Santiago de Compostela Airport (SCQ) SCQ: Departure times and transfers

Flying from/to Santiago de Compostela Airport

Get straight from Santiago de Compostela Airport to the city centre without dither—booking your ticket in advance means you can zoom through the airport and be on your way to the city. We, at Omio, have collected information on the facilities that you have after landing, and the main places worth stopping at in the city centre to make planning your trip easier.

Travel from Santiago city center to Santiago de Compostela Airport

Flights to Santiago de Compostela Airport are the 21st century's easier route to the Spanish city, after hardy pilgrims have spent the last 1000 years slogging on foot across Spain on the famous Camino de Santiago trail. Travelers heading to the airport from Santiago city center will pass the present-day pilgrims walking into the city from Lavacolla, traditionally the last bathing place before arrival at the cathedral. Frequent buses offer the easiest public transit transfer option from downtown Santiago, with regular services to the terminal available from several stops in the center throughout the day and evening. Taxis provide an alternative and slightly faster transfer option, and offer more comfortable journeys for travelers with limited mobility.  

What's the best way to get to the airport from the city center?

The Empresa Freire bus company runs frequent direct buses from Santiago de Compostela city center to the airport, with departures roughly every half hour. The timetable is in operation between early morning and just before midnight. The bus service operates  on a circular route via several stops in the city, including the bus station, the RENFE rail station and the central Plaza de Galicia. Taxis offer a slightly faster, but more expensive, option for transfers to the terminal, with a flat fare and small supplements for luggage.

How far is it from the city center to the airport?

Santiago de Compostela  Airport is located in Lavacolla,  about nine miles (14 kilometers) east of the city center. The bus route from the center passes through some congested stretches of road on the eastern side of the city, and at some times of the day, particularly in early afternoon and mid evening, traffic can slow progress considerably. In general the bus transfer from downtown takes around 25 minutes from the bus station or 30 minutes from the train station. Taxi journeys are around ten minutes quicker as they don't have to make stops en route, but can still be vulnerable to traffic congestion between the city center and Lavacolla. 

What facilities are there at the airport?

Santiago de Compostela Airport is the main hub for flights to Galicia in the north west of Spain and has most of the facilities expected for an international airport. There are long and short stay parking lots in front of the departures terminal and currency exchange bureaux, ATMs and tourist information desks in the main hall, with step-free access to the terminal. Dining and drinks options include an Italian coffee shop, tapas bar, pizzeria and Galician restaurant. In addition to duty free shopping, there is a Spanish gourmet specialty store offering local Galician cheese and wines, a fashion and accessories boutique, book store and news vendor. Business amenities include an executive lounge, free WiFi, internet access computers and an open air terrace. 

How accessible is the route for those with limited mobility?

The Empresa Freire buses from Santiago city center to Santiago De Compostela Airport have restricted accessibility for passengers with limited mobility.  Most standard city taxis are also unsuitable, with limited space for wheelchairs. There are adapted wheelchair accessible private taxi transfers available from downtown, but pre-booking is advisable. At the airport, assistance with check-in and boarding for passengers with reduced mobility needs to be arranged in advance, with meeting points at the information desks on the ground floor and first floor of the terminal. Lifts to the departures area and accessible bathroom facilities are available at the airport.   

Local tips: how to travel to the airport like a local

Regular buses from downtown Santiago De Compostela to the airport at Lavacolla provide the most convenient transfers, with plenty of space for luggage and convenient stops in central Santiago. Tickets are inexpensive and are available from vending machines adjacent to bus stops, with return tickets or city-wide day passes offering considerable savings on buying separate single tickets. For travelers who have booked a flight in the mid-afternoon or late evening, it's advisable to leave a little extra time for the bus transfer to the terminal, as Santiago's commuter traffic can get busy at these times.