The ultimate guide: how to get to the Camino de Santiago

So you’ve booked your Camino adventure, the journey of a lifetime, an ancient pilgrimage covering 770 km from start to finish. But how on earth do you get to and from the trail? Rest assured we have you covered! In this guide, we have compiled the best ways to get to and from the Camino de Santiago so you can start your Camino journey without a hassle.

If you’re still planning out your trip, make sure you download RAW Travel’s free Camino de Santiago destination guide with all the information you’ll need for planning your hiking adventure.

Choosing the best international flights to the Camino de Santiago

Here’s which airports to search for when your hike start point is:

• St Jean Pied de Port: Best international airports are Paris (PAR) or Barcelona (BCN).
• Pamplona or Logrono: Best international airports are Barcelona (BCN) or Madrid (MAD).
• Burgos, Leon, Sarria or Finisterre: Best international airport is Madrid (MAD).

Ending in Santiago de Compostela: Best departure international airport is Madrid (MAD).

Travel to St Jean Pied De Port

There are many ways you can travel to St Jean Pied de Port to begin your full-length Camino adventure, also known as Camino Francés. Here are some popular routes.

France: Paris (Charles De Gaulle Aurport)

Train: Depending on the time your international flight arrives, you may be able to avoid a stopover in Paris and go straight to St Jean Pied de Port. There are trains approx. every 30 minutes from the ‘Airport CDG T2 station’ to ‘Paris Montparnasse’ (~55 minutes). From ‘Paris Montparnasse’ you can take the TGV fast-train to ‘Bayonne’ (~5 hours) and then catch the local train to St Jean Pied de Port (~1.5hrs). We recommend booking your TGV fast-train in advance (www.raileurope.com)

Bus: You can also catch the local bus from Bayonne to St Jean Pied de Port (~1 hour); it usually departs hourly.

Flight: You can fly from Paris CDG to Biarritz direct (~1.5 hours) and then catch the local bus via Bayonne to St Jean Pied de Port (~2 hours).

Note: you will need to walk from Bayona Mairie Station to Bayonne Station (~7 minutes’ walk).

Central Paris

Train: From ‘Paris Montparnasse’ you can take the TGV fast-train to ‘Bayonne’ (~5 hours) and then catch the local train to St Jean Pied de Port (~1.5 hours). We recommend booking your TGV fast-train in advance (www.raileurope.com)

Bus: There is a local bus from ‘Paris Centre – Bercy’, with either FlixBus or Ouibus, a good option if you are budget conscious; however, it is a longer journey (~11 hours).

France: Lyon

Train: From ‘Lyon Part Dieu’ station you can take a train via ‘Bordeaux-St-Jean’ (~6 hours) to ‘Bayonne’ (~2 hours) to ‘St Jean Pied de Port’ (~1.5 hours).

Flight: You can fly from Lyon (LYS) to Biarritz (BIQ) (~1 hour) and then catch the local bus via Bayonne to St Jean Pied de Port (~2 hours).

Note: you will need to walk from Bayona Mairie Station to Bayonne Station (~7 minutes’ walk)

Bus: There is a local bus with either Eurolines or FlixBus, a good option if you are budget conscious; however it is a longer journey (~14 hours).

France: Biarritz

Bus: From Biarritz there is a local bus to St Jean Pied de Port (~1.5 hours) with Conda bus company.

Transfer: RAW Travel provides transfers for your convenience from Biarritz Airport of Biarritz Central (~1 hour). This can be booked in advance through the local operator: Express Bouricott.

France: Bayonne

Bus: From Bayonne you can choose to take the local bus to St Jean Pied de Port (~1 hour) with Conda bus company.

Transfer: RAW Travel provides transfers for your convenience (~1 hour). Can be booked in advance through the local operator: Express Bouricott.

Spain: Pamplona

Transfer: RAW Travel provides transfers for your convenience; the journey takes ~1.5 hours and is run by our local operator Caminofacil. Please contact your Camino Destination Expert for a quotation.

Note: This journey is along a very windy road and not recommended for those who experience travel sickness.

Spain: Bilbao

The bus is the best way to travel from Bilbao to St Jean Pied de Port (~3–4 hours). It is run by ALSA bus company via Bayonne. 

Note: You will need to walk from Bayona Mairie Station to Bayonne Station (approx. 7 minutes’ walk).

SPAIN: San Sebastian

Bus is the best way to travel from San Sebastian to St Jean Pied de Port. The journey takes ~3.5 hours, and there are multiple operators, including ‘Conda’ and ‘Transportes Pesa’ via Bayonne.

