Paris or Barcelona?

[WayWalker63]

I'm looking at some Aer Lingus flights for my September Camino and my options from Orlando are to fly into Paris or Barcelona. I pretty much know how to get from Paris to SJPP but haven't heard any discussion on how to get from Barcelona to SJPP.
So my questions are: 1) which would you choose Paris or Barcelona? 2) What's the best/easiest way to get from Barcelona to SJPP?

Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[Castilian]

What's the best/easiest way to get from Barcelona to SJPP?

Take a look at the third post (the second one if we exclude the OP) on this thread:

www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/a-compendium-of-useful-links-for-travel-in-spain.25380

 

[whariwharangi]

You'll have to do your own options analysis for Paris vs Barcelona. I'd consider factors such as cost, schedule, and how to get home from Santiago.

Barcelona

City of Barcelona
http://www.bcn.cat/castella/laciutat/

Area Metropolitana de Barcelona
http://www.amb.cat/s/home.html

Airport

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

Connect from Barcelona Airport to Train and Bus Station - Sants - with Renfe Cercanias/Rodalies R2 from Terminal 2. The train runs every 30 minutes. Time to Barcelona Sants is 22 minutes.

Connect from Barcelona Airport to Bus Station -Nord - with Renfe Cercanias/Rodalies R2 from Terminal 2. Transfer at Sants to train R3 or R4 to Arc de Triomf stop then walk 300 meters along Av de Vilanova to the station.

Alternatively, connect from Barcelona Airport to Bus station -Nord- with Aeroport bus from either T1 or T2 to Placa Catalunya. Walk from Placa Catalunya via Arc de Triomf to the bus station, a twenty-minute walk (1400 meters) or take the Metro L1.

There is a shuttle connecting Terminal 1 to Terminal 2.

There are several bus companies providing service from Barcelona Airport. See the Airport website transport and access.

Getting around in Barcelona

Shuttle Bus from Airport to Barcelona Center
http://www.aerobusbcn.com/

Transportes Metropolitans de Barcelona
http://www.tmb.cat/es/home

Autobuses Metropolitanos
http://www.amb.cat/s/home.html

Renfe Cercanias/Rodalies Barcelona Light Rail
http://www.renfe.com/EN/viajeros/cercanias/barcelona/index.html

Ferrocarril GenCat Light Rail
http://www.fgc.net/esp/index.asp

Trains

Barcelona is connected by Renfe to destinations such as Pamplona, Santiago, and Madrid.

Barcelona is connected by Renfe to border crossings at Irun/Hendaye and Port Bou/Cerbère where there is break of gauge connections to the SNCF rail system in France.

Renfe and SNCF have recently started rail service direct from Barcelona to Paris.

Barcelona Sants (Renfe Station and Estacion de Autobuses)
http://www.adif.es/es_ES/infraestructuras/estaciones/71801/informacion_000097.shtml

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

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

Buses

Several bus companies depart direct from the airport
http://www.aena-aeropuertos.es/csee/Satellite/Aeropuerto-Barcelona/en/Home.html

Barcelona Sants (Renfe Station and Estacion de Autobuse)
http://www.adif.es/es_ES/infraestructuras/estaciones/71801/informacion_000097.shtml

Barcelona Nord Estacion de Autobuses is the main bus station in Barcelona
https://www.barcelonanord.cat/inici/

Ships

Port of Barcelona
http://www.portdebarcelona.cat/?WCM_GLOBAL_CONTEXT=/wps/wcm/connect/ExtranetCastellaLib/El%2520Port%2520de%2520Barcelona/El%2520Port/Portada

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.

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 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 and Intercites trains from Irun 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 (with 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/

 

[WayWalker63]

It's about $20-25 more expensive to fly into Paris than Barcelona on Aer Lingus so that's not a big factor. It looks like the flight time is approximately the same.
I've been a forum member for awhile but since the prices I've looked at before for Barcelona have been considerably more than Madrid or Paris I've never followed any of the discussions on how to get from there to the various starting points of the Camino Francés.
Of course now I'm a bit overwhelmed at the options available.

What I'd like is to hear from someone who has traveled this route and hear how they got to their starting point and how it worked for them?

Thank You to all of you who took their time and energy to answer me above. I appreciate your willingness to help a follow pilgrim.

