Paris to Pamplona

[Kiwi-family]

My brother-and-sister-in-law will be arriving in Paris at 9:30pm in mid May after a necessarily long flight from New Zealand. Due to the fact that he is recovering from cancer and has just had open heart surgery three months ago, they have decided to start their camino in Pamplona (most of the threads in this section are about getting to SJPdP). Rome2rio suggests a number of options....just wondering if anyone has real experience that might be useful in helping them decide. They are thinking a night in Paris is probably a good idea, then they'd like the most straightforward (and hopefully cheapest) option. Interestingly some of the Rome2rio routes suggested turn out to be not so helpful because when you click through to the bus service it says there isn't one. Any suggestions?

 

[OTH86]

My brother-and-sister-in-law will be arriving in Paris at 9:30pm in mid May after a necessarily long flight from New Zealand. Due to the fact that he is recovering from cancer and has just had open heart surgery three months ago, they have decided to start their camino in Pamplona (most of the threads in this section are about getting to SJPdP). Rome2rio suggests a number of options....just wondering if anyone has real experience that might be useful in helping them decide. They are thinking a night in Paris is probably a good idea, then they'd like the most straightforward (and hopefully cheapest) option. Interestingly some of the Rome2rio routes suggested turn out to be not so helpful because when you click through to the bus service it says there isn't one. Any suggestions?

Just did this about three weeks ago - EASY! I arrived at Orly, and took Orly Bus to Denfert-Rochereau and stayed three nights at the Hotel Du Lion (that spelling), just around the corner on Ave General LeClerc. Took the train from Montparnasse to Hendaye, crossed the border and got the Euskotren to San Sebastian, and an Alsa Bus to Pamplona. If one is over 60, one can get a Carte Avantage Sénior 60 on line (French train) and take an inOui train - I got the 10.11 train that got to Hendaye at 14.49. The bus station and Euskotren stations (in San Seb.) are about a 15 minute walk apart, and a bus leaves about a half hour after that train gets you to San Seb. Let me know if you need more info.

 

[J Willhaus]

My brother-and-sister-in-law will be arriving in Paris at 9:30pm in mid May after a necessarily long flight from New Zealand. Due to the fact that he is recovering from cancer and has just had open heart surgery three months ago, they have decided to start their camino in Pamplona (most of the threads in this section are about getting to SJPdP). Rome2rio suggests a number of options....just wondering if anyone has real experience that might be useful in helping them decide. They are thinking a night in Paris is probably a good idea, then they'd like the most straightforward (and hopefully cheapest) option. Interestingly some of the Rome2rio routes suggested turn out to be not so helpful because when you click through to the bus service it says there isn't one. Any suggestions?

Wondering why they didn't elect to fly to Madrid? Connections to Pamplona are more direct from there? Could add that on to their Paris leg. Then plane, train, bus to Pamplona.

 

[WalkingInGers]

You could try FLIXBUS. I think they have Direct buses from Paris to Pamplona with departures late evening and arrivals in the mornings around 10AM. They are relatively cheap with about 60 euros one way. Comfortable as well.

 

[OCHAR]

Just did this about three weeks ago - EASY! I arrived at Orly, and took Orly Bus to Denfert-Rochereau and stayed three nights at the Hotel Du Lion (that spelling), just around the corner on Ave General LeClerc. Took the train from Montparnasse to Hendaye, crossed the border and got the Euskotren to San Sebastian, and an Alsa Bus to Pamplona. If one is over 60, one can get a Carte Avantage Sénior 60 on line (French train) and take an inOui train - I got the 10.11 train that got to Hendaye at 14.49. The bus station and Euskotren stations (in San Seb.) are about a 15 minute walk apart, and a bus leaves about a half hour after that train gets you to San Seb. Let me know if you need more info.

I second this advice as I did the same a few years ago.

 

[Kiwi-family]

Wondering why they didn't elect to fly to Madrid? Connections to Pamplona are more direct from there? Could add that on to their Paris leg. Then plane, train, bus to Pamplona.

They got an amazing special on Auckland to Paris and figured they would work out the details later. We could look at a flight to Madrid from Paris - I didn’t think of that. Thanks.

You could try FLIXBUS. I think they have Direct buses from Paris to Pamplona with departures late evening and arrivals in the mornings around 10AM. They are relatively cheap with about 60 euros one way. Comfortable as well.

How comfortable? (Seriously) After 36 hours flying and with compromised health, it would need to be more like a bed than a bus!!!

@OTH86 thanks for your details. They fly in to CDG but your info will still be helpful to them. Did you book your tickets in advance?

 

[WalkingInGers]

They got an amazing special on Auckland to Paris and figured they would work out the details later. We could look at a flight to Madrid from Paris - I didn’t think of that. Thanks.

How comfortable? (Seriously) After 36 hours flying and with compromised health, it would need to be more like a bed than a bus!!!

@OTH86 thanks for your details. They fly in to CDG but your info will still be helpful to them. Did you book your tickets in advance?

then take the TGV to Irun and then the train or bus to Pamplon!

