Advice on getting to St Jean Pied de Port

[Elle532]

Hi everyone, after months of gathering gear on the off chance I could find a way to walk the Camino Frances this fall, things are falling into place and I have secured time away from work. Now I just need to book a plane from Canada and get there. I think I can fly into Paris and just catch a train to St Jean Pied de Port right from the airport. This oddly seems too easy. Does anyone have any tips or experience with this route? Is there something I'm missing? Any advice is appreciated. I'm looking to leave in the next 10 days or so. Yikes.

 

[Peter Fransiscus]

Hi everyone, after months of gathering gear on the off chance I could find a way to walk the Camino Frances this fall, things are falling into place and I have secured time away from work. Now I just need to book a plane from Canada and get there. I think I can fly into Paris and just catch a train to St Jean Pied de Port right from the airport. This oddly seems too easy. Does anyone have any tips or experience with this route? Is there something I'm missing? Any advice is appreciated. I'm looking to leave in the next 10 days or so. Yikes.

You can look here ,
www.Rome2rio.com

 

[Elle532]

You can look here ,
www.Rome2rio.com

Thanks!! It looks like I can just hop a train and it's about 6 hours.

 

[Ianinam]

You can take the TGV (fast train) from Paris to Bayonne and from Bayonne the local train to SJPdP. For this train you can buy tickets at the vending machine at Bayonne.

 

[Elle532]

You can take the TGV (fast train) from Paris to Bayonne and from Bayonne the local train to SJPdP. For this train you can buy tickets at the vending machine at Bayonne.

Ah! This is really helpful. Thank you for the tip!!

 

[Rex]

Congratulations and Buen Camino on your good fortune to be out walking The Way.
From personal experience, if you are flying overnight from Canada and then catching the TGV to Bayonne/Biarritz, you might consider staying in Bayonne overnight. Jet lag caught up with us late on the day we traveled (overnight from Seattle to CDG to Bayonne) so we stayed in Bayonne overnight and caught the first train to Saint Jean the next morning and started walking from the Pilgrim Office.
The TGV leaves right from the lower level of CDG Terminal 2, so it is as easy as you have discovered. As mentioned above, you have to purchase a separate ticket (or at least that is what we did) from Bayonne to SJPDP.
Bon Chemin

 

[Mahonsk]

You can take the TGV (fast train) from Paris to Bayonne and from Bayonne the local train to SJPdP. For this train you can buy tickets at the vending machine at Bayonne.

This is how we journeyed in May.

 

[Vince Rollason]

Hi everyone, after months of gathering gear on the off chance I could find a way to walk the Camino Frances this fall, things are falling into place and I have secured time away from work. Now I just need to book a plane from Canada and get there. I think I can fly into Paris and just catch a train to St Jean Pied de Port right from the airport. This oddly seems too easy. Does anyone have any tips or experience with this route? Is there something I'm missing? Any advice is appreciated. I'm looking to leave in the next 10 days or so. Yikes.

Yes it is really easy. Train from Montparnasse Station in Paris to Bayonne then change to local train to SJPDP.

 

[Cleenjones]

Hi everyone, after months of gathering gear on the off chance I could find a way to walk the Camino Frances this fall, things are falling into place and I have secured time away from work. Now I just need to book a plane from Canada and get there. I think I can fly into Paris and just catch a train to St Jean Pied de Port right from the airport. This oddly seems too easy. Does anyone have any tips or experience with this route? Is there something I'm missing? Any advice is appreciated. I'm looking to leave in the next 10 days or so. Yikes.

Hi Elle532 from Canada,
I’m leaving from Toronto to SJPP Sept 4th-1 week today!! I opted to take a connecting flight to Biarritz to avoid a 7+ hr train ride to Bayonne.
I’m going to overnight in Bayonne to catch up on sleep and then go to SJPP first thing the next morning. The theory is I’ll arrive in SJPP less jet lagged / travel weary.
If you haven’t checked out the Rome2rio app already, I highly recommend taking a look. It will show you all the different ways you can get to SJPP with approximate costs and timing.

