Getting There By Rail
RENFE (tel: (902) 240 202, for 24-hour national enquiries and reservations or (93) 490 1122, for international enquiries; website: www.renfe.es) operates the Spanish rail network, which radiates from Madrid to all the major cities. There are also transversal routes and services running from the French border down the Mediterranean coast. Spanish trains are relatively punctual, reasonably priced and usually clean. Seat reservations are required on all inter-city trains.
The principal station, Hrreo, Ra de Hrreo, off Avenida de Lugo (tel: (981) 591 160), is centrally located, just to the south of the Old Quarter. As well as left-luggage, there are car hire services, tourist information and currency exchange facilities.
Rail services: There are three daily services from Madrid (journey time – 7 hours 45 minutes) – two during the day and an overnight sleeper, the Trenhotel Talgo. There is also one daily cross-country train linking the city with Bilbao (journey time – 1 hour), for the ferry or flights (journey time – 11 hours) and San Sebastian (journey time – 11 hours 15 minutes), for trains to France. For those arriving in Santander by ferry, there is a daily service via Palencia (journey time – 12 hours). There are connections to Oporto in Portugal via Vigo and regular local services to A Corua (journey time – 1 hour 15 minutes).
Transport to the city: From the station it is only a 10-minute walk to Praza de Galicia. Alternatively, visitors can take the public transport bus C2.
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Getting There By Rail