There are a few ways to get around in Galicia if you don’t rent a car:
Trains!
The Spanish national rail company Renfe operates short-distance services that cross the region as well as long-distance journeys that connect Galicia with the rest of Spain. It’s important to keep in mind the major stations and routes in the region if you ever plan on spending time here; I hope this post makes things clear!
You can think of the Galician rail network as two parallel lines going north to south that are complemented by intersecting railways from Barcelona and Madrid:
- The Eje Atlántico or “Atlantic Axis” stretches from A Coruña in the north down to Vigo in the south, passing through Santiago de Compostela and Pontevedra on the way.
- A train line heads south from Ferrol via Lugo to Monforte de Lemos
- Coming from the east, a line goes through Monforte de Lemos over to Vigo by means of Ourense
- Coming from the southeast, a train line passes through Ourense before ending in Santiago de Compostela
Because of this, the two major hubs of Galicia are Monforte de Lemos (where eastbound trains head out toward León, Burgos, Zaragoza, and Barcelona) and Ourense (where southbound trains exit Galicia for Zamora and Madrid). At these two hubs, major long-distance trains from Barcelona and Madrid typically split into halves destined for A Coruña or Ferrol to the north and Vigo to the south.
info from: https://www.trevorhuxham.com/2014/04/how-to-get-around-galicia-by-train.html
I recommend trains when traveling from one big city to another!
BUS!!!
Bus is my favorite way to get around in Galicia.
In Galicia, Local bus services are an option. All of the large cities have a comprehensive urban bus service (that usually shuts off around 11:30 pm). Outside the main cities the main form of public transport in also by bus. Finding information on bus timetables and routes is hard to access on the web. Bus times are usually published in the bus stations and at the offices. However if there is no bus station at your point of pick up then ask a local, they will know!
Two main bus systems:
There are trains that run down the coast of Galicia. With branches inland to Ourense, Monforte de Lemos and eastwards into other parts of Spain. The coastal route runs down from La Coruña, Vigo and down into Portugal. Another service runs up to Lugo and beyond to Ferrol. All information can be found on the RENFE web site, which is also in English.
In addition to the RENFE trains there is a service from Ferrol along the north coast of Galicia, eventually this runs right into the Basque country.
Info from: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g187506-s303/Galicia:Spain:Public.Transportation.html
Taxis:
There are also Taxis in the city which I recommend using if you say out past when the buses are running. They are relatively easy to use- just phone them and give them your address.
Lastly, Walking!
I recommend walking as much as you can. While I was living there I was averaging nearly 3 miles walking a day! Since most towns are only a few kilometers in distance, its reasonable for you to see the whole city just on feet.
