Porto, Vigo and Santiago are the three useful airports for the Portuguese Way. The best choice depends on where you will begin walking:

  • Porto start: fly to Porto.
  • Tui start: Vigo is closest; Porto often has the stronger international flight schedule.
  • Baiona or Vigo start: Vigo is closest.
  • A Guarda or Oia start: Vigo or Porto can work; a private transfer is the practical connection from either airport.
  • Ourense start for the Sanabrés Way: Madrid by high-speed train is often faster than flying through Galicia.

Starting in Porto

  • Metro do Porto line E: approximately 30 minutes from the airport to Trindade, with trains generally every 20 to 30 minutes.
  • Taxi or private transfer: approximately 25 to 35 minutes to a central hotel, depending on traffic.
  • ALSA: direct international coaches from the airport to Vigo take approximately 2 hours 15 minutes; services to Santiago take approximately 3 hours 30 minutes.

Porto is large enough for the hotel location to matter. For the Central Way, the cathedral is the traditional city starting point. Coastal itineraries may begin beside the Atlantic or use a transfer to Matosinhos, Vila do Conde or another selected first stage.

Starting in Tui

  • From Vigo Airport: approximately 25 to 30 minutes by taxi or private transfer. Vitrasa line A reaches Vigo’s city and intermodal transport area in approximately 25 to 30 minutes; change there to a regional bus found through Bus Galicia.
  • From Porto Airport: approximately 1 hour 15 minutes by private transfer. An ALSA coach towards Vigo or Valença is the main scheduled alternative. Valença is directly across the River Miño from Tui.
  • From Santiago Airport: approximately 1 hour 20 minutes by private transfer. Public transport requires travel into Santiago or Vigo and at least one change.

Portugal is one hour behind mainland Spain. Always read cross-border coach and transfer times in the local time shown for each stop.

Starting in Baiona or Vigo

  • Vigo Airport to Vigo: approximately 15 minutes by taxi, or 25 to 30 minutes on Vitrasa line A.
  • Vigo Airport to Baiona: approximately 25 to 30 minutes by private transfer. The public journey requires line A into Vigo followed by a regional coastal bus.
  • Porto Airport to Baiona: approximately 1 hour 30 minutes by private transfer.
  • Santiago Airport to Baiona: approximately 1 hour 25 minutes by private transfer.

For walkers beginning in A Guarda, Oia or another coastal village, a prearranged vehicle avoids several local connections and takes you directly to the first hotel.

Starting in Ourense

Ourense is the main Galician starting point for the final Sanabrés Way.

  • From Madrid: direct Renfe AVE trains take approximately 2 hours 15 minutes from Madrid Chamartín.
  • From Santiago: direct Renfe trains generally take approximately 40 minutes. A private transfer from Santiago Airport takes approximately 1 hour 15 minutes.
  • From Vigo: direct Renfe trains take approximately 1 hour 30 minutes, depending on the service.

Starting in Monforte de Lemos

Monforte de Lemos is a starting point for the Winter Way and the best-connected base for a Ribeira Sacra extension.

  • From Madrid: direct Renfe trains take approximately 4 hours; some departures change in Ourense.
  • From Ourense: direct trains take approximately 45 minutes.
  • From Santiago: direct trains take approximately 1 hour 30 minutes. A private transfer from Santiago Airport takes approximately 1 hour 40 minutes.

Flying home from Santiago

The airport bus connects central Santiago with the terminal. A taxi or private transfer generally takes 20 to 25 minutes from a central hotel. Vigo and Porto can also work for the return flight, but their overland connections add considerable travel time after the Camino.

Ultreya Tours can arrange airport and railway-station transfers for every starting point above. Send us the flight or train number, arrival time and number of travelers, and ask us for the rate.