Madrid to Pamplona

[hikingcat]

Hi All,

I seek the wisdom of the forum experts on travel logistics. I have gathered as much info as I can, but hope someone can confirm my understanding of how to get from Madrid to Pamplona, with an overnight stay at Madrid Airport.

As far as I have been able to work out, I can do the following:

1. Arrive Madrid airport (I arrive at T4)
2. Overnight in an airport hotel (Barajas)
3. In the morning, I can take the #8 metro from Barajas back to Madrid Airport T4, and then catch either the bus or train to Atocha station to go to Pamplona.

For background, I am travelling from Australia and arriving late at night. It is my first time in Madrid and my first camino. Grateful any advice as to whether I have understood the transport options correctly.

 

[Peregrinopaul]

At what time does your flight arrive?

 

[J Willhaus]

There is a bus (express) that will take you to Atocha from any terminal (5 euros) or you can take the Cercanias train (C1 or C10) from the bottom floor of T4 terminal.

 

[Bob Howard]

There is an 8:00 am flight on Iberia from MAD to Pamplona, arriving at 9:00 am--just looked at it online, fares as low as $29 mid-May.

Alternatively, assuming one is going to SJPDP. There are daily flights from MAD to San Sebastian airport with an easy train connection to Bayonne and on to SJPDP.

 

[RNTYE]

I will piggyback on this post since the original question was part of my question as well. If my flight arrives in Madrid at 5:40 am, can I realistically make a connecting flight to Pamplona at 8 am? I will not be checking my backpack. Or should I take the train from Madrid to Pamplona leaves at 10 am instead?

 

[Bob Howard]

The 8:00 am flight would get you to Pamplona in time for the noon bus to SJPDP. The train or bus from MAD arrives later in the afternoon. Iberia flights leave from T1. Without checked bags to pick up on arrival , you should be able to easily make the 8:00. I flew by way of Paris last year, and it was a mess. This year, I'm flying from MAD to San Sebastian airport and then a train to Bayonne, and overnighting there simply because I like Bayonne, and then the train from Bayonne to SJPDP. Maybe I got it from The Movie, but for me there's something special about stepping off that train in SJPDP.

 

[Saint Mike II]

Hola there are a number of "Media Distance" trains from Atocha to Pamplona. I think the one I took in 2015 departed around 10.00 am. I seem to recall that there were also buses which I think are included above. Whilst most aircraft flights arrive fairly close to their published arrival times you do not want to be on the one that is delayed and thus you miss your 8.00 am connecting flight. Hope this helps. Cheers

 

[hikingcat]

At what time does your flight arrive?

About 9pm

 

[hikingcat]

There is a bus (express) that will take you to Atocha from any terminal (5 euros) or you can take the Cercanias train (C1 or C10) from the bottom floor of T4 terminal.

Thank you J, that's helpful.

 

[hikingcat]

There is an 8:00 am flight on Iberia from MAD to Pamplona, arriving at 9:00 am--just looked at it online, fares as low as $29 mid-May.

Alternatively, assuming one is going to SJPDP. There are daily flights from MAD to San Sebastian airport with an easy train connection to Bayonne and on to SJPDP.

Thanks Bob. Great info! That is really helpful and I will give this option some thought. I like travelling by train in Europe, but this option would certainly save some time. I'm starting walking from Pamplona in April.

 

[henrythedog]

If you’re going to overnight in Madrid (as is my preference); you’ll have a wider choice and lower price points within ten minutes walk of Atocha station. You can take the big yellow aerobús every 15 minutes from the airport direct to Atocha.

 

[J Willhaus]

If you’re going to overnight in Madrid (as is my preference); you’ll have a wider choice and lower price points within ten minutes walk of Atocha station. You can take the big yellow aerobús every 15 minutes from the airport direct to Atocha.

It isn't always yellow any more. Now green sometimes but still says Express Aeropuerto on it.

