Getting to Santiago airport

[NancyToadHollow]

How far away is the Santiago airport from where we, as pilgrims, will end up in Santiago? We are planning to take the 9:15am IB out to Madrid, then connecting on AA back to PHL.

 

[Deleted member 3000]

For your flight time, I would take a taxi. It is 21 Euro flat rate, no tipping expected.

You can end up lots of places in Santiago, but I assume you will be downtown somewhere near the cathedral. If you stay in a hotel nearer the airport, the taxi ride will be a lot less, and there are a couple of hotels that are just a 30 minute walk to the terminal.

 

[t2andreo]

The €21 flat rate is for the taxi from anywhere in the old town to the airport, regardless of how many folks share the ride. So, if two or three share the ride, the average cost drops - fast.

FYI, the bus from Plaza Galicia to the airport costs €3 per person and takes about 45 minutes. This is because the bus makes several stops on the way; including the train station, bus station, and a couple of street stops on the way out to the airport.

The first bus of the day is at 06:00 or 06:30 IIRC...

I hope this helps.

 

[SYates]

For your flight time, I would take a taxi. It is 21 Euro flat rate, no tipping expected. ...

Sorry, yes we do tip in Europe! 10-15% will be fine and the flat rate is now 23 Euro btw. Buen Camino, SY

 

[Deleted member 3000]

Sorry, yes we do tip in Europe! 10-15% will be fine and the flat rate is now 23 Euro btw. Buen Camino,

I guess I disagree. Tipping is rare in Spain except for rounding up so you don't have to wait forever to receive change. I have actually asked a waitress in France, and she said that she never expects a tip.

According to the airport authority in Spain, the flat rate to the Santiago airport is 21 Euro. Things change, so ask if you are in doubt.

http://www.aena.es/en/santiago-airport/taxi.html

 

[NancyToadHollow]

Thank you! Taxi sounds like the best plan. We will start walking April 4!

 

[alexwalker]

As @t2andreo says, the airport bus is cheap and easy. Runs regularly from Plaza Galicia. If you are 3-4 persons waiting for the bus, you can share a taxi: The taxi stop is 10ms from the bus stop in the plaza, and there are always available cars, also in the very early mornings. No worries. It may be an idea to walk there beforehand to get to know the surroundings the day before leaving.

 

[NancyToadHollow]

As @t2andreo says, the airport bus is cheap and easy. Runs regularly from Plaza Galicia. If you are 3-4 persons waiting for the bus, you can share a taxi: The taxi stop is 10ms from the bus stop in the plaza, and there are always available cars, also in the very early mornings. No worries. It may be an idea to walk there beforehand to get to know the surroundings the day before leaving.

Thank you. It will just be the two of us, unless we find other pilgrims to taxi with us.

 

[SabsP]

Sorry, yes we do tip in Europe! 10-15% will be fine and the flat rate is now 23 Euro btw. Buen Camino, SY

Indeed we generally round up to a certain number.
Tipping not like in some countries because it earns a much needed extra wage, I do this here in Europe to show my respect for the generosity and friendliness of the taxidriver or the waiting staff.
For example : If a taxi drive would be 28.50 € I would give 30 € and leave it that way.
Yesterday a mate and I went for a drink : sum was 4.30 €, left 5 €
With four people we went to a lovely restaurant serving food from the Levant : 64 € for the most amazing spread of delicacies. We rounded up to 70 €. Generous smile from the independent owner and he gave some extra cookies for take-away.

 

[SabsP]

Thank you. It will just be the two of us, unless we find other pilgrims to taxi with us.

And if you feel more at ease : ask the hospitalero from your albergue or the deskclerk of your hostal/hotel to call you a driver the night before.

 

[t2andreo]

Easy places to get a taxi, include the taxi stands at:

1. Rua de San Francisco, on the corner closest to Plaza Obradoiro, nearest the arch and Parador. this is at the part of the street where the raised sidewalk begins. This is considered "old town" and is very central to the places most pilgrims go.

2. Plaza de Galicia, just around the corner from the airport bus stop. Continue about 20 meters beyond the airport bus stop, around the corner to the right and you will see a taxi queue. This is considered "new town."

3. Estacion de tren - the train station. There is usually a taxi queue in front of the train station, if you happen to be in that part of "new town."

4. At the edge of "old town," where Avenida de Figueroa joins Rua do Pombal. This is at the edge of Alameda Park, where all the cafes are. Avda de Figueroa is the street the National Police Station is on. There are usually taxis here as well.

There are other places with taxi stands, but these are the most prominent, IMHO.

N.B. It starts to get scary when you know all this without a map...time to move...there...

I hope this helps.

 

[NancyToadHollow]

Easy places to get a taxi, include the taxi stands at:

1. Rua de San Francisco, on the corner closest to Plaza Obradoiro, nearest the arch and Parador. this is at the part of the street where the raised sidewalk begins. This is considered "old town" and is very central to the places most pilgrims go.

2. Plaza de Galicia, just around the corner from the airport bus stop. Continue about 20 meters beyond the airport bus stop, around the corner to the right and you will see a taxi queue. This is considered "new town."

3. Estacion de tren - the train station. There is usually a taxi queue in front of the train station, if you happen to be in that part of "new town."

4. At the edge of "old town," where Avenida de Figueroa joins Rua do Pombal. This is at the edge of Alameda Park, where all the cafes are. Avda de Figueroa is the street the National Police Station is on. There are usually taxis here as well.

There are other places with taxi stands, but these are the most prominent, IMHO.

N.B. It starts to get scary when you know all this without a map...time to move...there...

I hope this helps.

Thank you! Yes...very helpful.

 

[peregrina2000]

Easy places to get a taxi, include the taxi stands at:

1. Rua de San Francisco, on the corner closest to Plaza Obradoiro, nearest the arch and Parador. this is at the part of the street where the raised sidewalk begins. This is considered "old town" and is very central to the places most pilgrims go.

And I have gone to that stand at 5 or 5:15 am for the last couple of years and there have been a couple of taxis there waiting patiently. Asking the hotel to call ahead the night before works too, but once my guy didn't show up, so after 15 minutes I went to the taxi stand and hopped in one.