At the border between France and Spain, Saint Jean Pied de Port is a major stage on the Caminos de Santiago. And for good reasons: the village is the last stage in France of the French Camino routes of Le Puy, Vézelay, Paris-Tours. And for many, it’s also the first stage of the Camino Francés.
As such, a great number of pilgrim have to find a transport to get there to (re)start their pilgrimage.
In this post, let’s see what options are available!
Cities you should know about
A quick look at your options
Getting there from France
Getting there from Spain
Plan your journey
Cities you should know about
Saint Jean Pied de Port is in France but you could get there from France or Spain. In both cases, it will be easy to get to the village with 1 or more connections.
🛬 If you travel by plane
Where can you land in France?
Prefer the airports of Biarritz (BIQ) or Paris (Roissy Charles de Gaulle – CDG or Orly -ORY).
The airports of Toulouse (TLS), Pau (PUF), Lourdes (LDE) or Bordeaux (BOD) can also be interesting entry points.
From all of those cities, you will need to take other means of transport to get to Saint Jean Pied de Port.
Where can you land in Spain?
Prefer the airports of Pamplona (PNA) or Madrid (MAD).
The airports of Bilbao (BIO) and San Sebastian (EAS) can also be interesting entry points. A bit further, the airport of Barcelone (BCN) can have attractive deals that make up for the fact it’s pretty far away from Saint Jean Pied de Port.
From all of those cities, you will need to take other means of transport to get to Saint Jean Pied de Port.
🚏 If you travel with a long-distance bus or by train
Closest bus and train stations from Saint Jean Pied de Port
In France: Bayonne
In Spain: Pamplona
From those cities, you will need to take other means of transport to get to Saint Jean Pied de Port.
A quick look at your options for transport
✈️ Plane // 🚄 High speed train // 🚆 Regional train // 🚍 Long distance bus // 🚎 City bus // 🚐 Pilgrim shuttle // 🚕 Taxi
All the itineraries can also be done by carpooling, hitchhiking or on foot 😉
Most common itineraries
- Paris ✈️ Biarritz 🚐🚕 Saint Jean Pied de Port
- Paris ✈️ Biarritz 🚎🚕 Bayonne 🚆🚐🚕 Saint Jean Pied de Port
- Paris 🚄 🚍 Bayonne 🚆🚐🚕 Saint Jean Pied de Port
- Madrid ✈️ 🚄🚍 Pamplona 🚍🚐🚕 Saint Jean Pied de Port
Other possible itineraries in France
- Bordeaux 🚄🚍 Bayonne 🚆🚐🚕 Saint Jean Pied de Port
- Bordeaux 🚐🚕 Saint Jean Pied de Port
- Toulouse 🚄🚍 Bayonne 🚆🚐🚕 Saint Jean Pied de Port
- Toulouse 🚐🚕 Saint Jean Pied de Port
- Pau 🚄🚍 Bayonne 🚆🚐🚕 Saint Jean Pied de Port
- Pau 🚐🚕 Saint Jean Pied de Port
- Lourdes 🚄🚍 Bayonne 🚆🚐 Saint Jean Pied de Port
- Lourdes 🚐🚕 Saint Jean Pied de Port
- Hendaye 🚄🚆🚍🚎 Bayonne 🚆🚐🚕 Saint Jean Pied de Port
Other itineraries in Spain
- Barcelona 🚄🚍 Pamplona 🚍🚐🚕 Saint Jean Pied de Port
- Bilbao 🚍 Pamplona 🚍🚐🚕 Saint Jean Pied de Port
- Bilbao 🚍 Bayonne 🚆🚐🚕 Saint Jean Pied de Port
- Bilbao 🚐🚕 Saint Jean Pied de Port
- San Sebastian 🚆🚍 Pamplona 🚍🚐🚕 Saint Jean Pied de Port
- San Sebastian 🚆🚍 Bayonne 🚆🚐🚕 Saint Jean Pied de Port
- San Sebastian 🚐🚕 Saint Jean Pied de Port
- Irun 🚆🚎 Hendaye 🚄🚆🚍🚎 Bayonne 🚆🚐🚕 Saint Jean Pied de Port
Getting there from France
Info about searching and buying your plane / train / long distance bus ticket are in the section “Plan your journey“
Best options
What most pilgrims do: train
The fastest: plane
The cheapest: bus
.
By plane
No direct transport to Saint Jean Pied de Port, take a national flight to Biarritz (then see dedicated tab)
Roissy Charles de Gaulle or Orly → Biarritz: ~1h30
Take the time to consider this option, there are low cost flights for this route!
.
By train
No direct transport to Saint Jean Pied de Port, take a train to Bayonne (then see dedicated tab)
.
From within Paris itself:
- There are many train station in Paris, the one you want is Paris-Montparnasse
- Montparnasse → Bayonne: direct, ~4h
.
From Roissy Charles de Gaulle airport:
- There's a train station in Paris Aéroport Roissy Charles-de-Gaulle
- Airport → Bayonne: 1 or 2 connections, ~8-9h
.
From Orly airport:
- The train station is Massy TGV
- Airport → Bayonne: 1 or 2 connections, ~4h-5h30
- This option requires you to get from the airport to the train station: see how below
.
With a long-distance bus
No direct transport to Saint Jean Pied de Port, take a bus to Bayonne (then see dedicated tab)
- Paris → Bayonne:
- direct or with a connection
- ~10-13h
- Departure from Bercy bus station
- The station is underground, under Bercy's public parc
- Get to 69, rue de Bercy: look for road-signs that point to the bus station (pedestrian markings)
- Some buses leave from Orly airport
.
Other options
Carpooling:
- Search (and find!) a carpooling on Blabla Car
- Trips for Paris → Bayonne are common (then, see dedicated tab)
- Try your luck and look for a direct trip to Saint Jean Pied de Port... unlikely but you knows!
- Pay attention to the rendez-vous points, they can be unpractical to reach!
Hitchhiking: Why not?!
On foot: directly via the Chemin de Paris-Tours
- ~990km, ~40 days walking
.
Get around Paris
(Here are options that are quick and with the least connections possible: others routes are possible)
Useful pages:
- Société de transport parisiens (RATP): metro, bus, RER (Paris' train network)
- Map of the network
.
