Madrid to Ponferreda

[VCB915]

Sorry...a few more things!

I fly into Madrid and then will take a train or bus to Ponferreda. From there, I will hike to Santiago. Hoping that takes me about 10 days. Does anyone have suggestions about buses or trains from Madrid to Ponferreda? Also, what is the terrain like on this leg of the journey? Super hilly? Nice scenic pathways or highway walking? If anyone has any insight- I would be very grateful. Thanks!

 

[Deleted member 3000]

You can take a bus from the Madrid airport to Ponferrada:

 

[VCB915]

Thank you!

 

[SYates]

Have a look at http://rome2rio.com/ The first day out of Ponferrada is benign, then you climb up O Cebreiro, then it is hilly Galicia. Buen Camino, SY

 

[Belinda Lozano]

I'm flying to madrid on June 11th and acclimating myself there (also sightseeing). On June 13 I'll take a train to Ponferrada and start the Camino on the 14th. Train arrives in Ponferrada in about 4 1/2 hours (at 3pm). I've never taken a train before.

Bel

 

[KinkyOne]

...I've never taken a train before. Bel

In your life??????

 

[Castilian]

You can take a bus straight from Madrid's airport to Ponferrada, as Falcon said, or you could take a train from downtown Madrid (Chamartín station) to Ponferrada. If your flight arrives to Terminal 4, you could take a commuter (cercanías) train from the Airport to Chamartín station.
For train info (schedules, fares, ticket purchase...), take a look at the web of RENFE:

http://www.renfe.com

 

[LTfit]

The Alsa bus from T4 is the easiest option. I took it to Ponferrada in March. It was a Supra with even movies on board. It took about 5 hours.