the Guadiana and the Albarregas flow through the city. These two rivers played an important role in the founding of the city, whose beginnings date back more than 2000 years.

If you have decided to take a road trip through the Estremadura, Merida is one of the places to see. It is considered the heart of ancient Spain, where you will find a variety of remains from the Roman era, Gothic buildings, Roman walls, temples, monuments, as well as beautiful nature, mountains, rivers, forests, and, of course, excellent cuisine.

In addition to the Roman sites already mentioned, which are spread all over the city, you can also visit many museums here, which have a rich collection of exhibits worth seeing. Moreover, the city hosts various festivals throughout the year, offering visitors a variety of cultural and entertainment content that evokes the unique atmosphere of this still vibrant Roman city. One of the most interesting things is that the Roman remains are very well preserved. For example, the Roman Theater, which was built more than 2000 years ago, is still in use today and every year a theatre festival is held here where this ancient Roman theatre is one of the central venues.

So if you have rented a car and are heading out to explore Spain, Merida is one of the places worth visiting. You will get to see a different, new face of Spain that you have not seen elsewhere.

Basic info and car hire in Mérida

• Location: Central  Spain
• Population: 59,352
• Official language: Spanish
• Currency: Euro
• Weather:   Mediterranean climate
• Holidays in Mérida: Find more information about public holidays in Spain here.
• Internet coverage: Hotels, bars, restaurants, and cafés offer Wi-Fi.
• Road conditions:  Most roads in Mérida are in good condition.
• Car hire in Mérida:  The most common pick-up point for vehicles in Mérida is Mérida downtown. Please note that prices vary frequently. It is best to book a car 3 to 8 weeks in advance of your desired pick-up date - this will ensure you get the cheapest rental rate. Alternatively, it is also possible to find cheap last-minute car hire. Find the best deal on car hire in Mérida!

 Driving in Mérida

To drive a car in Mérida you must be 18 years old, have a valid driver's license, and show valid proof of insurance for the vehicle you are driving. In Mérida, vehicles drive on the right-hand side of the road. The speed limit on the motorway is 120 km/h (75 mph). On normal roads the speed limit is 90 km/h (75 mph), on urban roads, it is 50 km/h (50 mph), and on all other through roads, there is a speed limit sign.

It's good to know that Spain has strict drink-driving laws, allowing only 0.5 milligrams of alcohol per milliliter of blood - stricter than in the UK, where the limit is 0.8. Novice drivers are effectively banned from driving under the influence with a very low limit of 0.1 mg/l. Seatbelts front and rear are compulsory everywhere.

 One thing: for those not used to roundabouts: There are a lot of them in Spain! And the following rules apply: The driver who is already in the roundabout has the right of way unless there is a traffic light at the roundabout that regulates the flow of traffic. Before leaving the roundabout, you should put on your right turn signal to indicate that you are leaving the roundabout.

If you are caught speeding in Mérida, the Spanish police act very quickly, and lack of Spanish is not considered an excuse. The police do not mind that you are a tourist on holiday, and fines are often issued immediately unless you can prove that you are a permanent resident in Spain. If you receive a fine, make sure the officer gives you an official receipt and if you pay immediately, the fine is usually reduced by 20%.

The Spanish law on the use of indicators on motorways is strictly enforced. You risk a fine if you fail to signal before overtaking and after overtaking if you move back into the adjacent lane. Traffic coming from the left always has the right of way. If you see a solid white line in the middle of the road, do not cross it. Continue until you either see a dotted white line or look for a sign that says "Cambio de Sentido" where you can safely and legally turn around.

• Age limits: The minimum age to drive a car in Spain is 18 years. However, most car rental companies require you to be at least 21 to rent a car and at least 25 years to avoid paying an additional young driver fee. 
• International Driving Permit:  Yes, if you are a non-EU license holder.  
• Additional papers:   Identification(passport), a valid driving license, and valid proof of insurance. (It is advisable to buy insurance at the car hire agency in case your policy doesn't cover you while driving in Spain)
• Additional requirements:  Glasses (in case you need glasses, you must always have a spare pair in the car), light bulbs (are usually already in the car and are provided by the car rental company), warning triangle (2 are required for all vehicles registered in Spain and 1 if coming from abroad), high visibility vest (recently made compulsory)- First aid kit (not compulsory, but we strongly recommend you have it with you, just in case).
• Children in the car:  If you are traveling with children under 12 or less than 135cm tall, you are required by law to have a child seat in your car. If you do not have your own, most car rental companies will provide one for a fee. However, it is advisable to request such a seat before collecting the vehicle, otherwise one may not always be available.
• Driving side of the road: Right
• Lights:  Check that all lights are working, clean, and correctly aimed.
• General speed limits:  The speed limit is 50 km/h in cities, 90 km/h on rural roads, and 120 km/h on the motorway.
• Parking suggestions:  Parking is prohibited in Spain in all areas where the curbs are marked yellow. The parking spaces marked in blue usually have a parking meter and you must buy a parking ticket to park in these spaces. You will usually find a machine nearby where you can purchase your parking ticket. Most of these blue areas have a parking limit of 2 hours, but this is displayed on the machine.

What to see in Mérida

The museum of Roman Art

Museo Nacional de Arte Romano or the National Museum of Roman art is a tribute to Roman ingenuity and achievement. The museum itself offers a very attractive appearance that is a blend of ancient and modern. Inside, you can expect to see an impressive collection of Roman remains from the wider area. Apart from tools and accessories, there are also works of art such as various sculptures and paintings on display. 

Acueducto de los Milagros - The miraculous aqueduct of Mérida

Undoubtedly, the 850-meter long and 25-meter high aqueduct is one of the highlights of human civilization in Roman times. It is a sight you must see. It is on the list of sacred heritage and at the time of its construction it represented a technological and architectural surplus and, of course, a step towards the modern world in terms of water supply.

The Roman Theater

One of the architectural marvels of the Romans is also located in the city center and is still actively used today. Every year a theatre festival is held here, showcasing performances from all over the world. The theatre is very well preserved and part of it has even been restored as it started to sink into the ground throughout history, but at the beginning of the 20th century, it was protected and restored with the right approach so that it can be seen by tourists today. 

The Puente Romano bridge

The bridge itself is interesting mainly because it is considered to be the oldest bridge still in existence from ancient times. Today, the bridge is open to pedestrians and offers beautiful views of the countryside and the river that flows under it. At the same time, it is also considered a very popular photo motif, as most of the photos on Merida's social networks appear directly from this bridge.

Roman Circus in Merida

Originally, it was mainly used as a venue for chariot races. However, its use was later expanded. Among other things, it was the site of sea games. It is considered one of the best-preserved circuses from the Roman period. There is still a preserved place for chariots, entrances for the competitors, and stands for the spectators, divided into both seats and stands.

Best restaurants in Mérida:

Barbarossa

NATURA GastroArt

Capriccio Italiano

El Puchero de la Nieta

Sybarit Gastroshop

Restaurante Rex Numitor