Madrid to Bayonne?

slackadventure · Jul 17, 2014

We will be flying into Madrid on June 6 for the Camino de Santiago starting in SJPdP. Can we take a train from Madrid to Bayonne, then a taxi/bus to SJPdP? All other routes seem quite complex and I was wondering if this would be better.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

Buen Camino

Thomas Sheldon · Jul 17, 2014

You might consider this fairly simple route from Madrid to SJPdP:

It looks like you can get a train directly from Madrid Airport Terminal 4 to Pamplona. Five hours or so.

Then an ALSA bus directly over the col to SJPdP. Two hours.

I also understand pilgrims often form a group and hire a van to take them from Pamplona to SJPdP.

Thornley · Jul 18, 2014

Bus from Madrid airport
5 hours to Pamplona on motorway.

Deleted member 3000 · Jul 18, 2014

Train to Irun for August 6, 2014; you will have to wait until spring for the June 6, 2015 schedules:

Then train or bus to Bayonne.

Then train to SJPdP:

Deleted member 3000 · Jul 18, 2014

Current bus from Madrid to Pamplona:

Current schedule from Pamplona to SJPdP; it changes each year:

whariwharangi · Jul 18, 2014

slackadventure said:
We will be flying into Madrid on June 6 for the Camino de Santiago starting in SJPdP. Can we take a train from Madrid to Bayonne, then a taxi/bus to SJPdP? All other routes seem quite complex and I was wondering if this would be better.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

Buen Camino

Renfe train from Madrid. Some Renfe trains terminate at Renfe station Irun and others at SNCF Gare Hendaye.

SNCF train from Renfe station Irun or SNCF Gare Hendaye to Bayonne. TGV and Intercites trains leave from Irun and TER trains leave from Hendaye.

If your Renfe train terminates at Irun and your SNCF train leaves from Hendaye ... the Euskotren leaves from Euskotren station Colon ... (leave Renfe station, turn right, cross bridge over tracks to find Station Colon on the left (North) side of the street) ... to Hendaia station co-located with SNCF Gare Hendaye

Another SNCF TER train (#62) provides service from Bayonne to SJPdP. The tracks are currently washed out so service is being provided by SNCF bus. The schedule changes at some point so the TER train goes from Bayonne to Cambo les Bains and passengers bound for SJPdP transfer to a bus there.

This route is the fastest and most comfortable way to get from Madrid to SJPdP and it operates all year.

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

Euskotren
http://www.euskotren.es/

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

SNCF TER
http://www.ter-sncf.com/

You can short circuit this by flying from Madrid to San Sebastian Airport (EAS). San Sebastian Airport is located 3 km from Irun Renfe Station.

There may be time advantage due to frequency of service by bus or train from Madrid to Pamplona. ALSA provides bus service from Madrid Avenida de America to Pamplona bus station, usually with a transfer at Soria or Zaragosa. Some but not all ALSA buses enroute to Pamplona stop at Madrid Airport T4.

Conda (a subsidiary of ALSA) provides seasonal service ... currently 3 buses daily ... from Pamplona bus station to SJPdP. Use ALSA site international tab.

ALSA
https://www.alsa.es/

Conda
http://www.conda.es/

Express Bouricott will pick up at Hendaye, Bayonne, and other locations by prearrangement.

Express Bourricot (SJPdP private hire taxi and luggage transport)
http://www.expressbourricot.com/

scruffy1 · Jul 18, 2014

I can understand the desire not to "preview" the Camino by going through Pamplona. The Bayonne option is very easy too but takes more time-I went from Madrid to San Sebastian a wonderful Basque port in the north with arguably the best pintxos (tapas) in Spain. There is an early morning train to Bayonne requiring a change at the border station Hendaye walk through a shed directly to the waiting French train and from the Bayonne station there is a bus to SJPP. Sounds complicated actually very easy, will take more time and money but it is a nicer way to go.

Metropolly · Jul 18, 2014

scruffy1 said:
I can understand the desire not to "preview" the Camino by going through Pamplona. The Bayonne option is very easy too but takes more time-I went from Madrid to San Sebastian a wonderful Basque port in the north with arguably the best pintxos (tapas) in Spain. There is an early morning train to Bayonne requiring a change at the border station Hendaye walk through a shed directly to the waiting French train and from the Bayonne station there is a bus to SJPP. Sounds complicated actually very easy, will take more time and money but it is a nicer way to go.

