Getting from Biarritz to Saint Jean

[John Rowan]

Hi, new to this forum. I am hoping to walk Section 1 of the French Way this year with my 17 year old daughter. I will be flying into Biarritz. What is the best way to get from there to Saint Jean? Thanks.

 

[Deleted member 3000]

Take the local bus from the airport to the Bayonne train station, and catch the bus/train from there! It runs about five times a day.

 

[John Rowan]

Take the local bus from the airport to the Bayonne train station, and catch the bus/train from there! It runs about five times a day.

Thank you Falcon269

 

[wayfarer]

Hi, new to this forum. I am hoping to walk Section 1 of the French Way this year with my 17 year old daughter. I will be flying into Biarritz. What is the best way to get from there to Saint Jean? Thanks.

Welcome John, I hope you have a great Camino.
Buen Camino.

 

[John Rowan]

Welcome John, I hope you have a great Camino.
Buen Camino.

Thank you wayfarer. I would love to do more than one section this year but have made other plans for the remainder of the summer - hopefully next year

 

[KinkyOne]

Hi, new to this forum. I am hoping to walk Section 1 of the French Way this year with my 17 year old daughter. I will be flying into Biarritz. What is the best way to get from there to Saint Jean? Thanks.

Welccome to the Forum, John!

I don't wan't to go over not-using "search" function again (my fellow Forum friends would expeled me by then), but I really want to know what "Section 1 of the French Way" is??? Thanks in advance

Ultreia!

 

[John Rowan]

Welccome to the Forum, John!

I don't wan't to go over not-using "search" function again (my fellow Forum friends would expeled me by then), but I really want to know what "Section 1 of the French Way" is??? Thanks in advance

Ultreia!

Hi, a couple of websites and tour operators i have looked at have Section 1 as St Jean to Pamplona.

 

[Canuck Walker]

Hi, new to this forum. I am hoping to walk Section 1 of the French Way this year with my 17 year old daughter. I will be flying into Biarritz. What is the best way to get from there to Saint Jean? Thanks.

The French rail system, SNCF, now operates a bus between Bayonne Gare (rail station) to SJPP, as the rail line there is now no longer in use. Tickets can be bought on line at voyages.sncf.com

 

[ahemobile]

The French rail system, SNCF, now operates a bus between Bayonne Gare (rail station) to SJPP, as the rail line there is now no longer in use. Tickets can be bought on line at voyages.sncf.com

Does one need to buy a ticket in advance? Is it cheaper to buy online?

 

[Canuck Walker]

Hi, new to this forum. I am hoping to walk Section 1 of the French Way this year with my 17 year old daughter. I will be flying into Biarritz. What is the best way to get from there to Saint Jean? Thanks.

The easiest way is to take the shuttle bus from the airport to the Bayonne train station, at which you can buy a bus ticket to St Jean Pied de Port, the starting point for the Camino Frances. As the French rail system operates the bus link to SJPP, you can check their website for fares and schedules at voyages.sncf.com.

 

[Canuck Walker]

Does one need to buy a ticket in advance? Is it cheaper to buy online?

No need. You can either buy the ticket at the train station or on board from the bus driver. I only mentioned the website as it publishes the schedules for the bus departures from Bayonne to SJPP

 

[KinkyOne]

Hi, a couple of websites and tour operators i have looked at have Section 1 as St Jean to Pamplona.

Oh, I see. I have walked this section twice but now I heard this for the first time.

 

[Ajrk]

The French rail system, SNCF, now operates a bus between Bayonne Gare (rail station) to SJPP, as the rail line there is now no longer in use. Tickets can be bought on line at voyages.sncf.com

Train to SJPDP is still running I am in Bayonne at the moment and just bought my train ticket for the 11.10 train

 

[Deleted member 3000]

Train to SJPDP is still running I am in Bayonne at the moment and just bought my train ticket for the 11.10 train

Don't be surprised if part of the trip is on a bus!!

