Flying into Bilbao, before St. Jean

[C clearly]

I'm playing with some flight options for starting my camino in October. From Vancouver, Canada, I can fly to Bilbao for the same price as into Madrid or Barcelona. I could do a rest day to recover from jetlag/time change, visit the Guggenheim (closed on Mondays) and then bus/train to Pamplona and St. Jean.

I haven't seen many people consider flying to Bilbao, and wonder why. Is there any disadvantage I haven't thought of?

Thanks for your comments.
- Clare

 

[anniethenurse]

You can fly to Bilbao and take a bus to Bayonne or train to Irun/ Hendaye and to Bayonne.
A direct bus takes 2 hours and costs €55. There are other buses also - with one change.
The bus station in Bilbao in the center of the town.

Buen camino

 

[whariwharangi]

I'm playing with some flight options for starting my camino in October. From Vancouver, Canada, I can fly to Bilbao for the same price as into Madrid or Barcelona. I could do a rest day to recover from jetlag/time change, visit the Guggenheim (closed on Mondays) and then bus/train to Pamplona and St. Jean.

I haven't seen many people consider flying to Bilbao, and wonder why. Is there any disadvantage I haven't thought of?

Thanks for your comments.
- Clare

The travel options from Bilbao are somewhat complicated due to border crossing. Nothing difficult but if you don't know where to look it can be like swimming uphill.

1600 Bilbao

1601 This section discusses transportation Services in Bilbao.

Index 1600
1602 Bilbao
1603 Bilbao Airport
1604 Getting Around in Bilbao
1605 Bilbao Bus Station
1606 Bilbao Train Station
1607 Bilbao Train Service
1608 Destinations from Bilbao

1650 Bilbao to Saint Jean Pied de Port

1602 Bilbao

Bilbao
http://www.bilbao.net/cs/Satellite?pagename=Bilbaonet/Page/BIO_preHome

Bizkaia
http://www.bizkaia.net/Home/ca_index.asp

1603 Bilbao Airport

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

1604 Getting Around in Bilbao

Bizkaia bus service connects from Airport to Termibus bus station. The schedule is found on the Termibus website.

Termibus is co-located with San Mames station.

Bizkaia bus provides urban bus service in Bilbao Metropolitan Area including Bilbao Airport.
http://www.bizkaia.net/home2/Temas/DetalleTema.asp?Tem_Codigo=195&idioma=CA&bnetmobile=0&dpto_biz=&codpath_biz=|195

Bilbobus provides urban bus service to Bilbao.

http://www.bilbao.net/cs/Satellite?cid=1279132680834&language=en&pagename=Bilbaonet/Page/BIO_detallePagina

Bilbao has three commuter train networks. Metro, Cercanius and Euskotren.

Bilbao Metro
http://www.metrobilbao.net/

Bilbao Renfe Cercanius
http://www.renfe.com/EN/viajeros/cercanias/bilbao/index.html

Euskotren
http://www.euskotren.es/

1605 Bilbao Bus Station

Termibus Bus Station
http://www.termibus.es/index.php?idi=es

1606 Bilbao Train Station

The Renfe station is Estación de Abando Indalecio Prieto.

The Renfe FEVE station is Abando Concordia and is located adjacent to the Renfe Station.

Bilbao has three Cercanius light rail routes that intersect at Abando.

Bilbao Abando Indalecio Prieto Renfe Station
http://www.adif.es/es_ES/infraestructuras/estaciones/13200/informacion_000034.shtml

Bilbao Abando Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bilbao-Abando

1607 Bilbao Train Service

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

Renfe FEVE (Bilbao to Santander and Bilbao to Leon)
http://www.renfe.com/EN/viajeros/feve/index.html

Euskotren (Bilbao to Hendaye)
http://www.euskotren.es/

1608 Destinations from Bilbao

Euskotren to Hendaye

Bus to Bayonne, Pamplona, San Sebastian, Burgos, Logroño, et Alia.

FEVE train to Leon and Santander

Renfe train to anywhere Spain

1650 Bilbao to Saint Jean Pied de Port

Bizkaia buses #A3247 travels from Bilbao airport to Bilbao Termibus where it terminates. Termibus is located in same area as San Mames station.

There are buses twice daily Bilbao Termibus to Place de Basques Bayonne.

There are buses Bilbao Termibus to San Sebastian and San Sebastian to Irun. This might be faster than taking Euskotren.

Take Metro from San Mames to Etxebarri Station or take Euskotren Transvia tram to Atxuri Station.

Euskotren commuter trains travel from Atxuri Station and Etxebarri Station to Hendaia station, co-located with SNCF Gare d'Hendaye France, where Euskotren tracks terminate. A transfer is required at San Sebastian Euskotren Amara station.

SNCF trains (TGV, Intercites, or TER) travel from Gare d'Hendaye to Gare de Bayonne. Trains continue to destinations such as Bordeaux and Toulouse.

SNCF TER trains #62 travel from Gare de Bayonne to SJPdP where it terminates.

ATCRB buses travel from Gare d'Hendaye to Place de Basques Bayonne.

Chronoplus bus #5, 8, B, or N departs from Place de Basques to Gare de Bayonne.