 

[Elle532]

Congratulations and Buen Camino on your good fortune to be out walking The Way.
From personal experience, if you are flying overnight from Canada and then catching the TGV to Bayonne/Biarritz, you might consider staying in Bayonne overnight. Jet lag caught up with us late on the day we traveled (overnight from Seattle to CDG to Bayonne) so we stayed in Bayonne overnight and caught the first train to Saint Jean the next morning and started walking from the Pilgrim Office.
The TGV leaves right from the lower level of CDG Terminal 2, so it is as easy as you have discovered. As mentioned above, you have to purchase a separate ticket (or at least that is what we did) from Bayonne to SJPDP.
Bon Chemin

Thanks for the info. and well wishes! I'm expecting some pretty harsh jet lag. Sleep is a big challenge for me at the best of times. I was thinking of getting a hotel in SJDP the first night. I'll look into the Bayonne option as well. I'm making a bit of an assumption that SJPD is a small town that will be easy to navigate with vacancy. Did you walk all the way to Roncesvalles your first day? (thanks again for the tips!)

 

[tlandry]

After Landing in CDG from Halifax Canada, we took an Easy Jet Flight to Biarritz from CDG and caught a shuttle operated by Express Bourricot. They are based out of St Jean Pied de Port. Only a 50 minute drive arrive in plenty of time to check into Pilgrims office and our albergue, started next morning refreshed.
Originally we had planned to take the train, but with the poor track record of planes landing on time, it was a risk to get to Montparnasse in time to catch our train. Other option is to overnight in Paris, lovely city

 

[Elle532]

Hi Elle532 from Canada,
I’m leaving from Toronto to SJPP Sept 4th-1 week today!! I opted to take a connecting flight to Biarritz to avoid a 7+ hr train ride to Bayonne.
I’m going to overnight in Bayonne to catch up on sleep and then go to SJPP first thing the next morning. The theory is I’ll arrive in SJPP less jet lagged / travel weary.
If you haven’t checked out the Rome2rio app already, I highly recommend taking a look. It will show you all the different ways you can get to SJPP with approximate costs and timing.

Buen Camino - I'm excited for you! Maybe I'll see you on the trail! I'm hoping to fly out on September 5 so if all goes well I can begin walking on the 7th. Thanks for the tips! I appreciate all advice I get as I tend to just wing things. I'm looking at the Rome2Rio app now after all the recommendations.

 

[Elle532]

After Landing in CDG from Halifax Canada, we took an Easy Jet Flight to Biarritz from CDG and caught a shuttle operated by Express Bourricot. They are based out of St Jean Pied de Port. Only a 50 minute drive arrive in plenty of time to check into Pilgrims office and our albergue, started next morning refreshed.
Originally we had planned to take the train, but with the poor track record of planes landing on time, it was a risk to get to Montparnasse in time to catch our plane. Other option is to overnight in Paris, lovely city

Thanks tlandry! It's very helpful to know about that shuttle service. That's a good option that will get me there faster. I thought about staying in Paris overnight too but I think it might be better to start moving towards the Camino quickly and not get distracted by the sights (and shops)! lol

 

[joramos]

Hi everyone, after months of gathering gear on the off chance I could find a way to walk the Camino Frances this fall, things are falling into place and I have secured time away from work. Now I just need to book a plane from Canada and get there. I think I can fly into Paris and just catch a train to St Jean Pied de Port right from the airport. This oddly seems too easy. Does anyone have any tips or experience with this route? Is there something I'm missing? Any advice is appreciated. I'm looking to leave in the next 10 days or so. Yikes.

After much research, I surmised that the easier way to get to SJPdP if it is where you start your camino is from Paris. You can pretty much catch a train ride after you get off your plane at Charles de Gaulle then straight to SJPdP. If use Madrid, and/or Pamplona as transfer point to get to SJPdP, you have to worry about bus schedules and expensive taxi ride, maybe even spend a night at Pamplona to use bus service the next day. This is my 2 cents. Hope it helps. Stay safe.