Airports → train stations:
- Airport Roissy Charles de Gaulle → Montparnasse train station: ~1h
Don't take the RoissyBus bus, it stops in the north of Paris (the station is in the south)- RER B
- direction Robinson / Saint-Rémy-lès-Chevreuse
- stations aéroport → Denfert-Rochereau
- connection: metro 6
- direction Charles de Gaulle / Etoile
- stations Denfert-Rochereau → gare Montparnasse
- Tickets at a counter or a RATP self-service machine
- RER B
- Airport d'Orly → Montparnasse train station: ~50min
- Orlybus shuttle
- stops aéroport → Denfert-Rochereau
- tickets at a counter or Orlyval or RATP self-service machine
- connection: bus 88
- direction Porte d'Auteuil
- stations Denfert-Rochereau → gare Montparnasse
- tickets at a counter or a RATP self-service machine
- Orlybus shuttle
- Airport d'Orly → Massy TGV train station: 25-30min
- Orlyval shuttle
- stops aéroport → Antony
- tickets at a counter or Orlyval or RATP self-service machine
- connection: RER B
- direction Robinson / Saint-Rémy-lès-Chevreuse
- stations Antony → Massy-Palaiseau
- Orlyval shuttle
Montparnasse from within Paris, access by:
- metros 4, 6, 12, 13
- buses 28, 39, 58, 82, 88, 89, 91, 92, 94, 95, 96
.
Layover in Paris?
Check accommodations availabilities here:
Best options
What most pilgrims do: connection to Bayonne
The fastest way: shuttle or taxi
The cheapest way: connection to Bayonne
.
By public transports
No direct transport to Saint Jean Pied de Port, take a city bus to Bayonne (then see dedicated tab)
(Here are options that are quick and with the least connections possible: others routes are possible)
Biarritz airport → Bayonne train station:
- City bus Txik Txak, line 4: direct, ~30min
- stops Aéroport de Biarritz → Alsace-Lorraine
- The train station is 2min on foot from the stop Alsace-Lorraine
- Ticket on the bus or at a self-service machine
- Bus Txik Txak, line 3: ~20min + ~15min on foot
- stops Aéroport de Biarritz → Place des Basques (terminus)
- The train station is 15min on foot from the stop Place des Basques
- Ticket on the bus
.
With a pilgrim shuttle / taxi
Direct transport from the airport to Saint Jean Pied de Port
Airport → Saint Jean Pied de Port: ~1h30
- Book this service directly with the company of your choice:
- Warning! Check each company's conditions for transport!
- Tip to reduce the cost of your journey:
- talk about is on social media before you leave and find co-passengers
- ask directly to pilgrims that are at the airport with you if they're interested to ride with you
- Note: shuttle services already split costs depending on the number of passengers
.
Other options
Carpooling:
- Search (and find!) a carpooling on Blabla Car
- Try your luck and look for a direct trip to Saint Jean Pied de Port... unlikely but you knows!
- Pay attention to the rendez-vous points, they can be unpractical to reach!
Hitchhiking: Why not?!
On foot: get to Bayonne first, then follow the Chemin de Poste
.
Get around Biarritz
City bus Chronoplus: shared public transport network for Biarritz-Anglet-Bayonne
- Map of the network and time schedule Chronoplus
- Tickets on board or at self-service machines
"Bus Express" Txik Txak: transport network for the French Basque Country
- Map of the network and time shcedules (line 3 = Hendaye-Biarritz-Bayonne)
- Tickets on board
.
Biarritz airport → Bayonne city center: ~30min
(Here are options that are quick and with the least connections possible: others routes are possible)
- City bus Chronoplus, line 4: direct
- stops Aéroport de Biarritz → Mairie de Bayonne
- Or "Bus Express" Txik Txak, line 3: direct
- stops Aéroport de Biarritz → Place de Basques (terminus)
.
Layover in Biarritz?
Biarritz-Anglet-Bayonne ar like a single large city with the same network for public transport (Chronoplus, see above)
It makes it easy to get to the city center of Bayonne, to sleep at the pilgrim's albergue
If you want to sleep in Biarritz, check available accommodations here:
Best options
What most pilgrims do: train
The fastest way: shuttle/taxi
The cheapest way: train
.
By train
Direct transport to Saint Jean Pied de Port
Bayonne → Saint Jean Pied de Port: ~1h30
- Regional TER train:
- Line 54/54U Bayonne-Saint Jean Pied de Port
- Saint Jean Pied de Port is the terminus! No stress to miss your stop!
- There's only 1 train station in Bayonne... and it's really tiny! No way you can get lost and connection are done in 3min top!
Good to know! This train is often suspended (renovation work/strikes/incidents/...)
In this case, the line is still working and the train is replaced by a substitution bus you board in front of the train station. In rare occasions, it can be a shuttle or a taxi (if there are few passengers). The price remains the same!
Useful pages: (regional TER train)
-
- Timetable for the line (select line 54)
- "Info trafic" page, to check if the train is suspended
.
With a pilgrim shuttle / taxi
Direct transport from the train station to Saint Jean Pied de Port
Bayonne train station → Saint Jean Pied de Port: ~1h
- Rendez-vous point on the train station's parking
- Book directly with the company of your choice:
- Warning! Check each company's conditions for transport!
- Tips to reduce the cost of your journey:
- talk about is on social media before you leave and find co-passengers
- ask directly to pilgrims that are at the station with you if they're interested to ride with you
- Note: shuttle services already split costs depending on the number of passengers
.
Other options
Carpooling:
- Search (and find!) a carpooling on Blabla Car
- Try your luck and look for a direct trip to Saint Jean Pied de Port... rare but you knows!
- Pay attention to the rendez-vous points, they can be unpractical to reach!
Hitchhiking: Why not?!
On foot: by the Chemin de Poste in 2-3 days walking
.
Get around Bayonne
City bus Txik Txak: shared public transport network for Biarritz-Anglet-Bayonne (previously Chronoplus)
- Map of the network and time schedule
- Tickets on board or at self-service machines
.