Bizkaia bus
http://www.bizkaia.net/home2/Temas/DetalleTema.asp?Tem_Codigo=195&idioma=CA&bnetmobile=0&dpto_biz=&codpath_biz=|195

Euskotren
http://www.euskotren.es/

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

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

Chronoplus
http://www.chronoplus.eu/

 

[C clearly]

Thanks for all the info. Can I simply take a train/bus f rom Bilbao to Pamplona? Then I might stay at Corazon Puro and use their service to get to St. Jean.

 

[whariwharangi]

Thanks for all the info. Can I simply take a train/bus f rom Bilbao to Pamplona? Then I might stay at Corazon Puro and use their service to get to St. Jean.

There are buses from Bilbao to Pamplona. See Termibus for all schedules and companies.

Autobuses la Union y la Burundesa - buses from Bilbao to Pamplona
http://www.autobuseslaunion.com/es/

Train from Bilbao is not direct (but does work). Probably faster to bus to San Sebastian and catch train from San Sebastian to Pamplona. And bus service is much more frequent.

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

Schedule might work better ALSA bus from Bilbao to San Sebastian. Then ALSA bus from San Sebastian to Pamplona bus station.

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

The bus to Pamplona leaves from San Sebastian bus station. The bus station in San Sebastian is located outdoors at Plaza Pio XII beside Hotel Amara Plaza about 700 meters south from Amara station or across the river from the Renfe Station.

ALSA provides bus service from San Sebastian to Pamplona on almost hourly basis.

San Sebastian Bus Station
http://www.donostiasansebastian.com/autobuses.html

1359 Pamplona

Pamplona Bus Station
http://estaciondeautobusesdepamplona.com/Rutas.aspx

Pamplona Renfe Station
http://www.adif.es/en_US/infraestructuras/estaciones/80100/informacion_000111.shtml

ALSA provides ~seasonal~ bus service from Pamplona to Saint Jean Pied de Port through its subsidiary Conda. The bus makes a stop in Roncesvalles (even on Sundays).

Conda
http://www.conda.es/

 

[C clearly]

Thanks. I'll look at these options, particularly the bus connections.

 

[whariwharangi]

Thanks. I'll look at these options, particularly the bus connections.

Just noticed your travel dates are October. At time of writing the bus from Pamplona to SJPdP has buses 1730 17 March - 30 Sept and 1430 1 June - 30 Sept. Last year service ended in November ... so no idea what will happen this year.

 

[Bernard duffy]

Thanks. I'll look at these options, particularly the bus connections.

I have taken the bus Bilbao-Pamplona,a lovely trip through wonderful countryside.

 

[Jonas]

Thanks for all the info. Can I simply take a train/bus f rom Bilbao to Pamplona? Then I might stay at Corazon Puro and use their service to get to St. Jean.

Yes you can, it's two hours with direct bus from Bilbao to Pamplona. I used it three weeks ago.
Buss from LaUnion- company

 

[wawpdx]

I have flown in and out of Bilbao several times. I think it is a great choice!

 

[christy wharton]

I'm playing with some flight options for starting my camino in October. From Vancouver, Canada, I can fly to Bilbao for the same price as into Madrid or Barcelona. I could do a rest day to recover from jetlag/time change, visit the Guggenheim (closed on Mondays) and then bus/train to Pamplona and St. Jean.

I haven't seen many people consider flying to Bilbao, and wonder why. Is there any disadvantage I haven't thought of?

Thanks for your comments.
- Clare

Bilbao is a great city now and is a beautiful starting point-- not too big. The airport is very near and accessible by regular bus. The walk to by the river and the Guggenheim itself are now magnificient. Their Belle De Artes Art gallery nearby in the same area is also great and the old town atmosphere near the Cathedral on weekends is a highlight ---Basque food, music and song. I have taken trains to Burgos etc from there (Abando Station) --See the Mural in the station. I go there from Ireland this year again early june. What a great beginning to another tilt at the Camino. One of Spains highlights for a short stay. Enjoy

 

[Loretta Jane]

You can use your Guggenheim ticket at night of the day you buy it and re-enter.

 

[scruffy1]

If you have the time there is another beautiful option by way of SJPP. From Bilbao by train to San Sebastian also called Donostia don't be confused all the Basque towns have 2 different names by language spoken. Its a wonderful port with some of the best tapas in all of Spain and very much unlike poor Bilbao is also very beautiful. Take the train from San Sebastian to Bayonne whichstops at Hendaye-the French border crossing-cross over to the waiting train and on to Bayonne and at the train station there are buses to SJPP quite simple actually

 

[naplesdon]

If you have the time there is another beautiful option by way of SJPP. From Bilbao by train to San Sebastian also called Donostia don't be confused all the Basque towns have 2 different names by language spoken. Its a wonderful port with some of the best tapas in all of Spain and very much unlike poor Bilbao is also very beautiful. Take the train from San Sebastian to Bayonne whichstops at Hendaye-the French border crossing-cross over to the waiting train and on to Bayonne and at the train station there are buses to SJPP quite simple actually

There are also several buses (about 10 euros) every day to Biarritz and Bayonne from the nondescript bus round about near town. If you go to San Sebastian don't miss the restaurant Arzak, rated No. 8 in the world in 2013.
Rumor has it that most of the wealth in Spain rest in San Sebastian with families that pre-date the Franco era.