so lost of where to go from Madrid

[Jessica pereira]

Hi everyone!

i am planning on doing the walk from Sarria to Santiago in June 2015 and i am so lost of where to go once i land at the airport. I am coming from Florida, USA and i have never been out of the country. I am working out and preparing my equiptment but i have no idea how to get to my starting point. Also.... where do i get the passport? ughhhh i am so overwhelmed. I read a ton of forums saying train or bus but what is my stop called?
Do i have to leave the airport area in order to catch the train?

HELP...PLEASE!

Thanks in advance for any advice or tips offered

 

[Mark Lee]

I believe you can take the ALSA bus (Madrid airport station) to Lugo and then from there take another bus to Sarria, which is nearby.
As far as you pilgrim's passport goes, I'm sure you can get one in Sarria at the tourism office, and I believe there is a church you can get one there as well, or you can get one from this forum beforehand.
http://www.santiagodecompostela.me/...passport-from-the-pilgrims-office-in-santiago

cheers

 

[whariwharangi]

If I were traveling from Madrid to Sarria I would take the Renfe train from Chamartin station. (enter Madrid(*))

Renfe
http://www.renfe.com/

Other options include taking an ALSA bus from Madrid Estacion Sur or Airport T4 to Lugo and a Monbus bus from Lugo to Sarria. (enter Madrid(*)) The bus takes a lot more time but there is more flexibility due to frequency of service.

ALSA
http://www.alsa.es/en/

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

I would consider taking a flight to Santiago airport, take an Empresa Freire bus from the airport (Labacolla) to Lugo and a Monbus bus to Sarria. The flight may or may not be cheaper than taking the train from Madrid.

Santiago Airport
http://www.aena.es/csee/Satellite/Aeropuerto-Santiago/es/

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

See the following generic stuff regarding transportation in Madrid.

2000 Madrid

2001 This section discusses transportation services in Madrid.

Index 2000
2002 Madrid Airport
2003 Getting Around in Madrid
2004 Train Service Madrid
2005 Madrid Train Stations
2006 Madrid Airport to train station Puerta de Atocha
2007 Madrid Airport to train station Chamartin
2008 Bus Service Madrid
2009 Madrid Bus Stations
2010 Madrid Airport Access to Bus Station T4
2011 Madrid Airport to Bus Station Avendida de America
2012 Madrid Airport to Estacion Sur de Autobuses de Madrid
2013 Madrid Airport to Bus Station Moncloa

2002 Madrid Airport

The airport in Madrid is called Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD). There are 4 terminals. T1, T2, and T3 are in one building while T4 is connected via shuttle. Terminal 4S is connected to Terminal 4 by Automatic People Mover (APM) and has a shuttle stop.

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

2003 Getting around in Madrid

Connections to Madrid include subway (Metro), light rail transit (Cercanias), and bus (EMT).

Madrid Metro has stations at T1-T2-T3 and at T4. The trains run every 6 - 12 minutes.

Madrid Cercanias has a station at T4. The trains run every 30 minutes.

Empresa Municipal de Transportes (EMT) route 200 provides bus service from the airport T1-T2-T3 and airport T4 to Intercambiador de Avenida de America, a major urban bus, intercity bus and metro connection hub.

EMT Madrid Aeropuerto Express operates a bright yellow express bus every 13 -20 minutes from the airport T1-T2-T3 and airport T4 to Puerta de Atocha Renfe station.

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

EMT Madrid provides Madrid transit bus services
http://www.emtmadrid.es/

EMT Madrid Aeropuerto Express
http://www.emtmadrid.es/lineaAeropuerto/index.html

2004 Train Service Madrid

Renfe operates Spain's national train network.

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

2005 Madrid Train Stations

Madrid has two major Renfe train stations operated by adif; Puerto de Atocha and Chamartin.

Chamartin Renfe Station Madrid
http://www.adif.es/es_ES/infraestructuras/estaciones/17000/informacion_000295.shtml

Puerta de Atocha Renfe Station Madrid
http://www.adif.es/es_ES/infraestructuras/estaciones/60000/informacion_000070.shtml

2006 Madrid Airport to train station Puerto de Atocha

a. Puerto de Atocha is reached by Metro. Take line 8 from airport T1-T2-T3 or T4 to Nuevos Ministerios; line 10 to Tribunal; and, line 1 to Renfe Atocha.

b. Puerto de Atocha is reached by Renfe Cercanias direct from Madrid Airport T4

c. Puerto de Atocha is reached by EMT Madrid Aeropuerto Express direct from Madrid Airport.

