We’re arriving into the port of Coruna on May7th & want to know the quickest public transportation to Santiago. We want to visit the cathedral & need to know if we need to buy tickets for the museum online. I don’t see any schedule for trains, but I was told there’s transportation by train. I see a Flexibus. Is that the same thing? Thank you!
Posted by
Washington DC
28082 posts
A bus would probably take quite a bit longer than a train, so you'll want to stick to trains if at all possible. A potential issue I see is that there's a gap of almost 1-1/2 hours between the 9:32 AM train to Santiago de Compostela and the 11 AM train. It would be disappointing to just barely miss the 9:32 AM train. In general, trains run pretty frequently throughout the day. Allow plenty of time to get back and re-board your ship; don't plan to take the last possible train back from Santiago de Compostela.
There are several different types of trains on that route, with slightly varying travel times between 28 and 37 minutes. The Avant and Alvia trains have assigned seats and can conceivably sell out, so if you wait to buy tickets until you get off the ship in A Coruna (since you really won't know until then what time you can get to the train station), some of them may be sold out. Other tickets on those trains may go fast as your fellow cruisers buy them. The Media Distancia and Regional trains don't have assigned seats (you might end up standing), so they cannot sell out.
I think they stop selling train tickets (from easy-to-use vending machines as well as at staffed counters) before scheduled departure time; I think the cut-off is 5 minutes before scheduled departure. Renfe has an app through which you can purchase tickets. I'd recommend downloading that app, setting up an account, and playing around with it a bit here at home so you're familiar with the process of choosing a departure time. Having that app will give you a leg up on your fellow passengers who may be lining up at the vending machines and ticket counters in A Coruna (and later in Santiago de Compostela). It's always a good idea to have multiple credit cards at hand when trying to buy things like train tickets; sometimes the card processor has a problem with US credit cards.
Just in case of an unexpected problem: A Coruna itself is a very attractive town.
One other thing: The train station in Santiago de Compostela is a bit of a walk from the historic center and the cathedral. I think it may be uphill, too. Allow extra time for that, research bus routes ahead of time, or budget for a taxi.
Posted by
Mid-Atlantic area
7157 posts
It is a 1 mile uphill walk from the train station to the cathedral in Santiago de Compostela.
Posted by
Bay Area, California
1632 posts
I don't recommend Flixbus. It's terrible and often late. Choose the train if possible.