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 790km 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

Airports to search for based on your hike start and end points:

• St Jean Pied de Port: Best international airports are Paris (CDG)/(ORY), Biarritz (BIQ) or Barcelona (BCN).
• Pamplona or Logrono: Best international airports are Madrid (MAD), Bilbao (BIO) and Pamplona (PNA).
• Burgos, Leon, Sarria or Finisterre: Best international airport is Madrid (MAD), Santiago de Compostela (SCQ) and A Coruña (LCG).

Ending in Santiago de Compostela or Finisterre: Best departure international airports are Santiago de Compostela (SCQ), A Coruña (LCG) and Madrid (MAD).

Local transport

You can easily plan and book local train journeys using apps from Spanish Railways (RENFE), French Railways (SNCF)—usually available about six weeks before travel—or through Rail Europe. For bus travel, apps from ALSA, FlixBus and MonBus allow you to check schedules and book tickets directly on your phone. Most apps let you store tickets digitally, making it easy to travel to, from, and along the trail while on the go. Trains are typically bookable 60–90 days in advance, and buses around a month ahead.

Travel to St Jean Pied De Port

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

Recommended AIRPORTS

• Paris (CDG) / (ORY)
• Biarritz (BIQ)
• Barcelona (BCN)

FRANCE: PARIS

We always recommend having 1–2 nights in Paris before making your way to Day 1 of the trip, as itineraries can’t be adjusted last minute for flight delays or lost luggage.

• From CDG (Charles de Gaulle): Trains run about every 30 minutes from CDG T2 station to Paris Montparnasse (about 55 mins).
• From ORY (Orly): Take the OrlyVal shuttle and RER train to Paris Montparnasse (about 40–50 mins).

From Paris Montparnasse, take the TGV fast train to Bayonne (about 5 hours), then transfer to the local train to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port (about 1.5 hours). Bayonne is a popular stop for pilgrims, as many journeys require a connection here to continue by bus or train to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port.

FRANCE: BIARRITZ

You can fly directly from Paris CDG to Biarritz (approximately 1.5 hours). Upon arrival, several local transport options are available to reach Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port.

• Bus: From Biarritz, take a bus via Bayonne to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port (about 1.5–2 hours). Make sure to leave enough time for connections. Schedules posted on SNCF.

• Private Transfer: Express Bourricot offers private transfers from Biarritz Airport or Biarritz Central to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port (about 1 hour). This can be booked directly through the operator for a convenient, stress-free journey.

SPAIN: BARCELONA

Crossing from Spain into France to reach Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port is a long journey that requires multiple transfers. Whether by train or bus, you’ll need to change vehicles in cities like Hendaye or Bayonne, so it’s important to allow plenty of time for connections.

• Train: Take a train from Barcelona Sants to Hendaye, then connect via Bayonne to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port (about 7–8 hours). You can book your train direct on www.renfe.com or www.raileurope.com

• Bus: Take an ALSA bus from Barcelona via Bayonne to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port (around 6–7 hours, with a short walk between Bayonne stations).

SPAIN: BILBAO

Bus: Take an ALSA bus via Bayonne to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port (about 3–4 hours). You’ll need to walk a short distance between Bayonne stations.

Private Transfer: Book a private transfer through a local operator like Express Bourricot (around 3 hours) for a convenient, direct option.

SPAIN: PAMPLONA

Bus: Catch a direct bus from Pamplona to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port (about 2–2.5 hours), operated by ALSA.

Train + Bus: Take a train to Irun or Bayonne, then transfer to a local train or bus to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port (around 3 hours total).

Travel to Pamplona and Logroño

Recommended AIRPORTS

• Madrid (MAD)
• Bilbao (BIO)
• Pamplona Airport (PNA)

SPAIN: MADRID

To Pamplona: Atocha Station (Madrid Puerta de Atocha) is Madrids main railway hub, located south of the centre near Retiro Park. It serves high-speed and long-distance trains to cities like Barcelona, Seville, Pamplona, and Logroño. From Barajas Airport, take the metro or a taxi to reach the station. Trains to Pamplona take 3–3.5 hours, sometimes with a transfer at Tudela de Navarra, while ALSA buses offer a 4–5 hour alternative from the airport or Madrid Central.

To Logroño: You can reach Logroño by train (~3.5–4 hours) from Atocha Station, or by bus (~4 hours) with ALSA. Some train routes connect via Tudela de Navarra or Zaragoza Delicias.

