How to arrive to St. Jean Pied du Port

[nicolette]

Hi all!

I'm enthusiastically preparing for my journey - which will be mid-August thru mid-Sept.

I can't figure out how to arrive to my starting point..... St. Jean Pied du Port.

Can anyone advise me on how they made it there? The more specific the info the better!


I'm coming from Sevilla. I was thinking of flying to Pamplona or San Sebastian and then taking a bus.... but I am not sure if there are convenient buses that go to that tiny town....

Thanks for any help anyone can give me!

Nicolette

[norske99]

We recently flew into Pamplona and took a taxi to St. Jean Pied de Port. There were six of us, and it cost us 90 euros or 15 per person. For one person the cost might not be advantageous. We used Burrikot Express (0033) (0) 6 61 96 0476. It might be cheaper to take a bus from Pamplona to Roncesvalles and then a taxi to St. Jean. The other way is to get to Bayonne and take the train to St. Jean Pied. This can take longer because of the connections that you have to make. We did a lot of research and only found these two possibilities. Your choice might depend upon whether money or time is more valuable to you.

[Sheens]

Norske.. could you fly to Biarritz? This is the easiest way really. From there, you get a bus (20 mins) to Bayonne, which drops you at the Bayonne train station where the bus goes directly to St Jean... easier again is if you spot Pilgrims (They are so easy to spot!!) in biarritz, approach them and ask to share a taxi.. taxi for 4 is 15 euro each... the train was 8 euro i think, so it's not costing that much more..

buen camino! you will have the most amazing time.

[hodgmc02]

Anyone know if it's possible to get to St. Jean from San Sebastian?

[John Hussey]

Two basic ways to get to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port

From Grant Spangler's website which is full of useful Camino information:

http://groups.msn.com/ElCaminoSantia...06371985671769

[Pat]

Plane to Biarritz....Walk to Biarritz train station 20 minutes....On train network now...So Biarritz>Bayonne>Hendaye/Irun>St Jean.......Have a look at SNCF (French Railways) website and plan your timetable....

Buen Camino!

Pat.

[stek]

Hi,
The web site does not give the option to travel from biarritz to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port ...

[Pat]

Hi Mister/ Miss/Madame Stek..

If you have a look at SNCF website you can clearly see trains that go from Bayonne to St Jean...
My suggestion to travel to Biarritz was to get on to the rail network..
Alternatively one can get a bus directly outside Biarritz Airport which will transport one to Bayonne Gare...train station..be careful not to Biarritz Gare....

Buen Camino

Pat.

[stony17]

Hi everybody
does anyone know how to get to St Jean from Bordeaux?
As that is only destination to get to France from czech rep...
Have tried france train web site but can not find it as its onlky in france language....Thanx Martin

[John Hussey]

I do not know so, until someone more knowledgeable jumps in who has done that leg of the journey, some possibilities for you, first, In English, French, German:

http://www.sncf.com/en_EN/flash/

French:
http://www.ter-sncf.com/

But, best of all:
http://reiseauskunft.bahn.de/bin/query.exe/en

[stony17]

thanx mate as the last one helped me a lot...

[Pat]

Hi

Train from Bordeaux Gare St Jean to Bayonne...Then train to St Jean Pied de Port.

The SNCF website is of course in French but its managable.

If you put the departing station in the top box and the destination in the bottom then times and dates which are suitable you should be presented with a timetable...

Be sure to put the correct name ot train station as it gets a little upset if you dont but subsequenty it provides a drop down menu to select the station you require...

Buen Camino

Pat.

[salete]

Hi, Cotte I have no information, but i would like to say good luck, i plan to go in september, i can wait

[nielsw64]

Planning on starting medio september, my self. Checked around a little. Looks like it is a easy way to first fly to Bordaux. Then catch a train to Bayonne, and then change to another train to St. Jean Pied du Port.

Only problem for me, flying from Oslo/Norway, is that the plane arrives Bordaux late in the evening. So i need to find a cheap place to sleep, before catching a train in the morning.

[salete]

Try to fly to Barcelona !!!!!!!, and then catch the train to St. Jean P. d. Port, I think that's easyer look at the map and see, good lock

[geraldkelly]

Don't fly to Barcelona. It's miles away.

In my opinion the best airports for accessing SJPP are Biarritz, Bordeaux or Bilbao in that order. Biarritz being by far the best option because it's the closest.

See info here: The Camino Guide

Buen Camino!
Gerald

[Pavel]

Niels: when I went to SJPP I was in Bordeax and Bayonne about the same time you will be. I traveled to Bayonne by night TGV and there I slept in a cheap hotel near the railway station. In 1 a.m. I got last empty room.

