sunwanderer
Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- SJPdP to Santiago
Sep/Oct 2015
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Bus or train from Madrid to Pamplona, then bus or taxi from Pamplona to SJPP. The bus from Pamplona to SJPP is seasonal, so verify availability for your particular date. If you use the taxi, try to share a taxi with other pilgrims so you can share the cost. An alternative for Pamplona to SJPP is http://www.corazonpuro.es/Enghome.html .
Buen Camino.
I flew into Madrid, took the train to Pamplona and a hostel in Bizkarette picked me up, fed me dinner and breakfast and put me in a double room (that I had all to myself), drove me to SJPDP the next morning for something like 45e. A fantastic way to start things out.
There is a 5+ hour train from Santiago to Madrid if you want to leave from there. Easy.
After Finesterre I hopped a bus to Porto for a few nights. It is beautiful here. Will catch a bus to Madrid in the morning and fly out shortly.
Buen Camino
Hi,
We plan to start our Camino in Sept. I've read that bus/train connections from Madrid to St. Jean Pied de Port were not very good and the trip might require two days. I've also heard that because many more pilgrims are on the Camino, there are more options.
So, can I take a train all the way to St. Jean? Is there more than one train-to-bus connection available in the same day? What do recent pilgrims recommend?
Likewise, what's a good way to get from Santiago de Compostela back to Madrid, other than flying? Would the train take several days?
What have pilgrims done recently?
Thanks
Joe, I'm trying to get more info on the TRENHOTEL night train schedule and costs leaving Santiago the night of Oct 29 to arrive Chamartin Oct 30. Can you give some specifics on how to buy tickets or at least find out prices? If I google for trenhotel and go to http://www.renfe.com/EN/viajeros/larga_distancia/productos/trenhotel.html, click purchase, and then fill in from/to locations and date and click PURCHASE, no schedule or options show up.Sunwanderer:
You can not take a train all the way to SJPdP. It will not take two days. You can bus or train from Madrid to Pamplona.
By train - depends on which terminal you arrive. If arriving T1 you can take the inter airport bus to T4, then go down to lower level to catch Cercanias train to Puerta de Atocha where you can get the train to Pamplona. Arriving T4 you go to lower level and same as above. There is a RENFE office and you can purchase your ticket to Pamplona there. Sometimes ticket lines are long at the station. You also have the option to take a cab to Puerta de Atocha from either terminal. ( approx. 30 euro's). The train from Madrid to Pamplona roughly 3 hours.
By bus - Pick up bus at T4. Not sure of time or cost but it will go to Pamplona.
I prefer train because you can walk around, they serve food and just more comfortable. The train website is RENFE, The bus is ALSA.
The least worrisome approach to getting to SJPdP from Pamplona is to make arrangements with Corazonpuro.es. They will pick you up at bus or train station put you up for the night, feed you dinner and breakfast and bring you to SJPdP the next day.
Returning to Madrid from Santiago - I take the TRENHOTEL or the over night train from Santiago to Madrid Chamartin station. It arrives Madrid at 8:00am. You then take the Cercanias train to the airport. It runs every half hour.
Hope this helps and enjoy your Camino.
Joe
Hi, lendog,Joe, I'm trying to get more info on the TRENHOTEL night train schedule and costs leaving Santiago the night of Oct 29 to arrive Chamartin Oct 30. Can you give some specifics on how to buy tickets or at least find out prices? If I google for trenhotel and go to http://www.renfe.com/EN/viajeros/larga_distancia/productos/trenhotel.html, click purchase, and then fill in from/to locations and date and click PURCHASE, no schedule or options show up.
Likewise, if I try at https://en.rail.cc/a-coruña-león-zaragoza-barcelona/trenhotel-921-galicia/night-trains-city/11232/214#rail which takes me to: http://www.acprail.com/train-tickets/renfe#4c52c33892f41&data1=renfe which eventually tells me to call 1-866-938-RAIL (I haven't tried that yet).