SPAIN: BILBAO

To Pamplona: Bilbao is the main transport hub in northern Spain, with the airport (BIO) and central bus and train stations providing connections. Buses to Pamplona take around 2–2.5 hours, while combining a train and bus via Tudela takes about 3 hours. Both options offer reliable, comfortable travel for reaching the city.

To Logroño: The quickest way to Logroño from Bilbao is by bus (~1.5 hours) with several daily departures operated by ALSA.

SPAIN: PAMPLONA

Pamplona Airport (PNA) is a small regional airport serving northern Spain, with connections mainly from Madrid and Barcelona. If your journey starts or finishes here, the airport is easily accessible from these larger hubs.

To Logroño: You can reach Logroño from Pamplona by bus (~2 hours) with regular departures, or by combining a train and bus via Tudela or Castejón (~2–2.5 hours). Both options are convenient and reliable for travelling between Pamplona and Logroño.

Travel to Burgos

Recommended AIRPORTS

• Madrid (MAD)
• Bilbao (BIO)

SPAIN: MADRID

Bus: Burgos is approximately 2–2.5 hours from Madrid by bus. ALSA operates regular buses from Madrid Central or Barajas Airport, making it a reliable and convenient option for reaching Burgos directly.

Train: Train travel from Madrid to Burgos is also a option, though less frequent than buses. Trains depart from Madrid Chamartín Station to Burgos-Rosa de Lima, taking approximately 2.5–3 hours on high-speed AVE or Alvia services. You can book your train direct on www.renfe.com or www.raileurope.com

SPAIN: Bilbao

Bus: Bilbao Airport (BIO), buses run to Burgos (~2 hours) with several departures daily operated by ALSA, providing a reliable and convenient option for travellers.

SPAIN: BARCELONA

Train: The train from ‘Barcelona Sants’ station to Burgos (~6 hours). You can book your train direct on www.renfe.com or www.raileurope.com
Bus: Buses from Barcelona to Burgos (~8.5 hours), and are operated by ALSA

Travel to Leon

CLOSEST AIRPORTS

• Madrid (MAD)
• Leon (LEN) is Leon’s airport; you can fly here from Madrid and 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.

SPain: 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.

SPAIN: 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 Monforte de Lemos

Recommended AIRPORTS

• Madrid (MAD)
• Santiago de Compostela (SCQ)
• A Coruna (LCG)

SPAIN: MADRID

Train: Trains depart twice daily from Madrid-Chamartín Station to Monforte de Lemos, taking approximately 4.5 hours.You can book your train direct on www.renfe.com or www.raileurope.com.

SPAIN: A Coruña OR Santiago

Train: Travellers can fly into A Coruña (LCG) or Santiago de Compostela (SCQ), then continue by train or bus to Monforte de Lemos (~2–3 hours).

Travel to Sarria

CLOSEST AIRPORTS

• Madrid (MAD)
• Santiago de Compostela (SCQ)
• A Coruna (LCG)

SPAIN: MADRID

Train: Trains to Sarria depart from Madrid-Chamartín Station and take approximately 4–4.5 hours. Most services require a transfer at Monforte de Lemos, though there is usually one direct train per day. In some cases, passengers may be transferred from train to bus from Ourense to Sarria due to track works. You can book your train direct on www.renfe.com or www.raileurope.com.

Bus: Departing from Madrid Estación Sur, buses travel to Sarria either via Lugo or Monforte de Lemos, taking approximately 8–9 hours.

Note: Connections from Lugo or Monforte de Lemos to Sarria run only six times per week, so it’s important to check the timetable in advance. Services are operated by ALSA and MonBus, providing reliable long-distance travel options.

SPAIN: 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.

Private Transfers: RAW Travel offers convenient transfers from either Santiago Airport or your Santiago hotel. The journey, operated by our local driver, takes approximately 1 to 1.5 hours. This service must be booked a minimum of 8 weeks in advance. To arrange your transfer, please contact your Camino Destination Expert.

SPAIN: 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 Finisterre

SPAIN: SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA

Bus: The bus service between Santiago and Finisterre runs up to six times daily from April to September, offering plenty of flexibility for travellers. The journey takes around 2 to 3½ hours, with tickets available at either the Santiago or Finisterre bus stations for approximately €15–€20. We recommend this option for its affordability and convenience. For a smoother departure, we suggest spending your final night in Santiago after visiting Finisterre, ensuring the best onward travel options. You can book your train direct on ALSA or MonBus

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 A Coruña: About 1–1.5 hours, ideal for regional trips within Galicia.

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. Additionally, we highly recommend visiting the Rome2Rio website, which provides up-to-date and comprehensive information on transfers and flights, specifically tailored to individual travel requirements.