Getting home from Santiago

You walked to Santiago — now you need to get out. It's well connected by air, rail and road, so leaving is easy once you know the options. Here's how to reach the airport, the main onward connections, and how to get back if you continued to the coast.

Santiago airport (SCQ)

Santiago–Rosalía de Castro airport (SCQ) is about 13 km east of the old town, at Lavacolla. The city airport bus links the centre and bus/train stations to the terminal in around 30 minutes for a few euros; a taxi is faster but costs much more. Direct flights serve Madrid, Barcelona and several European cities; for other destinations you'll usually connect via Madrid.

Trains and buses onward

Santiago's train station (Renfe) and bus station connect to the rest of Spain and into Portugal. Trains run to Vigo, A Coruña, Madrid and beyond. Long-distance buses (Alsa, Monbus, FlixBus) are often the cheapest way south — direct coaches reach Porto in around 4 hours, useful if you flew into Porto to start.

Getting back from Finisterre or Muxía

💡 If you walked on to the coast, you don't have to walk back. Monbus runs regular coaches from Finisterre and Muxía to Santiago (roughly 2–3 hours), so you can end at the ocean and ride back to catch your flight or train. Check the last departure the evening before, as rural timetables thin out.

Left luggage and your last day

Left-luggage lockers and services near the cathedral and stations let you stash your pack for a few euros so you can enjoy Santiago unburdened before you leave. Give yourself a buffer on departure day: the airport bus and long-distance coaches don't run as often as in a big city.

Frequently asked questions

How do I get from Santiago city to the airport?

Take the city airport bus, which links the centre and the bus/train stations to the terminal in about 30 minutes for a few euros. A taxi is faster but much more expensive.

How do I get from Santiago to Porto after the Camino?

Direct long-distance coaches (Alsa, FlixBus) reach Porto in around 4 hours. You can also train to Vigo and connect onward. Buses are usually the cheapest option south.

How do I get back to Santiago from Finisterre or Muxía?

Monbus runs regular coaches from both Finisterre and Muxía to Santiago, taking roughly 2–3 hours. Check the last departure the evening before.

Where can I leave my backpack in Santiago?

Left-luggage lockers and services near the cathedral and the stations hold your pack for a few euros, so you can explore Santiago before your departure.

Sources: https://caminoways.com/getting-to-from-santiago-de-compostela · https://www.aena.es/en/santiago-rosalia-de-castro.html · https://stingynomads.com/portuguese-coastal-camino-stages/ · https://www.renfe.com/es/en