 

[Tincatinker]

I suggest they factor at least two nights in Paris. A visit to the musee rodin and an hour or two spent with Ugolino and his children helps put the whole world in perspective

The transport logistics have been covered above. Train to Irun bus to Pamplona would be my choice but I could never be in a rush to leave Paris

 

[Kiwi-family]

@Tincatinker they were going to have three or four days in Paris at the start of their trip, but because they are leaving later than they had hoped (because of the cheap flight), they want to get walking ASAP to avoid the heat. Instead, they are having a week at the end (and a week on a Greek island)! WIN WIN WIN for them.
In case anyone else reads this thread, the "fly to Madrid and bus from the airport to Pamplona" turned out to be the cheapest option (but other factors may influence your own decision)

 

[OTH86]

@OTH86 thanks for your details. They fly in to CDG but your info will still be helpful to them. Did you book your tickets in advance?

I booked the train from Montparnasse to Hendaye on-line using my senior discount on SNCF a few days before my departure from the US. The Euskotren can be paid for at an easy-to-use machine at the station in Spain - a short walk across the border. The Alsa bus ticket I got shortly before the bus left San Sebastian - from a machine in the station that was also easy to use - with locals helping! One can use credit card or cash... I used cc.

Does anyone know? but isn't there a bus from CDG to city center - similar to Orly bus - I find those (almost) direct buses easier to navigate than the metro over that distance - but ymmv...

 

[lalaone]

Does anyone know? but isn't there a bus from CDG to city center - similar to Orly bus - I find those (almost) direct buses easier to navigate than the metro over that distance - but ymmv...

RoissyBus goes from CDG to Opera. I've never tried Orly bus but would like to someday. It's been years but Orly airport is faster and more manageable than CDG in my experience. Anyway, I would highly recommend RoissyBus - nothing but good experiences.

https://www.parisaeroport.fr/en/passengers/access/paris-charles-de-gaulle/public-transport/roissybus

 

[jouffroy47]

My brother-and-sister-in-law will be arriving in Paris at 9:30pm in mid May after a necessarily long flight from New Zealand. Due to the fact that he is recovering from cancer and has just had open heart surgery three months ago, they have decided to start their camino in Pamplona (most of the threads in this section are about getting to SJPdP). Rome2rio suggests a number of options....just wondering if anyone has real experience that might be useful in helping them decide. They are thinking a night in Paris is probably a good idea, then they'd like the most straightforward (and hopefully cheapest) option. Interestingly some of the Rome2rio routes suggested turn out to be not so helpful because when you click through to the bus service it says there isn't one. Any suggestions?

I was going in the opposite direction, but took a bus to Pamplona with a change in San Sebastián, to Biarritz, and then flew AirFrance's low-cost airline, Transavia, to Paris.

 

[jouffroy47]

I was going in the opposite direction, but took a bus [Alsa] to Pamplona with a change in San Sebastián, to Biarritz, and then flew AirFrance's low-cost airline, Transavia, to Paris [Orly].

 

[GraemeHall]

I booked the train from Montparnasse to Hendaye on-line using my senior discount on SNCF a few days before my departure from the US. The Euskotren can be paid for at an easy-to-use machine at the station in Spain - a short walk across the border. The Alsa bus ticket I got shortly before the bus left San Sebastian - from a machine in the station that was also easy to use - with locals helping! One can use credit card or cash... I used cc.

Does anyone know? but isn't there a bus from CDG to city center - similar to Orly bus - I find those (almost) direct buses easier to navigate than the metro over that distance - but ymmv...

I always take the train from CDG to Paris - get off at Gare du Nord or further on, depending on where my accommodation is.

 

[OTH86]

I always take the train from CDG to Paris - get off at Gare du Nord or further on, depending on where my accommodation is.

Ahh, yes the train - not Metro - would be better - does it go - eventually - to Gare Montparnasse - for the trip south? I think I still like staying near Denfret Rochereau, and walking to Montparnasse via the delightful Rue Daguerre!! - only about a km's walk...

 

[GraemeHall]

Ahh, yes the train - not Metro - would be better - does it go - eventually - to Gare Montparnasse - for the trip south? I think I still like staying near Denfret Rochereau, and walking to Montparnasse via the delightful Rue Daguerre!! - only about a km's walk...

According to my map it has a stop at Denfert-Rocherau (5 stops after Gare du Nord).

 

[Kirkie]

I suggest they factor at least two nights in Paris. A visit to the musee rodin and an hour or two spent with Ugolino and his children helps put the whole world in perspective

The transport logistics have been covered above. Train to Irun bus to Pamplona would be my choice but I could never be in a rush to leave Paris

Apart from anything else, I second the Rodin suggestion. It is connected to my past in a strange way!

 

[alwalker]

Wondering why they didn't elect to fly to Madrid? Connections to Pamplona are more direct from there? Could add that on to their Paris leg. Then plane, train, bus to Pamplona.

What transport did they decide from Paris??? I need to get to SJPP 30 April. cheers Al

 

[Kiwi-family]

They are ending up flying from CDG to Biarritz and taking an ALSA bus to Pamplona