Camino Flights and Airport Transfers
Our Camino specialists often receive the question, “Where do I fly to start my Camino?”. The best airport depends on the Camino route, as some Camino de Santiago routes may take up to five weeks.
Your ideal airport varies based on your chosen route, country of origin, and start date. Considerations also include your departure location.
For walkers outside Europe, major Spanish city airports like Madrid (MAD) (Adolfo Suárez Madrid Barajas International Airport) and Barcelona (BCN) (Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport) are common choices, especially for those travelling from the United States and Australia.
We provide transfers from these airports to your starting points on the Camino, and our team is always available to assist with any information you might need.
Camino Airports Map
Camino Francés
If you’re planning to undertake the full Camino Francés from St. Jean Pied de Port to Santiago, the closest airport is Biarritz (BIQ) (Biarritz Pays Basque Airport) in France, located about 55km/ 35 miles from St. Jean Pied de Port. You can reach St. Jean Pied de Port from Biarritz by bus or train; the journey will take you over two hours. Remember to include this travel time in your overall itinerary.
For first-timers on the Camino trail who prefer a shorter trek, consider walking the last 100km of the Camino Francés from Sarria, which takes just under one week. For this section, you should fly into Santiago de Compostela Airport (SCQ)(Santiago-Rosalía de Castro Airport).
Camino Portugués
Lisbon and Porto are the most convenient airport options for starting the Camino Portugués. If your journey begins in Lisbon, then Lisbon Airport (LIS) (Humberto Delgado Airport) is the ideal choice, as it’s just 6km/ 3.7 miles from the city centre. Alternatively, if you plan to walk the last 100km of the Camino Portugués rather than the full 29 nights, you might consider flying into Vigo Airport (VGO), 25km/ 15.5 miles from your starting point in Tui.
Porto Airport (OPO) (Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport) is another viable option, offering a broader selection of International flights and is just over 2 hours away from Tui. If you are planning to walk the last section of the route from Baiona, Vigo Airport is just 30km from the seaside town of Baiona. Some buses run daily, every 30 minutes, to bring you to the centre of Baiona before you start your walk.
Camino del Norte
The Camino del Norte, famous for its delicious tapas culture, would take you over five weeks to complete in full. Still, the most popular sections covering a week of walking are the Camino del Norte from San Sebastián to Bilbao and the final stage from Vilalba to Santiago de Compostela. To reach the start of the route, you will fly into San Sebastián Airport (EAS) or Bilbao Airport (BIO). Both airports are well-serviced internationally. For the last week of this trail, it is best to fly to Santiago de Compostela Airport (SCQ)(Santiago-Rosalía de Castro Airport) 87km/ 54 miles away or A Coruna Airport (LCG) 57km/ 35 miles away.
Camino Inglés
The Camino Inglés, or the English Way, begins in the coastal village of Ferrol, approximately 45km/ 28 miles from A Coruña Airport (LCG). A 30-minute bus ride will take you from the airport to Ferrol. In A Coruña, you can catch a bus from the airport to the train station (Line 443, stop: “Avenida A. Molina”) with departures every 30 minutes. For those travelling via Santiago de Compostela Airport (SCQ), which is 85km/ 53 miles away, a shuttle bus operates between Santiago-Lavacolla airport and Santiago city every 30 minutes.
Camino Finisterre
The Camino Finisterre can be traversed from Santiago to Muxia, and the [Reverse] Camino Finisterre from Muxia back to Santiago de Compostela. The most convenient airport for this route is Santiago de Compostela Airport (SCQ), which is only 11km/ 6.8 miles from the city centre. There are numerous transportation options available to take you to your chosen starting point.
Le Chemin du Puy
Lyon Airport (LYS) is 145km/ 90 miles from Le Puy en Velay or Le Chemin du Puy. Trains depart three times daily and take about 2 hours and 15 minutes to reach Le Puy en Velay. The charming town of Conques is a favoured starting point for the Le Puy Way. Nearby, Rodez Airport (RDZ), located 40km/ 25 miles from Conques, offers the most straightforward access with daily bus and train services. Aurillac Tronquières Airport (AUR) is also close but only accessible by car, so you would need to hire a taxi or rent a car. For International travellers, Toulouse Airport (TLS) is the nearest major airport, about a 2-hour and 20-minute drive away.
The Via Francigena
If you are looking to walk the Via Francigena in Italy, Pisa, Florence, or Rome are the most accessible airports. Lucca, known for its remarkable Renaissance walls and citadel, is a popular starting point for this route, which concludes in the UNESCO World Heritage historic centre of Siena. Nearby, Pisa Airport (PSA) is just 33km/ 20 miles from Lucca, making it the most convenient option. Florence Airport (FLR) is also close, located 70km/ 43 miles from Lucca.
Can you organise airport pick-up?
We arrange transfers on all Camino de Santiago routes to your preferred destinations; inquire with us. Airport pick-up can be provided for an additional fee, and our transporter will greet you upon arrival with a sign bearing your name. We will notify you if there are any changes.
Where do I wait for my airport transfer in Santiago?
From Santiago Airport:
If you’ve arranged an airport transfer from Santiago de Compostela Airport (SCQ)(Santiago-Rosalía de Castro Airport) to your starting point, please meet by the coffee shop in front of the arrivals gate. You’ll find someone holding a CaminoWays.com sign with your booking name on it.
Should your flight be delayed or arrive early, please contact the transfer supplier, all the contact information is on their Travel Documentation.
From Santiago:
If you have arranged an airport transfer from your hotel to Santiago de Compostela Airport (SCQ)(Santiago-Rosalía de Castro Airport) with CaminoWays.com, please be ready at the hotel reception desk at least 2 hours and 15 minutes prior to your departure time. This is where our transporter will meet you.
When booking airport transfers, kindly provide your flight details, including the origin airport and flight number, if available.
Do you offer flights?
We typically leave the flight arrangements to you, allowing you to benefit from low-cost airline options. We do not book flights for our clients. Feel free to choose the most economical flights; we can tailor your Camino de Santiago trip around your chosen dates!
Check the ‘how to get there’ section on each trip page for optimal flight connections. For example, see the Last 100km of the Camino de Santiago).
You might also want to compare prices on websites like skyscanner.com or kayak.com. We strive to keep our pages updated with the most appropriate airports for beginning your Camino journey. Please contact us with any questions about the Camino de Santiago routes or to speak with our travel specialists.
We accommodate flexible departures, so select the most affordable flights for your schedule. We’ll plan your Camino de Santiago trip accordingly!
