Camino Frances transport

[Theresag]

Hi, we are landing in Madrid on 17 July and then need to travel to Leon, what is the best way to travel there. How far is the station/bus terminal from airport. First timers in Europe, abit apprehensive!!!

 

[Bradypus]

There are a number of buses direct from the airport (terminal 4) to Leon each day. You can search and book on the ALSA website: www.alsa.es

 

[Dorpie]

Agree with @Bradypus that the bus is a good way of getting around. In my experience of planning getting to and from Madrid to Santiago and Santiago to Porto road beat out rail. I'm sure there are exceptions to this but Spanish roads seem to be pretty quiet and you can travel fast. In the UK I'd rather do almost anything than take a long distance bus.

 

[TMcA]

We flew overnight to Madrid and took the bus to Burgos. That ride is an hour plus shorter than the ride to Leon. I was slightly cramped in my bus seat. But I'm a somewhat big guy (6ft tall and 200 lbs).

Access to the Madrid metro and rail system is almost directly above the bus pickup point, so taking the Cercania line to the train station is not really difficult although it may entail a 1/2 hour ride. Then you will hopefully have your first ride on a high speed train and appreciate the comfort and speed of train transport.

If you have used a subway system where you live, you can probably manage the transit to the originating rail station. Or manage it, if necessary, by asking some fellow traveler for his/her assistance. If you don't speak much Spanish this will be your first Camino baby step...politely seeking assistance from a local.

If this sounds too intimidating, opt for the bus.

Tom

P.S. Read some of the forum posts about getting to the Camino - there is a wealth of info related to your question.

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/forums/traveling-to-from-the-camino.19/

 

[Bradypus]

Agree with @Bradypus that the bus is a good way of getting around. In my experience of planning getting to and from Madrid to Santiago and Santiago to Porto road beat out rail. I'm sure there are exceptions to this but Spanish roads seem to be pretty quiet and you can travel fast. In the UK I'd rather do almost anything than take a long distance bus.

Personally I prefer train travel to buses. The Spanish rail services are very good and there is a lot of investment in them going on. But it is probably not worth the time and trouble spent travelling into central Madrid and switching to the main line rail network just for the single journey to Leon when a cheap direct bus service runs right from the airport itself.