Bus to Sarria to start (from Santiago)

[janecarr27]

Hello all, first time doing this. We are starting our walk from Sarria. We need to get from Santiago to Sarria in July. I can only see a daily bus leaving Santiago at 11.00am. Can anyone advise on this or know other options? Thanks

 

[dougfitz]

I think there is also a daily train service, leaving around 6 pm. You might want to check the RENFE site for details.

 

[DJames]

I am traveling direct from Madrid to Sarria by train. There are three daily trains.

 

[Molly Cassidy]

I think there are other options if you changes buses in Lugo but I don't know the details.

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

Monbus only has one bus a day from Santiago to Sarria I believe. Otherwise you bus to Lugo and then catch a bus from there to Sarria. There will be more daily options for this. The current schedule and the July schedule will be similar.

https://www.monbus.es/en

I often suggest walking the last part of the Camino Primitivo from Lugo for folks wanting to do 100 km to Santiago. The Primitivo joins the CF at Melida but there are alternative ways to Santiago. I say suggest instead of recommend because I've not done this walk myself. Lugo has a two kilometer walkable on top Roman wall encircling the old city.

Details at this forum thread: https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/lugo-to-santiago.77492/

After Santiago you may enjoy walking to the ocean at Finisterre, another 90 km, usually done in three days and more often in four than two. Decent bus service back to Santiago.

 

[BTW]

Monbus only has one bus a day from Santiago to Sarria I believe. Otherwise you bus to Lugo and then catch a bus from there to Sarria. There will be more daily options for this. The current schedule and the July schedule will be similar.

https://www.monbus.es/en

I often suggest walking the last part of the Camino Primitivo from Lugo for folks wanting to do 100 km to Santiago. The Primitivo joins the CF at Melida but there are alternative ways to Santiago. I say suggest instead of recommend because I've not done this walk myself. Lugo has a two kilometer walkable on top Roman wall encircling the old city.

Details at this forum thread: https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/lugo-to-santiago.77492/

After Santiago you may enjoy walking to the ocean at Finisterre, another 90 km, usually done in three days and more often in four than two. Decent bus service back to Santiago.

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

I'm trying to decide whether that sign was designed by someone who was fired for it or was laid off with two weeks notice before designing it.

 

[Tincatinker]

Colombo Tourist Office sign, late’80’s, “You’ll think we can help”.

 

[sebastian606]

Hello all, first time doing this. We are starting our walk from Sarria. We need to get from Santiago to Sarria in July. I can only see a daily bus leaving Santiago at 11.00am. Can anyone advise on this or know other options? Thanks

We did this as well last September. The only bus was at 11 am. We purchased bus tickets ahead of time. We got a taxi from our hotel in Santiago to the Santiago bus station. It was not expensive.

 

[DoughnutANZ]

I caught one (of the many) busses from Santiago to Sarria via Lugo and had enought time to explore the beautiful Lugo city walls and grab a bit of lunch in Lugo before catching my connection to Sarria. I arrived in Sarria around 2:30pm and then walked from there to Portomarin and the trail wasn't the least bit busy at that time of afternoon.

 

[PHILALFRED]

We did this as well last September. The only bus was at 11 am. We purchased bus tickets ahead of time. We got a taxi from our hotel in Santiago to the Santiago bus station. It was not expensive.

We're going Santiago to Sarria this September. Where did you get your bus tickets, how much and how far in advance did you purchase? Thanks.

 

[sebastian606]

We're going Santiago to Sarria this September. Where did you get your bus tickets, how much and how far in advance did you purchase? Thanks.

We got our tickets online at the Monbus website about 3-4 weeks before our trip. They were 7 € per person.

 

[sebastian606]

We got our tickets online at the Monbus website about 3-4 weeks before our trip. They were 7 € per person.

Addendum, I hear taxis are in short supply in Santiago this year. You may want to reserve a cab the night before if you plan on taking a taxi to the Santiago bus station.