 

[Former member 94614]

if you have a 99 bucks, just add it onto the trip and fly to Pamplona -it's super easy!

 

[Scott Fraser]

I will piggyback on this post since the original question was part of my question as well. If my flight arrives in Madrid at 5:40 am, can I realistically make a connecting flight to Pamplona at 8 am? I will not be checking my backpack. Or should I take the train from Madrid to Pamplona leaves at 10 am instead?

It once took me three hours to get a checked bag from Iberia at MAD. If you’re not checking anything you can probably make it. At that hour of the morning clearing into Spain doesn’t take more than 30-40 minutes. If you check a bag…..???

 

[neverlost4good]

There is an 8:00 am flight on Iberia from MAD to Pamplona, arriving at 9:00 am--just looked at it online, fares as low as $29 mid-May.

Alternatively, assuming one is going to SJPDP. There are daily flights from MAD to San Sebastian airport with an easy train connection to Bayonne and on to SJPDP.

Be careful of flying: my friend had her poles confiscated when flying within Spain (not allowed unless checked). Also, I have had my flight to Pamplona canceled because there weren't enough passengers, and I was rebooked on the next flight (6 hours later). I could have taken a bus or train and beat the time that plane landed in Pamplona. I have had great success with the bus, but this time I want to try to take the train.

 

[jfgough]

I will piggyback on this post since the original question was part of my question as well. If my flight arrives in Madrid at 5:40 am, can I realistically make a connecting flight to Pamplona at 8 am? I will not be checking my backpack. Or should I take the train from Madrid to Pamplona leaves at 10 am instead?

I arrived in Madrid from the US at about 6:30 am. I booked a train from Atocha to Pamplona around 1030 to give myself time to get through arrivals and get to Atocha. Realistically I could have taken an earlier train since it didn't take too long to get through customs and get to Atocha.
I slept on the train to Pamplona. I spent the night in Pamplona and took the bus to SJPP the next day.
Buen Camino!

 

[AussieSunnygirl]

I will piggyback on this post since the original question was part of my question as well. If my flight arrives in Madrid at 5:40 am, can I realistically make a connecting flight to Pamplona at 8 am? I will not be checking my backpack. Or should I take the train from Madrid to Pamplona leaves at 10 am instead?

If you take the train departing Madrid at 10:00am for Pamplona, be aware that you will not be able to reach SJPdP via bus on the same day. The only train leaving Madrid to reach Pamplona in time to make it to one and only bus service for the day (departs 12 noon), leaves Atocha at 7:35am.

 

[JStrat]

If you’re going to overnight in Madrid (as is my preference); you’ll have a wider choice and lower price points within ten minutes walk of Atocha station. You can take the big yellow aerobús every 15 minutes from the airport direct to Atocha.

Any recommendations for plasces to stay in Madrid?

 

[Anniesantiago]

It isn't always yellow any more. Now green sometimes but still says Express Aeropuerto on it.

Henry and J Willhaus, in all these years I've been flying into Madrid, I never knew about this bus!
Do I need to go to the "new bus station" to catch it or is it right outside the terminal? I actually need to get to Sol, not Atocha, and was going to nab the Cercanius. I wonder if it continues there?

 

[J Willhaus]

Airport express picks up outside each terminal in the same places that the parking lot and interterminal buses do. Also near the hotel bus pickup points.

Airport Express Shuttle

The airport express service links Barajas with the city centre in 40 minutes for five euros. It runs 24 hours a day and accepts card payment.

www.esmadrid.com

 

[J Willhaus]

Henry and J Willhaus, in all these years I've been flying into Madrid, I never knew about this bus!
Do I need to go to the "new bus station" to catch it or is it right outside the terminal? I actually need to get to Sol, not Atocha, and was going to nab the Cercanius. I wonder if it continues there?

You can get off at the Cibeles stop and walk up the street. We stayed at an AirBNB on the Gran Via and used the express bus to the airport. It stops in front of the big Correos building at Cibeles. Sol was not too far.