I agree - any excuse to stop in San Sebastian for the night, grab it with both hands!

slackadventure · Jul 19, 2014

Thomas Sheldon said:
You might consider this fairly simple route from Madrid to SJPdP:

It looks like you can get a train directly from Madrid Airport Terminal 4 to Pamplona. Five hours or so.

Then an ALSA bus directly over the col to SJPdP. Two hours.

I also understand pilgrims often form a group and hire a van to take them from Pamplona to SJPdP.

Thank you so much for the info. I think I am beginning to go in to overload on info and it is becoming confusing. This definitely helps. Thanks again

slackadventure · Jul 19, 2014

whariwharangi said:
Renfe train from Madrid. Some Renfe trains terminate at Renfe station Irun and others at SNCF Gare Hendaye.

SNCF train from Renfe station Irun or SNCF Gare Hendaye to Bayonne. TGV and Intercites trains leave from Irun and TER trains leave from Hendaye.

If your Renfe train terminates at Irun and your SNCF train leaves from Hendaye ... the Euskotren leaves from Euskotren station Colon ... (leave Renfe station, turn right, cross bridge over tracks to find Station Colon on the left (North) side of the street) ... to Hendaia station co-located with SNCF Gare Hendaye

Another SNCF TER train (#62) provides service from Bayonne to SJPdP. The tracks are currently washed out so service is being provided by SNCF bus. The schedule changes at some point so the TER train goes from Bayonne to Cambo les Bains and passengers bound for SJPdP transfer to a bus there.

This route is the fastest and most comfortable way to get from Madrid to SJPdP and it operates all year.

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

Euskotren
http://www.euskotren.es/

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

SNCF TER
http://www.ter-sncf.com/

You can short circuit this by flying from Madrid to San Sebastian Airport (EAS). San Sebastian Airport is located 3 km from Irun Renfe Station.

There may be time advantage due to frequency of service by bus or train from Madrid to Pamplona. ALSA provides bus service from Madrid Avenida de America to Pamplona bus station, usually with a transfer at Soria or Zaragosa. Some but not all ALSA buses enroute to Pamplona stop at Madrid Airport T4.

Conda (a subsidiary of ALSA) provides seasonal service ... currently 3 buses daily ... from Pamplona bus station to SJPdP. Use ALSA site international tab.

ALSA
https://www.alsa.es/

Conda
http://www.conda.es/

Express Bouricott will pick up at Hendaye, Bayonne, and other locations by prearrangement.

Express Bourricot (SJPdP private hire taxi and luggage transport)
http://www.expressbourricot.com/

slackadventure · Jul 19, 2014

Thank you for such information. I will get online and get this settled this weekend. Again, thanks for your help!

slackadventure · Jul 19, 2014

scruffy1 said:
I can understand the desire not to "preview" the Camino by going through Pamplona. The Bayonne option is very easy too but takes more time-I went from Madrid to San Sebastian a wonderful Basque port in the north with arguably the best pintxos (tapas) in Spain. There is an early morning train to Bayonne requiring a change at the border station Hendaye walk through a shed directly to the waiting French train and from the Bayonne station there is a bus to SJPP. Sounds complicated actually very easy, will take more time and money but it is a nicer way to go.

Thank you very much for the info! So excited as the dates to leave the US for the camino is almost upon us!

Bajaracer · Jul 19, 2014

slackadventure said:
We will be flying into Madrid on June 6 for the Camino de Santiago starting in SJPdP. Can we take a train from Madrid to Bayonne, then a taxi/bus to SJPdP? All other routes seem quite complex and I was wondering if this would be better.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

Buen Camino

http://www.rome2rio.com/s/Madrid-Airport-MAD-Spain/Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port

slackadventure · Jul 19, 2014

Bajaracer said:
http://www.rome2rio.com/s/Madrid-Airport-MAD-Spain/Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port

Wow, this really broke my options down. Thanks for the information. Looking forward to the camino!

Bajaracer · Jul 19, 2014

slackadventure said:
Wow, this really broke my options down. Thanks for the information. Looking forward to the camino!

http://www.corazonpuro.es/Enghome.html is another option, for €43, can't beat the price for what you are getting.

JoeNYC · Jul 21, 2014

Bajaracer said:
http://www.corazonpuro.es/Enghome.html is another option, for €43, can't beat the price for what you are getting.

I'm seriously considering this option. I think it would be good to spend a night with them and then a night in St Jean to help with the inevitable jet lag.

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