Starting back at Pamplona.

[pilgrim22]

Hi folks, Last June myself and my daughter flew from Ireland to Biaritz, walked from SJPP to Pamplona, Bussed to Madrid and flew home from there after a day and a half of sightseeing. We want to start again in 2016 in Pamplona where we stopped in June. My question is where is the best place to fly into that has the easiest access to Pamplona from Ireland. All suggestions will be taken on board. thanks in advance.
Regards Denis.

 

[Peadarmac]

Hi folks, Last June myself and my daughter flew from Ireland to Biaritz, walked from SJPP to Pamplona, Bussed to Madrid and flew home from there after a day and a half of sightseeing. We want to start again in 2016 in Pamplona where we stopped in June. My question is where is the best place to fly into that has the easiest access to Pamplona from Ireland. All suggestions will be taken on board. thanks in advance.
Regards Denis.

Hello Denis,

Fly direct from Dublin to Bilbao and you can catch a direct bus from Bilbao to Pamplona.

There is a bus at 6pm which should dove tail nicely with the flight from Dublin.Last time I flew to Bilbao from Dublin with Aer Lingus the flight arrived at about 3.30pm in the afternoon.

Buen Camino
Peadar

 

[julia-t]

It's 20-30 minutes on the airport bus to Bilbao Bus Station (it's the last stop so you can't miss it!).

The bus to Pamplona takes 2 hours and costs around €15. You can book this online in advance at http://www.autobuseslaunion.com/en/

There's a decent cafe at the bus station; I was most impressed with the large glass of very pleasant vino tinto for €0.90! Also a good luggage storage facility if you have time to explore a bit of the city - the metro and tram are both very close by.

 

[countycork]

Hi Denis
Fly from Dublin to Biarritz, bus then to Pamplona with a change in San Sebastian. I can’t remember how long the wait in San Sebastian was but we didn’t mind. We had time to have something to eat and have a stroll around what looks like a beautiful city. We did that in ‘reverse’ 2 years ago after walking from St Jean to Estella. Some forum members have probably the exact bus timetables. If you are doing the Camino in stages (like me) you can then fly back to Dublin from Bilbao as there are loads of bus connections from any part of the Camino that you may finish at. In this way you get a taste of many different places!

 

[pilgrim22]

Thanks so much for the advice and sorry for such a delayed reply but I have not had a chance to log on for a while ( very busy planning.) Well here it is. On Monday June 13 we catch an afternoon flight from Dublin to Bilbao and get to Bilbao bus station to get a bus to Pamplona. We start walking on the following morn and make our way over the next week to Santo Domingo. On Monday 20 june we get an early bus for Madrid where we get a 5 o clock flight to Dublin. Flying out with Aer Lingus and back with Ryan air. (all going well). Still have a few more questions for other threads but I think we have the Logistics worked fairly well, thanks to my Camino buddy who worked it all out in no time.
Buen Camino
Denis

 

[Shiv]

Hi, I'm also hoping to start from Pamplona and I'm trying to figure out the best way to get there. Are there any other options flying from Ireland which get you into Pamplona earlier in the day? I was hoping to spend a little time there looking around on the day I arrive and then start walking the next day. Flying to Bilbao and taking the bus to Pamplona means I wouldn't get there until about 8pm. Then by the time I get to accommodation etc there's not a lot of time to wander around. Or perhaps it would be best to look around the next morning and have a short first day walking. I just know the next day I'll want to get started straight away

 

[whariwharangi]

Hi, I'm also hoping to start from Pamplona and I'm trying to figure out the best way to get there. Are there any other options flying from Ireland which get you into Pamplona earlier in the day? I was hoping to spend a little time there looking around on the day I arrive and then start walking the next day. Flying to Bilbao and taking the bus to Pamplona means I wouldn't get there until about 8pm. Then by the time I get to accommodation etc there's not a lot of time to wander around. Or perhaps it would be best to look around the next morning and have a short first day walking. I just know the next day I'll want to get started straight away

Best way to get from Bilbao is hourly PESA bus from Bilbao Loiu Airport BIO to outdoor bus station Plaza Pio XII San Sebastian/Donostia. ALSA has hourly bus from San Sebastian to Pamplona.

Madrid MAD has ALSA bus connections (several with stops at airport T4) and several Renfe trains to Pamplona. Pamplona has an airport with flights to Madrid.

There is San Sebastian Airport EAS located near Irun Renfe Station with flights to Madrid and Barcelona. Renfe operates trains from Irun to Pamplona. Or you can take Renfe Cercanias to San Sebastian to catch a bus to Pamplona.

Barcelona BCN. Vibasa bus (Monbus) and Renfe train leave from Sants. ALSA leaves from estacion Nord and requires transfer at Zaragosa.

Biarritz BIQ has connections to San Sebastian via Irun. Transports64 #816 bus hourly from BIQ airport to Hendaye/Irun (some terminate at Irun Renfe station). Donostialdea Metro (Euskotren) from Hendaia to San Sebastian Amara every half hour. ALSA has hourly buses from San Sebastian to Pamplona.

Aena manages Spains airports
http://www.aena.es/csee/Satellite/aeropuertos/en/Page/1237548207921//Airport-Network.html

 

[Shiv]

Thanks so much for all that information @whariwharangi! Now to just find the best option