 

[Elle532]

After much research, I surmised that the easier way to get to SJPdP if it is where you start your camino is from Paris. You can pretty much catch a train ride after you get off your plane at Charles de Gaulle then straight to SJPdP. If use Madrid, and/or Pamplona as transfer point to get to SJPdP, you have to worry about bus schedules and expensive taxi ride, maybe even spend a night at Pamplona to use bus service the next day. This is my 2 cents. Hope it helps. Stay safe.

Thanks for this! This is pretty much what my research is telling me too. I think the fewer transfers the better as I find navigating bus schedules challenging at best and my foreign language skills are weak.

 

[LesR]

Hi everyone, after months of gathering gear on the off chance I could find a way to walk the Camino Frances this fall, things are falling into place and I have secured time away from work. Now I just need to book a plane from Canada and get there. I think I can fly into Paris and just catch a train to St Jean Pied de Port right from the airport. This oddly seems too easy. Does anyone have any tips or experience with this route? Is there something I'm missing? Any advice is appreciated. I'm looking to leave in the next 10 days or so. Yikes.

TGV train to Bayonne departs from Gare Montparnesse.

I gather air travel can be a little chaotic at the moment, so depending n the time of arrival of your plane to airport and your risk appetite, you may or may not have enough time to catch a suburban train(s) to Montparnesse. If you are not confident on making the connections, a night (or two) in Paris/Montparnesse is not a bad alternative.

TGV to Bayonne is a very pleasant trip - very smooth and quiet. A "hill train" (country train?) takes you from Bayonne to SJPP.

Tickets can be booked on-line and either loaded onto your smart phone or printed before you leave home. Booking in advance is, I am told , cheaper than buying at the station, and reduces uncertainty.. Book at https://www.sncf.com/en

PS Google maps can be very helpful in navigating public transport in Paris - train routes and schedules are loaded into the app, and you can enter your starting point and your destination and choose the bus/train option....

 

[Rex]

Thanks for the info. and well wishes! I'm expecting some pretty harsh jet lag. Sleep is a big challenge for me at the best of times. I was thinking of getting a hotel in SJDP the first night. I'll look into the Bayonne option as well. I'm making a bit of an assumption that SJPD is a small town that will be easy to navigate with vacancy. Did you walk all the way to Roncesvalles your first day? (thanks again for the tips!)

I did walk all the way to Roncesvalles, but that might not have been the best idea. I didn't arrive there until almost 5pm and the descent from the top of the pass was very steep and quite slick in some places (this was in Sept and was a bit foggy and raining intermittently. The Pilgrim Office will have a weather report about the pass when you get your credential and first stamp. SJPDP is quite small and easily navigated but I don't have any knowledge about the accommodations available there.

 

[hawkeyepierce]

Taking a TGV from CDG requires a change of trains, but will be more convenient than taking the RER into Paris and then making your way to Gare Montparnasse with luggage. Paris has nearly a dozen long distance train stations and they are not easy to connect between.

 

[tlandry]

Thanks tlandry! It's very helpful to know about that shuttle service. That's a good option that will get me there faster. I thought about staying in Paris overnight too but I think it might be better to start moving towards the Camino quickly and not get distracted by the sights (and shops)! lol

There is room for a Paris visit on the way home

 

[trecile]

I did walk all the way to Roncesvalles, but that might not have been the best idea. I didn't arrive there until almost 5pm and the descent from the top of the pass was very steep and quite slick in some places (this was in Sept and was a bit foggy and raining intermittently. The Pilgrim Office will have a weather report about the pass when you get your credential and first stamp. SJPDP is quite small and easily navigated but I don't have any knowledge about the accommodations available there.