Bus station Place des Basques → train station: by city bus Txik Txak
- For pilgrims coming from:
- a long-distance bus to Bayonne
- Biarritz airport (line 3)
- Txik Txak line T1, T2: direct, ~5min
- stops Place des Basques → Gare de Bayonne
- Txik Txak line 4, 32: direct, ~5min
- stops Place des Basques → Alsace-Lorraine
- on foot: ~15min
.
Other useful info:
- Closest bus stops to the train station:
- Gare de Bayonne
- Alsace-Lorraine
- City center → train station:
- City center = cathedral and pilgrim's albergue
- on foot, count ~15min
.
Layover in Bayonne?
There's a pilgrim's albergue in Bayonne, in the city center close to the cathedral
- the closest bus stops to the city center are Mairie de Bayonne and Place des Basques
~~~
If you want to sleep elsewhere, check the following websites:
The closest hotel to the train station is the Hôtel Côte Basque
A budget option, a little but further away: Hostel 20
Best options
The fastest way: pilgrims shutte/taxi
The cheapest way: bus
.
With public transports
No direct transport to Saint Jean Pied de Port, take a bus to Bayonne (then see dedicated tab)
By intercity bus Txik Txak: ~1h20
- Line 3, Hendaye → Bayonne
- Stop Hendaye gare → Place des Basques (terminus)
- The train station in Bayonne is 15min away on foot from the Place des Basques
- Ticket on the bus
By regional TER train ou high speed inOUI train:
- TER: direct, ~40min
- Line 51 Bordeaux-Hendaye
- Stations Hendaye → Bayonne
- Timetables for this line (select line 51)
- inOUI: direct ~40min
.
With a pilgrim shuttle / taxi
Direct transport to Saint Jean Pied de Port
Hendaye → Saint Jean Pied de Port: ~1h30
- Book directly with the company of your choice:
- Warning! Check each company's conditions for transport!
- Tips to reduce the cost of your journey:
- talk about is on social media before you leave and find co-passengers
- ask directly to pilgrims that are there (if there are any) if they're interested to ride with you
- Note: shuttle services already split costs depending on the number of passengers
.
Other options
Carpooling:
- Search (and find!) a carpooling on Blabla Car
- Try your luck and look for a direct trip to Saint Jean Pied de Port... unlikely but you knows!
- Pay attention to the rendez-vous points, they can be unpractical to reach!
Hitchhiking: Why not?!
On foot: by the voie de la Nive, in 2-3 days walking
- Warning, you will be walking backwards of the markings...
.
Layover in Hendaye?
Check available accommodations here:
Best options
What most pilgrims do: train
The fastest way: shuttle/taxi
The cheapest way: bus
.
By train
No direct transport to Saint Jean Pied de Port, take a train to Bayonne (then see dedicated tab)
- Train station: Bordeaux Saint Jean
- Long-distance train inOUI: TGV inOUI, ~1h40
- Regional TER train: line 51 Bordeaux-Hendaye, ~2h
Useful pages: (Regional TER train)
-
- Timetable for the line (select line 51)
- "Info trafic" page to check if there's any interruption on the line
.
With a long distance bus
No direct transport to Saint Jean Pied de Port, take a bus to Bayonne (then see dedicated tab)
- Bordeaux → Bayonne: ~2-4h depending on the bus
- Warning, stations depend on the bus!
- Bordeaux Saint Jean: 5min away from the train station Saint Jean
- Bordeaux Pessac: warning, this one is outside of Bordeaux!
.
With a pilgrim shuttle / taxi
Direct transport to Saint Jean Pied de Port
Bordeaux → Saint Jean Pied de Port: ~3h
- Book this service directly with the company of your choice:
- Warning! Check each company's conditions for transport!
- Tip to reduce the cost of your journey:
- talk about is on social media before you leave and find co-passengers
- ask directly to pilgrims that are there (if there are any...) if they're interested to ride with you
- Note: shuttle services already split costs depending on the number of passengers
.
Other options
Covoiturage:
Carpooling:
- Search (and find!) a carpooling on Blabla Car
- There are many trips Bordeaux → Bayonne (then see dedicated tab)
- Try your luck and look for a direct trip to Saint Jean Pied de Port... unlikely but you knows!
- Pay attention to the rendez-vous points, they can be unpractical to reach!
Hitchhiking: Why not?!
On foot:
- by the Chemin de Paris-Tours, direct to Saint Jean Pied de Port
- by the Voie du Littoral, direct to Bayonne (then see dedicated tab)
.
Get around Bordeaux
Airport → train station Saint Jean:
- Shuttle 30'Direct: direct, ~30min
- Stop at the airport: Hall B, door 7
- ticket: online (link above) or on the bus (! pay with a 50€ bill max)
- TBM network: direct, ~1h
- Line 1 direction gare Saint Jean
- Stops: aéroport (Hall B, porte 7) → gare (terminus)
- ticket: at a self-service machine or on the bus (drivers don't give change, pay the exact amount!)
.
Train station Saint Jean → pilgrim's albergue:
- TBM network: count ~30min
- Tramway C: ~10min
- direction Parc des expositions / Gare de Blanquefort
- Stops: Gare Saint Jean → Quinconces
- connection: tramway B: ~10min
- direction Berges de la Garonne / Claveau
- Stops: Quinconces → New York
- From the stop "New York", the albergue is 5min away on foot
- Tramway C: ~10min
- Ticket: at a self-service machine or on the bus (drivers don't give change, pay the exact amount!)
- If you come from the airport, 1 ticket is enough for the journey airport → station → gîte
.
Layover in Bordeaux?
There's a pilgrim's albergue in Bordeaux!
- Check conditions!
- At ~30min on foot from the city center
- Access with public transports: see above
~~~
If you want to sleep elsewhere, check available accommodations here:
Best options
What most pilgrims do: train
The fastest way: shuttle/taxi
The cheapest way: bus
.
By train
No direct transport to Saint Jean Pied de Port, take a train to Bayonne (then see dedicated tab)
- From Toulouse (Matabiau train station)
- Intercités train, high speed trains (TGV inOui) or regional trains (TER)
- direct or 1 connection
- 4-5h depending on the train(s)
- From Pau (Pau train station)
- Intercités train, high speed trains (TGV inOui) or regional trains (TER)
- direct or 1 connection
- 2h-3h30 depending on the train(s)
- From Lourdes (Tarbes train station)
- Intercités train, high speed trains (TGV inOui) or regional trains (TER)
- direct or 1 connection
- 2h-3h30 depending on the train(s)
Useful pages: (regional TER train)
Select the line of your choice to access the info
- Timetable:
- TER Occitanie: line Toulouse-Tarbes-Pau
- TER Nouvelle Aquitaine: line 53 Bayonne-Pau-Tarbes; Lourdes is on this line
- "Info trafic" page, to check if there are interruptions on the lines:
.
