First day on del Norte

[Kim77]

Hi everybody,

I arrive to San Sebastian airport June 1st at 7.55 am. My plan is to start to walk from Irun. Is it possible to get from the airport straight to Irun, or do I have to get to the town first?
And I think it would be to hard to start the same day as I arrive to walk to whole way to San Sebastian (I´m sleeping at Barcelona airport the night before) Would you advise me to stay in Irun first day and do the whole walk next morning or is it a good option to walk the first day Irun-Pasajes de San Juan?

Best,

Kim

 

[Kanga]

Hi Kim,

We're sort of planning to stay at Pasajes just to take it easy. We have a tent and are hoping that the albergue has a garden, but I haven't found any information about it.

 

[Kim77]

Hi Kanga!!
I was thinking so as well, it seems like a nice place. But I wonder if there will be enough beds, if I get there later in the day. Is there only one albergue? Does anyone know if its usually crowded early in the beginning of summer?
Is Irun a good place to stay for the first day to get things sorted out and get some rest, or is it just a place you want to get out of?

 

[anniethenurse]

Hi everybody,

I arrive to San Sebastian airport June 1st at 7.55 am. My plan is to start to walk from Irun. Is it possible to get from the airport straight to Irun, or do I have to get to the town first?
And I think it would be to hard to start the same day as I arrive to walk to whole way to San Sebastian (I´m sleeping at Barcelona airport the night before) Would you advise me to stay in Irun first day and do the whole walk next morning or is it a good option to walk the first day Irun-Pasajes de San Juan?

Best,

Kim

Hola,

actually the San Sebastian airport is only 3 km from the albergue in Irun (situated in Irun city centre) so it is a walking distance for a pilgrim, isn´t it? From the airport it is about 20 km to the city centre of San Sebastian.

Irun is a great town to take a day off. You can take a walk over the bridge to Hendaye, France and walk back.

The albergue can be hard to find so have a good map or ask around. The albergue opens at 4 pm and closes at 10 pm. There are 48 beds in 6 rooms and I found it to be a great albergue. If you are arriving late then maybe better to book a room in beforehand.

You can start walking from the City Hall and they have a cello also. The camino is way marked from the city hall.
I have not walked the Norte yet but I did walk the Camino Vasco that follows the same way marking out of Irun.
Buen camino

 

[Kim77]

Annie!
This is great news! Then I walk to Irun from the airport of course My plan land in the morning, 7.55, so I will be alright.
So staying in Irun the first day to sort things out seems like a good option from what you say!
Thank you guys, you are all so helpful in the forum!
Anyone in the forum have a good map for finding the albergue?

 

[Kanga]

Lol, who knows?! Guess we will find out.

 

[anniethenurse]

take a look at the google maps.

Buen camino

 

[Mournes]

Hi Kanga
I have stayed in the albergue in Pasajes.It does not have a garden.
Buen camino

 

[Kim77]

Kanga, Annie,

Hah, I know, I´m overexhited! I need to chill Anyways, been out on a mini day trekk with new boots today and looking forward to summer

 

[jpflavin1]

Hi everybody,

I arrive to San Sebastian airport June 1st at 7.55 am. My plan is to start to walk from Irun. Is it possible to get from the airport straight to Irun, or do I have to get to the town first?
And I think it would be to hard to start the same day as I arrive to walk to whole way to San Sebastian (I´m sleeping at Barcelona airport the night before) Would you advise me to stay in Irun first day and do the whole walk next morning or is it a good option to walk the first day Irun-Pasajes de San Juan?

Best,

Kim

Kim:

Why not just start walking from San Sebastian? That is what I did in 2014. There is a great Albergue right on the Camino in Orio ( 18km's). Just take your time and let your body tell you how far to go. I walked the Norte in 2014 and found the first third to be the most difficult.