SPAIN: MADRID

The most direct way to get to St Jean Pied de Port from Madrid is to travel to Pamplona via bus, train or flight and then follow the directions from there (see the Pamplona section above).

SPAIN: BARCELONA

The most direct way to get to St Jean Pied de Port from Barcelona is to travel to Pamplona via bus, train or flight and then follow the directions from there (see the Pamplona section above).

Travel to Logrono

MADRID

Train: If you want to bypass a stopover in Madrid and get straight to Logrono you may be able to, so dependent on your international flight arrival time. From Madrid ‘Barajas Airport T4’ you can take the metro train to ‘Atocha’ Station. From ‘Atocha’ you can take the train to Logrono, which will travel either direct or via ‘Tudela de Navarra’ or ‘Zaragoza Delicias’. The journey will take ~3.5 to 4 hours, dependent on the route. You can book your train direct on www.renfe.com or www.raileurope.com

Bus: You can catch the bus from either Barajas Airport or Madrid Central station to Logrono. The journey will take ~4 hours and is run by ALSA.

Flight: You can fly to Logrono (RJL) from Madrid (MAD) with Iberia Airlines; the journey takes ~50 minutes. You can book your flight in advance on www.iberia.com

BARCELONA

Train: Trains depart from ‘Barcelona Sants’ station and take ~4 hours. You can book your train direct on www.renfe.comor www.raileurope.com

Bus: The bus departs from ‘Sants’ station and takes ~ 6 hours. You can book this bus direct on ALSA here.

SAN SEBASTIAN 

Bus is the best way to travel from San Sebastian to Logrono. There are twice daily departures and the journey takes ~2 hours. The bus company for this service is La Estellesa.

BILBAO

The quickest way to travel to Logrono is by bus. There are departures three times a day and the  journey takes ~1.5 hours. The bus company for this service is ALSA.

Travel to Burgos

Santander (SDR) is the closest airport. Buses operate from here to Burgos and take ~3 hours.

MADRID

Bus: The quickest way to travel to Burgos is by bus. There are hourly departures and the journey takes ~3 hours. The bus company for this service is ALSA.

Train: To catch the train to Burgos from Madrid you will need to depart from ‘Madrid-Chamartin’ station. The journey takes ~2.5 hours. You can book your train direct on www.renfe.com or www.raileurope.com

BARCELONA

Train: The train from ‘Barcelona Sants’ station to Burgos takes ~6 hours. You can book your train direct on www.renfe.com or www.raileurope.com

Bus: Buses from Barcelona to Burgos take ~8 to 9 hours, and are operated by ALSA.

Travel to Leon

CLOSEST AIRPORTS

• Leon (LEN) is Leon’s airport; you can fly here from Barcelona.
• Oviedo (OVD) airport is close to Leon. To fly from cities such as Madrid, you will need come here, not Leon Airport. Buses run from here to Leon and take ~2.5 hours.

MADRID

Flight: You can fly to Oviedo direct with Iberia Airlines; the journey takes ~1 hour.

Train: You can catch the train from Madrid ‘Puerta de Atocha’ station to Leon, the journey takes approx 3.5hrs and generally departs twice daily. Or alternatively you can depart from Madrid ‘Chamartin’ station to Leon, taking approx. 3 hrs and generally departing every 4 hrs. You can book your train direct on www.renfe.com or www.raileurope.com.

Bus: Travel by bus is a good option for this route, the bus would depart from ‘Madrid Moncloa’ station to Leon, taking approx 3.5hrs duration and generally departing 4 times daily. This service is operated by ALSA.

BARCELONA

Flight: You can fly to Leon direct with Iberia Airlines, taking ~1.5 hours.

Train: Travel by train will take ~8 hours; there are departures every 4 hours. You can book your train direct on www.renfe.com or www.raileurope.com

Bus: Bus travel is possible, via Becilla de Valeraduey; however, the service is not regular. Generally it departs 6 times per week and takes 12 hours. This service is run by MonBus.

Travel to Ponferrada

MADRID

Train: The train to Ponferrada departs twice daily from ‘Madrid-Chamartin’ and takes ~4.5 hours.

Travel to Sarria

CLOSEST AIRPORTS

Santiago de Compostela (SCQ) or A Coruna (LCG).

SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA

Train: To travel to Sarria by train you will need to travel either via Monforte de Lemos, A Coruna or Ourense-Empalme. Usually, you will need to change trains in these places. Total travel time is ~ 3 to 4 hours. You can book your train direct on www.renfe.com or www.raileurope.com

Bus: There is a bus that travels from Santiago de Compostela to Sarria which takes approx 2.5hrs, however, please be aware this is not a regular service, usually only departing 6 times per week and with many stops en-route.

Transfers: RAW Travel provides transfers for your convenience which can pick-up from Santiago Airport or Santiago Hotel. The journey takes approx 1-1.5 hrs and is run by our local driver. To book this service please contact your Camino Destination Expert.

MADRID

Train: Departing from ‘Madrid-Chamartin’ station, the journey takes ~7 to 8 hours and generally runs 3 times a day. You can book your train direct on www.renfe.com or www.raileurope.com

Bus: Departing from Madrid ‘Estacion Sur’ the bus will travel either via Lugo or via Monforte de Lemos to Sarria. The journey will take ~8 to 9 hours. 

Note: the journey from Lugo or Monforte de Lemos to Sarria departs only 6 times per week, so we recommend you check out the timetable in advance to avoid issues. These buses are operated by ALSA & MonBus.

BARCELONA

Flight: From Barcelona you can either fly to Santiago de Compostela (SCQ) or A Coruna (LCG) Airport, both journeys would take the same duration of approx 1.5hrs. From both airports RAW Travel can arrange a private transfer for you, which takes ~1 to 1.5 hours to get to Sarria. Please contact your Camino Destination Expert to book this transfer if required.

Train: Train from Barcelona would travel via Monforte de Lemos, the trains generally depart at least 3 times per day, however it is a long journey of approx 12-13hrs.You can book your train direct on www.renfe.com or www.raileurope.com

A Coruna

Train: Trains run three times a day from A Coruna to Sarria and take ~2.5 hours. You can book your train direct on www.renfe.com or www.raileurope.com

Bus: Travel by bus is also a good economical option. The journey takes ~2.5 hours; however, departures are irregular – only 6 times per week.

Travel to O Cebreiro

Private Transfers: RAW Travel provides transfers for your convenience; the journey takes ~2 hours from Santiago de Compostela or 1.5 hours from A Coruna. Please contact your Camino Destination Expert to get a quotation for this service.

MADRID 

From ‘Madrid – Estacion Sur’ you can catch a bus to the closest station to O Cebreiro, which is called ‘Pedradita do Cebreiro’. The journey takes ~5.5 hours and departures are generally 4 times per day. This service is operated by ALSA.

A CORUNA

It is quickest to get to O Cebreiro (Pedrafita di Cebreiro) from A Coruna; ~1.5 to 2 hours. Departures are generally 5 times per day. This service is operated by ALSA.

Travel from Santiago De Compostela

Flights: From Santiago de Compostela (SCQ) you can fly to most major European cities as well as cities in the United Kingdom including London, Manchester, Liverpool and Dublin. There are a range of airlines that offer flights from Santiago de Compostela.

Trains:

• To Madrid: twice per day; ~5.5 hours.
• To Barcelona: best to travel to Madrid and then on to Barcelona Sants, ~8.5 hours, total.
• To Portugal: take the train to Vigo-Guixar (~1.5hrs), then on to Porto (Campanha; ~2.5 hours). You can also continue by train on to Lisbon ‘Lisboa Santa Apolonia’ (~3 hours).

You can book your train direct on www.renfe.com or www.raileurope.com

Bus: From the bus station in Santiago de Compostela you can travel to many cities in Spain. Buses are especially good for exploring the Galicia region.

Some popular destinations to travel to by bus:

• To Porto (Portugal): Travels via Vigo; ~3.5 to 4 hours.
• To Finisterre: Departs 4 to 6 times per day, taking anywhere from 2 to 3.5 hours depending on the route.

Need help planning for your Camino de Santiago adventure?

If your dream is to walk the Camino de Santiago but you’re still struggling to choose which route – Camino Frances, Camino del Norte or maybe Camino Primitivo – might be best for you, or if you find it hard to pull together a travel plan yourself, the team at RAW Travel has decades of experience in planning a Camino de Santiago pilgrim experience that fits your interests. 

Get in touch with our team to see the options RAW Travel can offer.

Disclaimer

The information on this document regarding times and frequency was correct at the time of collating. Please be aware that this may vary according to season. For accurate information at the time of travel check the websites given for the appropriate journey.

Trains can generally be booked 60 to 90 days in advance online. Buses can generally be booked a month in advance online.