Joe, I'm trying to get more info on the TRENHOTEL night train schedule and costs leaving Santiago the night of Oct 29 to arrive Chamartin Oct 30. Can you give some specifics on how to buy tickets or at least find out prices? If I google for trenhotel and go to http://www.renfe.com/EN/viajeros/larga_distancia/productos/trenhotel.html, click purchase, and then fill in from/to locations and date and click PURCHASE, no schedule or options show up.
Likewise, if I try at https://en.rail.cc/a-coruña-león-zaragoza-barcelona/trenhotel-921-galicia/night-trains-city/11232/214#rail which takes me to: http://www.acprail.com/train-tickets/renfe#4c52c33892f41&data1=renfe which eventually tells me to call 1-866-938-RAIL (I haven't tried that yet).
Thanks Laurie - LendogHi, lendog,
Welcome to the world of RENFE. The schedules are posted and tickets available about 60-90 days ahead of time. If you look at the current schedule, though, you will get an idea of what is likely to be the schedule in late Oct. The night trenhotel has been operating for years, so it would be a huge change for that to be eliminated.
There are private companies, like Rail Europe (and the 866 number you quote above) , which sell RENFE tickets with a fairly hefty service charge, but it may be worth it to you to use them. Using the RENFE website is frequently a frustrating experience. Buen camino, Laurie
Joe, I'm trying to get more info on the TRENHOTEL night train schedule and costs leaving Santiago the night of Oct 29 to arrive Chamartin Oct 30. Can you give some specifics on how to buy tickets or at least find out prices? If I google for trenhotel and go to http://www.renfe.com/EN/viajeros/larga_distancia/productos/trenhotel.html, click purchase, and then fill in from/to locations and date and click PURCHASE, no schedule or options show up.
Likewise, if I try at https://en.rail.cc/a-coruña-león-zaragoza-barcelona/trenhotel-921-galicia/night-trains-city/11232/214#rail which takes me to: http://www.acprail.com/train-tickets/renfe#4c52c33892f41&data1=renfe which eventually tells me to call 1-866-938-RAIL (I haven't tried that yet).
I should like to comment on what happened to me when I purchased a bus ticket on the overnight bus from Santiago de Compostela to Terminal 4 at Madrid airport, leaving Santiago at 21:30 Sunday night, November 29th, and scheduled to arrive at Madrid airport at 7:00 am Monday morning. This bus left Santiago on schedule. After a very hot overnight bus ride - Spaniards apparently prefer the overnight temperature to be at about 30 C. - the bus arrived at the main Madrid bus station at about 6:45 am on Monday morning. It terminated there. It did not go to the airport, nor was there another bus to the airport, nor was there anyone from Alsa who could say why my ticket to the airport did not take me there. After about an hour of asking for information from various airport and Alsa staff, I decided to take the Cercania (sp.?) train to Terminal 4, which leaves on line C1 from the bus station. I waited about half an hour for a train, as few go to the airport, which is the last stop on the route. The train trip took about half an hour. I arrived at the airport at just short of 9 am. My flight to Calgary with a connection in London was at 11:45 am, so from this point I was in no further danger or anxiety about missing my flight. I had allowed for extra time because of the possibility of a delay on the bus trip, but I had not anticipated that my bus ticket to the airport would not take me there. This posting is intended as a warning for those who absolutely must not miss a long distance flight as they return home from the camino. Allow yourself hours of extra time; do not assume that buying a ticket to somewhere means that the transportation company will take you there. Make alternative plans. I don't know of any certain way to avoid this kind of problem, short of staying in an airport hotel the night before.
I took the train, but has anyone once arriving in Santiago then gotten a ticket to fly to Madrid without prior reservations? I ask because it is very difficult to determine when a person will arrive in Santiago. Most of us pad extra days on our departure flights back to our home countries, so my next Camino will be the Madrid to Leon to Ovidio to Santiago to Muxia. Just not certain the time needed yet.
