Atlantic Axis train to Santiago

The Atlantic Axis is the train line that runs the length of the Galician coast from north to south: it links A Coruña, Santiago de Compostela, Vilagarcía de Arousa, Pontevedra and Vigo, and since 2015 it has done so by high-speed track between Santiago and Vigo. To come to Santiago without a car from the other cities of Galicia, it is the fastest option and the one with the most departures: according to Turismo de Santiago, regional trains leave roughly every hour for the main Galician destinations.

Trains, times and tickets

Renfe trains of different types run on the line: Avant and Media Distancia, faster and with fewer stops, and Regionales, which stop at more stations. Between A Coruña and Santiago the fastest take around half an hour and the regionals about 40 minutes; from Pontevedra and Vigo the journey is somewhat longer. Times depend on the train, so check the Renfe search engine when you buy. Tickets are bought at renfe.com, on the Renfe app and at the machines and ticket offices in the stations. On Sundays and public holidays there are fewer trains than on weekdays; if you are coming for the day, check first what time the last train back leaves.

Santiago also has a direct connection with Ourense, the gateway to the Ribeira Sacra, and direct long-distance trains to Madrid, Vitoria and Barcelona.

Santiago station

The train station is in the O Hórreo area, south of the old town. Next to it is the bus station, in the Pontepedriña district; the two are linked by a covered pedestrian walkway that the Xunta finished in 2021, so changing between train and bus is done on foot, without going out onto the street. At the train station there is a café, cash machines, car hire and parking.

From the station to the centre it is about a 20-minute walk to the cathedral, going up Rúa do Hórreo towards Praza de Galicia, from where you enter the old area.

Ideas for the day

With a morning train from A Coruña or Pontevedra there is time to go into the cathedral and Portico of Glory, stroll through the Abastos Market and eat in the area, for example at the Café de Altamira, opposite the market. In the afternoon, the Alameda is on the way to the station. If you stay overnight, the Hotel Costa Vella and the San Martín Pinario Guesthouse are in the old town. Before you start, stop by the tourist office on Rúa do Vilar for the official map.