(Courtesy Camino Portuguese Group)
For a lot of people traveling to (or from) the Camino, the train may be part of your plans. You may be anxious about that part of your journey if you are unfamiliar with travel by train. I thought it might be helpful to put together a few tips to make it easier.
Portugal and Spain both have state run rail systems. In Portugal, it is Comboios de Portugal, and in Spain it is Renfe – Operadoro, usually referred to just as Renfe. I will go into detail about them after covering some general train advice.
The first thing you will need to establish is where you want to travel to and from. For instance, it’s not as simple as Lisbon to Porto because Lisbon has six train Stations and Porto has two stations. Santiago on the other hand only has one. I will discuss these below, but you need to pay close attention to the name of the station.
When to buy your ticket depends on a couple of things. If you are planning to spend time in Lisbon, you will know what day and time you want to travel. Unlike plane tickets which usually go on sale a year in advance, train tickets go on sale 60 days or less before the travel date. They may put some tickets for the better grades of service on sale before they release regional train tickets. An advance purchase is recommended as you may get a discount and you may be able to select a better seat. If on the other hand you are flying into Lisbon and immediately jump on the train to Porto, it might be better to wait to buy at the station as you could have a flight delay and miss your train. This route has multiple daily trains so you can easily buy a ticket after you have landed. If you are taking a train from Santiago, I strongly advise you purchase as soon as you know when you want to travel, trains from Santiago do sell out, sometimes days in advance. The exception is traveling from Santiago to A Coruña, which is in the opposite direction of the heaviest travel.
How to buy your ticket is up to you. You can buy it online direct from the railway or go through a reseller. You can purchase it from a machine in the station or you can go to a ticket window at the station. If the station you are boarding at has a ticket office, you MUST buy your ticket before you get on board the train. If you don’t have a ticket, you may be put off the train at the next train. If you are boarding a train from at a station that does not have a ticket office you may purchase a ticket on the train and you will need to pay cash in Euros to buy it. If you are buying advance tickets I recommend registering for an account and buying direct. One advantage of this is the railway has a way to contact you if there is a problem with your train, the other is that as long as you remember your sign in, you can always find your ticket.
Paying for your ticket may take a couple of tries depending on the credit or debit card you use. Some go through with no problem, some may send you a two-factor authentication and some just may not work. If you have a PayPal account, that may be your best option.
I am not going to get into the details of the various types of rail service. For purposes of camino it usually doesn’t matter, it’s more a question of where and what time. I look at how long the trip takes and how much it costs. I would suggest that if you are new to train travel you at least consider one trip by the Spanish AVE, the high-speed train if you head to Madrid after Santiago. The more expensive trains offer more options and usually have assigned seats. Cheaper trains may be regional and all unassigned seating. As to the class of service (if it is offered), that depends on what you want spend. Basic service is good, but I sometimes splurge on a better seat. First class seating is roomier and offers more comfort, but you do pay for it.
At the station there will be message boards that show arrivals and departures. Trains are listed by time, so look for the time, and then your train number. The final destination of the train may be different than the city where you are headed. The track number will be shown on the message board, usually about 15 minutes before boarding.
Make your way to the platform as soon as it appears on the message board so you have plenty of time to find where you need to be. This may involve taking a tunnel to reach your platform. There are a few very small train stations that do not have a tunnel and they will have clearly indicated, safe places to cross.
Trains usually run on time, but there may be a situation where they are running a few minutes behind schedule. It is very important that you check that you are boarding the correct train.
Before the train pulls into the station look for the coach and seat numbers on your ticket. Most medium and Long distance trains have assigned seating, shorter distance trains may offer open seating where you take any available seat. As the train is pulling into the station you need to start looking for your coach. The big numbers that are shown on the side of the train are the Class number. The coach number is usually near the door, or sometimes in the window of the coach.
Frequently, but not always, trains are numbered front to back. If you need help finding the number, ask for assistance. You want to board your coach which you can do from either end. Do not try to board the first coach and walk through the train. It is important that board your coach as they sometimes split a train and if you are in the wrong coach you may end up in another city. There may be a train engine in the middle of the train that you will not be able to get past to get to your seat if you have boarded the wrong coach.
