Portugal and Spain connected by new bus route
- Paul Aage Hegvik
- Apr 14
- 2 min read
Rede Expressos, a leading Portuguese bus operator, has inaugurated a new international route connecting Porto, Portugal, to Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
This service operates on Thursdays through Sundays and includes stops in Amarante, Vila Real, Chaves, Verín, and Orense. Departures from Porto's Sá Carneiro Airport are designed to facilitate connections for Galician travelers to international flights. The route aims to accommodate the growing number of Portuguese commuters working in northern Spain and to support the increase in religious tourism to Santiago de Compostela.
«One of the great advantages of this new service is the departure from Sá Carneiro Airport, which will allow connections for Galician passengers with international flights from Porto, in addition to significantly increasing mobility options between the countries by providing faster and more affordable travel,» Rede Expressos stated in a press release.
This initiative is part of Rede Expressos's commitment to the European project initiated by ClusterTur in 2024, which seeks to promote the Galicia–Northern Portugal Euroregion as a sustainable destination by enhancing tourist, economic, and sociocultural dynamism across the cross-border area.
Other operators bridging Portugal and Spain
Several other companies offer bus services between Portugal and Spain:
ALSA: A Spanish transport company operating extensive routes across Spain and into Portugal, providing services between major cities such as Madrid, Lisbon, and Porto.
FlixBus: A German-based company offering affordable and eco-friendly travel options, including routes like Madrid to Lisbon, with multiple daily departures.
Gipsyy: A Portuguese company that, in partnership with ALSA, operates international bus routes throughout Europe, enhancing connectivity between the two countries.
From 10 to 23 Euro
The price for a one-way bus ticket from Porto to Santiago de Compostela varies based on the operator, departure point, and how far in advance you book:
Rede Expressos: Tickets start from €10 when departing from Porto Airport, with travel times around 4.5 to 6 hours.
BlaBlaCar Bus: Fares begin at approximately €11, with journeys taking about 3 hours and 55 minutes.
FlixBus: Prices typically start at €23, offering faster routes averaging 2 hours and 55 minutes.
Booking in advance and traveling during off-peak hours can help secure the lowest fares.
