Pamplona to SJPP or Bayonne to SJPP?

Notes: Taxi from Pamplona airport to SJPdP is about 120 Euros. There is not a taxi rank in Roncesvalles.

I note that you are from South Africa. Do you have winter mountain experience?

1100 Roncesvalles

Urban bus service to Roncesvalles is provided by Autocares Artieda and departs from Estacion de Autobuses de Pamplona. Note it does not operate on Sundays.

Autocares Artieda
http://www.autocaresartieda.com/?scc=svpropios

2350 Barcelona to Saint Jean Pied de Port

2351 This section describes transportation options from Barcelona to SJPdP.

Option 2352 and 2353 take about the same travel time either way ... so its dependent on your travel plans which is better

Option 2355 is the easiest way to get from Barcelona to SJPdP. However, bus service from Pamplona to SJPdP is seasonal and limited in number of departures.

Index 2350
2352 Barcelona to SJPdP via Toulouse by Train
2353 Barcelona to SJPdP via Irun by Train
2354 Barcelona to SJPdP via San Sebastian Airport and Bayonne
2355 Barcelona to SJPdP via Pamplona by Train and Bus

2352 Barcelona to SJPdP via Toulouse by Train

SNCF and Renfe operate trains from Barcelona (Sants) to Toulouse (Matabiau). Use SNCF site.

There is a high speed train to Paris that stops in Toulouse. Other trains transfer at break of gauge station Port Bou/Cerbère and require transfer at Perpignan or Narbonne before getting to Toulouse.

SNCF operates trains from Toulouse to Bayonne.

The final leg involves SNCF TER train #62 from Bayonne to SJPdP.

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

2353 Barcelona to SJPdP via Irun by Train

Renfe operates trains from Barcelona (Sants) to break of gauge stations at Irun/Hendaye. Some Renfe trains terminate in Irun while others go on to Hendaye.

Irun Renfe Station and Gare d'Hendaye are train stations 3 km apart.

Note that an end run might be possible by traveling from Barcelona to Miranda del Ebro (where trains from all over Spain converge) and then to Irun.

Euskotren operates a commuter train from Irun Colon Station to Hendaia Station if needed.

Euskotren Colon Station: exit Irun Renfe Station, turn right, walk across bridge over the tracks and find Colon Station on the left (North) side of the street. Hendaia Station is co-located with Gare d'Hendaye.

SNCF operates TGV, Intercites trains and TER trains from Hendaye to Bayonne.

The final leg involves SNCF TER train #62 from Bayonne to SJPdP.

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

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

Euskotren
http://www.euskotren.es/

2354 Barcelona to SJPdP via San Sebastian Airport and Bayonne

Fly from Barcelona Airport to San Sebastian Airport. The airport is almost co-located with Irun train station.

Take local bus or taxi to Irun Renfe station or Gare d'Hendaye.

SNCF operates TGV, Intercites, and TER trains from Hendaye to Bayonne.

The final leg involves SNCF TER train #62 from Bayonne to SJPdP.

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

San Sebastian Airport (EAS)
http://www.aena-aeropuertos.es/csee/Satellite/Aeropuerto-San-Sebastian/en/

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

2355 Barcelona to SJPdP via Pamplona by Train and Bus

This option is the easiest way to get from Barcelona to SJPdP. However, bus service from Pamplona to SJPdP is seasonal only and limited in number of departures.

Travel from Barcelona to Pamplona by Renfe train or by bus. Trains leave from Barcelona Sants. Buses leave from Estacion de Autobuses Barcelona Nord and Barcelona Sants. ALSA (via transfer at Zaragosa) and ViBASA are major service providers on this route.

There is seasonal bus service from Pamplona bus station to SJPdP provided by Conda. Conda is owned by ALSA. See international schedule on ALSA website. Purchase ticket at Pamplona bus station.

At time of writing bus schedule from Pamplona to SJPdP: 1000 13 June to 31 August 2014, 1430 1 June to 30 September 2014, and 1730 17 March to 30 September 2014. Schedules are usually updated only 30 days in advance.

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

ViBASA (Monbus website)
http://www.monbus.es/es

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

Conda
http://www.conda.es/

Train to Pamplona, then a taxi from Pamplona to SJPDP, usually €100, but it also depends on road conditions since you're leaving next week.

If you haven't checked https://www.rome2rio.com/s/Barcelona/Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port you might find it helpful.
Train to Bayonne 8:42min (Then you need to get train/bus to SJPP)
Train & Bus via Pamplona to SJPP 7:42min
Others might correct if this is incorrect as I've never travel from Barcelona to SJPP.
Buen Camino
Colin

Note the winter hours for the bus from Pamplona to Roncesvalles. There is no service Sunday, so if you miss the Saturday bus at 1600, then you will have to wait until Monday for the 1800 bus. Pamplona is an interesting city to visit, and a great starting point for walking the Camino. They are getting over 6" of snow now, and temperatures will be low in Roncesvalles following the snow. The forecast for your travel date is rain in Pamplona, so if another storm passes through Roncesvalles, the routes from SJPdP may be impassable. Buen camino.

I've experienced too many disasters of people trying to walk SJPP-Roncesvalles during winter time. A start from Pamplona, which still requires to expect pretty difficult weather conditions, is perhaps a better choice.

Welcome to the Forum @Elsje
I would definitely start my camino from Pamplona or perhaps from Roncesvalles if I was walking in January.
You are going to have great time during your winter camino.
Buen camino

Elsje, welcome; flying to Barcelona (–spending the rest of the day and night in this fabulous town–) and taking a fast and comfortable train to Pamplona (–staying the night at the cosy Casa Paderborn Albergue–) is my recommendation. From there? Start walking your Camino toward SdC (to go to SJPdP would be the wrong direction!)
Wrong season to take the risks of struggling with slippery and hazardous paths in the Pyrenees in very unpredictable (cold-) weather conditions. There is no book in the world telling you that the Camino starts in SJPdP, be sensible!
Buen Camino.

Elsje said:

Dearest Pilgrims.

Hope it's been a festive week for all.

We are 3 ladies setting out to do the Camino on 3 January 2015. We are travelling from Barcelona to SJPP and were wondering which will work best:

1. Train to Pamplona, bus to Roncevalles and then a taxi to SJPP.

2. Train to Byonne and then a taxi to SJPP.

Hope to see some of your friendly faces along The Way.

Cheers,

Elsje (South Africa)

Click to expand...

Bayonne is an amazing Basque town. Pamplona/Irun is pretty cool too, but you'll be walking through there anyway (and why spoil the surprise?)

You can get a train from Bayonne to SJPP.

I am getting train from Bayonne to SJPP on 28th February and just going to rock up and believe it leaves around 3pm. Should make it around 4pm ish and then go to the office, check in and then leave first light on 1st

Elsje said:

Dearest Pilgrims.

Hope it's been a festive week for all.

We are 3 ladies setting out to do the Camino on 3 January 2015. We are travelling from Barcelona to SJPP and were wondering which will work best:

1. Train to Pamplona, bus to Roncevalles and then a taxi to SJPP.

2. Train to Byonne and then a taxi to SJPP.

Hope to see some of your friendly faces along The Way.

Cheers,

Elsje (South Africa)

Click to expand...

Elsje:

Welcome to the forum.

Is starting in SJPdP important to you? If not, I would recommend you start in Pamplona. Weather being so unpredictable in the mountains, the pass could easily be snowbound.

If SJPdP is important, I would take the train to Pamplona. Check out this website Corazonpuro.es and see if these folks are available to pick you up. It will take all the stress out of getting to SJPdP.

Ultreia,
Joe