The Pilgrims Office usually recommends the more gentle route to the right for the descent into Roncesvalles. They always seem to have a story of someone who sprained their ankle or broke their arm the previous day while taking the steeper route.

 

[cronnik]

I took a flight with Iberia to Madrid and changed planes to a short 1 her flight to San Sebastián (Irun). A short taxi from the irun airport across the river border to Hendaye where the train station is right there. Train to Bayonne and then switch for SJPdP. It’s more transfers but I only mention it because I Erica flights tended to be cheaper last year when I did it but I don’t know if the difference would be significant to choose this option.

 

[JimG59]

The Pilgrims Office usually recommends the more gentle route to the right for the descent into Roncesvalles. They always seem to have a story of someone who sprained their ankle or broke their arm the previous day while taking the steeper route.

Is it fair to assume that the gentler route, via Ibaneta Pass, is sign posted ?

 

[cronnik]

Is it fair to assume that the gentler route, via Ibaneta Pass, is sign posted ?

I believe it is. I also recommend Mapy.cz app. If you download the region all the main and alternative routes show up on the gps map and it even shows your orientation on the map. Using this it was practically impossible to get lost.

 

[trecile]

Is it fair to assume that the gentler route, via Ibaneta Pass, is sign posted ?

I believe it is. I also recommend Mapy.cz app. If you download the region all the main and alternative routes show up on the gps map and it even shows your orientation on the map. Using this it was practically impossible to get lost.

Yes, it's marked.
I love mapy.cz because it has so many hiking and cycling trails built in without having to download extra files.

Camino apps like Buen Camino and Wise Pilgrim also show this safer alternate route.

Here it is on the Buen Camino app

 

[Rex]

The Pilgrims Office usually recommends the more gentle route to the right for the descent into Roncesvalles. They always seem to have a story of someone who sprained their ankle or broke their arm the previous day while taking the steeper route.

Funny you should mention the sprained ankle as that is exactly what happened to another pilgrim on that extremely steep downhill pitch just after the beginning of the descent. He slipped on wet leaves and sprained his ankle. When I encountered him he was up and walking very slowly with a big stick for support and cautioned me about my careening down the hill almost at a jog. After ensuring he was OK, I continued down the trail at a much more measured pace.

 

[jbl]

Hi everyone, after months of gathering gear on the off chance I could find a way to walk the Camino Frances this fall, things are falling into place and I have secured time away from work. Now I just need to book a plane from Canada and get there. I think I can fly into Paris and just catch a train to St Jean Pied de Port right from the airport. This oddly seems too easy. Does anyone have any tips or experience with this route? Is there something I'm missing? Any advice is appreciated. I'm looking to leave in the next 10 days or so. Yikes.

Hello Elle532!

I finished my first Camino 15 days ago and as you are at this moment, try just not to think too much in advance.
I was also thinking just like you " is oddly too easy". Cause i ve got connected flight from CDG to Bordeaux which was unfortunately late for more then hour n half so all my "connected" train tickets were not valid anymore and there was no chance to catch last train from Bayonne to SJPDP.
Although SCNF "allows" you to change train ticket reservation, but it s hard to manage it through app ( i don t speak french so maybe it was just my fault).
It all depends how much time you have from CDG to catch the all other trains. I would gladly take train over the plane cause you will enjoy your time and see a lot of France, and trains in France are much more "on time" then planes ( from my experience).

Give yourself time and do not rely on last flight/bus/train. Rather calculate one night to sleep over on your way from Paris to SJPDP.


Buen Camino!

 

[MassNative]

Hi we are going mid September Flight into CdG Airport. We choose to overnight in Paris, a hotel close to Gare Montparnasse. Then the TGV/local train to Bayonne/SJPdP the next morning. We thought a day walking arround Paris would help us manage Jet Lag better.
Getting on a 4+ hour TGV ride would put me right to sleep.....