 

[Hersghty]

I caught one (of the many) busses from Santiago to Sarria via Lugo and had enought time to explore the beautiful Lugo city walls and grab a bit of lunch in Lugo before catching my connection to Sarria. I arrived in Sarria around 2:30pm and then walked from there to Portomarin and the trail wasn't the least bit busy at that time of afternoon.

Hello fellow traveller
I am trying to get from Santiago on June 11 2024 to Sarria where I hope to walk back to Santiago doing the last 100 km
Trying to book a bus is just impossible
The company say they are not doing bookings yet ? Monbus are giving me no information and it’s very frustrating
How long in advance did you get to book your bus ticket ?
Would appreciate any information
I know you have to get to Lugo first and another bus to Sarria .
Thanks Fidelma in Australia

 

[Simperegrina]

Last Wed I took a Monbus from Santiago to Sarria early afternoon ie later than the 1100. Sorry, can’t remember the exact time but it was somewhere around 1400. When I bought the ticket at the Monbus ticket desk in Santiago bus station, I was sold a ticket to Lugo and told I had to change buses there to go in to Santiago. It stopped in Lugo bus station around 1515, everyone got off, then I had to go to the ticket office at the bus station (right by the stand the bus had pulled into) and buy the 2 euro something ticket to Sarria, to go back and re board the same bus. The driver then drove to Sarria - a 40-45 min journey.

This process hadnt been explained to me clearly when I bought the ticket but I figured it out.

If this seems cumbersome, then shoot for the 1100 bus.

 

[DoughnutANZ]

Hello fellow traveller
I am trying to get from Santiago on June 11 2024 to Sarria where I hope to walk back to Santiago doing the last 100 km
Trying to book a bus is just impossible
The company say they are not doing bookings yet ? Monbus are giving me no information and it’s very frustrating
How long in advance did you get to book your bus ticket ?
Would appreciate any information
I know you have to get to Lugo first and another bus to Sarria .
Thanks Fidelma in Australia

I purchased my two bus tickets on the day that I travelled. I travelled on Tuesday the 16th July 2019. Neither bus was particularly busy or crowded.

For me, it didn't really matter if I travelled on the 16 or not. I had only my accommodation for that night reserved in Portomarin and I could have easily cancelled that and stayed somewhere else. I usually walk without reservations and so I am able to be very flexible.

I have no idea how busy the buses will be on the day that you travel or what other commitments you have and so I am not prepared to advise you to do what I did but I did something similar last year (purchased bus tickets minutes before the bus turned up) when I walked a combination of the Camino Madrid, Camino Frances and Camino Portuguese and again it worked for me.

 

[MikeLoya]

Help! Im flying in to Santiago today and then Monbus to Sarria. There doesn’t see to be a bus station at the airport and it’s far outside town. Do I taxi to the bus station from the airport? Will Monbus stop at the airport? I managed to buy a ticket already but it won’t even give me the address to the bus station (it just says don’t be late!)

 

[Molly Cassidy]

There is a bus from the airport to the city centre. I haven't been there, so I can't tell you where the bus stop is, but just ask when you arrive at the airport.

 

[MikeLoya]

There is a bus from the airport to the city centre. I haven't been there, so I can't tell you where the bus stop is, but just ask when you arrive at the airport.

Ok! The plan A will be to catch a bus going west to catch a bus going east. That’ll work and it looks like I’ll have plenty of time. Thanks for the tip!

 

[MikeLoya]

Update: took the bus in to town and then transferred to a bus to Sarria… and it stopped at the airport where I started. So there is a way to bus directly from the Santiago airport to Sarria, but the Monbus people on the ground, the website, etc all super unhelpful. Not sure how this can be clarified for future pilgrims. But it all worked out in the end and I logged my first Camino from Sarria! Can’t wait to try a longer route one day when work permits such an extravagant absence…

 

[SoozKH]

Update: took the bus in to town and then transferred to a bus to Sarria… and it stopped at the airport where I started. So there is a way to bus directly from the Santiago airport to Sarria, but the Monbus people on the ground, the website, etc all super unhelpful. Not sure how this can be clarified for future pilgrims. But it all worked out in the end and I logged my first Camino from Sarria! Can’t wait to try a longer route one day when work permits such an extravagant absence…

