World Travel Guide

City Guide  - Santiago de Compostela  - Water
Water

Galicia has a strong maritime tradition, and although inland, Santiago de Compostela is close enough to the Galician coast to have several ports of access for smaller vessels. Vigo, Pontevedra and A Coruña are the chief local ports. The nearest major ferry ports to are Santander (tel: (942) 214 500) and Bilbao (tel: (944) 234 477). Facilities at Santander include a cafeteria, supermarket and Hertz car hire. Bilbao is much smaller with only basic facilities. The drive from both ports is popular (albeit long) because it gives drivers the choice of following the old Pilgrim's Way or the north coast route along Spain's Costa Verde.

Ferry services: Britanny Ferries (tel: (021) 277 801 (UK number); website: www.brittany-ferries.co.uk) runs services to Santander, while P&O Stena (tel: (087) 0600 0600 (bookings) or 0611 (information line, both UK numbers); website: www.poferries.com) have regular crossings to Bilbao.

Arrival/departure tax: None.

Transport to the city: The usual approach to Santiago de Compostela is by road (journey time - 9 hours) and there are two buses a day (journey time - 11 hours) from Santander. Trains leave twice a day from Santander, via Palencia (journey time - 12 hours) and once a day from Bilbao (journey time - 11 hours).



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