Hendaye

[DharmaBum]

G'day,
How would i get from Hendaye (on the French/Spanish border) to either Santiago de Compostela and/or A Coruña?
Cheers

 

[Stephen]

If you walk across the international bridge you're in Irun on the start of the Camino Norte. Follow the yellow arrows and you'll eventually reach Santiago

 

[DharmaBum]

Thank you Stephen.
I didn't realize how close to the Norte i was going to be.
However, due to time contraints, i want to do the Camino Ingles this time 'round and i will be in Hendaye mid-May.
So i guess a better question for me would be: how would i get to A Coruña from Irun?

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

Thank you Stephen.
I didn't realize how close to the Norte i was going to be.
However, due to time contraints, i want to do the Camino Ingles this time 'round and i will be in Hendaye mid-May.
So i guess a better question for me would be: how would i get to A Coruña from Irun?

There are flights. The San Sebastian airport is just across the river from Hendaye, walking distance. Check for flights from EAS to LCG.

 

[DharmaBum]

There are flights. The San Sebastian airport is just across the river from Hendaye, walking distance. Check for flights from EAS to LCG.

Thank you much.

 

[peregrino_tom]

So i guess a better question for me would be: how would i get to A Coruña from Irun?

If I was doing this journey I'd take the ALSA bus which goes all the way - have a look at this page
https://www.alsa.es/
It runs mainly along the coast and mainly close to the Camino del Norte path - so you could get to do a high speed Norte at the same time and perhaps wave occasionally at the odd pilgrim making their way. Cost is pretty reasonable (around 60€). It is a long journey - but the coast is often gorgeous.

 

[naplesdon]

I have only taken that bus from Santiago to Bilbao, the voyage is entirely at night. It is a long trip!

 

[trecile]

Rome2Rio.com is a great resource for finding transportation options between any two locations.

 

[TMcA]

You have chosen two places which are not very close to one another and which are somewhat hard-to connect transportation-wise.

See link below to Rome2rio website...

Rome2rio

Discover how to get anywhere by searching plane, train, bus, car and ferry routes

www.rome2rio.com

Tom

 

[Jan_D]

Just so you know.... the bus takes over 12 hours!!! Definitely fly if you can. Might be a bit more pricey, but Iberia does direct flights Santiago-Bilbao. You might get there in around 4 hours with a stop via Madrid, check with Iberia and Vueling (and check San Sebastian, Bilbao, and Biarritz as destinations)

 

[DharmaBum]

If I was doing this journey I'd take the ALSA bus which goes all the way - have a look at this page
https://www.alsa.es/
It runs mainly along the coast and mainly close to the Camino del Norte path - so you could get to do a high speed Norte at the same time and perhaps wave occasionally at the odd pilgrim making their way. Cost is pretty reasonable (around 60€). It is a long journey - but the coast is often gorgeous.

Thank you Tom

 

[DharmaBum]

I have only taken that bus from Santiago to Bilbao, the voyage is entirely at night. It is a long trip!

Thank you

 

[DharmaBum]

12 hours in a bus seat!
Maybe a bit too much for my 69 year old butt.

 

[DharmaBum]

You have chosen two places which are not very close to one another and which are somewhat hard-to connect transportation-wise.

See link below to Rome2rio website...

Rome2rio

Discover how to get anywhere by searching plane, train, bus, car and ferry routes

www.rome2rio.com

Tom

Thank you Thank you

 

[man.grangeburn]

G'day,
How would i get from Hendaye (on the French/Spanish border) to either Santiago de Compostela and/or A Coruña?
Cheers

Hi DharmaBum

You can catch an fairly early morning Euskotren from Hendaye Euskotren Station to San Sebasatian / Donostia. It is across the car park from the Gare Hendaye SNCF. It is about 2,50€ single and runs regularly - every 30 minutes or something like that. It is a short journey across the border to San Sebastian. Get off at Amara Station. A short walk (15 minutes) will take you to the main San Sebastian RENFE Station. You could save a bit of hassle by getting to San Sebastian and spending a few days there. It is a lovely city. Anyway,the train to Santiago de Compostela leaves (this time of year) at 09.33; hence, the reason to leave Hendaye so early! There is only one a day. It costs around 50€ - less if booked in advance. It does, however, take about 10 hours. If you are not in a hurry you will get a scenic trip across Northern Spain. A train from Santiago would take you to A Coruña. Again, probably best to spend an overnight in Santiago de Compostela then take a train the next day. You could take a bus to A Coruña - Arriva is the company I think - from the bus station. Or, you could take a bus to Ferrol and start the Camino Ingles from there. The A Coruña route and Ferrol route eventually meet up and continue as one. Hope this helps and gives you ideas.

Michael A.