 

[naplesdon]

Train to SJPDP is still running I am in Bayonne at the moment and just bought my train ticket for the 11.10 train

Canuck Walker's information will get you there but I posted this information on another thread about 2 weeks ago.
The bus service from the Biarritz airport to Gare Bayonne is a regularly scheduled city bus (not a shuttle) which runs approximately ever 30 minutes during daylight hours. The trip takes 45 minutes and costs 1 euro, I always suggest you pay the driver in coins, they hate dealing with paper money.
The regularly scheduled trains to SJPdP are running on time and currently go as far as Cambo les Bains where you will be automatically transferred to a bus onwards to your destination, the time of the trip is around 1+ hour. The rumor is the track damage from the storms last year will finally be repaired by July and the bus transfer will no longer be required.

 

[Peter Fransiscus]

Hi, new to this forum. I am hoping to walk Section 1 of the French Way this year with my 17 year old daughter. I will be flying into Biarritz. What is the best way to get from there to Saint Jean? Thanks.

Hi , wish you both a great Camino , but skip the part of walking Section 1. In my opinion there is only one Camino , where you want to start and end .
For some one else can this be totaly different . Wish you well , Peter .

 

[Deleted member 3000]

From an article today:

For now, the line is closed in its entirety. Until February 27, the transport is full bus from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port to Bayonne. From that date, the Bayonne-Cambo section will be operated with a TER but the link Cambo / Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port will always be provided by bus until October, 2015.

On completion of the work, the train speed of 70 km / h on the whole line will save time on the estimated path about 55 minutes.

"It's a little disturbed period for users, says one of the agents, but they are understanding because they know that it is only provisional. You have to know to go through it and then offer a service worthy of the name to the inhabitants of the Basque Country within.

 

[naplesdon]

You have to love the translation of this announcement. My countrymen won a majority in the recent departmental elections, EH Bai sent the Front National running away with their tails between their leg.

 

[Ajrk]

Train to SJPDP is still running I am in Bayonne at the moment and just bought my train ticket for the 11.10 train

Ok update on my last comment the train brought me as far as Cambo Les Bains then switched to a bus that was waiting for us just about an hour in total

 

[Ajrk]

Don't be surprised if part of the trip is on a bus!!

You are right off the train and on to the bus

 

[naplesdon]

You are right off the train and on to the bus

Let us know about the current snow situation between SJPdP and Zubiri, please. I looks dubious at the minute.

 

[yolanda Mejia]

From an article today:

For now, the line is closed in its entirety. Until February 27, the transport is full bus from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port to Bayonne. From that date, the Bayonne-Cambo section will be operated with a TER but the link Cambo / Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port will always be provided by bus until October, 2015.

On completion of the work, the train speed of 70 km / h on the whole line will save time on the estimated path about 55 minutes.

"It's a little disturbed period for users, says one of the agents, but they are understanding because they know that it is only provisional. You have to know to go through it and then offer a service worthy of the name to the inhabitants of the Basque Country within.

Thank you! I'm traveling on May, so I now know I have to take the bus from Bayonne to Saint Jean Pied-De-Port

 

[MechEngr69]

You are right off the train and on to the bus

I don't know the current train and bus availability. However, on September 25, 2014, I took the train from Hendaye, France, to Bayonne, and then switched trains in Bayonne to one going to Cambo les Bains where a bus (autocar) by the SCNF was waiting behind the train station to continue on to SJPdP. The bus left as soon as all passengers loaded their backpacks and boarded. I bought the ticket at the SCNF station in Hendaye. I speak only a little French, and was somewhat confused when the ticket clerk said I would need to go by "car" to SJPdP. He obviously meant "bus" or "coach". I guess "car" is meant to be "autocar". Note also that I had read a previous post stating that the railroad to SJPdP was closed due to a mudslide in May. Observing the condition of the tracks to SJPdP from the bus window, it appears that the tracks had not been used in a couple of years as the rails were rusty and weeds were growing between then ties.

 

[Ajrk]

Let us know about the current snow situation between SJPdP and Zubiri, please. I looks dubious at the minute.

