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Thanks guys for the responses. I've been looking around and all information I found was pointing to a bus that no longer serviced to SJPdP. I'd like to fly into Spain; however, logistically it almost sounds like France is a bit easier to fly into.
"..flied ??"
The bus from Pamplona to SJPdP is seasonal. ALSA does not list it until just before the service starts. Usually, service begins about May 1, but they respond to customer demand, which was strong this year. So it may start earlier. If your summer departure means June, it is extremely likely that the bus will be operating.
In 2013:
The bus service operates:
From 22nd March until 7th April &
From 1st May until 11th November.
Do you know when the schedule will be announced for 2014?
Hi Greg, am anxious to hear how you got to SJP. I am wondering the same thing.Hey all,
I'm new to the forum and planning on completing Camino Frances this upcoming summer. I've looked around and there seems to be some ambiguity between how to get St. Jean de Pied de Port. I'll be flying into somewhere in Spain from the United States. As of right now, I'm looking at either Pamplona or Barcelona. My questions are:
What are your suggestions of cities to fly into?
Is there still a train/bus that pilgrims can take daily from Pamplona?
If not, what is the best way to get there?
Best,
Greg
We flew in to Pamplona because we didn't know any better, then got a taxi to St.JPP. It took us three days to walk back! I think Bilbao is only a bus ride away. Have a look at other Pilgrim's suggestions as well as [link to commercial post removed by moderator] - buen camino!Hey all,
I'm new to the forum and planning on completing Camino Frances this upcoming summer. I've looked around and there seems to be some ambiguity between how to get St. Jean de Pied de Port. I'll be flying into somewhere in Spain from the United States. As of right now, I'm looking at either Pamplona or Barcelona. My questions are:
What are your suggestions of cities to fly into?
Is there still a train/bus that pilgrims can take daily from Pamplona?
If not, what is the best way to get there?
Best,
Greg
how about flying into madrid and goes from there to sjpp? it will bve more convenient for you to fly home to the states. regular train service from sjpp to madrid takes 5 hours 44 minutes and also there is a night train with couchette that arrives in the early morning for your flight back to the states.
buen camino.
There is a train directly from Madrid to SJPDP?
Hi Greg, There are a lot of ways you can go of course. It depends on anything else you might want to do on this journey. I'm from Canada and prefer to travel either to London or Paris then Biarritz where you have to overnight. There are lots of hotels and a couple of youth hostels (which also serve the older folks). One is about two blocks from the train station.From Biarritz there are trains several times a day with a change in Bayonne. The trip from Biarritz including the transfer at Bayonne takes about one and a half hours.Hey all,
I'm new to the forum and planning on completing Camino Frances this upcoming summer. I've looked around and there seems to be some ambiguity between how to get St. Jean de Pied de Port. I'll be flying into somewhere in Spain from the United States. As of right now, I'm looking at either Pamplona or Barcelona. My questions are:
What are your suggestions of cities to fly into?
Is there still a train/bus that pilgrims can take daily from Pamplona?
If not, what is the best way to get there?
Best,
Greg
I'm with t2andreo. The most important part of starting the Camino is being rested and every time you have to make a connection there's always a chance of being late because of the last leg and waiting.In my experience, the routing with fewest connections and least stress (for me at least) is flying into Paris, ride Les Cars Air France to either Orly (Route 3) or Montparnasse (Route 4), directly from outside the CDG baggage area (Porte 32) to pick up your plane (ORL) or train connection. The coaches (not plain buses) are excellent, run every 30 minutes, and each journey takes about one hour and fifteen minutes. I prefer to watch scenery flash by on the TGV to anxiously waiting if my connecting train is going to arrive on time. The French trains do tend to be precise.
Some folks prefer to transfer over to CDG Terminal 2 to pick up the TGV to Bordeaux there, then transfer for a regional train to Bayonne. Personally, I prefer taking the coach to Montparnasse or Orly to trying to navigate between terminals at CDG. Then, I am more comfortable traveling in France instead of Spain, as my French is slightly better though still basic, than my Spanish. But this would be highly personal as well.
From Paris CDG to St. Jean Pied de Port involves three easy connections (coach at CDG, train @ Montparnasse, and train @ Bayonne), any way you slice it, I think this is the fastest and least stressful way to get from Paris to SJPdP.
In my research, a comparable trip from Madrid (East) to Pamplona, or (West) to Irun, and then into France at Hendaye and Bayonne, involves at least more waiting and perhaps an additional connection or two.
One final benefit to coming down from Paris instead of up from Madrid, is that if the TGV arriving at Bayonne at about 17:30 is late, they usually hold the onward TER #62 train to St. Jean as they know there are pilgrims on the train and the TER is usually the last one for the night on most days.
The funny thing is that even though the whole EU thing was intended to sort all this stuff, international trains are still unfavorable to international travelers, unless you are going from major national city to major national city. One would have thought that, by now, one could get on a train in Madrid, change once in Spain - say in Sebastian - and get off in Bayonne. But, I understand the train gauges (space between the wheels) is different in Spain and in France. One would have thought that the EU regulatory apparatus would have standardized rail gauges by now...
BTW, I usually fly an "Open Jaw." I fly into Paris and home from Madrid. It does not cost much more, and it is infinitely easier to get to Madrid Barajas Airport from Santiago de Compostela than it is to get to Paris. There are bargain airlines that fly to Orly, but they go via Barcelona. You can get a non-stop coach (complete with attendant and meals) from Santiago to Barajas each day. The coaches even have Wi-Fi.
I hope this helps.
@t2andreo
Your post on connections to St. Jean seems to indicate that you have actually made these connections more than once.
Did you find that the schedules were consistent and reliable?
How many times have you done this? Was it recent?
I just go finished my first Camino in Nov. I would really suggest you fly into Paris. From the airport you can catch a train direct to St. Jean. It really shortens the trip. If you fly into Spain you will have to take buses and or taxi"s to reach the.beginning.of the trail.Hey all,
I'm new to the forum and planning on completing Camino Frances this upcoming summer. I've looked around and there seems to be some ambiguity between how to get St. Jean de Pied de Port. I'll be flying into somewhere in Spain from the United States. As of right now, I'm looking at either Pamplona or Barcelona. My questions are:
What are your suggestions of cities to fly into?
Is there still a train/bus that pilgrims can take daily from Pamplona?
If not, what is the best way to get there?
Best,
Greg
We are two Irish women, arriving into Biarritz Sunday 25th May 2014 @15.30.
Realise now that, being Sunday, we miss the early TER62 train to SJPP + late train is too late.
Accom is booked in SJPP + Orisson, so we must get to SJPP Sunday afternoon.
Does anyone know if there is a bus OR best way to arrange a taxi-share. Thx a mill'....
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