is it possible to get from Bayonne/Hendaye (Fr) to Vigo (Sp) in one day via Bilbao or other northern Spanish city to avoid Madrid?
I’m looking to travel 1 July 2025 but searching for dates before then (eg in 2 days time) as I know many routes are still not live. However, even when I search for the next few days/weeks, no routes at all are showing.
I’m trying to avoid Barcelona and Madrid as I travel from London to Braga in Portugal (hence wanting to get to Vigo and cross the Spain/Portugal border there).
Thanks for any creative travel tips!
Julia
Best answer by thibcabe
It is certainly doable (see option 1). Though I’d spend the night in San Sebastian and go via Madrid (option 2) → more reasonable departure and arrival time.
Option 1:
Euskotren Hendaye - San Sebastian 1h → times missing from most planners
walk between stations
Intercity San Sebastian - Vitoria/Gasteiz 11:30 - 13:35
ARC Vitoria/Gasteiz - Vigo-Guixar 14:03 - 22:51
(on Mon, Tue, Thu, Sat: extra change in Santiago, 23:08 arrival)
Option 2:
ARC San Sebastian - Madrid-Chamartin 08:47 - 13:51
AVE Madrid-Chamartin - Santiago de Compostela 14:40 - 17:42
MD Santiago de Compostela - Vigo-Urzaiz 18:33 - 19:26
It is certainly doable (see option 1). Though I’d spend the night in San Sebastian and go via Madrid (option 2) → more reasonable departure and arrival time.
Option 1:
Euskotren Hendaye - San Sebastian 1h → times missing from most planners
walk between stations
Intercity San Sebastian - Vitoria/Gasteiz 11:30 - 13:35
ARC Vitoria/Gasteiz - Vigo-Guixar 14:03 - 22:51
(on Mon, Tue, Thu, Sat: extra change in Santiago, 23:08 arrival)
Option 2:
ARC San Sebastian - Madrid-Chamartin 08:47 - 13:51
AVE Madrid-Chamartin - Santiago de Compostela 14:40 - 17:42
MD Santiago de Compostela - Vigo-Urzaiz 18:33 - 19:26
Many thanks for this! I will follow your advice and go for option 2 (via Madrid). However, Interrail/renfe are not showing that 08.47 (and subsequent connections) on the days I need to travel (end of June/start of July). Do any of you know when these will be available? Can alerts be created? Is it likely I won’t be able to book those trains 😧? Thanks again, Julia
Mmmm I see the 08:47 train on all days on RENFE. However it's shown as not bookable on Rail Europe or not shown at all on Happy Rail (2 places that can book Spanish passholder reservations). It also doesn't work on interrail.eu.
Actually RENFE booking system is broken again argh... not a single train on Madrid-Santiago is available either. These issues happen often, I'd try again in a day or three. The train is empty as of now.
Worst case: you can purchase reservations at any Spain station.
Thanks for checking - I’ve just checked, too, and am not managing to reserve online. Does this mean all reservations are taken and that even if I leave it until the last minute - when I am actually in Spain (I will already be in San Sebastian by then) - booking at the station will also be impossible? Thks