At the moment the Napolean route is closed due to snow you have to take the Valcaras route to Roscanva

Let us know about the current snow situation between SJPdP and Zubiri, please. I looks dubious at the minute.

I was in the Tourist office last night and still no sign of the napoleon route being open because of snow so taking the Valcarlos route

 

[naplesdon]

Thank you! I'm traveling on May, so I now know I have to take the bus from Bayonne to Saint Jean Pied-De-Port

Whether the trip is by train or bus, you start your voyage at the train station.

 

[mspath]

Whether the trip is by train or bus, you start your voyage at the train station.

You also buy the transport ticket within that Bayonne train station (Gare SNCF Bayonne) mentioned by Don.

 

[yolanda Mejia]

Whether the trip is by train or bus, you start your voyage at the train station.

That part I was not sure Biarritzdon. Thank you.

 

[Joanna McIntyre]

I arrive in Biarritz at 16.50 on 30th April on the Ryanair flight. Does anyone know what time the last train is up to SJPDP please? Or direct me to the correct website to see the schedule for that day. many thanks

 

[wayfarer]

I arrive in Biarritz at 16.50 on 30th April on the Ryanair flight. Does anyone know what time the last train is up to SJPDP please? Or direct me to the correct website to see the schedule for that day. many thanks

Welcome Joanna, the last train leaves at 18.10 to my knowledge.
Buen Camino.

 

[Deleted member 3000]

sncf.com is showing 1806 and 2110 trains from Bayonne to SJPdP.

 

[naplesdon]

Departure from Bayonne 18ho6 arrival in SJPdP19h24 and last departure at 21h10, arriving at 22h22.
Bus service from airport to train station: 16h45, 17h15 and 17h45; the trip takes about 40 minutes and is door to door. Make sure you have a one euros coin available to pay the bus fare.
Use the SNCF site for rail service and Chronoplus for the bus schedule from the airport to the train station. The airport is not very large and baggage claim is pretty quick, I have no experience with Ryanair's on time arrivals.

 

[Joanna McIntyre]

Welcome Joanna, the last train leaves at 18.10 to my knowledge.
Buen Camino.

Many thanks

 

[wayfarer]

Departure from Bayonne 18ho6 arrival in SJPdP19h24 and last departure at 21h10, arriving at 22h22.
Bus service from airport to train station: 16h45, 17h15 and 17h45; the trip takes about 40 minutes and is door to door. Make sure you have a one euros coin available to pay the bus fare.
Use the SNCF site for rail service and Chronoplus for the bus schedule from the airport to the train station. The airport is not very large and baggage claim is pretty quick, I have no experience with Ryanair's on time arrivals.

I didn't realise there was a later one than the 18.06, good to know.

 

[Joanna McIntyre]

That is so helpful and has put my mind at rest. thanks

 

[whariwharangi]

TER Aquitaine TER 62 till 4 July 2015 (currently there are significant problems with the route - buses only till 12 April)
http://cdn.ter.sncf.com/medias/PDF/aquitaine/62-AFFICHE-15_02_03_2015_tcm50-35352_tcm50-9053.pdf

 

[danielc]

Hi, new to this forum. I am hoping to walk Section 1 of the French Way this year with my 17 year old daughter. I will be flying into Biarritz. What is the best way to get from there to Saint Jean? Thanks.

try Caroline - Express Bourricot - email apcaroline@hotmail.com - tel

+33(0)661960476 I used them last Sept - they use a minibus... May 13, 2014 - directly from Biarriatz to SJPP - takes about 1 hour

 

[Ella B.]

Hi, new to this forum. I am hoping to walk Section 1 of the French Way this year with my 17 year old daughter. I will be flying into Biarritz. What is the best way to get from there to Saint Jean? Thanks.

Walking from Biarritz Airport is the easiest way for getting to Bayonne railway station. The distance is only about 9 kms.

 

[C clearly]

I will close this thread because most of the information dates back to 2015, and might not be valid any more.