[costaki]

Hey Guys, I was wondering if anyone had any advice (other than splitting a taxi with pilgrims) to get to St.Jean from Pamplona? Any further information about that bus from Pamplona to Roncesvalles? I arrive in Pamplona around 8am... is there a bus/train or both I can take to St.Jean?

Thanks!
Costa

[Leslie]

I will really have to get the search function fixed here - it is on my to do list...

check out this thread Pamplona to St Jean

this explains getting to Roncesvalles, from there the best way is to split a taxi to St Jean with anyone else that is there.

I get amazed that some enterprising local has not setup a local bus service for this. I am orginally from Scotland, Glasgow - this would never have passed when I lived there - if there was a buck to be made...

Hope this helps.

[geraldkelly]

Bus to Hendaye (2 hours)
Train to Bayonne (30 minutes)
Train to SJPP (1 hour)
Total cost approx €30

[crashwest2830]

All the posts seem to be a bit older and am wondering if there is any more recent information. I am arriving in Biarritz on Sunday 9 September at about midday and want to arrive in St Jean on the same day (Sunday) so that I can start my Camino on Monday. I tried to check out the SNCF timetables but had trouble. I know that I have to get a train from Biarritz to Bayonne (10 minutes) and then a train to St jean but am concerned that, when I try to do this, my limited French will be a problem. Exactly what number bus/train do I catch. And can anyone give me the link to a timetable that I can consult please?

[Daisy]

I am also leaving on September 10th from Montreal arriving at Charles de Gaulle airport at 12:10 on September 11th and getting a connecting flight from same airport to Biarritz. I think my flight leaves at 2:00pm arriving in Biarritz at 3:25pm. From there I contacted Express Bourricot Express Bourricot and they are picking me up at the airport in Biarritz and taking me directly to SJPP. I also want to start my walking on September 12th I hope I see you there and good luck.
Daisy

[geraldkelly]

You're not the first person to be defeated by the SNCF website and I'm certain you won't be the last. Anyway, not to worry, I had a look for you for trains on Sunday 11 September 2011. There are trains leaving Bayonne at: 08H18, 15H05 and 21H09. They take about an hour and cost about €10, you can buy a ticket on the day (in fact it's a local service so you can't buy one in advance). There's a local bus service from Biarritz airport to the train station in Bayonne (you don't have to go into Biarritz).

Ger

[HuskyNerd]

Hi Crash ~
If I were you I'd book Express Bourricot along with Daisy, if possible. Caroline, the owner of EB, is a great person and can be a big help in orienting you to SJPP. This service is more expensive, but it's way more convenient than the connection to and the potential wait at the Bayonne train station.

Afraid I don't know the bus arrangement from Biarritz to Bayonne, but I've heard it's quite simple. Your lack of French is unlikely to be a problem. The Biarritz airport is quite small and quiet and you'll undoubtedly be able to find someone with English skills who can direct you to the bus.

Trains leave Bayonne on Sunday, Sept 11 at 8:18, 15:05, and 21:09. Cost is €9.10 and duration of the trip is approx 1.3 hours.

Buen camino!

[crashwest2830]

Hi Sandy

Thank you very much for your advice. I have emailed Express Bourricot and await their reply. I feel like such an idiot though - I put September on my query but meant October. I arrive in France and then fly to Biarritz on Sunday 9 October - only a month out.

Anyway, no problem if EP works out.

Kind regards, Phil

[crashwest2830]

Hi Gerald

Thank you for your reply. I made a mistake and put September on my query when I meant October. I am flying into Paris from Sydney on Sunday 9 October and fly to Biarritz arriving at 1245. So I have emailed Express Bourricot asking for their details and await their reply.

You have replied to several of my queries, Gerald, and i am very appreciative. If this is the spirit of the Camino, I think I will be OK. I hope I meet someone to walk with. I will be after slow and steady. I am turning 59 at the end of the year and am reasonably fit. Would be good to walk with someone about the same. We will see.

Anyway, I am doing a blog which i have started - http:\\crashwest2830.blogspot.com and I will be keen to help others when I have some experience. The blog is really for my family and friends although it is a public blog. I have started early because there are a lot of questions that keep arising - 5 weeks of walking is significant for a first timer.

Kind regards, Phil

[crashwest2830]

Hi Daisy

Thank you for your reply. I posted the wrong dates. I am leaving Sydney on Saturday October 8, arriving Paris on Sunday October 9. Only a month out. Anyway, I have taken your advice about EP and have emailed them. My French is pretty rusty - am looking forward to improving it - so EP seems like a good way to avoid the trials of public transport.

So, I won't see you on the walk but good luck to you too. I have a good feeling about this walk as there has been so much assistance provided willingly by fellow caminoists already.

Happy walking, Phil