Travel from Barcelona

[TKrene]

Can you rent a car and drive from Barcelona to St Jean? There will be 3 of us so we could split the cost. Thoughts?

 

[SYates]

There are cheaper options, especially as you would take the rental car over a border and to a relatively small town, a one way rental like this is expensive. Try alsa.es for bus and renfe.es for train. Buen Camino, SY
PS rome2rio.com does also a good job in showing you general travel options.

 

[peregrina2000]

Hi TKrene,
My experience is just like SYates' -- one way car rentals from one country to another is likely to be very expensive. If your tickets aren't yet bought, you should check out flying into Madrid. Madrid to Pamplona is quicker than Barcelona to Pamplona, and then from Pamplona to SJPP will require bus or taxi.

check out this thread: https://www.caminodesantiago.me/com...than-6-hours-be-in-bayonne.29858/#post-253734

Good luck with the planning. Buen camino, Laurie

 

[TKrene]

Thanks for the information. I had already read that it is easier to go out of Madrid but I am visiting a friend in Barcelona before I start the walk so starting point in Barcelona it is. Forgot that I would be crossing country border....doh! Okay I guess it is train to Pamplona and then bus to SJPP. Thanks agin.

 

[camino07]

Thanks for the information. I had already read that it is easier to go out of Madrid but I am visiting a friend in Barcelona before I start the walk so starting point in Barcelona it is. Forgot that I would be crossing country border....doh! Okay I guess it is train to Pamplona and then bus to SJPP. Thanks agin.

Hi, I took train from Barcelona Sants at 9.30 arrived in Pamplona around 1ish. Took taxi to bus station and bought ticket for Roncevalles. I noticed a bus for St Jean left a couple of hours before mine. No problems!

 

[peregrina2000]

Thanks for the information. I had already read that it is easier to go out of Madrid but I am visiting a friend in Barcelona before I start the walk so starting point in Barcelona it is. Forgot that I would be crossing country border....doh! Okay I guess it is train to Pamplona and then bus to SJPP. Thanks agin.

Sounds like a great plan. The bus from Pamplona to SJPP is seasonal, going only in higher traffic months. Whariwharangi has a great post with lots of information here: https://www.caminodesantiago.me/com...to-roncesvalles-and-sjpdp-via-pamplona.23395/

Another option would be the pick up and drop off service that comes with lodging in Corazon Puro, which is discussed in many posts. They will pick you up in Pamplona, you spend the night in their pension, and the next day they drive you to SJPP. http://www.corazonpuro.es/Enghome.html
Forum members have been really happy with this option, though I've never used it myself. Very economical, IMO.

Buen camino, Laurie

 

[BrienC]

The Spanish Renfe trains are awesome, fast, and on time.

 

[DJwalKing]

I heard that it's better to take the train from Barcelona to Bayonne in France and then another train to SJPP. That avoids differences in bus schedules and having to take 3 different types of transportation. Any thoughts on that?

 

[Castilian]

I heard that it's better to take the train from Barcelona to Bayonne in France and then another train to SJPP. That avoids differences in bus schedules and having to take 3 different types of transportation. Any thoughts on that?

Hello, DJ King! Welcome to the forum! I wish you a pleasant and fruitful stay.

It depends on the schedule of the bus from Pamplona to SJPP on your travel date. If there's an afternoon departure from Pamplona to SJPP, the most straightforward option would be to take a bus from Barcelona to Pamplona in the morning and the afternoon bus from Pamplona to SJPP. But, as others already said, the bus from Pamplona to SJPP is seasonal and schedules may be known not a long time in advance.

 

[whariwharangi]

I heard that it's better to take the train from Barcelona to Bayonne in France and then another train to SJPP. That avoids differences in bus schedules and having to take 3 different types of transportation. Any thoughts on that?

Take Renfe train from Barcelona Sants to Pamplona. Then take CONDA bus from Pamplona to SJPdP. CONDA bus is seasonal.

Or ALSA bus from Barcelona Estacio Nord to Pamplona via Zaragosa or ViBaSa (Monbus) from Barcelona Sants to Pamplona. ALSA runs more frequently.

Otherwise it takes approximately the same time (about 12 hours) going to Bayonne and SJPdP via either Irun or Toulouse and the deciding factor is schedule.

SNCF train from Barcelona Sants to Toulouse, Toulouse to Bayonne and Bayonne to SJPdP. 3 trains.