Wait for passengers to exit the train, then board quickly as you may only have 2 minutes to get on. Once you have boarded, you will find luggage racks, usually at either end of the car. If you are carrying a bigger bag, use these. Do not plan to put your big bag into the empty seat next to you or in an overhead area. Make your way to your assigned seat and settle in for the ride. The conductor will come by to check your tickets once the train is underway. If you are in the wrong seat, you will probably be asked to move to your correct seat.
When you are getting near your stop it should be announced and it may show up on a message board. Pay attention to your arrival time and gather up your belongings and prepare to exit the train. Unless you are at the final stop, there are only a couple of minutes for passengers to exit and board the train.
Ok, now to the two rail systems.
Comboios de Portugal (CP) has both an app and a website (CP.PT) They use both Portuguese and English, so look for the language you are most comfortable with. Play around with them a bit and you’ll find they are fairly easy to use. The app will let you download timetables.
Pay attention to the discounts. Seniors who are over 65 get a 50% discount on all tickets and there is a youth (under 25) discount of 25%. If you are between those ages, don’t despair, if you are going with 2 or more friends, there is 50% discount. I’ve already mentioned that seats may show up in your search with a promo fare (a discounted ticket for buying online) and I sometimes get that along with my senior discount.
Train stations. As I mentioned, Lisbon has 6 stations, but most of the trains start from Santa Apolonia which has a metro stop. Most trains make a stop at Oriente. If you are flying in the metro quickly connects the airport to the Oriente station. If you are staying near another train station, check the schedule and you may find a connecting train.
Most trains from Lisbon will stop at Coimbra which has two stations. If you are starting from there, pay attention to the station name.
Porto has two train stations. The train from Lisbon stops at Porto Companha and then you can transfer for the short ride to Sao Bento, which is near the Se, or cathedral.
Trains are available north of Porto to Barcelos, Viana do Castelo, Caminha, Valença and Vigo. If you are starting in Tui, you can get off the train in Valença and walk across the international bridge, a distance of about 2km. There are also buses that connect these cities that may provide a better connection.
The international train connecting Porto to Santiago, TrenCelta offers one or two trains a day with a train change in Vigo and is ticketed through Renfe.
Renfe also has an app and a website, renfe dot com. The app is ok, but I personally use the website more.
Renfe, may be of use if you are arriving in Santiago and need to get to your starting point, or to get to your departure point. Unless you are starting in Vigo, the best option may be a bus.
Santiago has only one station. Vigo has two train stations, so pay attention when booking.
Coming from Madrid, which I don’t recommend due to the time involved, you will need to connect through Ourense.
For O Porriño, can connect through Vigo or Ourense for train, but a bus is a better option.
TrenCelta, the international train that runs between Santiago and Porto with stops in between has 1 or two trains a day with stops in between. Tren Celta doesn’t stop in Tui, but does stop across the river in Valença which is 2km from the international bridge. TrenCelta is ticketed through Renfe.
Once you finish the Camino, Renfe is great if you are traveling elsewhere in Spain. If you arrive in Santiago and have received a compostella, you might be interested in the Galicia Rail Pass, three days of unlimited travel throughout Galicia for 22€.
Senior discounts are available if you are over 60. You have to purchase a Tarjeta Dorada to get the discount. You buy it at the train stations. Discounts vary by the type of train and time of travel. It can be renewed online for one, two or three years. You could easily stop at the station in Pontevedra which is right on the Camino to get a Tarjeta Dorada, then buy a ticket online later. Discounts are offered if you have a youth card from your country, check the website for info on this.
I am sure that I missed something, but hopefully I answered most people’s questions. Hopefully there are no errors, but if you see something please let me know.
Thank you Karen Miller Cotton and Ana Corsino for their suggestions.
Courtesy of Diana from Avagupress
NOTE: This entire post is available as a free PDF of all albergues on the Camino Frances in one pdf, which can be downloaded and/or printed.
Note: if you’re doing the Camino Finisterre, there’s a similiar PDF document showing all albergues/dormitories between Santiago and Finisterre.
