Train from Santiago back to Porto

[tpatnode]

I’m trying to book flights for our Porto to Santiago pilgrimage starting September 20th. Round trip to and from Porto seem to be the best prices I’ve found. Is there a train from Santiago to Porto?

 

[Bradypus]

Not directly. You can take a train to Vigo then change to another train for Porto. Or take a bus directly from Santiago. The direct bus is slightly quicker.

PS. Too early for the September timetables but at the moment the buses run at more convenient times than the trains (ie. not such early departure or late arrival in Porto).

 

[tpatnode]

Not directly. You can take a train to Vigo then change to another train for Porto. Or take a bus directly from Santiago. The direct bus is slightly quicker.

PS. Too early for the September timetables but at the moment the buses run at more convenient times than the trains (ie. not such early departure or late arrival in Porto).

Thank you!

 

[trecile]

I've taken both Alsa bus and Flix bus from Santiago to Porto. Both comfortable buses with good service.

 

[DeansFamily]

We took the train down to Porto. You can buy your ticket on the day at Santiago train station, then you change over at Vigo and buy your ticket to Porto as they are different train companies. There is a good waiting area / cafe for the transit time in between and Vigo is interesting enough to go for a walk if you don't have a lot of luggage. We found it an easy trip.

 

[Former member 107051]

We took the train down to Porto. You can buy your ticket on the day at Santiago train station, then you change over at Vigo and buy your ticket to Porto as they are different train companies. There is a good waiting area / cafe for the transit time in between and Vigo is interesting enough to go for a walk if you don't have a lot of luggage. We found it an easy trip.

Hi, my wife and I plan to cycle from Lisbon to Santiago from Mid to end of May.
We then need to get back in Lisbon with our bicycles. Plane, train or bus......?
Kind regards
Rian and Maryke
South Africa

 

[tpatnode]

We took the train down to Porto. You can buy your ticket on the day at Santiago train station, then you change over at Vigo and buy your ticket to Porto as they are different train companies. There is a good waiting area / cafe for the transit time in between and Vigo is interesting enough to go for a walk if you don't have a lot of luggage. We found it an easy trip.

For those that have started their Camino in Porto, where did you stay? How did you travel from the airport to your hotel/hostel? I’m

 

[Anamya]

For those that have started their Camino in Porto, where did you stay? How did you travel from the airport to your hotel/hostel?

I took a 20min taxi from the airport to my hotel in the city, but I believe there is a train station connecxting the Porto Sa Carneiro airport with the city.

We stayed at Moov Hotel Porto Centro, which was very comfortable but within my budget at the time. I know there are other good (and cheaper) options too. We stayed there for 3 nights before starting our camino, Porto was an awesome city worth the visit. Food was incredibly good.

 

[Sedona11]

I've taken both Alsa bus and Flix bus from Santiago to Porto. Both comfortable buses with good service.

Buy the ticket ahead of time busses get full and might delay your connection

 

[henrythedog]

We took the train down to Porto. You can buy your ticket on the day at Santiago train station, then you change over at Vigo and buy your ticket to Porto as they are different train companies. There is a good waiting area / cafe for the transit time in between and Vigo is interesting enough to go for a walk if you don't have a lot of luggage. We found it an easy trip.

Note that you change trains but also train stations in Vigo

 

[KellysMom]

I just booked my bus (Alsa) from SDC to Porto for end of June. I inquired about the train but this was just more convenient. Direct and I get into Porto early afternoon

 

[WendyWild]

Buy the ticket ahead of time busses get full and might delay your connection

do you know the name of the best bus company to buy tickets ahead. I am in Australia and its hard to find the right company / website when I am doing a search. Ill be catching a bus out of Santiago to begin my camino walk also.... in late July.

 

[Bradypus]

do you know the name of the best bus company to buy tickets ahead. I am in Australia and its hard to find the right company / website when I am doing a search. Ill be catching a bus out of Santiago to begin my camino walk also.... in late July.

The two main bus companies on the route are ALSA and Flixbus. Flixbus works in partnership with the local company Monbus.

 

[trecile]

do you know the name of the best bus company to buy tickets ahead. I am in Australia and its hard to find the right company / website when I am doing a search. Ill be catching a bus out of Santiago to begin my camino walk also.... in late July.