By bus
No direct transport to Saint Jean Pied de Port, take a bus to Bayonne (then see dedicated tab)
.
Long distance buses: warning, stations vary depending of the bus!
- Toulouse: ~4h
- bus station: next to the train station
- Pau: ~1h30-2h
- stop: avenue de l'université (~20min from the train station by bus)
- stop: boulevard Lucien Favre (~30min from the train station by bus)
- Tarbes: ~2h
- stop: Université
- Lourdes: no direct bus to Bayonne, you first need to get to Tarbes
.
Intercity buses: There are some, but unless you want to spend time in transports waiting for connection or if you want to visit the areas, I advise you to find another transport...
.
With a pilgrim shuttle / taxi
- Book this service directly with the company of your choice:(based in Saint Jean Pied de Port)
- Warning! Check each company's conditions for transport!
.
Other options
Carpooling:
- Search (and find!) a carpooling on Blabla Car
- There are trips to Bayonne or Biarritz
- Try your luck and look for a direct trip to Saint Jean Pied de Port... unlikely but you knows!
- Pay attention to the rendez-vous points, they can be unpractical to reach!
Hitchhiking: Why not?!
On foot:
- From Toulouse or Pau: respectively ~16 ou ~6 jours
- follow the Chemin d'Arles until Oloron Ste Marie
- there, change and follow the voie du Piémont to Saint Jean Pied de Port
- From Lourdes: ~8 jours
- the voie du Piémont takes you directly to Saint Jean Pied de Port
.
Get around Toulouse, Pau, Lourdes
Toulouse:
Pau:
- city transport IDELIS
- Airport → ccity center: see this page
- Warning! Some IDELIS lines don't work on Sundays!
Lourdes/Tarbes:
- city transport TLP-mobilités
- Airport → city center: see this page
.
Layover in Toulouse / Pau / Lourdes / Tarbes?
Lourdes is the only city that offers a pilgrim's alberges for pilgrims of St James': La Ruche
No pilgrim accommodation in Toulouse, Pau, Tarbes!
~~~
Check available accommodations here:
On foot of course!
Directly from the Chemins of Paris-Tours, Vézelay, Le Puy and the Piémont
From the Chemin d'Arles, by switching to the Chemin of the Piémont in Oloron Sainte Marie
From Bayonne, by chemin de Poste and from Hendaye, by the voie de la Nive
.
With public transports
In general, it will be easier to get to Saint Jean Pied de Port if you take a detour through Bayonne
Exceptions:
- On the Chemin du Puy between Saint Palais and Saint Jean Pied de Port
- Direct bus: Txik Txak network (Bus Express)
- From Saint Palais, Uhart Mixe, Ostabat, Larcevau, Saint Jean le Vieux
- Line 10, Saint Palais ↔ Saint Jean Pied de Port
- Timetable
.
With a pilgrim shuttle / taxi
- Book this service directly with the company of your choice:
- Warning! Check each company's conditions for transport!
By plane
No direct transport to Saint Jean Pied de Port, take a national flight to Biarritz, or Bordeaux, Pau, Toulouse, Tarbes (Lourdes)(then see dedicated tabs)
Depending on what offers are more interesting for you
.
By train
No direct transport to Saint Jean Pied de Port, take train to Bayonne (then see dedicated tab)
.
With a long-distance bus
No direct transport to Saint Jean Pied de Port, take bus to Bayonne (then see dedicated tab)
.
Other options
Carpooling:
- Search (and find!) a carpooling on Blabla Car
- Trips for Bayonne/Biarritz are common (then, see dedicated tabs)
- Try your luck and look for a direct trip to Saint Jean Pied de Port... unlikely but you knows!
- Pay attention to the rendez-vous points, they can be unpractical to reach!
Hitchhiking: Why not?!
On foot:
- Contact the local Jacobean society and walk on their network of Chemins until you reach a main Chemin (Paris-Tours, Vézelay, Le Puy, Arles, Piémont) then from there... walk until Saint Jean Pied de Port!
Getting there from Spain
Info about searching and buying your plane / train / long distance bus ticket are in the section “Plan your journey“
Best options
What most pilgrims do: train
The fastest: plane
The cheapest: bus/carpooling
.
By plane
No direct transport to Saint Jean Pied de Port, take a national flight to Pamplona (then see dedicated tab)
.
Barajas → Pamplone: direct, ~1h
- Airports:
- Madrid Barajas (MAD)
- Pamplone (PNA)
- Warning! No daily flight!
- See below how to access the airport
.
By train
No direct transport to Saint Jean Pied de Port, take a train to Pamplona (then see dedicated tab)
.
Atocha → Pamplona: direct, ~3h
- Train station: Madrid Atocha
- See below how to access the train station
.
With a long distance bus
No direct transport to Saint Jean Pied de Port, take a bus to Pamplona (then see dedicated tab)
.
Madrid → Pamplona: direct or with connection, 5-7h depending on the bus
- Bus stations Madrid:
- Av. de América
- Estacion Sur
- Aeropuerto Barajas T4
- Warning! Check thoroughly from which station you should start before buying your ticket!
.
Other options
Carpooling:
- Search (and find!) a carpooling on Blabla Car
- Trips for Madrid→ Pamplona are common (then, see dedicated tab)
- Try your luck and look for a direct trip to Saint Jean Pied de Port... unlikely but you knows!
- Pay attention to the rendez-vous points, they can be unpractical to reach!
Hitchhiking: Why not?!
.
Get around Madrid
Airport Madrid-Barajas ↔ Train station Atocha:
- Trains Cercanías: lines C-1 or C-10
- Direct, ~30min
- Stops: airport T4 ↔ station Atocha
- Take this ticket at a counter or a self-service machine
- Warning! Use it within 2h!
