Train stations in Santiago de Compostela

Santiago de Compostela station is the city's only rail arrival point, on Rúa do Hórreo south of the historic centre. High speed, long distance, regional and medium distance trains all stop here.

Which station to use

Use Santiago de Compostela. Boards and ticket searches sometimes show the longer name Santiago de Compostela, Daniel Castelao, but it is the same station, not a second one to add to your itinerary. The address is C/ Hórreo 75 A, 15702, and the station is open from 05:00 to 00:00 daily. The city's bus station is built into the same intermodal complex and connects directly to the rail station, so changing between train and coach is simple. The bus station has a left-luggage service on its main floor.

Trains to Santiago de Compostela

Renfe runs everything here: AVE, AVLO, Alvia, Avant, Media Distancia and Regional services. AVE and AVLO are the high speed options for longer trips, Alvia covers long distance routes including a direct train to Barcelona Sants, and Avant, Media Distancia and Regional trains handle shorter journeys within Galicia. Fare and change conditions differ by train type, so look at the service label on your booking.

Madrid is the main long distance link. Direct trains leave from Madrid Chamartín Clara Campoamor, and the first Madrid to Santiago train of the day leaves at 06:20 (as of 2 October 2026).

Within Galicia there are direct trains to A Coruña, Vigo Urzaiz, Ourense and Vilagarcía de Arousa, and the main Galician cities are served roughly hourly, which makes Santiago an easy base for day trips by rail. Because the pattern changes by day, pick the departure first and compare fares second. Engineering works between A Coruña and Santiago are currently affecting some timetables as of 2 October 2026, so allow margin on an A Coruña connection.

Getting from the station into the city

The old town is not at the station door, but it is close. Urban bus 6 links Praza de Galicia in the centre with the station for €1, roughly every 15 to 20 minutes. Urban buses connect through the bus station complex, which also has an entrance on Rúa do Hórreo, to the airport, the hospitals, the university campuses and the northern districts. Taxis wait at the entrances of the adjoining bus station. With light luggage the walk into the centre is manageable, and a wheeled case or a full Camino pack makes the bus or a taxi more appealing.

For the airport, Line 6A connects the station with Santiago de Compostela Airport, Rosalía de Castro. Check the destination shown on the front of the bus before boarding.

Coaches from the same complex

If a train does not suit, the bus station next door runs coaches across Spain and abroad. ALSA serves Madrid, Barcelona, the Cantabrian coast and Seville, and Porto and Lisbon, while FlixBus runs to Porto and Paris. The bus station is open from 05:45 to 00:00.

Rail passes and reservations

With an Interrail pass you still need a paid seat reservation on almost every train that calls here. Interrail lists it as compulsory on AVE at €10 in second class, on Alvia at €6.50, and on Avant and Media Distancia at €4. Regional Exprés reservations are not always mandatory, and AVLO is not on Interrail's fee list. The fees are indicative and can change. Reserve through the Interrail reservation service or at the ticket desk of a Spanish long distance station.

Tickets and booking

Book on Renfe for your exact date and train. Buying early often gives the lowest fare, while later departures may cost more or use a different train type. Read the change and refund terms for the fare you select before paying, and make sure the arrival station reads Santiago de Compostela.

A qualifying AVE or long distance ticket includes a free Combinado Cercanías trip, but only on Cercanías networks such as Madrid's. Santiago has no Cercanías network, so it helps at the start of a journey from a Cercanías city, not for getting around Santiago. The free trip can be used from 4 hours before departure to 4 hours after arrival.