Bilbao to SJPDP

[ChristopherC]

For anyone trying to get from Bilbao to SJPDP, the bus system is fairly easy by way of Pamplona.

You do need to buy two bus tickets, both you can get at the intermodal bus station in Bilbao. I arrived in Bilbao two days in advance and bought my tickets on the day I arrived. Not sure I would chance it the same day.

I had to buy one bus ticket from Cuadra Bus Company to get to Pamplona. They had a 6:15am bus and a 7:15am bus. I got the 7:15am bus. The ride is approximately 2 hours. I also got an ALSA bus ticket from Pamplona to SJPDP for a noon departure. The ticket windows for these two companies are next to each other. I think ALSA only has that one bus a day, so make sure you don't miss it. Overall, the Bilbao Intermodal is brand new, safe, and easy navigate. It's in the center of downtown Bilbao.

The bus station at Pamplona is also easy to navigate. I had enough time to do a lap around the historic center between busses. There is a ticket window at the Pamplona station for ASLA, but again, I'd get both tickets in advance. The bus to SJPDP was completely full.

 

[Bradypus]

The only real downside of going by bus via Pamplona is that there is just the one bus per day to SJPDP. Leaving at 12:00. Which can often mean overnighting in Pamplona before taking it - a place you are going to be visiting again anyway in a few day's time! If you arrive in Bilbao fairly early in the day it is just as easy to travel to Hendaye by the local Euskotren light railway and switch to SNCF trains for Bayonne and then SJPDP. Or a slightly quicker alternative might be an ALSA bus from Bilbao to Irun and just walk across the border to Hendaye station. So you can overnight in SJPDP rather than Pamplona and save yourself a travelling day for use later in your walk.

 

[Barbara]

Or you could just walk the Norte. Out of idle curiosity, where did you start your travels to end up in Bilbao?