- Good to know: a long-distance train ticket allows you to get a Cercanias ticket for free. See part: "Plan your jouney", tab "Combinado Cercanias tickets"
- Bus: line Exprés Aeropuerto
- Direct, ~30-40min
- Stops: airport T1, T2 ou T4 ↔ train station Atocha
- Buy this ticket on the bus only (! pay with a 20€ bill max)
.
Other journeys in Madrid:
- Train: Cercanías network
- Access to the Atocha train station: all lines (except 9)
- Access to the Estacion Sur bus station (lines C1, C5, C10)
- Take your tickets at a counter or a self-service machine and good to know! use it within 2 h!
- Good to know: a long-distance train ticket allows you to get a Cercanias ticket for free. See part: "Plan your jouney", tab "Combinado Cercanias tickets"
- Plan a journey
- Rail map
- Bus: EMT network
- Various lines can take you to the Atocha train station and to the bus stations
- Plan your journey
- Bus map
- A single "1-way" ticket can only be bought on the bus (! pay with a 5€ bill max)
- Metro: Metro network
- Access to the Atocha train station: line 1
- Access to the Av. America bus station (lines 4, 6, 7, 9) / Estacion Sur bus station (line 6)
- Rail map
- Good to know: you need to buy a refillable ticket first, then load it to access the metro: unless you plan to spend a bit of time in Madrid, I advise you to get around with another means of transport
.
Layover in Madrid?
Find a place to stay:
Best options
What most pilgrims do: bus
The fastest: shuttle/taxi
The cheapest: bus
.
By bus
Pamplona → Roncesvalles → Saint Jean Pied de Port: direct, ~1h45
Roncesvalles → Saint Jean Pied de Port: direct, ~45min
- From Pamplona bus station
- Company: CONDA
- Buy your ticket on the ALSA website!
- The line stops in Roncesvalles; Saint Jean Pied de Port is the last stop
.
Pamplona → Roncesvalles: direct, ~1h15
- From Pamplona bus station
- Company: Autocares Artieda
- Roncesvalles is the last stop, you must take another transport to get to Saint Jean Pied de Port (the bus above or another transport, see below)
- Tickets on the bus only!
.
Taxi or pilgrim shuttle
- Check availabilities/conditions, then book your journey directly with the chosen company
- Based in France:
- Based in Spain:
- TaxNavarra (Pamplona)
- Teletaxi San Fermin (Pamplona)
- In Roncesvalles: ask for a taxi at one of the bar
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Other options
Carpooling:
- Search (and find!) a carpooling on Blabla Car
- Try your luck and look for a direct trip to Saint Jean Pied de Port... rare but you knows!
- Pay attention to the rendez-vous point, they can be unpractical to reach!
Hitchhiking: Why not?!
On foot: by following the Camino backwards
- Warning! On the Spanish stretch, marking will show you the "normal" way, towards Santiago!
- Once in France, the GR64 markings (red and white stripes) will show you the way Roncesvalles → Saint Jean Pied de Port
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Get around in Pamplona
Useful pages:
- Website of Pamplona's bus station
- Mancomunidad de la Comarca de Pamplona (bus)
- Network map; on this page as well
- Access to the airport: public taxi service (see below)
- Access to the bus station: most lines
- Access to the train station: line 9
Airoport ↔ city center (paseo de Sarasate):
- Public taxi service: taxi de la Mancomunidad de Pamplona
- Regular schedule
- Pay the taxi directly
- One rate: 0,70€/person
- Pay with a 20€ bill max!
Paseo de Sarasate ↔ bus station: 500m on foot
Train station ↔ bus station:
- ~30min on foot
- Bus line 9: direct, ~20min
- stops: RENFE estacion → Avda. Conde Oliveto
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Layover in Pamplona?
There are many pilgrim accommodation in Pamplona: find the for example via Gronze
Warning! A credential can be required to access some of them!
~~~
If you wish to stay somewhere else, check those pages:
Best options
The fastest: shuttle/taxi (for Bilbao, San Sebastian et Irun)
The cheapest: bus
The simplest beside shuttle/taxi: Bilbao: bus // San Sebastian: bus // Irun: transfer to Hendaye
+ rest of the jounrey
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By train
No direct transport to Saint Jean Pied de Port
From Bilbao: trains ar available but they would take a lot more time than other means of transport (eg: 5h30 for Bilbao-Irun, 5h for Bilbao-Pamplona)
San Sebastian → Pampoluna: direct, ~1h45
- With RENFE/ALVIA
- Warning! 1 train per day!
Towards France:
- Various regional lines allow you to get to Irun (see below)
- In Irun, cross the border to get to Hendaye (then see dedicated tab)
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With a long-distance bus
No direct transport to Saint Jean Pied de Port, take a bus to Pamplona or Bayonne (then see dedicated tabs)
From Bilbao:
- → Pampoluna: direct, ~2h20
- Company: Autobuses La Union
- Line P58, Bilbao → Pamplona
- Stops: Bilbao-Termibus → Pamplona-Estación de Autobuses
- Tickets: online or on the bus
- → Bayonne: direct, ~2h-3h40 depending on the bus
- Companies: Flixbus ou Alsa
- Stops: Bilbao-Termibus → Bayonne Place des Basques
From San Sebastian:
- → Pamplona: direct, ~1-2h depending on the bus
- Company: Conda
- Buy your ticket online on the ALSA website
- Company: Conda
- → Bayonne: direct, ~1h-1h20 depending on the bus
- Companies: Flixbus, Alsa ou Blablacar bus
From Irun:
- → Pamplona: no bus
- → Bayonne: not direct
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Taxi or pilgrim shuttle
Direct transport to Saint Jean Pied de Port
- Check availabilities/conditions, then book your journey directly with the chosen company
- Based in France:
- Based in Spain:
- TaxNavarra
- You can also check local taxis in Bilbao, San Sebastian and Irun
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Other options
Carpooling:
- Search (and find!) a carpooling on Blabla Car
- There are often journey from Bilbao/San Sebastian.Irun to Bayonne/Pamplona
- Try your luck and look for a direct trip to Saint Jean Pied de Port... unlikely but you knows!
- Pay attention to the rendez-vous points, they can be unpractical!
Hitchhiking: Why not?!
