Santiago de Compostela is a city with a rich history and cultural heritage, making it a popular destination for tourists and pilgrims alike. With its well-preserved historical monuments, delicious cuisine, and bustling streets, there is no shortage of things to do and see in Santiago.
One of the highlights of the city is the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, which houses the remains of the apostle St. James and is the endpoint of the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route. The city is also home to many other historic buildings and narrow, winding streets that provide a glimpse into its rich past.
For those with disabilities, Santiago de Compostela offers several accessibility options, including accessible beaches, theme parks, and restaurants. Excursions and tourist activities can also be arranged with accessible options through www.motion4rent.com.
Whether you are a pilgrim, history buff, or just looking for a new adventure, Santiago de Compostela is a city that has something for everyone.
Airport:
Santiago Airport, like all airports in Spain, offers free care and assistance service for passengers with reduced mobility, in accordance with the European Parliament Regulation (EC) 1107/2006.
This service is available to all passengers with reduced mobility or disabilities and must be requested at least 48 hours prior to your trip to ensure a smooth and prepared experience from the moment of arrival at the airport.
The service is complimentary and can be easily requested through the following telephone number: (+34) 91 321 10 00.
Located in the town of Lavacolla, approximately 12 km from the city center, Santiago de Compostela Airport is the second busiest in Northern Spain, following Bilbao. The airport handles an average of 4 million passengers annually. In 2019, the Santiago Airport received almost 13,000 requests from passengers with reduced mobility, and thanks to the “SIN BARRERAS” (Barrier-Free) service, all requests were successfully accommodated.
Transfer from the airport to the center of Santiago:
To transfer from Santiago Airport to the city center, several accessible modes of transportation are available. The airport is located 12 kilometers away from the historic center of Santiago and the estimated driving time is 20-25 minutes, subject to traffic conditions.
Getting to the two largest cities in Galicia, A Coruña (67 km) and Vigo (100 km), takes slightly longer. The journey to A Coruña takes approximately 50 minutes, while it takes 1 hour and 10 minutes to reach Vigo.
At Santiago de Compostela Airport, you can find several car rental companies including Avis, Budget, Europcar, Enterprise, Sixt, and Hertz, located in the arrivals terminal. However, it can be challenging to find a car that is adapted for individuals with reduced mobility. You can still rent a car, but it may not be equipped with the necessary adaptations.
To reach Santiago de Compostela, take the N547 road from the airport.
The Bus number 6 connects the airport to the center of Santiago (Line name: San Marcos - Os Tilos). This bus is accessible for individuals with reduced mobility, equipped with ramps for easy access. The frequency of this bus is 20 to 30 minutes every day of the week between 07:00 and 23:00.
Ryanair also operates a line between the airport and the center, which is also accessible for people with disabilities and usually timed with their flight arrivals.
Taxis are available 24/7 through the Radio taxi service, which can be reached by phone at (+34) 981 569 292. The journey from the airport to the center takes approximately 25 minutes, depending on traffic conditions.
For individuals with disabilities requiring a taxi with adaptations, the Eurotaxi company can be contacted.
- Contact:
- EuroTaxi Telephone: (+34) 619903024 or (+34) 981 535 154
- Email: eurotaxisantiago@live.com
Transport in the city:
Train:
In Spain, trains stations offer a specialized service for passengers with reduced mobility or disabilities. This service provides guidance, information, and assistance to travelers with reduced mobility, ensuring their access and transit through the stations.
The service includes assistance with boarding and disembarking trains and includes the following features:
- Adapted services during the journey: adapted toilets with a bell for emergency assistance.
- Escort staff available throughout the trip.
- Dedicated seats for passengers in wheelchairs: On AVE trains, there are two seats located in Second Class Car 8 for passengers in wheelchairs. These passengers can also travel in any regular seat by requesting assistance at the Central Office. If the passenger uses a folding wheelchair, they can travel in any regular seat and request assistance at the Central Office.
- Contact:
- ADIF helpline for people with disabilities: (+34) 912140505
- Email: oca.asistenciapmr@adif.es
The Santiago de Compostela Train Station is fully accessible for individuals with reduced mobility or disabilities, with barrier-free entrances and exits, adapted toilets, and reserved parking spaces. The station also features a cafeteria and ATMs for the convenience of travelers.
As the busiest train station in Galicia, Santiago de Compostela Train Station welcomed over 2.5 million passengers in 2018.
From and to the Santiago Station, trains arrive from:
Long-Distance: Direct trains connect to major cities daily, including Madrid, San Sebastián, Hendaye, Barcelona, Bilbao, Portugal, Paris, and other significant national destinations.