 

[jpflavin1]

I'm looking at some Aer Lingus flights for my September Camino and my options from Orlando are to fly into Paris or Barcelona. I pretty much know how to get from Paris to SJPP but haven't heard any discussion on how to get from Barcelona to SJPP.
So my questions are: 1) which would you choose Paris or Barcelona? 2) What's the best/easiest way to get from Barcelona to SJPP?

Thanks in advance for your help.

I have traveled from Chicago to Paris, Barcelona and Madrid for my Camino's. My recommendation would be fly into Madrid. Madrid is also the easiest return, imo, from Santiago.

If you choose Barcelona, short cab ride to Barcelona Sants train station. Take train to Pamplona. Then do the Corazonpuro.es or take a bus or share a cab with other Pilgrims to SJPdP.

Ultreya,
Joe

 

[Anniesantiago]

Or you could fly into Barcelona and walk from there via Montserrat

 

[petro]

I flew into Paris, connection to Biarritz. Taxi ( Bourricott Express) to SJPP. From Santiago I took a bus to Porto, Easyjet flight to Paris.

 

[Nan]

I'm looking at some Aer Lingus flights for my September Camino and my options from Orlando are to fly into Paris or Barcelona. I pretty much know how to get from Paris to SJPP but haven't heard any discussion on how to get from Barcelona to SJPP.
So my questions are: 1) which would you choose Paris or Barcelona? 2) What's the best/easiest way to get from Barcelona to SJPP?

Thanks in advance for your help.

Am travelling from Australia and i am going via Barcelona. Bus or train from Barcelona to Pamplona sounds easy then either bus or taxi to sjpp. Via Paris sounds like too many transport changes to me. Also day or so in Barcelona .... Haven't been there so will have a look.

 

[Rosefrombrisbane]

You'll have to do your own options analysis for Paris vs Barcelona. I'd consider factors such as cost, schedule, and how to get home from Santiago.

Barcelona

City of Barcelona
http://www.bcn.cat/castella/laciutat/

Area Metropolitana de Barcelona
http://www.amb.cat/s/home.html

Airport

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

Connect from Barcelona Airport to Train and Bus Station - Sants - with Renfe Cercanias/Rodalies R2 from Terminal 2. The train runs every 30 minutes. Time to Barcelona Sants is 22 minutes.

Connect from Barcelona Airport to Bus Station -Nord - with Renfe Cercanias/Rodalies R2 from Terminal 2. Transfer at Sants to train R3 or R4 to Arc de Triomf stop then walk 300 meters along Av de Vilanova to the station.

Alternatively, connect from Barcelona Airport to Bus station -Nord- with Aeroport bus from either T1 or T2 to Placa Catalunya. Walk from Placa Catalunya via Arc de Triomf to the bus station, a twenty-minute walk (1400 meters) or take the Metro L1.

There is a shuttle connecting Terminal 1 to Terminal 2.

There are several bus companies providing service from Barcelona Airport. See the Airport website transport and access.

Getting around in Barcelona

Shuttle Bus from Airport to Barcelona Center
http://www.aerobusbcn.com/

Transportes Metropolitans de Barcelona
http://www.tmb.cat/es/home

Autobuses Metropolitanos
http://www.amb.cat/s/home.html

Renfe Cercanias/Rodalies Barcelona Light Rail
http://www.renfe.com/EN/viajeros/cercanias/barcelona/index.html

Ferrocarril GenCat Light Rail
http://www.fgc.net/esp/index.asp

Trains

Barcelona is connected by Renfe to destinations such as Pamplona, Santiago, and Madrid.

Barcelona is connected by Renfe to border crossings at Irun/Hendaye and Port Bou/Cerbère where there is break of gauge connections to the SNCF rail system in France.

Renfe and SNCF have recently started rail service direct from Barcelona to Paris.

Barcelona Sants (Renfe Station and Estacion de Autobuses)
http://www.adif.es/es_ES/infraestructuras/estaciones/71801/informacion_000097.shtml

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

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

Buses

Several bus companies depart direct from the airport
http://www.aena-aeropuertos.es/csee/Satellite/Aeropuerto-Barcelona/en/Home.html

Barcelona Sants (Renfe Station and Estacion de Autobuse)
http://www.adif.es/es_ES/infraestructuras/estaciones/71801/informacion_000097.shtml

Barcelona Nord Estacion de Autobuses is the main bus station in Barcelona
https://www.barcelonanord.cat/inici/

Ships

Port of Barcelona
http://www.portdebarcelona.cat/?WCM_GLOBAL_CONTEXT=/wps/wcm/connect/ExtranetCastellaLib/El%2520Port%2520de%2520Barcelona/El%2520Port/Portada

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.