On foot: from Bilbao, San Sebastian, Irun:
- By following the Camino del Norte bacwards
- Warning! You'll have the marking backwards as well...
- Cross from Irun to Hendaye
- Once in France, follow the voie de la Nive
- 2-3 days walking
- Warning! Marking will be backwards...
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Get around Bilbao, San Sebastian, Irun
Useful pages:
- Bilbao:
- Cercanias train network
- Euskotren network (train, metro, tramway, bus)
- Bizkaia bus network
- Airport ↔ Bilbao center/Termibus
- Bizkaia network (see the airport website)
- line A3247 Airport-Termibus
- San Sebastian:
- Cercanias train network
- Donostia Transport urban transports
- Airport ↔ San Sebastian center
- Lurraldebus network (see the airport)
- various lines airport ↔ city center
- Irun:
Travel between San Sebastian - Irun ( - Hendaye) :
With Euskotren:
- San Sebastian → Irun → Hendaye: direct, ~35min
- Line E2, stations Amara → → Hendaia (terminus)
- Irun → Hendaye: direct, ~5min
- Ticket: at the station
- Then check the tab: "Hendaye"
With San Sebastian's Cercanias:
- San Sebastian → Irun: direct, ~35min
- Line C1 Irun – Brinkola, direction Irun
- stations Donostia-San Sebastián → Irun
- tickets: at the station
- Line C1 Irun – Brinkola, direction Irun
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Layover in Bilbao, San Sebastian, Irun?
All of those cities have pilgrim accommodations:
- Warning! You may need a credential to access some of them!
- Via Gronze: Bilbao; San Sebastian; Irun
~~~
If you wish to stay somewhere else, check those pages:
- the tourism websites of Bilbao, San Sebastian, Irun
- Hostel world
- Booking
- AirBNB
Best options
What most pilgrims do: train
The fastest: train
The cheapest: bus
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By train
No direct transport to Saint Jean Pied de Port, take a bus to Pamplona (then see dedicated tab)
Barcelona → Pamplona: direct, ~4h
- Train station: Barcelona Sants
- See below how to get to the station
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With a long distance bus
No direct transport to Saint Jean Pied de Port, take a bus to Pamplona (then see dedicated tab)
Barcelona → Pamplona: direct, 4h30-6h30 depending on the bus
- Bus stations in Barcelona:
- Barcelona Sants
- Barcelona Nord
- Warning! Check thoroughly from which one you should depart!
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Other options
Carpooling:
- Search (and find!) a carpooling on Blabla Car
- Trips for Barcelona → Pamplona are common (then, see dedicated tab)
- Try your luck and look for a direct trip to Saint Jean Pied de Port... unlikely but you knows!
- Pay attention to the rendez-vous points, they can be unpractical to reach!
Hitchhiking: Why not?!
.
Get around Barcelona
Useful pages:
- Transports Metropolitans Barcelona, TMB (metro, bus)
- Network map
- Access to the train and bus station Barcelona Sants
- Bus: various lines
- Metro: lines L3, L5
- Rodalies Catalunya (cercanias of Barcelona)
- Access to the train and bus station Barcelona Sants: R1, R2 North and South, R3, R4,
Airport Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat ↔ train and bus station Sants:
- Rodalies trains: line R2 North Zona universitaria-Aeropuerto
- Direct, ~20min
- Stops: Aeroporto (T2) ↔ Barcelona-Sants
- Take your ticket at a counter or a self-service machine
- Warning! Use it within 2h!
- Good to know: a long-distance train ticket allows you to get a Cercanias ticket for free. See part: "Plan your jouney", tab "Combinado Cercanias tickets"
- Bus: lines Aerobus
- Airport T1 or T2 ↔ Plaza de España
- Plaza de España ↔ Barcelona-Sants: 15min on foot
- Metro: TBM network, ligne 9
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Layover in Barcelona?
Check available accommodations here:
- the tourism website of the city (out of service at the last update...)
- Hostel World
- Booking
- AirBNB
On foot of course!
Directly from the Camino Frances, walking backwards
From the Camino del Norte, then taking the voie de la Nive in Hendaye. All of it walking backwards
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Public transportation
In general: bus or train, depending on availabilities
Get to Pamplona or Bayonne, they are the most practical cities to get to Saint Jean Pied de Port. If there are no direct transportation there, try Irun or Hendaye.
From those cities, see dedicated tabs
On the Camino Francés:
- Between Pamplona ↔ Logroño, bus La Estellesa and ALSA
- Beyond Logroño, check for trains and long distance buses
By plane
No direct transport for Saint Jean Pied de Port, take a national flight to Pamplona or Bayonne (then see dedicated tabs)
.
By train
No direct transport for Saint Jean Pied de Port, take a national flight to Pamplona or Irun/Hendaye (then see dedicated tabs)
.
By a long-distance bus
No direct transport for Saint Jean Pied de Port, take a national flight to Pamplona or Bayonne (then see dedicated tabs)
.
Other options
Carpooling:
- Search (and find!) a carpooling on Blabla Car
- Trips for Pamplona or Bayonne are common (then, see dedicated tab)
- Try your luck and look for a direct trip to Saint Jean Pied de Port... unlikely but you knows!
- Pay attention to the rendez-vous points, they can be unpractical to reach!
Hitchhiking: Why not?!
Plan your journey: research, tickets and transport tips
Preparing a trip is far from being easy, you could even say it’s kind of an art!
Seasoned traveler have knowledge and tricks they can use to make planning easier and faster.
Here are some of those, to make your life easier, help you find the perfect means of transport and get to Saint Jean Pied de Port like a pro!
General advice
Each person is different and there are many options available to get to Saint Jean Pied de Port.
What worked out for other pilgrims may not be ok for you!
Some people favor short transportation time, other comfort, other budget...
You need to decide what you think is most important to put together a trip that will be good for you!
Slow but steady... a Camino saying that applies just as well to trip planning!
Rushing can backfire and make you miss a good deal
Study and compare your options to find THE itinerary that will be perfect for you!
There are so many itineraries and so many means of transport!
This page helps you chose your itinerary but you still need to find your means of transport at your chosen date and time
Comparison websites are here to help you and there are many of them: use them to get to know your option and pick your itinerary
Non-exhaustive list of comparison website:
Most of time, you can adjust parameters to fit your need: language, currency, country... check it out!