Regional: Trains depart approximately every hour to major destinations in Galicia, including A Coruña, Vilagarcía de Arousa, Pontevedra, and Vigo with connections to Portugal. There is also a continuous direct connection to the city of Ourense.
- Address and contact:
- C/ Hórreo, 75 A --- 15702 Santiago de Compostela
- Telephone (+34) 902320320 or (+34) 912320320
Bus:
In Santiago de Compostela, TUSSA manages the city's bus services, operating on 25 routes and 610 stops throughout the city. While not all stops are accessible, the majority of them are.
The main bus station is called Intermodal, and it is fully accessible for individuals with reduced mobility, as well as for individuals with vision or hearing impairments. The station features Braille information, elevators with speakers, ramps for street-to-interior and platform access, and accessible restrooms for individuals with mobility issues.
Urban, regional, and long-distance buses depart from the Intermodal station.
- Address and contact:
- Rua Clara Campoamor s/n, 15702 Santiago de Compostela
- Telephone (+34) 981 542 416
Taxi:
You can get taxis through the Radio Taxi service 24 hours a day on the phone (+34) 981 569 292.
If you need a taxi adapted for people with disabilities, you can contact the Eurotaxi company.
- Address and Contact:
- Plaza de Camilo Diaz Baliño, 0 local interior (bus station) 15702 Santiago de Compostela
- EuroTaxi Telephone: (+34) 619903024 or (+34) 981 535 154
- Email: eurotaxisantiago@live.com or rtaxicompostela@telefonica.net
Old town of Santiago:
Santiago's old town is a charming and historic neighborhood with a rich cultural heritage, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The old town is made up of pedestrianized streets, squares, and alleyways, and is home to various historic sites such as the Cathedral of Santiago, the Plaza del Obradoiro, the Plaza de Platerías, the Plaza de la Quintana, the Convent of San Francisco, and the Monastery of San Martiño Pinario. You can taste the best seafood in the world and experience the local cuisine in the many restaurants in the area. Although not all parts of the neighborhood are fully accessible to people with reduced mobility, it is still worth exploring. You can join a free guided tour, which meets daily at 11:00 am (with additional tours on Fridays and Saturdays at 5:00 pm) and is led by a guide carrying a red umbrella. The tour is an open group with limited spaces, and the guide's work is valued and paid for at the end of the tour by each participant. Reservations are recommended.
- There is no set price, it is an open group (limited places), at the end of the tour each visitor values the tour and the guide's work and pays what he considers.
- Every day at 11:00 a.m. (Friday and Saturday extra-tour at 5:00 p.m.).
- June, July, August and September every day at 11:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
- Extra-tour at 10:00 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. in September.
- Look for the red umbrella.
- Reservations recommended (limited groups).
- Contact:
- Telephone: (+34) 693729854
- Email: info@freetourcompostela.com
Dos Reis Restaurant: https://www.parador.es/es/paradores/parador-de-santiago-de-compostela/gastronomy
It is worth noting that the Dos Reis Restaurant is not just for pilgrims, it is open to everyone who wants to enjoy the best of Galician cuisine. The menu is updated regularly to take advantage of the freshest seasonal ingredients, and the restaurant's staff are trained to assist diners with any special requests or needs. Additionally, the Parador Nacional is fully accessible to people with reduced mobility, ensuring that everyone can enjoy the delicious food and beautiful setting of the Dos Reis Restaurant.
- Address and contact:
- Praza do Obradoiro, 1, 15705 Santiago de Compostela
- Telephone: (+34) 981582200
Barrigola Restaurant: https://grupobarrigola.com/
Barrigola Restaurant is a market cuisine-style eatery located in Santiago de Compostela. It is committed to using seasonal, fresh and local products to create a balanced menu of traditional dishes and unique, creative offerings with international influences, and even street food. The restaurant is accessible to people with reduced mobility, but its bathrooms are not.
- Address and contact:
- Avenida de Ferrol, 54, 15702 Santiago de Compostela
- Telephone: (+34) 881 978 880
- Email: Grupobarrigola@mundo-r.com
Madia Leva Restaurant: http://www.madialeva.org/
Founded in 2015, Madia Leva has established itself as a place of worship for wine lovers in the city. Currently being a reference in the wine field, located just 50 meters from the cathedral. A highly recommended place.
Restaurant accessible to people with reduced mobility but not its bathrooms
- Address and contact:
- Av. Rodrigo del Padrón, 2, 15705 Santiago de Compostela
- Telephone: (+34) 881094490