Bus from Santiago to the Airport Porto

[Rieky]

Hello,

We will walk with five lady's from Porto to Santiago in March.
Can you tell me if we can take bus or train to the airport back?
We have a hotel near the airport.
Rieky

 

[miguel_gp]

Hi Rieky,

There is a bus from Santiago to Porto Airport (one a day leaving at 11:00am). Timetable\Prices can be found in the International section of the Alsa website here.

You can also get the train from Santiago to Vigo and then change for the International Train to Porto. There are two a day leaving 07:46 and 19:37 from Vigo. This arrives in Central Porto so you would need to get metro\taxi\bus out to your hotel. Details of the train here.

Regards
Mig

 

[maricristina]

I recommend the bus from Santiago which stops at the airport on the way to Porto. We were warned not to take the train by friends who had done so and regretted it. I booked seats with Alsa on line but could not pay using any of our credit or debit cards. We live in England. However they do accept payment by Paypal. I am warning you of this because I had to phone Spain to find out why my cards "failed". The bus takes you to, or near, places you will have walked through on the caminho. "Bom caminho!) to you. Maricristina

 

[miguel_gp]

.....We were warned not to take the train by friends who had done so and regretted it......The bus takes you to, or near, places you will have walked through on the caminho

Just to say that the train journey is very scenic and also criss crosses the Camino Route and towns until at least the Poruguese border. The line then follows the Minho estuary and the coastline before returning inland to Porto. The train looks to be slightly cheaper (EUR 25 approx, compared to EUR 32.5 on the bus). Whilst there are quite a few trains daily between Santiago and Vigo there is the slightly inconvenient times of the two daily trains between Vigo and Porto.

I'm not sure if Mariacristina's friends had a particular problem on their train journey but I've used the train twice, once through to Porto and once to Redondela (for return to Vigo Airport) and would also recommend it, if it does fit with your overall schedule and flight times.

All the best with your planning. Nice dilemma to have - scenic bus or scenic train? :wink:
Regards
Mig

 

[mikevasey]

I will give the thumbs up to the train, I went to Porto from Santiago on it after my 1st camino. It may not be quick or even comfortable sometimes as it shuntles it way around northern Portugual but as it goes through the towns on the coast and the interior you get to see some truly beautiful sights as dusk sets in. You have a change over period in Vigo of 1 or 2 hours so you could use that do a little bit of sightseeing. It is more of an effort with the getting on and changing of metros in Porto, but i think it is worth it.

 

[Rieky]

Dear Miguel, Maricristina and Mike,

Thank you for your worthfull information.
We will choose the best of the two when we are on the spot.
But we have much info at this moment.
Thanks again.

 

[miguel_gp]

No problem Rieky. The Portugues is a lovely Camino and I'm sure you'll really enjoy it.

Not sure if you already have your accommodation sorted but if not and your group fancies pampering themselves for an hour or so, this hotel often has offers on at EUR 75 per night and includes double\twin room, breakfast and one hour thermal circuit (including experience showers, varying steam baths, relaxation chairs, hydromassage bath or outdoor hot tub). Alternatively you can stay in the Albergue and stick your feet under the thermal fountain in the centre of town for a fraction of the price.

Caldas de Reis is 2 days walk from Santiago so the spa sets you up nicely for the walk into town!

Mig