Either of these

Wherever you want to go - Alsa

Buy bus tickets at the best price. At Alsa we offer bus rental, travel deals, on-board services and information on routes and schedules.

www.alsa.com

FlixBus: Convenient and affordable bus travel in the US

Discover the new way to travel by bus. Enjoy comfortable seats with spacious legroom, power outlets and free Wi-Fi while you travel the US by bus at unbeatable prices. Book your bus ticket now → FlixBus: The smart choice in traveling

www.flixbus.com

 

[dokrando]

Not directly. You can take a train to Vigo then change to another train for Porto. Or take a bus directly from Santiago. The direct bus is slightly quicker.

PS. Too early for the September timetables but at the moment the buses run at more convenient times than the trains (ie. not such early departure or late arrival in Porto).

What is the name of the bus company that takes you from Santiago to Porto?

 

[jldelta]

What is the name of the bus company that takes you from Santiago to Porto?

The links are in the post right above yours.

 

[Camembert]

The ALSA bus goes directly from the Santiago railwaystation . the bus station is at the backside of the station and at the busstation in the hall you can buy tickets but safer it is to book online because lots of people travel back to Porto or Lisbon so be sure to get a seat.
Earlier during the high season you could buy tickets at the Pilgrims office but I do not know ALSA still will have a booth there.
Also bus makes its first stop in Vigo, than Valença do Minho, Braga and Porto Airport before to end the trip at Casa da Música in Porto Center..

about changing the train in Vigo
Renfe ( Spanish Railways) takes you to one station in Vigo from Santiago. You have to walk to another station about 15 minutes away . Comboios Portuguêses , the Portuguese railway company runs the track to Porto from that second station in Vigo .
The Portuguese train goes to Valença do Minho and than follows the Minho river to Caminha and along the Atlantic coast to Viana do Castelo and from there to Barcelos and Porto Campanhã station. So if you did not walk the coastal caminho, you see part of the route from the train window.

there is a difference in width of the railwaytracks. Spanish regular railroad tracks are wider than in other (anyway) west European countries. For that reason there are two stations in Vigo .

 

[dokrando]

Thank you for your reply

 

[Eben Jacobs]

Hi, my wife and I plan to cycle from Lisbon to Santiago from Mid to end of May.
We then need to get back in Lisbon with our bicycles. Plane, train or bus......?
Kind regards
Rian and Maryke
South Africa

Hi Rian. Do you mind contacting me after your trip. I have walked the frances in 2018 and I am busy planning to cycle the Portuguese rout from Lisbon. I would really like to make contact with you. I am from Cape Town.

note from mods. We have deleted the private email address originally posted above. Rian and Eben (and anyone else) should use the ”conversation” (private message function) and exchange emails there.

 

[henrythedog]

Hi Rian. Do you mind contacting me after your trip. I have walked the frances in 2018 and I am busy planning to cycle the Portuguese rout from Lisbon. I would really like to make contact with you. I am from Cape Town.

I’d delete your email address if I were you. If you click on Rian’s username you’ll see an option to ‘start conversation’ this is a private message more suitable for sharing contact details.

 

[Eben Jacobs]

Hi, my wife and I plan to cycle from Lisbon to Santiago from Mid to end of May.
We then need to get back in Lisbon with our bicycles. Plane, train or bus......?
Kind regards
Rian and Maryke
South Africa

Did you enjoy your cycling? I will be doing 2 camino's in June. Porto - Santiago & Pamplona - Santiago. I walked the frances in 2018 from St JpdPort, but always wanted to cycle it aswell.

Eben Jacobs
Cape Town

 

[Adritoga]

We took the train down to Porto. You can buy your ticket on the day at Santiago train station, then you change over at Vigo and buy your ticket to Porto as they are different train companies. There is a good waiting area / cafe for the transit time in between and Vigo is interesting enough to go for a walk if you don't have a lot of luggage. We found it an easy trip.

Hello! Can you tell me the names of the train companies from Santiago to Vigo and Vigo to Porto? Thanks!

 

[DeansFamily]

Hello! Can you tell me the names of the train companies from Santiago to Vigo and Vigo to Porto? Thanks!

Sorry, but I can't recall the Portuguese train company. We didn't pre book either trains, we walked down to the Santiago station and caught the next train to Vigo, which is on the border of Spain and Portugal and walked to the Portuguese train line and bought a ticket for the next train to Porto. It was very easy and we had time to have a coffee and snack at the station cafe while we waited. Hope this helps.