When I started the Camino Francés in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, I was handed a fantastic packet that had a list of all the albergues along the Camino Francés, showing the next town and how many beds were available there. Since I hadn’t brought a guidebook, and hadn’t made any reservations (although at this point, with how many pilgrims there are, I’d highly recommend reservations if you’re walking in busy season), this packet was invaluable to my Camino. Once I started writing about my Camino, I’ve received a lot of requests for this document.
Buen Camino!
This Special Number of ALMA PEREGRINA celebrates several things: a) The fifth edition of this bulletin; b) The conclusion of an unusual Compostelan Year; c) Homage to departing friends and those arriving. The theme proposed for this issue was community and, as expected, there were many poems and songs submitted. Without a doubt, music (and other forms of art) is important part to forge the sense of community.
The theme community is maintained for ALMA PEREGRINA # 6. We wish you Happy Holidays and an Excellent 2023.
You are invited on a pilgrimage between Limerick and Killaloe, along a portion of a path called the Lough Derg Way. The route is called the Limerick–Killaloe Camino. The word ‘camino’ is the Spanish word for road. A pilgrimage that is a walk often is called a ‘camino’, after one of the most famous pilgrimage routes: the Camino de Santiago, or the Way of Saint James, in northwest Spain. It consists of a network of routes that lead to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, where there is a shrine of Saint James the Great, one of the twelve original apostles of Jesus.
Each of the stops on the Camino has a description in this booklet, along with a Bible passage and a prayer or a song to accompany it. At the rear of the booklet is a chart so that you can record when you complete each leg of the journey. This book has been purposely designed to assist readers with perceptual disorders such as Irlen Syndrome and Dyslexia.
This booklet is a project of the joint Cathedral Chapter of the two Cathedrals at either end of the Camino: Saint Mary’s Cathedral, Limerick, and Saint Flannan’s Cathedral, Killaloe. It is dedicated to the memory of Archdeacon Wayne Carney of the Diocese of Killaloe, Church of Ireland, a former member of the Chapter
before his untimely death in the summer of 2020. The Limerick–Killaloe Camino meanders through seemingly ‘ordinary’ surroundings, but you are invited to venture along this path as a pilgrimage: to find here connections to the eternal truths in the midst of which we all live.
May God be with you on your travels!
More tourist information is available upon request via this email address: theringofloughderg@gmail.com
Here is an excerpt from the American Pilgrims Newsletter La Concha.
From April to October, it’s common for more than 1,000 or even 2,000 pilgrims to arrive daily in Santiago seeking a Compostela. In the last year alone, 327,378 Compostelas were issued. Early estimates for the 2021 Holy Year are that more than 500,000 pilgrims will flock to Santiago. Previously, pilgrims stood in line awaiting their turn at the counter. This system simply cannot accommodate the expected crowds.
The new procedure requires a visit to the Pilgrim’s Office for a ticket with a number with a QR code. Scan the code with a QR reader app on your phone to see in real time (via the Cathedral’s server: catedral.df-server.info) which number is being served. You can go enjoy Santiago or wait in a comfortable downstairs lounge until your number is called. When your number is within 50 of the number being served, get to the Pilgrim’s Office hallway so you’ll be ready to go to the counter. If you are not present when your number is called, you’ll need a new ticket. If there are no more tickets, you’ll be turned away.
The good news is you no longer need to stand in line. The bad news is the office issues a certain number of tickets each day, which varies based on staffing.
I volunteered in the Pilgrim’s Office from October 7 to 21, 2019. The maximum number of tickets given out per day was 1,200. Anyone unable to get a ticket had to come back the next day. Most days all tickets were distributed by 2 p.m. The office opened at 8 a.m. and a line was forming by 7 a.m.
Following these rules will make the process easier:
• Each pilgrim must have a number. If you are a couple or a family, each person must have a separate ticket.
• If you’re not there when your number is called, you’ll need a new ticket and may need to come back the next day. Do not miss your turn.
• Each pilgrim, no matter the starting location, must get two stamps per day for the last 100 kilometers if walking or 200 kilometers if biking. Each stamp must be dated (either stamped or written).
