Santiago Airport (SCQ): getting to the city centre

Santiago de Compostela's airport is named after Rosalía de Castro, the 19th-century Galician poet, and sits on a plot in Lavacolla, a village that centuries ago was the last stop for pilgrims before entering the city: it's where they washed before presenting themselves to the Apostle. Today it's still the entry point for most visitors, though the airport itself is small and can be crossed end to end in a few minutes.

Airlines and destinations

Around ten airlines operate at SCQ, serving close to 29 destinations. On domestic routes, Iberia connects to Madrid and Vueling to Barcelona, alongside seasonal routes to the Canary Islands, Alicante, Málaga or Palma. Internationally, London is the most frequent destination (Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted), joined by Amsterdam with KLM, Frankfurt with Lufthansa, Dublin and Cork with Aer Lingus, and flights to Zurich, Brussels or Paris-Orly.

The route map shifted considerably in late 2025: Ryanair closed its Santiago base in October of that year, citing what the airline called excessively high airport fees, and withdrew a large share of its connections to Madrid, Málaga, Alicante and Barcelona. It kept five routes at reduced frequency. In response, 2026 has brought in longer-haul operators: KLM has reinforced Amsterdam with a daily summer service, Lufthansa keeps Frankfurt running, and United Airlines has announced a direct connection to New York. Vueling, for its part, has expanded its base at the airport from three aircraft to four.

If you're coming from outside Spain and looking for a direct flight, it's also worth checking nearby airports like A Coruña or Vigo as an alternative, though for most international visitors SCQ remains the most convenient option.

Getting from the airport to the centre

There are three sensible ways to get from the terminal to the old town, and the choice mostly comes down to how much luggage you're carrying and what time you land.

City bus (route 6A)

By far the cheapest option: 1 €, paid in cash directly to the driver as you board. Route 6A leaves the terminal and runs a 25-to-50-minute journey — depending on traffic and how many stops it makes — passing San Lázaro and the Intermodal Station before terminating at Praza de Galicia, the most practical stop if you're staying in the old town or the Ensanche. It runs every 20-30 minutes on weekdays and every 30-60 minutes on weekends and public holidays, operating roughly between 6:30 and 00:30. Note that there's been talk of introducing a separate fare for this route, around 6 € one-way or 10 € return, though still with no confirmed date; it's worth checking tussa.gal before you travel.

Taxi

The taxi ride takes 15 to 20 minutes and typically costs between 20 and 25 €. There's an official taxi rank right outside the terminal, so there's no need to book ahead unless you're arriving on an overnight flight. To call one, Radio Taxi Compostela answers 24 hours a day on 981 56 92 92.

Ride-hail (Uber, Cabify)

As an alternative to a taxi, ride-hail services operate in the area with prices ranging from 15 to 25 € depending on demand at the time. It's a reasonable option if you already have the app installed and prefer to lock in the price before getting in the car.

Distance and orientation

SCQ sits 12 kilometres from the old town, a distance that by car or taxi takes roughly 15-20 minutes under normal traffic. There's no train connecting the airport directly to the city — Santiago's station is in the centre, not in Lavacolla — so for anyone who'd rather not rely on the city bus, a taxi remains the most direct way in.