World City Guide

Getting Around

Public Transport
Buses in Santiago de Compostela are provided by Trapsa Enterprise (tel: (901) 120 054). Services are reliable and operate regularly between 0730 and 2230. Standard tickets and bonobus tickets (a book for 10 trips) can be purchased on the bus.

Taxis
Municipal taxis are white with a green light and can be safely hailed in the street. There also are many taxi ranks around the city. These include the railway station (tel: (981) 598 488), bus station (tel: (981) 582 450), central area (tel: (981) 575 959), Porta de Faxeiras (tel: (981) 585 973) and 24-hour services at Praza de Roxa (tel: (981) 595 964) and Praza de Galicia (tel: (981) 561 028). Radio Taxi (tel: 981 569 292) operate 24 hours a day, and Eurotaxi (tel: 981 535 154) have adapted vehicles for disabled travellers. It is common to give a tip of between 5% and 10% of the total fare.

Driving in the City
There tends to be a fair amount of traffic in Santiago de Compostela and traffic jams can be expected, particularly when it rains heavily. Rush hours are around 1300-1400 when everyone races home for lunch and again in the evening from 2000 onwards.

The Old Quarter of Santiago de Compostela is small and compact – it is best for visitors to walk, as it can be very hard to find a place to park in the narrow streets and much of the quarter is pedestrianised. Visitors are advised to leave their cars at one of the many car parks around the Old Quarter's perimeter. There are car parks at Praza de Galicia, Ra de Ramon Pineiro (near the Galician parliament building) and near the police station on Avenida Rodrigo de Padron.

Metered parking is also available in the city – the cost depends on the location.

Car Hire
A valid driving licence is required – national licences from EU countries or an International Driving Permit for non-EU nationals are accepted. The minimum age is usually 21 years – at Avis it is 23 years. Third-party insurance is mandatory in Spain and should be included in the hire price at no extra charge.

Cars are available for hire from Atesa (tel: (981) 581 904 or 599 877; website: www.atesa.es), Avis (tel: (981) 547 733; website: www.avis.com), Europcar (tel: (981) 547 740 or 597 476; website: www.europcar.com) and Hertz (tel: (981) 598 893; website: www.hertz.com). Special rates are available for weekend or weekly hire.

Bicycle Hire
Bicycles are available for hire from Bici-Total, Avenida de Lugo 221 (tel: (981) 564 562) and Tour n Ride, Calle General Pardinas (tel: 981 936 616; website: www.tournride.com). Cyclists can also count as genuine pilgrims on the Road of St James, if they cycle at least 200km (124 miles) along the historic route. Cyclists must wear a helmet outside town centres.