Starting at Santo Domingo de la Calzada

[Copas]

On June 1st we intend picking up our trip at Santo Domingo de la Calzada, I'm looking for suggestions in getting there and is Bilbao the best Airport to fly into! We hope to walk for 6 days and return to Bilbao for return flight on Saturday June 8th.

 

[Deleted member 67185]

From Madrid it is about a 3.5 hour bus ride. From Bilbao it is about a 2.5 hour ride. The total time it takes you to get to Santo Domingo from either airport depends on how much layover time is required to get to Bilbao vs Madrid from your origin's departure. Of course, if you are planning in a layover day or two for sightseeing at either city, then layover time doesn't really matter

 

[scruffy1]

Bilbao is a lovely place to visit Frank Gehry and the nearby provincial museum but you will need a connecting flight to get there. No problem. Getting back to return is not so easy. Six days puts you into say Fromista, two buses and four+ hours back to Bilbao or a train straight to Madrid 21/4 hours. Your plan seems to be a week but the better part of a whole day will be spent getting there and coming back. I know which I would chose.

 

[Glenshiro]

is Bilbao the best Airport to fly into!

Depends where you are flying from.

 

[Copas]

Depends where you are flying from.

We are flying out of Dublin and arrive Bilbao at 1615.

 

[NualaOC]

We are flying out of Dublin and arrive Bilbao at 1615.

Hi Copas, I agree that Bilbao is your best option when flying from Dublin. There are bus connections between Bilbao and Santa Domingo de la Calzada. Happy planning and Buen Camino!

 

[Glenshiro]

There are bus connections between Bilbao and Santa Domingo de la Calzada.

True, but, if you are flying Aer Lingus, arriving Bilbao at 16:15 on 1 June, none that will get you to Santo Domingo that day. (As far as I can make out, bearing in mind that many bus schedules for June are not yet available)

I would suggest flying to Madrid (much better choice of flights) and then PLMAutocares direct coach at 15:00 from Avenida America (frequent shuttle bus from airport) to Santo Domingo, arriving 18:20.

Or take an ALSA bus from Terminal 4 (free shuttle bus from terminals 1-3) to Burgos, (10 buses a day, journey time 2h 30m, about 20€) and a Jimenez bus (service N-120, every 2 hours, journey time 1h 5 m, about 5€) from there to Santo Domingo.

 

[NualaOC]

Hi again Copas,
@Glenshiro makes a good point about traveling via Madrid. It's usually also a cheaper option, as both Aer Lingus and Ryanair serve that route.

However, if you've already booked your flights, or you'd prefer to fly to Bilbao, all is not lost. You might be able to get to Logroño the day you arrive and take a bus to Santa Domingo the next morning. Not a perfect option, but it could fit the bill.

Google shows a bus from Bilbao (centre) to Logroño at 5.20pm (doable if you've hand luggage only). Rome2Rio shows a few bus options from Logroño to Santa Domingo, including this one. If there are a few of you, a taxi from Logroño is also worth considering.

Good luck!

 

[Copas]

Hi Nuala,
Many thanks for your response Madrid is looking like a good option as we still have to book flights. For some reason I thought Madrid was 3/4 hrs in a bus. This will allow us walk for 6 days starting in SANTO DOMINGO DE LA CALZADA and stopping in FRÓMISTA. So again I'll ask for advice on what Airport to fly home from???

 

[Copas]

A quick update folks, we are flying into Bilbao and are then getting a bus to Haro, we now have to organise a bus to Santo Domingo de la Calzada from Haro. Worse case scenario we'll get a taxi as it's only 20 miles. We're now going to get 7 days walking that will bring us up to stage 16. To think we walked 3 stages last year to see if we'd like it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!