Bilbao to SJPdP in a day?

[Flynbo]

Hello Pilgrims,

Can any of you advise me please on getting from Bilbao to SJPdP in one day? My plane hits the tarmac in Bilbao at 11:30 on 11 May and from what I can divine the best way is to get a bus to Bilbao Termibus and then another Pamplona. From there things get tricky (bus scheduling) and/or expensive (taxi).

Any thoughts would be much appreciated, so thank you.

Buen camino-

JG

 

[KinkyOne]

Hello Pilgrims,

Can any of you advise me please on getting from Bilbao to SJPdP in one day? My plane hits the tarmac in Bilbao at 11:30 on 11 May and from what I can divine the best way is to get a bus to Bilbao Termibus and then another Pamplona. From there things get tricky (bus scheduling) and/or expensive (taxi).

Any thoughts would be much appreciated, so thank you.

Buen camino-

JG

Hola, Jamie,

There are several buses from Bilbao to Irun on that day. Most convenient for you would be 14:15 bus which arrives in Irun 16:45:
http://www.alsa.es/portal/site/Alsa...x.portlet.endCacheTok=com.vignette.cachetoken

From Hendaye (which is almost the same city as Irun, just over the border in France) you have first available train to Bayonne at 17:15. The ride takes only about half an hour. I don't know why SNCF site offered just the dates to May 1st but since it is such a short distance I'm sure the schedule is more or less the same every day:
http://www.infolignes.com/recherche...nne&cityDestination=OCE87673004&via=&cityVia=

If you can make it to Bayonne until 18:00 you have two more trains to SJPdP:
http://www.infolignes.com/recherche...Port+(64)&cityDestination=64485&via=&cityVia=

Ultreia!

 

[Flynbo]

Hola, Jamie,

There are several buses from Bilbao to Irun on that day. Most convenient for you would be 14:15 bus which arrives in Irun 16:45:
http://www.alsa.es/portal/site/Alsa/template.PAGE/menuitem.a2b8c42c4264a03c66c766c7421000e5/?javax.portlet.tpst=28b12525bd34c9fec845c845421000e5&javax.portlet.prp_28b12525bd34c9fec845c845421000e5=_spageview=%2FSearchExpeditions.do&_kraview=1&javax.portlet.begCacheTok=com.vignette.cachetoken&javax.portlet.endCacheTok=com.vignette.cachetoken

From Hendaye (which is almost the same city as Irun, just over the border in France) you have first available train to Bayonne at 17:15. The ride takes only about half an hour. I don't know why SNCF site offered just the dates to May 1st but since it is such a short distance I'm sure the schedule is more or less the same every day:
http://www.infolignes.com/recherche...nne&cityDestination=OCE87673004&via=&cityVia=

If you can make it to Bayonne until 18:00 you have two more trains to SJPdP:
http://www.infolignes.com/recherche.php?num_train=-&date_num_train=2015|05|01&type_heure=1&train_horaire_depart=17|00&depart=gare+de+bayonne&cityDepart=OCE87677005&destination=Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port+(64)&cityDestination=64485&via=&cityVia=

Ultreia!

I can't tell you how much I appreciate you taking the time to lay this out for me, KinkyOne. You've set my mind at ease. The only snag will be the 30 min dash from Irun bus station to Hendaye train station. I guess I can grab a taxi if necessary? I shall make preparations and leave the rest to the Universe! Thank you so much again- Jamie

 

[Castilian]

Another option would be to take a PESA bus from the airport to San Sebastián (aka Donostia) and another PESA bus from San Sebastián to Bayonne. If you could take the 12:45 p.m. bus out of the airport, you could take the 14:30 bus in San Sebastián... Take a look at the web of PESA for info about schedules (make two separate searches: one for the leg from Loiu to San Sebastián and another one from San Sebastián to Bayonne).

http://www.pesa.net

 

[KinkyOne]

I can't tell you how much I appreciate you taking the time to lay this out for me, KinkyOne. You've set my mind at ease. The only snag will be the 30 min dash from Irun bus station to Hendaye train station. I guess I can grab a taxi if necessary? I shall make preparations and leave the rest to the Universe! Thank you so much again- Jamie

No problem, Jamie, just pay it forward

The other option that comes to my mind is train from Bilbao to Logrono which leaves at 15:20 and the ride takes 2,5hrs. So at 17:50 you can be picked up by Corazon Puro people (http://www.corazonpuro.es/Enghome.html), spend the night at their place and in the morning they can drive you to SJPdP. Maybe this option is much less hassle with changing trains/buses. And it's completely up to you whether you'll register at SJPdP Pilgrims Office and start walking right away or spend that day and discovering this lovely village.

Ultreia!

 

[whariwharangi]

As Castilian has pointed out, there is an hourly PESA bus service from Bilbao (Loiu) Airport to San Sebastian/Donostia Plaza Pio XII outdoor bus station.

PESA also operates two buses per day from San Sebastian to Place de Basques in Bayonne ... a kilometer from Gare Bayonne.

ALSA operates several buses daily (international tab) from San Sebastian to Gare Bayonne (Bayonne TGV).

SNCF operates TER train/bus service from Gare Bayonne to SJPdP.

Alternately you can take Euskotren from San Sebastian Amara to Hendaia and SNCF train from Gare Hendaye to Gare Bayonne. Transports64 offers hourly bus service from Gare Hendaye to Place de Basques in Bayonne. The service runs more frequently and doesn't change schedules as often as the bus services provided by ALSA.

If you wish to go via Pamplona, ALSA provides hourly bus service from San Sebastian to Pamplona. On your dates of travel ALSA provides 2 buses (international) under CONDA colours from Pamplona to SJPdP daily.

Bilbao Airport (Loiu)(BIO)
http://www.aena-aeropuertos.es/csee/Satellite/Aeropuerto-Bilbao/en/Home.html

PESA
http://www.pesa.net/pesa/public_home/ctrl_home.php

ALSA
http://www.alsa.es/en

Euskotren
http://www.euskotren.es/

SNCF
http://www.sncf.com/en/passengers

Transdev ATCRB
http://www.transports-atcrb.com/

CONDA
http://www.conda.es/

 

[Flynbo]

Good morning @KinkyOne, @Castilian, @whariwharangi -

I have woken to further fantastic information. Thank you all very much. In my analysis the easiest way will be Castilian's:

LHR 08:30 - plane 2hrs - > 11:30 BILBAO

1hr 15mins

BILBAO 12:45 - bus 1hr15mins - > 14:00 St. SEBASTIAN

30mins

St. SEBASTIAN 14:30 - bus 1hr10mins - > 15:40 BAIONA/BAYONNE

2hrs 26mins

BAIONA/BAYONNE 18:06 - train 1hr25mins - > 19:31 SAINT-JEAN-PIED-DE-PORT

The only issue I can see is the tight changeover between buses at St. Sebastian. I shall travel hopefully!

Thank you all again, and if you have any further thoughts or information please do let me know!

Very best,

Jamie

 

[naplesdon]

Don't worry all the bus services are grouped together at a very small stop.