Jim

 

[Rick M]

You have received some good suggestions here. It's natural to want to make a single minded B-Line to SJPP the moment you leave your home, I did on my first Camino. Yet, walking Camino is a long term proposition. Whether you start today or tomorrow is of no consequence in the grand scheme of things, but to a jet lagged and dehydrated body, an extra day on the front end to recover from travel is well advised. I have walked with many pilgrims who were in such a hurry to get going that they missed connections, didn't have time to pick up a SIM for their phone, and started Day 1 in a disoriented sleep deprived panic. If you can afford it, spend the night (or two!) in Paris near Montparnasse, enjoy the ambience, and drink lots of water. If your flight was late or your baggage went awry, who cares? You have time to get things fixed. Catching the TGV out of Paris is easy and enjoyable, and if you leave in the morning, you'll have plenty of time to wander around SJPP before leaving the next morning.

 

[naplesdon]

I don't want to add too many options to your travel planning, but Bilbao and Bordeaux are easy "gateway" cities for the Camino.
My cautions would be to heed the connection issues for transferring from CDG to the TGV at Montparnasse in Paris. Lots of the advice you are getting makes it sound like catching the train from Paris to Bayonne is sitting there at the station waiting for you on demand. It can take several hours to get across Paris depending on the time of day your flight arrives and the TGV south only runs every several hours, schedule your logisitcis carefully and give yourself lots of time to get from Point A to Point B.
Your comment about SJPdP being a small town is correct. That being said September is one of the busiest months there so reservations are definitely recommended.

 

[JimG59]

I don't want to add too many options to your travel planning, but Bilbao and Bordeaux are easy "gateway" cities for the Camino.
My cautions would be to heed the connection issues for transferring from CDG to the TGV at Montparnasse in Paris. Lots of the advice you are getting makes it sound like catching the train from Paris to Bayonne is sitting there at the station waiting for you on demand. It can take several hours to get across Paris depending on the time of day your flight arrives and the TGV south only runs every several hours, schedule your logisitcis carefully and give yourself lots of time to get from Point A to Point B.
Your comment about SJPdP being a small town is correct. That being said September is one of the busiest months there so reservations are definitely recommended.

Yes, this has been very worthwhile repeating.

 

[mikejm]

After Landing in CDG from Halifax Canada, we took an Easy Jet Flight to Biarritz from CDG and caught a shuttle operated by Express Bourricot. They are based out of St Jean Pied de Port. Only a 50 minute drive arrive in plenty of time to check into Pilgrims office and our albergue, started next morning refreshed.
Originally we had planned to take the train, but with the poor track record of planes landing on time, it was a risk to get to Montparnasse in time to catch our train. Other option is to overnight in Paris, lovely city

Hi tlandry. Thank you for this information. I fly from Toronto to Halifax to Paris to Biarritz Saturday Sept 3. Was planning to grab a bus to Bayonne and then train to SJPDP. Good to know there is an option for a shuttle bus directly to SJPDP. I will check that out. Thanks again.

 

[Lucas2544]

My plane lands in Paris Sept 26 at 10:45 am. There are two train options for me:
12:11 depart, Paris > Bayonne > SJPDP
14:06 depart, Paris > DAX (not sure what that is) > Bayonne > SJPDP
I'm thinking I won't have enougn time to get from the airport to the train station and make the 12:11 train?
I can take the 14:06 train but it arrives at SJPDP at 19:41. It would be a bummer to arrive at that time of night and miss the sites.

 

[Pafayac]

My plane lands in Paris Sept 26 at 10:45 am. There are two train options for me:
12:11 depart, Paris > Bayonne > SJPDP
14:06 depart, Paris > DAX (not sure what that is) > Bayonne > SJPDP
I'm thinking I won't have enougn time to get from the airport to the train station and make the 12:11 train?
I can take the 14:06 train but it arrives at SJPDP at 19:41. It would be a bummer to arrive at that time of night and miss the sites.

Dax is a small town in the south west of France.
If you land at Roissy on 10:45, I don't think you will be at Montparnasse early enough to get the 12:11 train.
Subways (RATP.fr site) shows a 1h trip, however...

