Arriving in Irun

[pmozen]

Hello All!
I'm planning my Norte Camino to begin in mid-May and go through Mid-June. I'll be coming from U.S. and planning to arrive in Bilbao and need advice on how to get to IRUN. I've been told there are trains but have yet to find anything through Renfre or Euskotren. Any advice is much appreciated. Thank you.

 

[trecile]

It's possible (probable) that the train schedule for May is not yet available.
And according to Rome2Rio.com, the bus will be faster.

Wherever you want to go - Alsa

Buy bus tickets at the best price. At Alsa we offer bus rental, travel deals, on-board services and information on routes and schedules.

www.alsa.com

 

[oursonpolaire]

Rome2Rio will s how you a choice of three trains taking the better part of five hours, or an Alsa bus taking 1hr45.

 

[OTH86]

Maybe the Feve train that runs along the north coast of Spain -- slow...but a beautiful trip.

	renfe.com/viajeros/fev

 

[TravellingMan22]

Hello All!
I'm planning my Norte Camino to begin in mid-May and go through Mid-June. I'll be coming from U.S. and planning to arrive in Bilbao and need advice on how to get to IRUN. I've been told there are trains but have yet to find anything through Renfre or Euskotren. Any advice is much appreciated. Thank you.

There is an option to stay 2 nights in San Sebastián and take an early morning bus to Irun and walk back (meaning you can leave your pack in San Sebastian). Worked for me anyway!

 

[Former member 104756]

As suggested by @trecile - the ALSA bus. I've recently looked into this for a family member who will be travelling from Bilbao to Irun in about 10 days from now. The ALSA bus was the quickest option. The journey takes 1h 50 mins - and has one stop in San Sebastian, if you want to do what @TravellingMan22 suggests.

 

[DirtAmy]

Euskotren timetables are here: www.euskotren.eus/en/tren/schedules
I believe it's line E1 from Bilbao to Amara Donostia (San Sebastian) then line E2 from Amara Donostia to Irun.
As there's a change, you might be more comfortable choosing bus. But I love the clean, new, cheap, easy Euskotren trains.

 

[davejsy]

Take the train if you have time, realx and see the beautiful scenery, especially along the coast that you'll be walking back along. It is straightforward and not expensive despite needing a change. They won't show results that far in advance, but for example if you put in dates now you get many options such as below:

 

[Vacajoe]

Or fly into Bayonne and start walking from there! It’s a beautiful walk along the coastline to Irun and you can literally start from the airport without any need for a bus or train

 

[crackmrmac]

Euskotren timetables are here: www.euskotren.eus/en/tren/schedules
I believe it's line E1 from Bilbao to Amara Donostia (San Sebastian) then line E2 from Amara Donostia to Irun.
As there's a change, you might be more comfortable choosing bus. But I love the clean, new, cheap, easy Euskotren trains.

This is a small station with all platforms close together so transfer from one train to another is simple.
There's also a toilet in that area of station!

 

[naplesdon]

Follow up to Vacajoe's comment. There is hostel in Biarritz on the Camino in La Negresse which is only one day's walk from Irun. It is close to the airport and train station.

 

[Former member 104756]

Walking from Biarritz is definitely a good option, if you are flying into Biarritz. It's an easy walk along the Coast. If Bilbao, I'd go with the ALSA bus.

 

[jterzino]

We flew into Madrid, then caught an inexpensive flight to the San Sebastián Airport. It’s actually in Irun, and a five minute taxi ride takes you right to the city center.

 

[Madis]

I took a train from the French side to Hendaye and walked from there myself, BUT people who I met on the Norte took the train from Bilbao and loved the views. You will see the trail

 

[Jeff B]

It's possible (probable) that the train schedule for May is not yet available.
And according to Rome2Rio.com, the bus will be faster.

Wherever you want to go - Alsa

Buy bus tickets at the best price. At Alsa we offer bus rental, travel deals, on-board services and information on routes and schedules.

www.alsa.com

this is highly likely

 

[peregrina2000]

We flew into Madrid, then caught an inexpensive flight to the San Sebastián Airport. It’s actually in Irun, and a five minute taxi ride takes you right to the city center.

If you’re flying from Madrid, @pmozen, you’d save a lot of time by flying right into San Sebastián, instead of flying to Bilbao and then taking a bus or train to Irún, as @jterzino suggests. Even better than a five minute taxi ride, the SS airport is only about a 20 minute walk from the airport to downtown Irún. And unlike walking out of some other airports, this is totally safe and protected from traffic.

 

[Catastrophi]

Just to add some more info:
The main bus service between Bilbao and Donostia/San Sebastian is run by PESA.

Timetables and Trips - Transportes PESA, S.A.

www.pesa.net

There are buses from Bilbao airport and Bilbao intermodal (the bus station) to Donostia, from where you can catch the "Topo" (Euskotren) or bus to Irun. The travel duration is about 1:30 h.
The Euskotren station (Amara) is about 10 min walking distance from the Donostia bus station. Do not confuse this with the RENFE station, which is just next to the train station.
Please also have a look at BlaBlaCar bus, which is cheaper thatn the PESA.

https://www.blablacar.es/bus

ALSA also has a couple of services per day from Bilbo to Donosti.

As suggested by others, Euskotren from Bilbao is another option, and takes about 3 hours to reach Irun from Bilbo.