Hi there, congrats on your Camino! Am about to embark on the same later this week and would like to know more about this bus journey you took to Santiago city before heading to Sarria. Which line/bus company is it? and do they have frequent services to Sarria? Thanks

 

[Hersghty]

Last Wed I took a Monbus from Santiago to Sarria early afternoon ie later than the 1100. Sorry, can’t remember the exact time but it was somewhere around 1400. When I bought the ticket at the Monbus ticket desk in Santiago bus station, I was sold a ticket to Lugo and told I had to change buses there to go in to Santiago. It stopped in Lugo bus station around 1515, everyone got off, then I had to go to the ticket office at the bus station (right by the stand the bus had pulled into) and buy the 2 euro something ticket to Sarria, to go back and re board the same bus. The driver then drove to Sarria - a 40-45 min journey.

This process hadnt been explained to me clearly when I bought the ticket but I figured it out.

If this seems cumbersome, then shoot for the 1100 bus.

Thanks so much for your reply and advice
I hope to get my ticket on June 1 on line before I leave Australia
Yes planning the 1100 bus
Appreciate your advice

 

[MikeLoya]

Hi there, congrats on your Camino! Am about to embark on the same later this week and would like to know more about this bus journey you took to Santiago city before heading to Sarria. Which line/bus company is it? and do they have frequent services to Sarria? Thanks

Hi there, congrats on your Camino! Am about to embark on the same later this week and would like to know more about this bus journey you took to Santiago city before heading to Sarria. Which line/bus company is it? and do they have frequent services to Sarria? Thanks

It is Monbus. I’m not sure how often they go to Sarria or which line goes to it. I got around the problem by taking a bus west to SDC from the airport (which is east of town and not exactly close to the SDC bus center) then rode it back east again, stopping at the airport where I started a couple hours earlier, then continued on to Sarria. There was a single Monbus rep on the ground at the airport but she was not interested in helping. Maybe you’ll have someone more knowledgeable or helpful when you arrive at the airport!

 

[astcal]

Alas, this is the #1 thing worries me -- first timer for Camino de Santiago that is planned in late April 2025: Spain just doesn't have the high quality infrastructure+serives like other Western countries. Frustration seems inevitable

 

[SabsP]

Alas, this is the #1 thing worries me -- first timer for Camino de Santiago that is planned in late April 2025: Spain just doesn't have the high quality infrastructure+serives like other Western countries. Frustration seems inevitable

Please explain?
No high quality? Like in other Western countries? Frustration?

If you mean that there are no four or five star chainhotels in the rural areas then you are correct. But the quality of the smaller hostales / pensiones in Spain is superb!
I am always so amazed for instance by the high end bathrooms/ showers in even modest hotels.

I advise you to inform yourself here about all the possible forms of lodgings. You will be pleasantly surprised.
Gronze is also a good source of info.

Sarria - Portomarín | Camino Francés | Gronze.com

Etapa interesante y sin dificultades a reseñar, con desniveles frecuentes pero moderados. Avanzamos hoy por la Galicia rural, entre prados y frondosos bosques de robles y castaños, saliéndonos al paso una infinidad de pequeñas aldeas o “lugares”. La villa medieval de Portomarín desapareció en...

www.gronze.com

 

[astcal]

^^^^^

I am perfectly fine with everything that is offered on Camino Frances route, they are expected, and to be honest a bit beyond my expectations.

My concern is towards the train/bus transportation systems, particularly from Santiago de Compostela to Sarria. From what I read this is THE most popular route of all and there should be a high demand for a direct bus routes from the airport to Sarria with more than one schedule!

Also the Monbus employee at the airport doesn't give a shxxt to the customers is a bad sign of the culture.

 

[SabsP]

^^^^^

I am perfectly fine with everything that is offered on Camino Frances route, they are expected, and to be honest a bit beyond my expectations.

