Meeting Your Trip in SANTIAGO or VIGO


On this page, you will find information about meeting your trip in Santiago de Compostela, or in Vigo. Topics include...

We suggest that you print these pages out, and bring a copy with you to your trip.


Travelling from MADRID to SANTIAGO de COMPOSTELA or VIGO

Overview
There are only two trains per day on this route, one in daylight, and one overnight. It is actually the same train, regardless of your destination: it splits in two in Ourense, half continuing to Santiago and A Coruña, half to Vigo (and, for the night train, Pontevedra).

The daylight train leaves Madrid in the early afternoon, and arrives in both Santiago and Vigo in the evening. It offers a cafeteria service, which is more elaborate than that name implies, though not a real sit-down restaurant. A full sit-down lunch service is available in first class, and is a nice way to pass the time: cost is additional.

The overnight train is a nifty vehicle, called a “Hotel Train.” It has “Tourist” cabins of four berths, private cabins for singles and doubles, and even private “Gran Clase” cabins with ensuite shower and WC. These last include dinner and breakfast in the train’s restaurant, which is really rather elegant given the surroundings. The dining car opens for dinner before the train even leaves Madrid, so if you wish to board early, you can start your meal early, so to have some time to sleep before you arrive.

You may use the dining car even if the meal is not included in your ticket cost, and simply pay for the meal. Or, there is an adjacent bar, offering lighter fare.

Currency, Finances
You should have about 50 Euros to make this trip.

Travel Documents
If you arranged your trip through us, we have presumably sent you your necessary travel documents. These should include one of:

  • A train ticket, good for the trip from Madrid to Santiago or Vigo.
  • A railpass with accompanying instructions. Also a separate coupon which corresponds to a reservation for a particular space on the train you will be taking. This reservation will either be in its own blue-and-white cover, or will be in the same blue and white cover as the ticket.
  • Under some (rare) circumstances, we may send you a single piece of paper which is both ticket and reservation, combined. In this case it will be written in Spanish, and will say on it “billete + reserva.”

Making the Trip

From the Airport (called Barajas) to Chamartin Train Station
Follow signs for the “Metro.” This is a bit of a walk (circa 15 minutes).

When you get to the metro station, buy a ticket (“sencilla” means a single trip, exact change is not required). Only one line serves the airport: line 8. Take it in the direction of “Nuevos Ministerios.” 4 (long) stops will get you there. Change to line 10 in the direction of “Fuencarral.” Take this 4 stops, to “Chamartin.” Follow the crowds out to the train station.

If you have time before your train, you may leave your luggage in a locker (outside the front of the station, in a separate office), and go off to explore. The area around the station is not of particular interest: this will involve another subway trip.

Train from Madrid to Santiago or Vigo
Your train to “Vigo / A Coruña” or to “Pontevedra / A Coruña” can be located by consulting the “Largo Recorrido” departure (“salida”) board. We will presumably have reserved the space you have requested on this train. Your reservation includes a precise car and seat number. You can locate the correct car by looking at the car numbers next to the car doors along the platform.

Getting Off in Santiago
Your reservation should tell you the arrival time of your train in Santiago. The Santiago station is a big one, called “Santiago de Compostela,” and is the first the train will have stopped at in a while. We suggest that you get a schedule for the train from the Madrid information booth before you board, so that you may follow your progress from station to station. Ask for the timetable (“orario”) “para Galicia.”

If you are on the night train, the cabin staff will give you a wake-up call on your in-cabin phone half an hour before you arrive, or earlier if you request it (to go to breakfast, for example).

Getting to Your Hotel in Santiago
You will likely be staying at one of the following (verify your trip itinerary):

  • Hotel Brabantes, Del Franco, 3, 15702 Santiago de Compostela
  • Seminario Mayor, Plaza de la Immaculada 5, 15704 Santiago de Compostela.
  • Hotel Costa Vella, C/Puerta de la Peña, 15704 Santiago de Compostela.
  • Hotel Fonte de San Roque, Hospitalillo 8, 15704 Santiago de Compostela.

A taxi from the station to any of these is less than 10 €, including baggage charge and a 10% tip. There are city buses, but they are a nuisance. And you could walk it easily without luggage, but it is mostly uphill, so a hike with even minimal baggage.

Getting Off in Vigo
Your reservation should tell you the arrival time of your train in Vigo. The Vigo station is a “stub-end” station. We suggest that you get a schedule for the train from the Madrid information booth before you board, so that you may follow your progress from station to station. Ask for the timetable (“orario”) “para Galicia.”

If you are on the night train, the cabin staff will give you a wake-up call on your in-cabin phone half an hour before you arrive, or earlier if you request it (to go to breakfast, for example).

Getting to Your Hotel in Vigo
You will likely be staying at the following (verify your reservation confirmation):

  • Hotel Lino, Lepanto 26 y 28, 36201 Vigo, Phone +34 986 44 70 04Hotel Fonte de San Roque, Hospitalillo 8, 15704 Santiago de Compostela.

This is just two blocks from the station. To walk there: exit the station to the street, following roads that cars can use (not stairs). Only one route fits this description. Calle Lepanto is in front of you, the street that curves to the left. Your hotel is a block away.


Where and When Your Trip Meets

  • In Santiago: the folk coming in from Galicia will arrive Saturday evening, typically around 8p, sometimes even a bit later. If you can be hanging around the hotel by then, you can join them for dinner (the Spanish eat late!). If not, and if you have subscribed to our Santiago “Access Package,” dinner is included in the package, even if you dine on your own. So... go get dinner! Just keep the check. Your smiling coordinator will reimburse the food portion.

  • In Vigo: the trip meets in front of the Vigo train station at 11a on Sunday morning. Look for bikes. If you don’t see any, look for the explanation in the late arrival of the train from A Coruña. As soon as it pulls in, travelling companions and bikes will appear.