My husband and I started in Pamplona in 2014. We flew into Bilbao and took the bus to Pamplona. It was easy - there was a regular shuttle from Bilbao airport to the bus station, and from the station a short wait to the bus to Pamplona. We stayed at a hotel close to the University, because I saw that was close to the Camino and also close to the border of town, so we wouldn't have to walk as much through the city streets. I can't explain how exhilarting it was to just walk out of your hotel and start walking. We thought it would be an easier start to the Camino rather than walking the mountains right off, but mostly it was convenient to get from Bilbao to Pamplona, which was right on the Camino, and we could start walking. After meeting people on the road who had started in St. Jean, we knew we wanted to go back and do that route someday. Which we are doing this year. So, my answer would be yes, Pamplona is a nice place to start the Camino. You have to go over a hill that first day, but it isn't too bad, and beautiful scenery too.