 

[Kathor1]

14:06 depart, Paris > DAX (not sure what that is) > Bayonne > SJPDP

As @Pafayac has pointed out, you need to get from Charles de Gaulle airport in Roissy to the Paris Montparnasse train station on the other side of Paris to catch the 14:06 train as it is not certain that you can make it for the 12:11 train. My guess is that you would need to get through passport control at the airport without delay and be already familiar with the Paris transport system to make it.

Normally, the 14:06 train stops for 4 minutes in Dax and then continues to Bayonne but during 25-29 September 2022 it stops in Dax and you change to a slower regional train that takes you to Bayonne.

Buen Camino!

 

[Kathor1]

I can take the 14:06 train but it arrives at SJPDP at 19:41. It would be a bummer to arrive at that time of night and miss the sites.

Well, on the day of your arrival, the sun sets in SJPP at 19:57 and civil twilight ends at 20:24 so it’s not pitch black when you arrive or during the train journey from Bayonne. SJPP is a pretty little town but most pilgrims, at least that is my impression, are content with walking up and down the short main street with some old houses and the pilgrim welcome office. Which sites do you have in mind? As you come from California, it is of course worth considering how you want to deal with jet lag and whether you want to walk to Roncesvalles already on the next day.

 

[Makuluman]

Hi everyone, after months of gathering gear on the off chance I could find a way to walk the Camino Frances this fall, things are falling into place and I have secured time away from work. Now I just need to book a plane from Canada and get there. I think I can fly into Paris and just catch a train to St Jean Pied de Port right from the airport. This oddly seems too easy. Does anyone have any tips or experience with this route? Is there something I'm missing? Any advice is appreciated. I'm looking to leave in the next 10 days or so. Yikes.

 

[Makuluman]

Hi Ellie .... trains to St Jean can be taken from Biarritz and Bayonne stations which will probably be where your train from Paris will be heading to. Other possibilities could be train to Pau and a bus to St Jean from there! Buen camino!!

 

[Elle532]

Following up... Thanks everyone for all the tips and advice. Every post was EXTREMELY helpful!! I was hesitating booking my flights (had to summon some courage to do it). Flights are now booked - I leave Canada Tuesday, September 6, land in Paris around noon and I'll spend the night in Paris in Montparnasse to catch the train to SJPDP the next day, where I booked another hotel for one more good nights sleep before heading out. I haven't made any more reservations after that and am hoping (praying) the Camino will provide as I head out into the unknown.

 

[Sirron]

So if my flight lands at 6am, should I be okay making a 10:15am train? I'd rather take the train but I can also just fly to Biarritz

 

[LesR]

So if my flight lands at 6am, should I be okay making a 10:15am train? I'd rather take the train but I can also just fly to Biarritz

It might be OK - but then again, it mightn't... Given the uncertainties around air travel these days, who know?

What is your appetite for risk?

What will the consequence for your Camino be if you do not make the connection? Can you confidently navigate the transport system in France? Can you even speak French if you need to ask for assistance? Do you have bookings that need to be cancelled and remade if you are delayed a day by a missed connection? Can you booking be moved a day or two if needed (II am particularly thinking of a booking at Orisson/Borda here)?

 

[Sirron]

no consequences.
Yes I can navigate
Yes I speak French
No bookings


Does that help lol

 

[LesR]

no consequences.
Yes I can navigate
Yes I speak French
No bookings


Does that help lol

simplifies the calculations no end...

 

[MassNative]

FYI, I flew into CdG airport early Monday morning. It took over an hour to clear the EU border Passport checkpoint.

Jim

 

[Roscoe]

After much research, I surmised that the easier way to get to SJPdP if it is where you start your camino is from Paris. You can pretty much catch a train ride after you get off your plane at Charles de Gaulle then straight to SJPdP. If use Madrid, and/or Pamplona as transfer point to get to SJPdP, you have to worry about bus schedules and expensive taxi ride, maybe even spend night at Pamplona to use bus service the next day. This is my 2 cents. Hope it helps. Stay safe.

