Planning a trip to Santiago de Compostela

The only international airport in Galicia is Aeropuerto de Santiago-Rosalía de Castro, east of the city in Lavacolla (tel. 90-240-47-04), 11km (6 3/4 miles) on the road to Lugo. There are at least seven daily flights from Madrid and three from Barcelona. During the summer, there is also nonstop service from London, Dublin, Milan, Basel, and Frankfurt.

From A Coruña, 21 trains make the half-hour trip daily at a cost of 5.05€‒8€. Eleven trains arrive daily from Madrid; the 3‒4-hour trip costs 15€‒46€. The 20-minute walk to the cathedral is 1.3 km (0.8 mi). A taxi to an in-town hotel is about 7€.

Buses, leaving on the hour, connect A Coruña with Santiago (trip time 30‒90 minutes) and cost 6.75€ one-way. For information, contact Monbus (tel. 98-229-29-00). The fast train connections have effectively put long distance buses from Madrid out of business.

If you’re driving, take the express highway (A-9/E-50) south from A Coruña to reach Santiago. From Madrid, N-VI runs to Galicia. From Lugo, head south along N-640.

The city tourist office, at Rúa del Villar, 63 (tel. 98-155-51-29), is open May through October 9am‒9pm daily, November through April 10am‒6pm daily.