Ponferrada or Villafranca del Bierzo

D

Davideansa

New Member

Time of past OR future Camino

from Oporto to Santiago

• Mar 14, 2018

• #1

Hi all,

I need to take a bus from Ponferrada to Villafranca to handle my camino in time (unfortunately I don't have many days and I need to skip one day from the book to reach Santiago in time for my flight).
The connection between the 2 villages is good, thanks to a bus from Alsa.
I can either leave from Ponferrada in the early evening and spend the night in Villafranca or spending the night in Ponferrada and leaving early morning to Villafranca.
Which is your suggestion for spending the night? Which of the 2 is the nicest village?

thank you!

 

D

Deleted member 3000

Guest

• Mar 14, 2018

• #2

Take the bus in the morning, then walk.

Calle Río Selmo, 22, 24400 Ponferrada, León, Spain
hostalrioselmo.com
+34 987 40 26 65

Hostal Rio Selmo

 

november_moon

Veteran Member

• Mar 14, 2018

• #3

Both are nice places to spend the night - I've stayed in both myself. I prefer Villafranca - it's a large town at the base of a mountain, with a charming main square surrounded by restaurants with outdoor terraces. Ponferrada is a small city - so it is much bigger and busier - not nearly as charming. But it has good restaurants and plenty of shops if you need to stock up on or replace anything. It also has the Templar Castle, which is good to visit. Both are good places for an overnight. I'd choose based on how your timing shapes up once you get there. The ALSA bus has several departures each day from Ponferrada to Villafranca.

 

Anniesantiago

Veteran Member

Donating Member

Time of past OR future Camino

2006 to date: Over 21 Caminos. See signature line

• Mar 14, 2018

• #4

I'd prefer Villafranca, myself.

 

Anamiri

Veteran Member

Time of past OR future Camino

2016, 2017, 2019 Camino Frances

• Mar 15, 2018

• #5

They are quite different, in my opinion Villa Franca was nicer, and I'm glad I stayed there, but do have a look over the Templar castle whilst in Ponferada.

 

trecile

Moderator

Staff member

Donating Member

Time of past OR future Camino

Francés, Norte, Salvador, Primitivo, Portuguese

• Mar 15, 2018

• #6

Davideansa said:

Hi all,

I need to take a bus from Ponferrada to Villafranca to handle my camino in time (unfortunately I don't have many days and I need to skip one day from the book to reach Santiago in time for my flight).
The connection between the 2 villages is good, thanks to a bus from Alsa.
I can either leave from Ponferrada in the early evening and spend the night in Villafranca or spending the night in Ponferrada and leaving early morning to Villafranca.
Which is your suggestion for spending the night? Which of the 2 is the nicest village?

thank you!

Click to expand...

You mentioned "the book". Does that mean that you are following stages in the Brierly (or other guidebook) exactly? Depending on where you are planning to start the Camino it's possible that you can walk your own stages without skipping anything.

 

Mark McCarthy

Active Member

Time of past OR future Camino

CF 2014 2015
Lourdes 2 SdC 2016
Sarria 2 SdC April&Oct 2016 & (April 2018)
Camino Baztan June 2017

• Mar 15, 2018

• #7

Villafranca definitely. Either way enjoy a few glasses of Bierzo red wine while you are there!

 

jungleboy

Spirit of the Camino (Nick)

Donating Member

Time of past OR future Camino

Some in the past; more in the future!

• Mar 15, 2018

• #8

+1 for Villafranca unless you want to visit the castle in Ponferrada. Plus, I just think I'd prefer taking the bus the previous afternoon and being able to wake up and walk as per normal routine rather than taking a morning bus.