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 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 and Intercites trains from Irun 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 (with 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/

Wow thanks for such a wealth of information!

 

[Rosefrombrisbane]

Am travelling from Australia and i am going via Barcelona. Bus or train from Barcelona to Pamplona sounds easy then either bus or taxi to sjpp. Via Paris sounds like too many transport changes to me. Also day or so in Barcelona .... Haven't been there so will have a look.

Hi, I am also travelling from Australia (September), I have a similar idea, fly into Barcelona, train same day to Pamplona, have a night in Pamplona to recover from jet lag, bus next day to SJPDP have a look around there before starting Camino the next day. Haven't decided how to get from Santiago back to Barcelona yet but want a couple of days to sight see in Barcelona, so easy to get side tracked, so much to see, so little time!

 

[WayWalker63]

Ok, I booked my tickets. I'm flying into Barcelona. I won't get in until late evening on September 16. I'm thinking of staying that night and the next in Barcelona and then heading by bus or/and train to Pamplona and on to Roncevalles on September 18.
Thank you all for all the help.

 

[whariwharangi]

Hi, I am also travelling from Australia (September), I have a similar idea, fly into Barcelona, train same day to Pamplona, have a night in Pamplona to recover from jet lag, bus next day to SJPDP have a look around there before starting Camino the next day. Haven't decided how to get from Santiago back to Barcelona yet but want a couple of days to sight see in Barcelona, so easy to get side tracked, so much to see, so little time!

1904 Santiago

Santiago Renfe Station
http://www.adif.es/es_ES/infraestructuras/estaciones/31400/informacion_000050.shtml

Renfe provides service from Santiago to Barcelona
http://www.renfe.com/index.html

Estacion de Autobuses Santiago - Monbus and ALSA have schedules to Barcelona
http://www.tussa.org/web/interior.php?txt=arbore_web5&lg=cas

Santiago Airport (SCQ) Labacolla (with flights to Barcelona)
http://www.aena-aeropuertos.es/csee/Satellite/Aeropuerto-Santiago/en/Santiago.html

so much to see, so little time!

Just decide what you want to do ... either sight see in Spain or walk the camino but not both. When you are finished doing one properly, you can then do the other if you still have time and inclination

 

[Rosefrombrisbane]

1904 Santiago

Santiago Renfe Station
http://www.adif.es/es_ES/infraestructuras/estaciones/31400/informacion_000050.shtml

Renfe provides service from Santiago to Barcelona
http://www.renfe.com/index.html

Estacion de Autobuses Santiago - Monbus and ALSA have schedules to Barcelona
http://www.tussa.org/web/interior.php?txt=arbore_web5&lg=cas

Santiago Airport (SCQ) Labacolla (with flights to Barcelona)
http://www.aena-aeropuertos.es/csee/Satellite/Aeropuerto-Santiago/en/Santiago.html



Just decide what you want to do ... either sight see in Spain or walk the camino but not both. When you are finished doing one properly, you can then do the other if you still have time and inclination

There is no question, the Camino is absolute first priority, I'm just saying I will be leaving from Barcelona to come back to Australia so I would be crazy not to spend a day or two in that beautiful city having travelled half way around the world to get there.

 

[gracethepilgrim]

There is no question, the Camino is absolute first priority, I'm just saying I will be leaving from Barcelona to come back to Australia so I would be crazy not to spend a day or two in that beautiful city having travelled half way around the world to get there.

oooh - I agree. I simply love Barcelona and take any opportuity to spend a few days there (use AirBnB to find a cute place in the centre - Gotica or Borne suburbs, walk everywhere)

 

[Rosefrombrisbane]

Thank you Grace, I will look into it.

 

[Nan]

I agree, see all you can while there if you have time and money. Would only cost a few extra nights accommodation. I thought to fly to Madrid from Santiago, have a look and fly home from there. No need to go back to Barcelona. Hey even a side trip to Morocco or Portugal. Why hurry home?

 

[whariwharangi]

There is no question, the Camino is absolute first priority, I'm just saying I will be leaving from Barcelona to come back to Australia so I would be crazy not to spend a day or two in that beautiful city having travelled half way around the world to get there.

You're right of course, however, a lot of people come under time pressure to get to Santiago because of their travel arrangements.

Too, I found by the time I got to Santiago I couldn't care less about yet another baroque heap of rocks. It is possible to get exhausted by the magnificence of it all.