Getting around Santiago

Santiago is a city built for walking. The old town is compact, cobbled and largely pedestrian, organised around the cathedral's four squares. From the Estación Intermodal to the cathedral is about a 15-minute walk, and between the train and bus stations — adjoining, under the same roof — barely a couple of minutes over the footbridge that connects them. That said, to get in from the airport, reach the outer neighbourhoods, or haul luggage around, it helps to know how the city's transport works.

City bus (Tussa)

Tussa is the municipal bus company, running around 23-24 lines that cover the whole city. A single ticket paid to the driver costs €1. If you're staying several days, it's worth getting the rechargeable card (a refundable €3 deposit, topped up in 10, 20 or 30 journeys): with the reduction in force since 1 January 2026 the fare is €0.36 and the monthly pass €15.60. Children aged 4-14 ride free — the card is issued from July 2026 at Tussa offices — 15-to-17-year-olds pay €0.20 a journey, and pensioners continue to ride free. Under-4s travel free with a fare-paying adult.

Note: Tussa's own website still displays an older table labelled as current alongside the 2026 one. The figures above are the reduction approved for 2026; if the exact amount matters to you, confirm it at a Tussa office or when you top up.

Two lines are particularly useful for visitors: the 6A, which connects the airport with the Estación Intermodal and the centre, and line 12, which serves the hospitals (handy if you're staying near CHUS or have a medical appointment).

Taxi

Taxi fares in Santiago have been frozen since 2025. The flag-down charge is €3.50 during the day and €4.90 at night, and each kilometre costs €0.91 by day and €1.37 by night. Convenient taxi ranks sit at Praza de Galicia, next to the train station, and on Rúa de San Francisco, a step from Praza do Obradoiro. To book by phone, Radio Taxi Compostela runs a 24-hour service on 981 56 92 92.

Parking

The blue zone (ORA) runs Monday to Friday 10:00-14:00 and 16:30-20:30, and Saturday mornings; it's free on Sundays and public holidays. Rates run around €1.05/hour, with one- to two-hour limits depending on the zone. For longer stays, the most convenient car park is Xoán XXIII, just 150 metres from the cathedral, with a daily maximum around €11 and special tourist rates for 7- or 15-day stays. San Caetano and Belvís are also options, a little further from the centre but similarly priced.

By bike

Worth being honest here: cycling infrastructure is still thin, just a few kilometres of bike lane with barely any connection between stretches, and there's no municipal bike-share system open to the public (only one restricted to the university community). A recent bylaw allows bikes and scooters in the old town up to 10 km/h, but in practice a bike works better as neighbourhood transport than as a way to get around the centre.