Renfe train from Barcelona Sants to Irun/Hendaye. SNCF train from Hendaye to Bayonne and Bayonne to SJPdP. 3 or 4 trains (there may be a transfer at Zaragosa). Plus Donostealdea Metro from Irun Colon to Hendaia (3 km) if the Renfe train doesn't terminate at Hendaye.

Another alternative is to fly from Barcelona to San Sebastian. The airport is located 3 km from Irun Renfe Station.

 

[Bumpa]

I arrive into Barcelona on April 11th and am trying to book a train into Pamplona. When I go to the Renfe site and attempt to book; I get a message saying there is no connection or the train doesn't run that date. I have tried to change the date just to check with the same result. I am beginning to think that I should just get a ticket when I arrive.

How far is the train station from the airport. Thanks for any help....this is frustrating!

 

[whariwharangi]

I arrive into Barcelona on April 11th and am trying to book a train into Pamplona. When I go to the Renfe site and attempt to book; I get a message saying there is no connection or the train doesn't run that date. I have tried to change the date just to check with the same result. I am beginning to think that I should just get a ticket when I arrive.

How far is the train station from the airport. Thanks for any help....this is frustrating!

To find a schedule go to Renfe page. Select timetable and prices at the center of the page *** See the picture of the clock ***. Then select Barcelona and Pamplona/Iru~na.

Note the bottom of the schedule page there is an International Sales Points link where there is information on where to buy your ticket.

There are several trains daily, so you could wait till you get to the station to purchase a ticket. However, there have been stories of trains being full; Renfe has been cutting the schedule to get fuller trains.

Take the Renfe Rodalies/Cercanias commuter train R2 from the Barcelona airport T2 to Barcelona Sants from whence you can take the train to Pamplona. The trip takes about 22 minutes.

Alternatively;

ALSA operates buses from Estacio Nord to Zaragosa and onward to Pamplona.

ViBaSa (Monbus) operates buses from Barcelona Sants to Pamplona.

Aena Barcelona Airport
http://www.aena.es/csee/ContentServer/Aeropuerto-Barcelona/en/Page/1045569607459/

Barcelona Cercanias
http://www.renfe.com/viajeros/cercanias/barcelona/index.html

Renfe
http://www.renfe.com/EN/viajeros/

 

[Bumpa]

Wharwharanga...may thanks for your prompt reply. I tried the link for Renfe that you provided with the same results. A reply which indicated: "This outward trip does not connect or is not available on the date selected." I have tried to change the dates with the same result. Must be something subtle I am missing. Thanks for the directions from airport to train station. I'll likely get the ticket on the day that I arrive.

Seems that I read on one of these forums that the site was not friendly for North American users. Seems odd but there you are. Thanks again

 

[whariwharangi]

Wharwharanga...may thanks for your prompt reply. I tried the link for Renfe that you provided with the same results. A reply which indicated: "This outward trip does not connect or is not available on the date selected." I have tried to change the dates with the same result. Must be something subtle I am missing. Thanks for the directions from airport to train station. I'll likely get the ticket on the day that I arrive.

Seems that I read on one of these forums that the site was not friendly for North American users. Seems odd but there you are. Thanks again

I had trouble getting information yesterday. Today it is working ... albeit slowly. It can be a buggy website and the recent changes to it haven't helped. Try again. I am located NA as well. Lots of US people complain Renfe won't accept their credit card. If you are located in USA and prefer to have a reserved seat, try purchasing from Petrabax.

Its probably too early to purchase too. Try within one month of travel.

 

[Kanga]

This might help.

Explains how it all works .http://seat61.com/Spain-trains.htm#How_to_buy_train_tickets_for_Spain

 

[Bumpa]

This might help.

Explains how it all works .http://seat61.com/Spain-trains.htm#How_to_buy_train_tickets_for_Spain

Again thanks for the help Wharwharanga...I looked at the name and immediately thoug

 

[Bumpa]

Again thanks for the help Wharwharanga...I looked at the name and immediately thoug

Try again...my key board is jumping all over today. The name made me think you might be Aussie I am Canadian. I'll try again later.

This might help.

Explains how it all works .http://seat61.com/Spain-trains.htm#How_to_buy_train_tickets_for_Spain

Kanga....I have bookmarked that page...thanks for the help

 

[Bumpa]

Again thanks for the help Wharwharanga...I looked at the name and immediately thoug

Keyboard is acting up. Thought you might be an Aussie with that name. I am Canadian. Thanks again. Getting excited. Emailed Orisson and Corazon Pura and am awaiting replies