- Itineraries / multi-transport:
- Multi-transport:
- Kayak (plane, train)
- Plane:
- Train:
- Long distance bus:
- Check My Bus
- ComparaBUS
- Bus Radar
- Movelia (Spain)
- Covoiturage:
Most of time, the faster or the more comfortable, the more expensive
Or, the cheaper, the more time you spend in transport... sometimes with 1001 connections!
There's no point to ruin you to arrive faster, but there's no point either to save a bit of money if you arrive exhausted in Saint Jean Pied de Port...
Find a good balance between budget/comfort/time of travel
As much as possible, be open to adapt your date of travel or your itinerary
If you accept to travel during the week rather than on weekends, you can probably save some money
Some itinerary can also be less expensive than others, or have interesting deals
When looking for a flight, check flights with connections: they can be quite comfortable and a lot less expensive than direct flights
Flights
Buy it in advance!
You can do it yourself online, nowadays it's both easy and secure
Shop directly on the airline company's website or through a comparison website
Compare flights
There are many website available that allow you to compare flights and prices for any itinerary you're interested in
I personally use Skyscanner when I travel by plane but there are many others! Momondo, Kayak, Google Flight, etc etc.
Chose yours and here you go! Compare!
Don't hesitate to use several website to increase your chances to fin THE perfect flight at the best price
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Compare, compare, compare!
Test all possible options and combinations
See what airport are close to you; there may be several, and one maybe more interesting than the others
Test each option with the entry points I suggest in this post
Compare the flights you find with those of the airline companies themselves, there can be some advantageous variations in prices
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Connections
Be very careful to chose flights that leave you enough time to do your connection peacefully!
.
Be flexible and smart
I said it before, being flexible in your plans can help you save some money!
Test your itineraries according to the low cost routes in Europe that take you close to Saint Jean Pied de Port
For example, low cost flights arrive in Biarritz from London, Brussels or Dublin
Check is there are any advantageous flight between the airport nearest to your home and those cities
If so, you could take this flight, then continue your journey with the low cost company
Check the "Arrival" page of the airports to know which low cost companies go in the airport you're interested in (see tab "Airports")
Here are some of the European low cost companies:
Vueling, Ryanair, Easyjet, Eurowings, Transavia
Warning! It could imply you'll need to manage your own connections! With only a carry-on, it would not be a problem
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Packs of pilgrims
If you travel a group, buy tickets separately and not everyone's at once
This way, you'll pay the best price possible for each ticket instead of paying all tickets at the price of the most expensive among them
(when several seats are bought together, airlines level their prices based on the highest rate)
Chose seats next to each other when you check out so you can still be together
Taking the train in France
In France, the SNCF (Société nationale des chemins de fer français, National Company of French Railways) operates the railroad network.
(Info only, this is not a sales website)
France is well know for its strikes… They often have a big impact on trains, that are bluntly cancelled! Check this page before you book anything, to see if there’s already a strike planned when you want to travel!
There are different types of train in France
Here are the ones pilgrims should care about to get to Saint Jean Pied de Port:
- TGV trains (Train à Grande Vitesse, high speed train), used for national main-lines. Served by different type of trains, like inOui, idTGV, Ouigo.
- "Intercités" trains, used for national main-lines that are not served by high speed trains
- TER trains (Transport Express Régional, regional express transport), used for regional trips. Each French region has its own network!
One itinerary can be served with several types of trains.
For example, Toulouse-Bayonne can be done in TGV, Intercité or TER... oa a mix of those trains!
For what itineraries?
For itineraries that combine several successive legs done within the same day, regardless of the type of train involved
Por example, Paris-Bayonne-Saint Jean Pied de Port (national TGV line + regional TER line)
Or Bordeaux-Bayonne-Saint Jean Pied de Port (TER + TER)
You buy all of your journey in only one ticket, that includes all of your connections
If you want/must do the itinerary in a non-consecutive way (eg if you want to stop somewhere to visit or to stop over), you have to buy 2 separate tickets
.
Booking or not booking?
Yes or no...
From the moment your itinerary includes a national main-line, booking ahead is required
Sales open at the earliest 4 months before the date of the journey
.
Buying your ticket
You can buy your ticket yourself online, directly on the SNCF website (adjust the parameter according to your location!)
Another way is to buy your ticket through Trainline or Rail Europe, for instance if the SNCF website makes problem to conclude the sale...
Good to know, those websites have a booking fee
In case of short lines (eg Hendaye-Bayonne) or mishaps (missed train!) you can buy your ticket directly at the train station (see dedicated tab)
.
Misc
Punch your ticket once if all of the connections are on one ticket
If you have several tickets you need to puch them all!
You don't need to punch you ticket if you have an e-ticket or if you printed it at home
See tab: "Punch your ticket!" for more info
For what itineraries?
National main-lines tickets only
For example: Paris-Bayonne or Hendaye/Bordeaux/Toulouse/Pau/Lourdes-Bayonne.
Bayonne-Saint Jean Pied de Port is served by a regional line: it doesn't fit in this catagory!
→ See tab: "TER Tickets"
Booking or not booking?
Yes, buy those tickets ahead!
Booking is required and sales open 4 months ahead
Buying your ticket
Prices are dynamic and change according to a number of features (weekend, holidays, class, etc)
Where can you buy your ticket?
- Online, directl on the SNCF website
- Via Trainline or Rail Europe, if you've had some trouble to conclude your transactions with the SNCF website… Good to know, those websites charge a booking fee
In case of short lines (eg Hendaye-Bayonne) or mishaps (missed train!) you can buy your ticket directly at the train station (see dedicated tab)
Misc
If you need to, think of punching your ticket! (see dedicated tab)
Seats are assigned: sit at the place marked on your ticket
Case of Intercités trains
On shorter lines, booking ahead is no necessary
In this case, you can sit where you like
For what itineraries?
For regional lines:
- Bayonne-Saint Jean Pied de Port,
- Hendaye/Bordeaux/Toulouse/Pau/Lourdes-Bayonne
Booking or not booking?
