Madrid or Santiago to Sarria

Lorilorax · Oct 21, 2014

Hi, all--I've searched the forum and I think I know the answer, but would appreciate any advice from the experts. I'm meeting up with a couple of people who are already on the Camino, so I need to be in Sarria by November 3. I arrived MAD at 9:15 am and was considering flying to Santiago and either taking a taxi to Sarria (yes, expensive) or the bus.

But, based on a response to a previous email, it looks like maybe I have time to get from the airport in Madrid to the train station via subway and catch the 12.20pm train to Sarria. My Spanish isn't that great so I'm trying to make things as easy as possible for myself.

Thanks for any advice!

evanlow · Oct 21, 2014

Hi Lori,

Bus are better than trains is many cases for Spain. The threads for Madrid to Sarria here in the forum is outdated.

You best bet is here.

http://www.rome2rio.com/s/Madrid/Sarria

Deleted member 3000 · Oct 21, 2014

There is a 0935 bus from T4 Barajas to Lugo, where you would need to transfer to the bus to Sarria.

The train will be more comfortable and a bit faster, but you have to get to Chamartin to board. You have time to do that.

jpflavin1 · Oct 21, 2014

Lorilorax said:
Hi, all--I've searched the forum and I think I know the answer, but would appreciate any advice from the experts. I'm meeting up with a couple of people who are already on the Camino, so I need to be in Sarria by November 3. I arrived MAD at 9:15 am and was considering flying to Santiago and either taking a taxi to Sarria (yes, expensive) or the bus.

But, based on a response to a previous email, it looks like maybe I have time to get from the airport in Madrid to the train station via subway and catch the 12.20pm train to Sarria. My Spanish isn't that great so I'm trying to make things as easy as possible for myself.

Thanks for any advice!

Lori:

There is a 12:20 train that arrives at 18:32 (approx. 30 euro's). You should have no trouble getting to Chamartin in that time frame. You can take the Cercanias train (1.5 euro's) located in the lower level of T4 of the airport. You can also purchase your ticket all the way through to Sarria from the Renfe agent there. If you need further assistance in this decision, please feel free to ask or PM me.

Another option would be to take a cab to Chamartin station (30 euro's) from the airport.

Flying to Santiago and backtracking or taking a bus and transferring are much longer and costlier options. The trains are nice and offer the option to get up and walk around, sell food and larger bathrooms than the bus.

Ultreya,
Joe

whariwharangi · Oct 21, 2014

Renfe operates trains from Madrid Chamartin to Sarria.

2007 Madrid Airport to train station Chamartin

a. Chamartin is reached by Metro. Take line 8 from airport T1-T2-T3 or T4 to Nuevos Ministerios; and, line 10 to Chamartin.

b. Chamartin is reached by Renfe Cercanius direct from Madrid Airport T4.

1905 Sarria

Empresa Freire connects Santiago to Lugo. Most but not all buses stop enroute at the Santiago Airport. Monbus connects Lugo to Sarria. The transfer point is the Lugo bus station.

Sometimes it is more time efficient to take Empresa Freire bus from Santiago Labcolla airport to Santiago bus station (every half hour) and catch another bus to Lugo.

Monbus has buses from Santiago bus station to Monforte de Lemos and buses from Monforte de Lemos to Sarria.

Renfe provides service to Sarria on trains running between Monforte de Lemos and Betanzos-Infesta. These trains originate in Madrid, Barcelona, etc and terminate in A Coruña or Ferrol. Trains from Santiago usually require a transfer at A Coruña, Ourense, or Monforte de Lemos. If you plan to get from Santiago to Sarria ... use the bus.

Sarria Consello Transportation Page
http://www.sarria.es/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=109&itemid=132&lang=gl

Diagram of train network in Galicia
http://www.sarria.es/pdf/horarios-trenes.pdf

Madrid Airport (MAD)
http://www.aena-aeropuertos.es/csee/Satellite/Aeropuerto-Madrid-Barajas/en/

Renfe
http://www.renfe.com/index.html

Madrid Metro
http://www.metromadrid.es/en/index.html

Madrid Metro Map
http://www.metromadrid.es/export/sites/metro/comun/documentos/planos/Planomayo2013.pdf

Madrid Cercanius (operated by Renfe)
http://www.renfe.com/viajeros/cercanias/madrid/index.html

Santiago Airport (SCQ) Labacolla
http://www.aena-aeropuertos.es/csee/Satellite/Aeropuerto-Santiago/en/Santiago.html

Monbus
http://www.monbus.es/index2.htm

Empresa Freire
http://www.empresafreire.com/html/castelan/seccion0.php

Lorilorax · Oct 21, 2014

Gr

jpflavin1 said:
Lori:

There is a 12:20 train that arrives at 18:32 (approx. 30 euro's). You should have no trouble getting to Chamartin in that time frame. You can take the Cercanias train (1.5 euro's) located in the lower level of T4 of the airport. You can also purchase your ticket all the way through to Sarria from the Renfe agent there. If you need further assistance in this decision, please feel free to ask or PM me.

Another option would be to take a cab to Chamartin station (30 euro's) from the airport.

Flying to Santiago and backtracking or taking a bus and transferring are much longer and costlier options. The trains are nice and offer the option to get up and walk around, sell food and larger bathrooms than the bus.

Ultreya,
Joe

Gracias, Joe! That confirms what I was thinking. Being a veteran of the train vs bus going from Washington, D.C. to NYC, I totally agree that taking a train is a much nicer way to go. I'm having a little trouble with the Renfe website. I was thinking I could buy a ticket in the US, but maybe it's just as easy to purchase one there. Thoughts?

Deleted member 3000 · Oct 21, 2014

Lorilorax said:
it's just as easy to purchase one there

I think so. It is very rare that a train is sold out.

jpflavin1 · Oct 21, 2014

Lorilorax said:
Gr

Gracias, Joe! That confirms what I was thinking. Being a veteran of the train vs bus going from Washington, D.C. to NYC, I totally agree that taking a train is a much nicer way to go. I'm having a little trouble with the Renfe website. I was thinking I could buy a ticket in the US, but maybe it's just as easy to purchase one there. Thoughts?

I have always bought my tickets at the train station in Spain. I will be finishing my Camino next year about the time you are starting.. Maybe we will pass in the train station.

Ultreya,
Joe

whariwharangi · Oct 22, 2014

Lorilorax said:
Gr

Gracias, Joe! That confirms what I was thinking. Being a veteran of the train vs bus going from Washington, D.C. to NYC, I totally agree that taking a train is a much nicer way to go. I'm having a little trouble with the Renfe website. I was thinking I could buy a ticket in the US, but maybe it's just as easy to purchase one there. Thoughts?

There are cost savings to be had by purchasing in advance. There have been reports of long lines at the Puerta Atocha and Chamartin train stations in Madrid with people queuing up to buy tickets (while the automated machines go ignored). Unless you are planning to travel during a holiday there are usually seats available. The only risk is that you may have to wait for the next train ...

And there have been frequent complaints here of people in the US having difficulty purchasing tickets on the Renfe site. The problem seems to be related to credit cards ... the Renfe site wants to do a handshake via a credit card reader.

Lorilorax · Oct 22, 2014

Thanks everyone. I'm leaving in about 10 days and I'm super excited. I appreciate all the logistics advice. Looking forward to a fabulous adventure!

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