My concern is towards the train/bus transportation systems, particularly from Santiago de Compostela to Sarria. From what I read this is THE most popular route of all and there should be a high demand for a direct bus routes from the airport to Sarria with more than one schedule!

Also the Monbus employee at the airport doesn't give a shxxt to the customers is a bad sign of the culture.

Travel is part of the experience.

One employee was less nice than expected. Deal with it and move on I would think.

 

[astcal]

of course, one disgruntled employee wont' stop me. If this is an isolated case then all is good.

you can't stop people being bad, but you can speak out and warn others to be prepared.

 

[Kirkie]

I was going to react, but instead will try to respond. I see no reason for using vulgar language on this forum.
Let's start the New Year gently, paying attention to the focus of the forum.

 

[Kathor1]

to be prepared.

@astcal, well, welcome to the forum! To be prepared, you, as well as others who are planning their first Camino from Sarria in 2025 and are unfamiliar with public transport in Galicia, could also click on the tag "travel to sarria" right under the thread title and familiarise yourselves with the content of the other threads about options for travelling from Santiago train station or Santiago airport to Sarria via Lugo for example - there are several combinations of bus & bus or bus & train to choose from.

 

[VNwalking]

Spain just doesn't have the high quality infrastructure+serives like other Western countries. Frustration seems inevitable

Trains and buses are definitely available for this route; both are reliable and inexpensive. One thing to consider about the train journey is that though it's longer, it's quite beautiful - especially the part after Ourense.

The other thing to consider is a shared taxi directly from the airport. There will be many pilgrims arriving and some may be willing to share.

 

[DoughnutANZ]

^^^^^

I am perfectly fine with everything that is offered on Camino Frances route, they are expected, and to be honest a bit beyond my expectations.

My concern is towards the train/bus transportation systems, particularly from Santiago de Compostela to Sarria. From what I read this is THE most popular route of all and there should be a high demand for a direct bus routes from the airport to Sarria with more than one schedule!

Also the Monbus employee at the airport doesn't give a shxxt to the customers is a bad sign of the culture.

It seems like you will enjoy your Camino.

 

[trecile]

Alas, this is the #1 thing worries me -- first timer for Camino de Santiago that is planned in late April 2025: Spain just doesn't have the high quality infrastructure+serives like other Western countries. Frustration seems inevitable

I found public transportation much, much better than California!

 

[astcal]

I found public transportation much, much better than California!

LOL! any public transportation is better than California's, where visitors are better go with rental cars or Uber to get around. Luckily there are no pilgrims travel here since they will most likely rely on public transportation.

 

[astcal]

@astcal, well, welcome to the forum! To be prepared, you, as well as others who are planning their first Camino from Sarria in 2025 and are unfamiliar with public transport in Galicia, could also click on the tag "travel to sarria" right under the thread title and familiarise yourselves with the content of the other threads about options for travelling from Santiago train station or Santiago airport to Sarria via Lugo for example - there are several combinations of bus & bus or bus & train to choose from.

View attachment 183196

Much appreciate your tips, they are actually helpful.

 

[trecile]

Much appreciate your tips, they are actually helpful.

@Kathor1 is a gem, with good and thoroughly researched information.

 

[Bradypus]

My concern is towards the train/bus transportation systems, particularly from Santiago de Compostela to Sarria. From what I read this is THE most popular route of all and there should be a high demand for a direct bus routes from the airport to Sarria with more than one schedule!

There is already a daily bus direct from Santiago to Sarria. If the timing is not ideal it is not difficult or very time consuming to take one of several buses each day to Lugo then switch to another bus to Sarria. Is it really too much to expect people to make a two-stage journey rather than taking a direct bus or train? Why not use the infrastructure which already exists? Is shaving 30 minutes or an hour from your journey really so important? I have seen posts from people prepared to spend €400 or more on taxis from Bilbao to SJPDP rather than use existing public transport. To save a couple of hours at the start of a journey which might take a month. Maybe the first stage in slowing down and embracing the different pace of life as a walking pilgrim should be to adjust to local practices rather than demand that they change to suit you.