I suggest you allow a few days in Santiago or plan to arrive early in the morning for a good chance to get a ticket (and your Compostela) that day. ¡Buen Camino!
Each pilgrim must now obtain a ticket with a number and QR code at the Pilgrim’s Office.
To access the queue number NOW being served at the Pilgrim Office queue, you can paste this into a browser address window AFTER you make THREE changes to the link. View Link
Where 221 is YOUR ticket number, and change the date to today… REMEMBER to use the European date format (YYYY-MO-DA).
So to use the URL directly, you have to:
Change the ticket number to yours
Change the date to the current date
Change the desired language number, presently 2 for Spanish and 5 for English
Using an iPhone to scan YOUR ticket.
Also, you can turn on the “scan QR code” function of an iPhone. Doing so allows you to see your number AND the current queue number being served. This is a HUGE improvement in only 48-hours.
To do this:
Go to SETTINGS/CAMERA
Scan down in the camera settings…
Toggle ON “Scan QR codes”
Back out…
Go to CONTROL CENTER
Scan down…
Add Scan QR Codes”
Swipe down on any page, from the top of the screen, to see your shortcuts.
A new shortcut that looks like a QR icon is there.
To read a QR Code, press this icon, this brings up the camera in ‘scan QR code’ mode. Place the QR code in the yellow brackets and take a photo.
iOS will ask at the top of this screen if you want to open the scanned link in Safari.
Click on the Safari icon…
Your ticket number, along with the number presently being seen is shown in a Safari browser.
Once you do this scan, you can pull down to refresh the screen as desired.
Camino Society Ireland is a voluntary organisation founded in 1992 by pilgrims. The aim is to ‘give something back’ to future pilgrims in gratitude for the fellowship and spiritual renewal they had each experienced on their own Camino. It fosters an understanding and appreciation of the Camino’s related history, art, architecture and music.
It issues the Pilgrim Passport and offers an opportunity to all those interested in the Camino to meet and share practical information and experiences, especially with those intending to travel by foot or by bicycle.
The Society is non-political and non-denominational, encompassing all of Ireland and is open to all.
The Pilgrim Passport and Compostela:
To stay in pilgrim hostels (albergues), a Pilgrim Passport is required. To claim a Compostela, the traditional certificate of pilgrimage granted by the Cathedral authorities in Santiago, a Pilgrim Passport stamped for each day traveled will be required as proof of your journey. Pilgrims starting in Galicia require two stamps per day.
Teacher: María Vázquez Guisán
E-mail: mariavguisan@hotmail.com
Cell Phone (WhatsApp): +34 657 689 433
The first online Spanish school catering to the specific needs of people doing the Camino de Santiago: http://caminospanish.com/
I also want to let you know that all my courses have been developed based on interviews that I have conducted with pilgrims from Canada, Australia, the UK, and the USA. Through these interviews, coupled with my local knowledge as a native from Santiago de Compostela, I have created a Spanish course to meet the unique needs of people doing the Camino de Santiago.
Camino Spanish offers private online classes, so it’s flexible and completely adaptable to all students. I also welcome all new students with a free trial lesson. Apart from that, I’d like to offer all students that you recommend me before the end of September one bonus lesson when they sign up for a five lesson package, or two bonus lessons when they sign up for ten.
Please follow me on Facebook or Pinterest.
http://caminospanish.com/
https://www.facebook.com/CaminoSpanish/
https://www.pinterest.es/caminospanish/
Cecilia Russell has been appointed as the editor of Amigos. We require articles about your Camino Experiences and some shorter snippets, 2 to 5 lines or so of funny events and best experiences. Articles can be about people you met, albergue’s, churches, and other matters that may have spoken to your heart. Please send to amigos@csjofsa.za.org
Visa Applications
1st Floor, Block B, North Park, Black River Park,
2 Fir Street, Observatory, Western Cape,
Cape Town, 7925, South Africa
Here is the link for Spanish Visa Applications: BLS International
Application Procedures
If you teach Spanish and would like to register your details with us, we would be delighted to recommend you to our members. Please send us your name, email, region and telephone no to place on record. Contact: camino@csjofsa.za.org
No previous knowledge of Spanish would be required. If you know someone who may be interested, please let me know or just invite them to contact me. Thanks in advance for your help and Buen Camino!
