Getting There and Away

Written by Celine Fournier, David Garcia, Javier Garcia
31/08/2025
Stunning view of Santiago de Compostela Cathedral with people enjoying the sunlit plaza.
Jo Kassis, Pexels

Santiago de Compostela is well-equipped with major transport hubs, including Santiago-Rosalía de Castro Airport (SCQ) and a modern Intermodal Station. The Intermodal Station efficiently integrates both train and bus services, and a pedestrian walkway connects it directly to the city's historic center, making onward travel seamless.

By Air:

Santiago-Rosalía de Castro Airport (SCQ) is the primary airport, located approximately 10-15 kilometers from the city center. Direct flights are available from several Spanish cities, such as Madrid and Barcelona, with carriers like Iberia, Ryanair, and Vueling. A flight from Madrid typically takes around 1 hour 15 minutes, with one-way fares starting from approximately €23-€59. From Barcelona, flights take about 1 hour 45 minutes. Some direct international flights also operate from European cities like London, Frankfurt, and Zurich.

Airport to City Center:

From Santiago-Rosalía de Castro Airport, the urban bus service (Line 6A) provides an economical and convenient transfer to the city center, including stops at the bus and train stations. The journey takes approximately 20-30 minutes and costs around €1-€5.10 for a single or return ticket. Taxis are also readily available, offering a quicker transfer of about 14-20 minutes for a fixed fare of approximately €21.

By Train:

Santiago de Compostela's train station is a significant hub, offering fast connections. High-speed AVE and Alvia services connect Santiago with Madrid in approximately 3 to 3.5 hours, with fares from around €23.41-€50. Renfe operates these services, along with Avant and Regional trains linking Santiago to other Galician cities like A Coruña and Vigo, with short travel times (e.g., A Coruña to Santiago from €6.88). Trains also connect to Porto, Portugal.

By Bus:

The Intermodal Station also serves as the central bus terminal, offering extensive national and regional routes. Companies like Alsa and FlixBus operate services from various Spanish cities. A bus journey from Madrid to Santiago de Compostela typically takes 8-10 hours, with tickets ranging from approximately €23-€76. Shorter regional routes, such as from Vigo, take about 1 hour 20 minutes with fares around €13. Buses also connect Santiago to Porto, Portugal, in approximately 3 hours 40 minutes for around €29.

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