If you choose to backtrack to Irun, Pasajes de San Juan is a good first day target. You do not have to stick to the standard etapa's. I posted most of my stops along this route and so did Shefollowsshells. If you are looking for some information on Albergues and hotels along the route. This is a great route with lots of ocean views.

Gronze and Eroski are good online guides.

Ultreya,
Joe

 

[grayland]

The airport is actually in Irun...not San Sebastián.
I would just start walking to San Sebastián which is one of the coolest towns in Spain.

 

[Kim77]

Joe,
I know, it´s an option to start in San Sebastian but what I heard the route between Irun and San Sebastian is gorgeous, and I will have the time for it. I´ll se what shape I´m in, and it´s good there are lot of options; stay in Irun, walk to Pasajes or push to whole way to San Sebastian. I will have a look at your route, and shefollowsshells. Good to know about the online guides.
Grayland: I plan to stay a couple of days in San Sebastian and Bilbao as well.

 

[jpflavin1]

Joe,
I know, it´s an option to start in San Sebastian but what I heard the route between Irun and San Sebastian is gorgeous, and I will have the time for it. I´ll se what shape I´m in, and it´s good there are lot of options; stay in Irun, walk to Pasajes or push to whole way to San Sebastian. I will have a look at your route, and shefollowsshells. Good to know about the online guides.
Grayland: I plan to stay a couple of days in San Sebastian and Bilbao as well.

Kim:

San Sebastian is a beautiful resort city. Bilbao is also very nice with some interesting architecture. There is a forum member, Mendiwalker, who lives in Bilbao. If you contact him, He will meet you and walk with you awhile. We also enjoyed a very nice lunch and conversation.

Ultreya,
Joe

 

[Kanga]

Thanks @Mournes - I thought not. I'm keen to tackle the tent sleeping early. We will see.

 

[camino07]

We started in Irun last May,stayed in a pension.walked all the way to San Sebastion over the Alpinista way.
Lovely lunch in Pasajes and then over on the ferry and up up up the steps!!
We finally arrived at our prebooked Pension Goika at 4.30 still happy and in a couple of hours able to go out and explore and find dinner.
Hard day but beautiful walk .
Heather

 

[Kim77]

Camino07,

Sounds wonderful! Thank you for sharing! I will def take the Alpinista way.

Kim

 

[Fr Scott]

Hi everybody,

I arrive to San Sebastian airport June 1st at 7.55 am. My plan is to start to walk from Irun. Is it possible to get from the airport straight to Irun, or do I have to get to the town first?
And I think it would be to hard to start the same day as I arrive to walk to whole way to San Sebastian (I´m sleeping at Barcelona airport the night before) Would you advise me to stay in Irun first day and do the whole walk next morning or is it a good option to walk the first day Irun-Pasajes de San Juan?

Best,

Kim

I think there is a train that goes from San Sebastian to Irun, but not sure. I plan to arrive in Madrid June 2, spend the night, then take the train June 3 to Irun, stay overnight after I get to Irun June 3, 2015 at a place called Pension Bowling. On the fourth I plan to walk ten miles. Ten miles will be quite a walk if you have not walked much with your back pack. I would shoot for six miles or 10K the first day is you haven't walked much. I believe irun to San Sebastian is 26.5 K or about 16 miles.

 

[grayland]

Fr. Scott
There is a local train (not Renfe) that runs to Irun.
As I posted above...
You might also consider a night in San Sebastián and start from there instead of Irun. They are very close and San S. Is well worth extra time. One of the most beautiful towns in Spain. A great Cathedral, fantastic beach, history and a great start of your Camino adventure.
Irun is just Irun.

 

[jpflavin1]

Fr. Scott
There is a local train (not Renfe) that runs to Irun.
As I posted above...
You might also consider a night in San Sebastián and start from there instead of Irun. They are very close and San S. Is well worth extra time. One of the most beautiful towns in Spain. A great Cathedral, fantastic beach, history and a great start of your Camino adventure.
Irun is just Irun.

I agree.