Teacher: María Vázquez Guisán
E-mail: mariavguisan@hotmail.com
Cell Phone (WhatsApp): +34 657 689 433
Teacher: Julia de Jesus Galan
Cell: 0747453813
Fee: R250 for 90 MINUTES
Available 7 days a week
Reference available
Teacher: Maite Echeburua
Nationality: Spanish
Phone number +27 764 861 797 | Whatsapp +34 607 829 857
Email: maiteecheburua@gmail.com
Current location: Cape Town
Drivers license
Teacher: Maria M Romo Escudero
Phone in South Africa (00 27) 0780149907
E-mail: mariaesafrica@hotmail.com
The Confraternity of Saint James, England:
The British Confraternity is a UK-based charity established to promote the pilgrimage to the shrine of St James in Santiago de Compostela. They provide a range of information services to assist prospective pilgrims, of all religions or none, who are planning a walking, cycling or horseback journey along one of the many Camino de Santiago routes.
Santiago Pilgrim’s Office, address
Pilgrim Office Website
Pilgrims’ Office
Rúa das Carretas,
Santiago de Compostela
Spain
Telephone: (+34) 981 568 846
Fax: (+34) 981 563 924
Email: info@peregrinossantiago.es or peregrinos@archicompostela.org
The office is open from Monday to Sunday 8.00 – 21.00 (In Easter Time and Summer from 1st April to 30th October). Monday to Sunday 10.00 – 19.00: In winter: from 1st November to 30th March. The Pilgrims’ Office is open during these hours every day of the year with the EXCEPTION of Christmas Day – 25 December, and New Year’s Day – 1 January. If you complete your pilgrimage on these days your Compostela Certificate can be obtained in the Cathedral.
Camino Forum
The Camino Forum has been operational for over 10 years. Trending Topics, Announcements and Frequently asked Questions and other useful information submitted by pilgrims. Sign Up to this forum is free!
Camino Companions Santiago fcjsisters (Visited, June 2015 & 2016 by Chairman of CSJofSA, Andrée Lombard)
(above the Correo (Post Office and left corner Pilgrim’s Office Courtyard)
Meet Marion fcJ/Katherine fcJ
‘God of life and love, thank you for the companionship, beauty, mystery and the kindness of strangers we experienced along the Camino. You have filled our hearts with wonder, joy and gladness! May we take the Camino to the World!’
Terranova Pilgrim house in Santiago & facebook page, a lovely meeting place for pilgrims with useful services.
Rúa Nova, 19, Bajo
Santiago de Compostela, Spain
+34 981 58 57 88
Friends of Pilgrim House play a vital role in the sustainability and operation of the welcome center. Every annual gift provides support towards continuing the Camino spirit through conversation, community, and prayer. We welcome everyone who has an interest in providing a welcoming space for pilgrims when they arrive in Santiago to become a Friend of Pilgrim House.
Services offered:
– Free WiFi
– A living room
– A kitchenette with microwave and refrigerator
– Message board
– Quiet spaces: reflection room and patio
We also offer the following services for a suggested donation:
– Printing/ photocopying: 0,20€ per page
– Backpack storage: 1,50€ per pack, per day; 0,50€ walking sticks only
– Laundry: 5€
– Coffee, tea, or Cola Cao: 1€ per cup
American Pilgrims on the Camino
American Pilgrims on the Camino is a non-profit organization whose objective is to facilitate communication within the community of North American pilgrims, particularly those in the United States. American Pilgrims continually seeks meaningful ways to support the Camino de Santiago de Compostela.
The Canadian Company of Pilgrims:
The Canadian Company of Pilgrims (CCoP) is a non-denominational volunteer-run association that supports Canadians planning the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela, Spain. We share the Canadian representation with l’Association québécoise des pèlerins et amis du Chemin de Saint-Jacques
Buddy System for Women on the Camino
The Buddy System is a Facebook page for women travelling the Camino.
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