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 Cercanias direct from Madrid Airport T4.

2008 Bus Service Madrid

There are hundreds of bus companies in Spain. Usually the best tactic is to refer to bus station information at your destination for listings of bus service providers and schedules.

ALSA is a major bus carrier with service to Madrid.
http://www.alsa.es/en/

Avanza bus is a major bus carrier with service to Madrid.
http://www.avanzabus.com/web/default.aspx

2009 Madrid Bus Stations

There are several bus stations in Madrid. I've listed four. There likely are other stations that I'm not aware of at time of writing.

There is a bus station at Madrid Airport T4. See Transport and Access tabs.
http://www.aena-aeropuertos.es/csee/Satellite/Aeropuerto-Madrid-Barajas/en/

Estacion Sur de Autobuses de Madrid
http://www.estacionautobusesmadrid.com/frameset.html

Intercambiador de Avenida de America
http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intercambiador_de_Avenida_de_América

Moncloa
http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Estación_de_Moncloa

2010 Madrid Airport Access to Bus Station T4

There is a bus station at T4 Barajas Airport. A shuttle connects T1-T2-T3 with T4.

2011 Madrid Airport to bus station Avenida de America

a. Intercambiador de Avenida de America (Madrid) is co-located with the Metro. Take line 8 from Barajas airport T1-T2-T3 or T4 to Colombia; and, line 9 to Avenida de America.

b. EMT route 200 provides bus service from the airport T1-T2-T3 and airport T4 to Intercambiador de Avenida de America.

2012 Madrid Airport to Estacion Sur de Autobuses de Madrid

a. Estacion Sur de Autobuses de Madrid is located near the Méndez Álvaro Metro Station. Take line 8 from Barajas airport T1-T2-T3 or T4 to Colombia; line 9 to Avenida de America; and, line 6 to Méndez Álvaro. Exit the Metro to find the bus station.

b. Take Renfe Cercanias train from T4 Barajas airport to Méndez Álvaro.

2013 Madrid Airport to bus station Moncloa

Madrid Moncloa is co-located with the Metro. Take line 8 from Barajas airport T1-T2-T3 or T4 to Nuevo Ministerios; and, line 6 to Moncloa.

 

[whariwharangi]

Get your US passport from the State Department.
http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english.html

 

[whariwharangi]

You can catch the Renfe Cercanias train at MAD Airport T4 to Chamartin where you will transfer to another ALVIA or Trenhotel train that will take you to Sarria.

The price of the Cercanias trip is included in your Madrid to Sarria ticket ... a saving of a couple of euro.

 

[VNwalking]

Whariwharangi, you're a font of information. I'm in awe...
If it isn't already this should go in the resource section!

 

[jefferyonthecamino]

Hi everyone!

i am planning on doing the walk from Sarria to Santiago in June 2015 and i am so lost of where to go once i land at the airport. I am coming from Florida, USA and i have never been out of the country. I am working out and preparing my equiptment but i have no idea how to get to my starting point. Also.... where do i get the passport? ughhhh i am so overwhelmed. I read a ton of forums saying train or bus but what is my stop called?
Do i have to leave the airport area in order to catch the train?

HELP...PLEASE!

Thanks in advance for any advice or tips offered

To reach Sarria you will probably end up connecting through Lugo, a larger town about an hour north of Sarria. Lugo has a train and bus station, although these can be difficult to navigate without Spanish (websites and tickets). Easiest, and most expensive option, is to fly from Madrid, same airport you land at, to Santiago and take a taxi to Sarria. Madrid's airport is connected to the city by Metro, cheap and fast. And Madrid's train stations and bus terminals also have Metro stops. If you are considering a train, book in advance via RENFE.com and go to CHAMARTIN train station in Madrid. Taxis are also available and relatively cheap as there are fixed fares into town. Pick up your pilgrim passport in Sarria at the friendly tourist office in Sarria.
Buen Camino!