Getting to Sarria from the UK

[Baggy]

Hi all,
New member here! My brother and me are planning on walking from Sarria to Santiago in May 2024. We don’t want to spend 36 hours travelling so it looks like by air to either Santiago or Madrid and then train onwards? Flying to Madrid will give more options of cheaper flights (?) but i couldnt find an onward train when I did a search Even tho a generic search suggested there was one.
Grateful for suggestions and alternative, we are flexible on time and start dates so is early May a good time?

 

[Bradypus]

Fly to Santiago. One direct bus per day from the airport to Sarria. But many more buses to Lugo and change there to another bus for Sarria. The bus company is Monbus.

Buy bus tickets - Check bus schedules - Monbus

Buy online bus tickets and check schedules. If you prefer, hire a vehicle for your group travel. Travel in a secure, comfortable and cheap way with Monbus.

www.monbus.es

 

[trecile]

You probably can't find the train because the schedule isn't yet available for May. I would check the current schedule to get a rough idea.

 

[J Willhaus]

Usually one direct train per day from Madrid Chamartin. If you use Trainline it will show routes with a transfer for more options.

If you fly to Santiago, arrive in the morning as the bus from the airport to Sarria leaves at 11:15 am. Otherwise you'll need to transfer in Lugo. Several people posted earlier this year that they were arriving on a late flight after buses stopped running. In that case you have to arrange a taxi which can be spendy or spend a night near the airport and take a bus the following day.

 

[VeronicaF1]

Hi all,
New member here! My brother and me are planning on walking from Sarria to Santiago in May 2024. We don’t want to spend 36 hours travelling so it looks like by air to either Santiago or Madrid and then train onwards? Flying to Madrid will give more options of cheaper flights (?) but i couldnt find an onward train when I did a search Even tho a generic search suggested there was one.
Grateful for suggestions and alternative, we are flexible on time and start dates so is early May a good time?

Usually one direct train per day from Madrid Chamartin. If you use Trainline it will show routes with a transfer for more options.

If you fly to Santiago, arrive in the morning as the bus from the airport to Sarria leaves at 11:15 am. Otherwise you'll need to transfer in Lugo. Several people posted earlier this year that they were arriving on a late flight after buses stopped running. In that case you have to arrange a taxi which can be spendy or spend a night near the airport and take a bus the following day.

I caught a very early flight from Stansted to Santiago (Thursday only) in time to catch one once a day direct bus to Sarria. Lunchtime arrival meant a reasonably leisurely walk that afternoon. You can go via Lugo and change buses there.

 

[Septarian]

Hi all,
New member here! My brother and me are planning on walking from Sarria to Santiago in May 2024. We don’t want to spend 36 hours travelling so it looks like by air to either Santiago or Madrid and then train onwards? Flying to Madrid will give more options of cheaper flights (?) but i couldnt find an onward train when I did a search Even tho a generic search suggested there was one.
Grateful for suggestions and alternative, we are flexible on time and start dates so is early May a good time?

I’m trying to book the Madrid Sarria train for March, but I think the tickets haven’t been put up yet.

 

[J Willhaus]

No, they probably won't be available until a month or so ahead.

 

[Septarian]

No, they probably won't be available until a month or so ahead.

Thank you!

 

[Peterborough]

Last year I flew from Stansted to Santiago. My flight arrived early evening. I found a reasonably priced hotel in Lavacolla ( booking .com), which was close to the airport. In the morning I caught an early bus to the airport and caught The first bus to Lugo and then the bus to Sarria. I arrived in Sarria late morning. And started on my Camino. It wasn't difficult . My knowledge of Spanish allowed my to buy a beer and that was abut all.

 

[Vince Rollason]

Hi all,
New member here! My brother and me are planning on walking from Sarria to Santiago in May 2024. We don’t want to spend 36 hours travelling so it looks like by air to either Santiago or Madrid and then train onwards? Flying to Madrid will give more options of cheaper flights (?) but i couldnt find an onward train when I did a search Even tho a generic search suggested there was one.
Grateful for suggestions and alternative, we are flexible on time and start dates so is early May a good time?

Hello
Last year I flew into Madrid from Birmingham. UK. There was a daily train from Chamartin Station in Madrid to Sarria, at 13.15 arriving about 17.30, To return from SDC to Madrid there is a high speed train with several trains a day. I thing this journey was around 3 hours, If you book in advance the fares are extremely competitive, especially when compared to UK train fares.
Buen Camino
Vince

 

[Baggy]

Thank you all for your information!