I will only add that others starting to plan their travel to and from the camino should consider the option of adding the Santiago to Madrid segment to their international tickt (using the "multi-city" or open jaw option). This works best for those using the One World Alliance (American, BA, Iberia and partners).
I wonder if there are buses in April that go from Barajas to Pamplona and from Pamplona to St. Jean.
Is it possible to buy the tickets at the airport?
Could someone with RENFE experience please tell me is it just too early to be looking at Astorga (to Leon) to Madrid on April 17 on the RENFE website, or do they just don't have train service on Sunday's? I was so hoping to take the train back to Madrid rather than the bus. Thanks!
Thanks so much, that is what I was hoping for!! Heading over to see if that plan works.My anecdotal observation is that schedules are usually reliable and fully updated (all trains posted) 30 days in advance of date of travel.
Bummer, looks like the Astorga to Madrid trains are only late afternoons so I'd miss what I am going back to Madrid for on a Sunday - El Rastro! So I'll be taking Alsa on my return. Another RENFE question since I can't find the answer on RENFE.com. Is there a way to buy my Tarjeta Dorada card in T4? (or online here in the US?) It looks like there is a RENFE ticket machine but I can't find an office.
Thanks Laurie!!! I'd already found out about the free C1 to Charmartin. I'll be taking the train from T4 to Burgos - Rosa de Lima. The only part of that route I couldn't figure out was how to get the Dorada card first, to get the reduced price ticket to Burgos (and thus get the free C1 ticket to Charmartin) Hoping my flight from JFK will be nice and early like my last camino!! Otherwise I'll have time to kill for a few hours in Madrid and that's not a bad thing but I want to visit my old Burgos neighborhood (from last camino) and maybe retour the Cathedral. When I get to Burgos I'll be stretching my legs walking from Rosa de Lima to my hostel down by the El Cid statue. Safe to walk the 4.6km? Or taxi my best bet.Where will you be headed?
buen camino, Laurie
I think the Renfe website has really improved since I tried using it in 2014!!I'm always blown away with how well it all functions. Well, all except for the Renfre website, which remains a puzzle of Gordian complexity.
Thanks Laurie!!! I'd already found out about the free C1 to Charmartin. I'll be taking the train from T4 to Burgos - Rosa de Lima. The only part of that route I couldn't figure out was how to get the Dorada card first, to get the reduced price ticket to Burgos (and thus get the free C1 ticket to Charmartin) Hoping my flight from JFK will be nice and early like my last camino!! Otherwise I'll have time to kill for a few hours in Madrid and that's not a bad thing but I want to visit my old Burgos neighborhood (from last camino) and maybe retour the Cathedral. When I get to Burgos I'll be stretching my legs walking from Rosa de Lima to my hostel down by the El Cid statue. Safe to walk the 4.6km? Or taxi my best bet.
This is valuable information for which I can vouch, having used the 'round ticket several times. Time tables can change (some flights leave Santiago pretty early, others arrive pretty late[...] I will only add that others starting to plan their travel to and from the camino should consider the option of adding the Santiago to Madrid segment to their international tickt (using the "multi-city" or open jaw option). This works best for those using the One World Alliance (American, BA, Iberia and partners). There is a flight from Santiago to Madrid at 9:15 most mornings (not Sunday, I believe), which arrives in plenty of time to transfer to your flight home. [...]
When I get to Burgos I'll be stretching my legs walking from Rosa de Lima to my hostel down by the El Cid statue. Safe to walk the 4.6km? Or taxi my best bet.
Bummer, looks like the Astorga to Madrid trains are only late afternoons so I'd miss what I am going back to Madrid for on a Sunday - El Rastro! So I'll be taking Alsa on my return.
I figured that too. I'd made a reservation to treat myself to a room at the Gaudi Hotel in Astorga on the Saturday night but I guess I can cancel that in the allotted time and take the 14:53 train back to Madrid on Saturday. That would give me maybe 6 hours in Astorga to play tourist (I'd already planned on taking the train from Leon to Astorga early Saturday morning)....It seems to me a better idea to go to Madrid the day before.
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