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Where to land and transfer to Roncesvalles

Makaala

New Member
Oct 19, 2023
16
24
Hawaii
Time of past OR future Camino
September 2024
We will be starting our journey from Roncesvalles and need to know which airport to land in and how to get to Roncesvalles, by train or plane after we land. We are looking at landing in Barcelona but would love some recommendations. Thank-you
 
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Tincatinker

Veteran Member
Jan 9, 2012
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West Sussex, England
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Train from Barcelona to Pamplona and bus to Roncesvalles should do it. Your landing time in Barca will affect whether you can do it in one day or two. Depending on your own point of departure Madrid and train to Pamplona may be faster or easier
 
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dick bird

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Feb 2, 2020
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Sydney
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Your home is Hawaii, so we can assume that is where you are coming from. If you want to start from Roncesvalles (rather than Saint Jean Pied de Port, which is in France), you need an airport in Spain with good intercontinental connections. That would mean Barcelona or Madrid, whichever is cheaper and/or easier for you to fly to. Roncesvalles would be easy to reach from either of those two cities: one bus or train to the town of Pamplona, then a bus to Roncesvalles. Spain has good inter-city public transport, rome2rio has already been mentioned as a good website for bus or train. Hope this is helpful. Buen camino.
 

BROWNCOUNTYBOB

Active Member
Sep 5, 2019
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Indianapolis, IN
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Camino Frances: 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021
For our third Camino Frances in Sept-Oct, 2021, we flew from the US to Barcelona. spent a day there and enjoyed seeing some key sites, and a nice meal. The next day we took a train from Barcelona to Pamplona, spent a day/overnight there, then took a taxi to St Jean, since there were limited bus options. On our two previous CFs, we took a bus from Pamplona to St Jean. The bus stops at Roncesvalles, so you can get off there. After we completed CF3, we flew from Santiago to Barcelona and spent two nights there, hiking Las Ramblas, touring La Sagrada Familia, visiting the huge central market. Bob
 
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Makaala

New Member
Oct 19, 2023
16
24
Hawaii
Time of past OR future Camino
September 2024
You will get loads of recommendations but first you need to tell us more where you are arriving from and about what time of day.
The first place to plan this trip is to consult Rome2Rio.
Aloha. I will be travelling from Hawaii Island through Florida where I meet my companion. We will arrive in Barcelona by noon the last week of August 2024, but will probably stay one night before leaving for Roncesvalles. Mahalo for any help and we will also check Rome2Rio.
 
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Glenshiro

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Apr 2, 2006
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Kent, UK
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Le Puy - SdC, Podiensis, Frances, Invierno 2012-23
I know many people on this site use Rome2Rio, but I would also recommend using the Directions tool on Google maps, which I have always found helpful and up-to-date for all forms of public transport, and especially useful for rural bus lines.
 
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J Willhaus

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Nov 3, 2014
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Laramie, WY
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I know many people on this site use Rome2Rio, but I would also recommend using the Directions tool on Google maps, which I have always found helpful and up-to-date for all forms of public transport, and especially useful for rural bus lines.
I use a combination, but mostly Google Maps.
 
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Jan 19, 2016
8,495
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Suburb of Boston, Mass., USA
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Us:Camino Frances, 2015 Me:Catalan/Aragonese, 2019
From Pamplona you either taxi or bus to Roncesvalles. There is a taxi service that attempts to lower costs for you by sharing the ride with other pilgrims.

The bus line to take is Autocares Artieda which has daily service to Roncesvalles M-F 13:30, Sat 16:00 but nothing on Sundays or holidays. Buses leave from the main bus station.

ALSA has Pamplona to SJPdP bus service but it is my understanding that although they will pickup in Roncesvalles they will not drop off (their license is for international service only). ALSA's schedule is not likely available until sometime in February. Their service has started mid_March in the past.

There is frequent city bus service (line 9) from Pamplona's train station to a point near the bus station. That station is at the NE corner of a park and is a low glass entrance building with the station facilities underground.

Line 9 (once there click the Renfe-University linked box to the left of the University-Renfe box):

Train station:

Bus station:
 
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Aug 31, 2015
184
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Aloha. I will be travelling from Hawaii Island through Florida where I meet my companion. We will arrive in Barcelona by noon the last week of August 2024, but will probably stay one night before leaving for Roncesvalles. Mahalo for any help and we will also check Rome2Rio.
From the US, I have always arrived early in the AM and found that the train from Madrid to Pamplona is faster/easier that the train from Barcelona to Pamplona.
 
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Dec 23, 2013
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I always end up taking a taxi from Pamplona to SJPdP. It cost me about 100 euros last time, I literally just waved one down on the side of the street near my hotel. The bus never seems to be running when I get there... (probably poor planning on my part.) One time, however, I arrived at the train station in Pamplona and hunted down other people with backpacks. We ended up sharing a taxi and it ended costing each of us about 35 euros.
 

alexwalker

Forever Pilgrim
Jul 1, 2009
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Norway
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I do not know your age, but if you are +60, you can get a 25% discount on all train travel in Spein for 12 months, for only 6 €. Train travel in Spain is cheap, anyway, and a great way to travel.


Going to Pamplona, Madrid or Barcelona are your best bets. From Barcelona there are +20 train departures to Pamplona per day from the Sants station. It is a really nice some 5h ride where you can enjoy the Spanish landscapes, have a toast/vino in the restaurant wagon, arrive in Pamploan early afternoon/evening, take a taxi/bus to Roncesvalles, and start walking the next day.

Alternatively, take the night in Barcelona/Pamplona and get rid of the jet lag, and continue next morning.
 
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alexwalker

Forever Pilgrim
Jul 1, 2009
4,360
19,764
Norway
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The Barcelona-Pamplona train may have assigned seats. Request seats on the right (starboard) side when purchasing. The scenery is nicer; there are distant mountain views.
To the right = "A derecha" in Spanish. But there are nice views all the way,
 
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Jan 19, 2016
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Suburb of Boston, Mass., USA
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Mahalo, will do. the right side...a derecho
For fun let's make it complicated.
  • Sigue derecho - continue going straight
  • El lado derecho - the right side
  • El ojo derecho - the right eye
  • La oreja derecha - the right ear
  • Gira a la derecha - turn to the right
 
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