 

[DharmaBum]

Hi DharmaBum

You can catch an fairly early morning Euskotren from Hendaye Euskotren Station to San Sebasatian / Donostia. It is across the car park from the Gare Hendaye SNCF. It is about 2,50€ single and runs regularly - every 30 minutes or something like that. It is a short journey across the border to San Sebastian. Get off at Amara Station. A short walk (15 minutes) will take you to the main San Sebastian RENFE Station. You could save a bit of hassle by getting to San Sebastian and spending a few days there. It is a lovely city. Anyway,the train to Santiago de Compostela leaves (this time of year) at 09.33; hence, the reason to leave Hendaye so early! There is only one a day. It costs around 50€ - less if booked in advance. It does, however, take about 10 hours. If you are not in a hurry you will get a scenic trip across Northern Spain. A train from Santiago would take you to A Coruña. Again, probably best to spend an overnight in Santiago de Compostela then take a train the next day. You could take a bus to A Coruña - Arriva is the company I think - from the bus station. Or, you could take a bus to Ferrol and start the Camino Ingles from there. The A Coruña route and Ferrol route eventually meet up and continue as one. Hope this helps and gives you ideas.

Michael A.

Thanks Michael. 10 hours seems like a long bus ride but some flights are equally as long via Madrid (1 flight was actually 20+ hours total) but price is also a concern with me.

 

[DharmaBum]

Thank you so very much everyone.
Looks like i'm busin' it (cause i'm cheap....i mean thrifty).
Can't be any worse than the overnight plane ride from Canada.
Eh?

 

[man.grangeburn]

Thanks Michael. 10 hours seems like a long bus ride but some flights are equally as long via Madrid (1 flight was actually 20+ hours total) but price is also a concern with me.

Hi DharnaBum

The 10 hour journey from San Sebastián to Santiago de Compostela is by train. The price I quoted was for next week and as I said it could be much reduced by booking in advance. I would use the Trainline website for doing this. It is in English and easier. Unfortunately, if you are starting from Hendaye it is not an easy journey to get to A Coruña. Ideally you would want to fly into A Coruña but that would mean other complications I think. I know of this route because I came back from Santiago de Compostela a number of years ago this way. I was not worried about time and it wasn’t too expensive. Good luck with your plans anyway.

Michael A.

 

[oursonpolaire]

I spotted an Intercity 00283 leaving Irun (5 minutes from Hendaya) at 9.10 am to La Coruna at 20.33 for €61.20. The 10.28 (arrives at 22.33) is cheaper at €43.60. I've done most of this run a few years ago and the scenery can be excellent. There's a change at Victoria/Gasteiz. Spanish train food is not dire, but I would still recommend packing a snack. The Avenida hotel, a block or two from the station, has rooms for C$61.

 

[Deleted member 43780]

You could bus from Irun to Bilbao. Then ride FEVE train to Ferrol. The train ride is slow. With beautiful coastal views.

Or faster way is bus Irun to Bilbao. Then change to bus to Ferrol.

Since going west, why not stop in the wonderful city of San Sebastián?

Or walk from Irun to San Sebastián?

What ever you do....enjoy

 

[peregrino_tom]

You could bus from Irun to Bilbao. Then ride FEVE train to Ferrol. The train ride is slow. With beautiful coastal views.

Yes that's a good call. FEVE is a lot of fun, if you are not in a hurry. Get to go through the cantabrian mountains too.

 

[John Crawford Howell]

I was thinking about Hendaye yesterday as I was hiking in our local forest lands. I finished my Camino (Frances) in June of 2017, then relaxed for four days in Santiago before boarding the train to Paris with an overnight stay in Hendaye. I am an Ernest Hemingway fan, and he spent time writing in Hendaye back in the 20s/30s. So, I rather like the idea of Hendaye, and frequently reflect on my brief time there. Michael A. provides great information. It is a slow ride, for sure, but when you have time it's sweet to savor on the train what was just accomplished. I might add the savoring includes wine...

 

[robproct]

Its a quick cheap very frequent pleasant train ride from Hendaye to Bilbao ten bus or train from there.

 

[Ralph Ayling]

You should spend a day or two in A Coruña. It's a beautiful and interesting city and the seafood is great.

 

[trecile]

You should spend a day or two in A Coruña. It's a beautiful and interesting city and the seafood is great.

I agree. I loved A Coruña. I know that a lot of people love San Sebastián, but I think that A Coruña has more going for it. Fantastic pedestrian walkway all around the city on the coast, great tapas bars, beautiful beaches, the Tower of Hercules and a spherical glass elevator that takes you down the side of a hill!

 

[DharmaBum]

You should spend a day or two in A Coruña. It's a beautiful and interesting city and the seafood is great.

Thanks Ralph.
Sounds like a good plan.

 

[Ralph Ayling]

Buen Camino.

 

[DharmaBum]

Thank you everybody for the great responses
and wishing y'all "Happy Trails".