Question about train/bus tickets out of SdC

[karlyk]

Is it necessary to buy bus or train tickets out of SdC in advance? Do you recommend it?

I need to get from Santiago to Lisbon end of Sept. Can I buy my ticket for the bus out of Santiago the day of/ day before when I'm there? Likewise, when I look for a change over in Porto to catch a train, can I buy my ticket from there to Lisbon right on the spot at the train station? Will prices be a lot higher?

Advice appreciated!

 

[Kanga]

I would not expect any problems with getting a ticket on the spot for a bus to Porto and the train ticket bought at the station there should be easy - frequent trains and very cheap.

 

[Richard Ward]

A friend from Lisbon waited until last minute to buy his train ticket. It was a surprisingly long ride, but there was plenty of availability. I do know that Spanish trains are A LOT cheaper if booked in advance, but do not know about Portugal.

 

[t2andreo]

Just FYI, but there is an ALSA sales agent in the Correos space, next to the Pilgrims Office.

Also, RENFE have a sales agent co-located at the Museo de San Martin Pinario. As you look at the large San Martin Pinario building, the Hospederia is on the LEFT corner. The museum and RENFE ticket agent are on the RIGHT corner.

Hope this helps.

 

[lt56ny]

Just FYI, but there is an ALSA sales agent in the Correos space, next to the Pilgrims Office.

Also, RENFE have a sales agent co-located at the Museo de San Martin Pinario. As you look at the large San Martin Pinario building, the Hospederia is on the LEFT corner. The museum and RENFE ticket agent are on the RIGHT corner.

Hope this helps.

Is the ticket office and travel agency still open in the Pilgrim Office in Santiago. I bought a train ticket to Madrid there right after I got my Compostela last October?

 

[t2andreo]

No. The travel agency is gone. I have no more information.

 

[boski]

Is it necessary to buy bus or train tickets out of SdC in advance? Do you recommend it?

I need to get from Santiago to Lisbon end of Sept. Can I buy my ticket for the bus out of Santiago the day of/ day before when I'm there? Likewise, when I look for a change over in Porto to catch a train, can I buy my ticket from there to Lisbon right on the spot at the train station? Will prices be a lot higher?

Advice appreciated!

Download the apps flix bus and train line it will answer all of your questions plus give you times and prices

 

[gloria lowe]

Train office was not at Pilgrim house in June but train office in San Martin museum very easy to find next to Cathedral. I booked train in Portugal on their web site in advance.

 

[FLEUR]

In May we walked to the station in Santiago de C and bought our train tickets two days before we travelled.
Reminder: if you're over 60 buy your Spanish senior rail card first (6€ valid 1 year) then buy the train tickets, with good reductions.

 

[KinkyOne]

Just FYI, but there is an ALSA sales agent in the Correos space, next to the Pilgrims Office.

Also, RENFE have a sales agent co-located at the Museo de San Martin Pinario. As you look at the large San Martin Pinario building, the Hospederia is on the LEFT corner. The museum and RENFE ticket agent are on the RIGHT corner.

Hope this helps.

Extremely convenient locations because more or less all the pilgrims are mingling around the Cathedral. But in my experience they don't advertise them at all, I discovered both just by chance i.e. being aware of the things around me

 

[KinkyOne]

In May we walked to the station in Santiago de C and bought our train tickets two days before we travelled.
Reminder: if you're over 60 buy your Spanish senior rail card first (6€ valid 1 year) then buy the train tickets, with good reductions.

It is called Tarjeta Dorada (Golden Card) and you must present your national passport or ID card to prove your age.

 

[FLEUR]

That's the one!
28€ Santiago to Hendaye. Cheap but not the best train I've ever been on in Spain plus it took 11 hours!

 

[gloria lowe]

In May we walked to the station in Santiago de C and bought our train tickets two days before we travelled.
Reminder: if you're over 60 buy your Spanish senior rail card first (6€ valid 1 year) then buy the train tickets, with good reductions.

You don’t have to walk to the station as there is on in the San Martin museum building right outside the cathedral.

 

[VNwalking]

The day before should be plenty of time.

Also, RENFE have a sales agent co-located at the Museo de San Martin Pinario.

Oh? Good to know, thanks, @t2andreo ! Not being much for museums, I'd missed that.

 

[FLEUR]

Walking to the station wasn't a problem. We had lots of time to spare.

 

[Roland49]

Hello!

Is it necessary to buy bus or train tickets out of SdC in advance? Do you recommend it?

As of my own experiences I really do recommend to book in advance.
My Albergue in SdC couldn't book for me, so I walked to the busstation and had to wait until the last bus (2 busses leaving SdC were full) to Porto. The Price was 39,90€.
You can go by train, leaving 07:03, as I remember, for 24€ to Porto. How much it will be to Lisbon I don't know.

But rome2rio.com will tell.

Book in advance.

Roland
Buen Camino!

 

[Marla in CA]

It is called Tarjeta Dorada (Golden Card) and you must present your national passport or ID card to prove your age.

Fleur, do you do all of this online? Do you recommend purchasing before starting the Camino (Sept 2019) or while on the Camino, closer to Santiago? I need to get back to Madrid on Oct 20, 2019.

 

[FLEUR]

I think you can only buy the tarjeta Dorada in person over the counter at a train station .Because of this, the Spanish train tickets we only ever bought a day or so before travel.

 

[Marla in CA]

Thank you!

 

[FLEUR]

Maria in C A
Which Camino are you walking?
Trains to Madrid might get more heavily booked. So as you get closer to Santiago then you would have an idea of your travel date to Madrid and could book the ticket.
On the Portuguese Camino we found a lot of the train stations didn't have a manned ticket office so we waited until Santiago to book tickets back to France.

 

[KinkyOne]

Fleur, do you do all of this online? Do you recommend purchasing before starting the Camino (Sept 2019) or while on the Camino, closer to Santiago? I need to get back to Madrid on Oct 20, 2019.

If you have to present (i.e. show) your ID then how else could it be done if not in person on the counter???

 

[Marla in CA]

I am starting the Camino Frances on SJPDP on 9/18. I fly out of Madrid on Oct. 20, so I hope to make it to Santiago by Oct. 19.

 

[KinkyOne]

Maria in C A
Which Camino are you walking?
Trains to Madrid might get more heavily booked. So as you get closer to Santiago then you would have an idea of your travel date to Madrid and could book the ticket.
On the Portuguese Camino we found a lot of the train stations didn't have a manned ticket office so we waited until Santiago to book tickets back to France.

RENFE Tarjeta Dorada isn't valid in Portugal. But maybe Portugues Railroads have something similar, I wouldn't know about that.

 

[FLEUR]

@KinkyOne. We only took one short train ride in Portugal, and bought our tickets on the train. So I've no idea about their discount travel concessions.
The stations in Galicia on the Spanish section were the ones that we found to be unmanned so we waited until until we reached Santiago .
I was remembering on the CF that Leon was a big station and on that occasion we bought our cardsand tickets there.

 

[jsmaldo77]

I arrive in Madrid in a week and want to start my walk in Lourdes, France. What is the best option to get there? Economically? How much should I expect to spend to travel to Lourdes?
I appreciate the help!

 

[FLEUR]

Rome2rio site is a good place to look at to begin with.