Transportation from Santiago to Paris

[AmyP]

Hello!

I am walking my first Camino in May/June this year (2017), and am wondering about transportation from Santiago De Compostela to Paris, as that is where my return flight is departing from. I have looked online and found a few flights that are available, but am wondering if anyone has done this before and has any suggestions? Is there a better way to do it than flying? Any input is greatly appreciated!

I'm getting very excited (and just a teensy bit nervous)!

Amy

 

[mspath]

Since return into 'the real world' after walking the camino is always a shock a slow transport solution is to ride the daily RENFE train from Santiago to Irun/Hendaye connecting with a SNCF train to Paris. Booked from SdC a few days before desired departure that long train ride across Spain is truly a sentimental journey as it passes through much of the countryside recently walked on the CF. It leaves Santiago roughly 10 am each morning.

You can also fly from Santiago de Compostela to Paris/CDG onwww.Vueling.com. See alsowww.Rome2Rio.com for other transport possibilities.

Happy planning and Buen camino!

 

[Kanga]

It depends on how much time you are left with when you arrive in Santiago. Flying is usually the fastest method but one year I had quite a bit of extra time, so I had a lovely leisurely train trip back to Paris via the north coast of Spain, on the narrow gauge track, stopping and spending a couple of nights in seaside resorts along the way, and finally taking the TGV through France.

 

[jo webber]

The train sounds lovely. We took the TVG from Paris to Barcelona a couple of years ago, great way to see the landscape and enjoy a relaxing journey. And it didn't take all that long, about 6 hours total.

 

[Rick M]

Hello!

I am walking my first Camino in May/June this year (2017), and am wondering about transportation from Santiago De Compostela to Paris, as that is where my return flight is departing from. I have looked online and found a few flights that are available, but am wondering if anyone has done this before and has any suggestions? Is there a better way to do it than flying? Any input is greatly appreciated!

I'm getting very excited (and just a teensy bit nervous)!

Amy

We too had a flight out of Paris. With about 2 weeks left before the flight home, and a week to Santiago, we booked our hotel in Santiago for a few days, a Vueling flight to Paris, and a few days of luxury in Paris before heading home. Like all flights, if you HAVE to have the Saturday morning flight, it might be expensive, but the Thursday night one might be cheap. Be flexible.

I recommend this approach, since you really don't know what your plans will be until you get there. You may be dying to get home, or you may want to hang in Santiago with a bunch of new friends, or even head for Muxia. When you get to Melide, you will know. By all means take the train if you prefer, but we got flights for 80 euros if I recall. Some book it before the start of their camino, but we were glad we did not.

Oh, and don't be nervous. It all seems overwhelming now, but a few days in, and you will forget all the silly things you worried about on the way to SJPP. One of the lessons the Camino teaches is to save your worries for things that matter....like the weather forecast, the pilgrim menu, and the state of your feet!

Buen Camino

 

[Mark Lee]

In 2013 I flew from Santiago back to Paris (CDG) on Vueling Airlines.
It was inexpensive, flight is short and very easy to get to the Santiago Airport via public bus (3 euros).
ultreia

 

[Karen C.]

Our plan is to take the train from Santiago back to Paris at the end of our Camino in June. Looking forward to that ride already!

 

[AmyP]

We too had a flight out of Paris. With about 2 weeks left before the flight home, and a week to Santiago, we booked our hotel in Santiago for a few days, a Vueling flight to Paris, and a few days of luxury in Paris before heading home. Like all flights, if you HAVE to have the Saturday morning flight, it might be expensive, but the Thursday night one might be cheap. Be flexible.

I recommend this approach, since you really don't know what your plans will be until you get there. You may be dying to get home, or you may want to hang in Santiago with a bunch of new friends, or even head for Muxia. When you get to Melide, you will know. By all means take the train if you prefer, but we got flights for 80 euros if I recall. Some book it before the start of their camino, but we were glad we did not.

Oh, and don't be nervous. It all seems overwhelming now, but a few days in, and you will forget all the silly things you worried about on the way to SJPP. One of the lessons the Camino teaches is to save your worries for things that matter....like the weather forecast, the pilgrim menu, and the state of your feet!

Buen Camino

Thank you! I like the idea of not booking it until I'm close to Santiago, because I do want some flexibility and don't want to feel any time constraints while I'm walking. My flight home from Paris isn't until Monday June 19th so I'll have a few days to either be in Santiago or Paris, whichever I'm feeling. And thanks for the tip about nervousness

 

[whariwharangi]

Margaret mentioned train via Irun/Hendaye. The train passes through Biarritz near Biarritz Airport, near Spain/France border at Hendaye, with frequent flights to Paris. This allows train/plane combo.

Its also possible to take Renfe train Santiago to Madrid, Madrid to Barcelona, and SNCF train Barcelona to Paris. Time of travel is about the same as via Irun/Hendaye. There are flight options from Madrid and Barcelona to Paris.

People trying to do it on the cheap take ALSA bus from Santiago to San Sebastian, PESA bus from San Sebastian/Donostia to Bayonne/Baiona, and Flixbus from Bayonne to Paris. Eurolines has an overnight bus from Bayonne too. I wouldn't recommend it as superior to the train though.

 

[Redvespablur]

We flew Iberia to Orly via Madrid and booked early enough that it was deeply cheap about 35euros. Checking my pack cost as much as flight. We had a few days planned for Santiago so had some flexibility if delayed.

Paris allowed us to put the weight on we had failed to lose on the Norte /Primitivo