How to arrive to Logroño and re-start my camino?

[eirene]

Hello everybody, I'm a girl of 20 y.o,
last year I walked the camino from S. J. Pied de Port to Logroño with 2 friends of mine and this year I'd like to continue it (maybe until Burgor or further...), problem is that I'm from Italy (near Bologna), last year I drove with my car till S.J.P de Port, left it in a parking and once in Logroño I took the coach to come back.
This year I'm not sure how to arrive there (I'm looking to start the camino on summer, probably end of june), should I take a flight or better the train? What could you advice me? I would like not to spend too much so I was thinking to arrive in a mayor city maybe and then took a coach or a train... thank you so much to everybody!

 

[KinkyOne]

Welcome to the forum @eirene !

As I can see on www.skyscanner.com the cheapest flights from Bologna to Biarritz (guess that's the closest & cheapest airport to Logrono (I know, Pamplona is closer, but much more expensive and you need connection through Madrid preferably)) at the end of June are at about 140€. That's actually almost the same for the gas from Bologna to St.Jean, which is approx.1300kms...
Therefore I would definitely fly to Spain if I was in your place, whether it is Biarritz (France) or Pamplona, Irun, San Sebastian or even Madrid. From all of these cities plenty bus/train connections are available during summer months.
You, being from Italy, Venice (both airports + Triest) have good low-budget air plane connections througout the EU and also Bologna to Barcelona or Madrid several flights per day.

Happy planning and Ultreia!

 

[Jan_D]

Hi Eirene,

You can get a fight from Milan to Zaragoza on Ryanair for €26 at the end of June.

From Zaragoza you can get a train or bus to Logrono for €10, it's very direct and easy, I've done it myself! (Look on the Renfe website for train times, or Jimenez for buses.)

Of course you know you need to book in advance to get the good deals!

 

[eirene]

thank you very much to everybody, you are so kind!
I also thought to take a flight from Bologna to Barcellona, wich is a little cheaper, visit Barcellona and eventually take the train to Saragoza and then the bus to Logrogno to start my camino!

blessing to you all!

 

[Jan_D]

Hi again!

Yes that sounds like a good idea… You can get a direct train from Barcelona to Logrono, it takes 3 hours 40 mins and only costs €17 if bought in advance (choose the option 'turista, promo' or 'promo+' which is €3 more, and allows for some flexibility). I've just checked and they unfortunately don't have online tickets listed for June yet (the booking system currently goes to March), so you might have to wait a couple of months before booking.

Otherwise, Zaragoza is a beautiful city, so if you're in the mood for a little pre-Camino adventure, you can spend a couple of days in Barcelona and then a bit of time in Zaragoza. But I'm sure you just want to get to the Camino asap…

 

[eirene]

and you are totally right!! thankyou so much! can I ask you where did you get all the informations for the trains? I tried to chek them on renfre but probably I'm a little clumsy...

thanks for all the usefull advices!

 

[Jan_D]

No, you're not clumsy, the Renfe website is notoriously horrible and complicated! eek

Just go to www.renfe.com, make sure you tick 'ida' (not 'ida y vuelta'), then put in the 'origen' as Barcelona, and the 'destino' as Logroño. (Sometimes they're fussy if you don't spell it with 'ñ'!)

If you want to get a basic idea of the journey options today, you'll have to put in something before April, as anything after that will come in as 'unavailable'. Then hit 'COMPRAR', and you'll see the times and prices!

 

[eirene]

I used to put the date in which I think I'm going and the site won't find anything, that was the problem!
thank you again, you are so kind!

 

[Jan_D]

Non fa niente!

I think you can book on Renfe up to 3 months in advance, so you'll have to check again in March or April if you want to travel at the end of June. Please don't hesitate to contact me if you have any other questions!

xx