No, no need to book ahead. Sales are unlimited and your trip is guaranteed
Buying your ticket
Fixed prices: they depend only on the lenght of your trip
( =buying those trips ahead/at the last second minute doesn't change the price)
Where ca noy buy your ticket?
- Directly at the train station (see dedicated tab)
- If you prefer to buy it ahead, you can do so online
- on the SNCF website
- via Trainline or Rail Europe, if you have trouble concluding your transaction… Good to know, those website charge a booking fee
- on the website of the correct regional TER network:
⊗ TER Nouvelle-Aquitaine for trips from Bordeaux, Hendaye, Pau, Lourdes/Tarbes
⊗ TER Occitanie for trips from Toulouse and for some trains from Lourdes/Tarbes
Misc
Punch your ticket! (see dedicated tab)
No seat assigned, you can sit where you want!
Ticket office
Careful about the opening times!
Plan with a possible waiting line...
Self-service machines
- Working 24/7
- Multi-lingual
- Payment accepted:
- chip/PIN card (contactless is rare)
- coins (TER machines only)
- no payment with your phone!
Be careful to buy your ticket from the correct self-service machine
There "main-line" machines and "TER" machines: you can't buy a main-line ticket on a TER machine and vice versa
Main-line machines read "SNCF grandes lignes", they can be white-grey or yellow-grey
TER machines read "Billet TER", they are 99% of time blue
.
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E-tickets and print-at-home tickets don't need to be validated
For your ticket to be valid, you must validate it BEFORE you board the train
It's impossible to do it on board!
If you don't validate your ticket, you can be fined for it...
If you have 1 ticket with several connections on it, validate it once before boarding the 1st train
If you have several tickets, all of them need to be validated.
You can do it at once, before you board your 1st train
Validation machines are yellow (see picture below)
You can find them in the train station and/or at the entrances of the platforms
Warning, you can rarely find one on the platforms themselves!
It's the case in Bayonne: validation machines are inside the station, right at the sliding doors that open to the platform
No machines on the platforms!
No time to buy your ticket?
Board the train and seek the ticket inspector on your own initiative to let him know of your situation, preferably BEFORE he come to check the tickets
As you find the inspector you will be able to buy your ticket from him/her. You'll have to pay a little extra for buying it in the train (even if it's not your fault!)
If you don't do it and wait to be checked, you may be fined for cheating and required to pay your ticket at a higher price than normal
No time to validate your ticket before you board the train?
Seek the ticket inspector on your own initiative to inform him of your situation BEFORE s.he comes to check on you. Your credibility increases if you're sweating, redden and out of breath 😉
If you don't do it and wait to be checked, you may be fined for cheating and required to pay your ticket at a higher price than normal
Taking the train in Spain
In Spain, the RENFE (Red nacional de los ferrocarriles españoles, Railway Infrastructure Administration) operates the railroad network.
Note: Euskotren operates the lines along the coast of the Basque Country; information relevant to this post are in the part “Getting there from Spain“, tab “Bilbao / San Sebastian / Irun”.
2 types of train are of interest for a pilgrim who wants to get to Saint Jean Pied de Port
- Main-line trains, served by AVE (Alta Velocidad Española), Alvia ou Avlo trains
- Express regional trains called Cercanias (or Rodalies in Catalonia), very useful and practical for your connections in Madrid and Barcelona thanks to the tickets Combinado Cercanias
For example: Madrid-Pamplona or Barcelona-Pamplona
Booking or not booking?
Yes, buy your ticket ahead!
Booking is required
Sales opening is a bit random...
In theory it's 90 days ahead for the AVE trains ans 60 days ahead for other trains but it's not always the case! It happens that sales open only 30 days ahead...
So, don't worry if it seems there's no train! Let's say it's an occasion to work on our patience skills 😉
Buying your ticket
Prices vary according to a good number of factors (weekend, holidays, vacations, class, etc)
You can buy your ticket online, directly on the RENFE website
However, this website is known to cause problem for sales from outside of Spain, so don't hesitate to buy your ticket through Trainline or Rail Europe!
Good to know though, those website charge a small booking fee
In case of mishaps (missed train! ) you can buy your ticket directly at the train station, at a counter or a self-service machine
Misc
Seats are assigned: sit at the place marked on your ticket
Those ticket include the use of the Cercanias before and after your journey
→ see dedicated tab
Cercanias, or Rodalies in Catalan, are the names given to the express regional train networks around some of the largest cities in Spain
Those networks are operated by the RENFE
Madrid and Barcelona have those; Pamplona no!
What are Combinado Cercanias tickets?
Every AVE or other long-distance ticket includes the use of the Cercanias in the cities of departure and arrival
You can use the Cercanias of Madrid or Rodalies of Barcelones for free 4h ahead of your departure of your train
There are no Cercanias in Pamplona
How does it work?
You must have a AVE or a long-distance ticket
With this ticket, buy a Combinado Cercanias ticket at a counter or a self-service machine (eg at the airport)
Use the numerical/QR/bar code given on your ticket to get this ticket for free
You need to use the ticket within 2h after you bought it; for a maximum of 4 h before the departure of your train
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Long distance bus
Use a comparison website
There are many! They can help you to find the trip you need and compare available offers
Chose yours and here you are! Compare!
Don't hesitate to use several of them to increase our chances to find THE perfect bus for you
Compare, compare, compare
Test all the options you can think of, there may be some more interesting than others
Start with the destinations I mention in this post and favor journey to Bayonne or Pamplona
Think of comparing the buses you find with the ones displayed on the company itself, there may be some favorable price variations
Buy your ticket ahead!
You can no it online, it's easy ans secure
Directly on the bus company website or through a comparison website
Bus Pampelune - Saint Jean Pied de Port
This line is served by a CONDA bus
You don't need to book ahead, you can buy your ticket on board.
If you chose to book it anyways, you need to do it through the ALSA website (not CONDA!)
Long distance transport by bus shot up the past few years, it's become very easy to travel across Europe by bus, from anywhere to anywhere!
Main companies:
Bus comparison websites:
- Check My Bus
- ComparaBUS
- Bus Radar
- Movelia (Spain)
Here you are, welcome to Saint Jean Pied de Port! Congratulations for a well-planned journey!
Your Camino is now only starting…
Buen Camino, Ultreïa!
Further on along your Camino:
This post is also available in Français.