To avoid multiple transfers, I have booked a flight to CDG, with a connecting flight from there to Biarritz. I've booked a hotel for the night in Biarritz and will travel by train from there to SJPP.

 

[Rex]

Last time I checked you have to transfer from CDG to Orly for the flight to Biarritz. That was before pandemic changed a lot of procedures for entry to France at CDG (where I was twice last Summer). Orly train is easy to catch but took about 75-90 minutes to traverse from CDG to Orly. Just an FYI.

 

[Rick M]

Last time I checked you have to transfer from CDG to Orly for the flight to Biarritz. That was before pandemic changed a lot of procedures for entry to France at CDG (where I was twice last Summer). Orly train is easy to catch but took about 75-90 minutes to traverse from CDG to Orly. Just an FYI.

This is a good point! Travel planners need to make sure, if they are planning to fly from Paris to Biarritz, that they know which airport it leaves from in Paris. The majority of flights leave from Orly, but Air France (Hop!) also has flights leaving from CDG.

 

[Roscoe]

Last time I checked you have to transfer from CDG to Orly for the flight to Biarritz. That was before pandemic changed a lot of procedures for entry to France at CDG (where I was twice last Summer). Orly train is easy to catch but took about 75-90 minutes to traverse from CDG to Orly. Just an FYI.

Air France flies from CDG.

 

[Jamie Y. Mo]

I'm glad I found this thread. I'm about to book flights from Calgary. I think I will fly into Paris like I did in 2017 but I had a long way to get back to Paris after I finished my Camino. So I want to fly out of Madrid this time. Should be easy to get to Madrid from Santiago, I suppose?

 

[stsantia]

I'm glad I found this thread. I'm about to book flights from Calgary. I think I will fly into Paris like I did in 2017 but I had a long way to get back to Paris after I finished my Camino. So I want to fly out of Madrid this time. Should be easy to get to Madrid from Santiago, I suppose?

I was just reviewing this actually

As i understand, it will be a train from Santiago de Compostella to Madrid-Chamartin
From Chamartín to Nuevos Ministerios via metro line 10.
Change trains in Nuevos Ministerios to take the metro line 8 in direction to the airport.

There are two stations at the airport you will need to decide:
the first one is "Aeropuerto T1-T2-T3", situated at the centre of the terminal 2 floor 1;
the second one is "Aeropuerto T4", situated at terminal 4 floor -1.

 

[trecile]

I'm glad I found this thread. I'm about to book flights from Calgary. I think I will fly into Paris like I did in 2017 but I had a long way to get back to Paris after I finished my Camino. So I want to fly out of Madrid this time. Should be easy to get to Madrid from Santiago, I suppose?

Also consider flying home from Porto. It's an easy bus ride from Santiago, and the bus actually stops at the airport.

 

[Jamie Y. Mo]

Also consider flying home from Porto. It's an easy bus ride from Santiago, and the bus actually stops at the airport.

Good idea. Thank you. I remember somebody actually mentioned about flying into or out of Porto as they tend to be cheaper than other airport? I don't know if it's true. Visiting Porto again would be great.

 

[auburnfive]

From the Madrid airport T 4 there is a direct Alsa bus to Pamplona.

 

[Anniesantiago]

I flown to Paris and flown to Madrid - I much prefer flying to Madrid.
Then I bus or fly to Pamplona. The buses are right outside Terminal 4.
I spend a few days in Pamplona touristing about and recovering from my flight.
Then I take a bus to SJPP to start my Camino.
When the rest of the world of pilgrims are stopping in Pamplona on the way back through,
I've seen it, so I either stop before or after, getting out of the WAVE of pilgrims doing Brierley's stages, racing for a bed! Now you can more easily find lodging sleeping in the "in between" places.

To me, the train trip from Paris wasn't enjoyable at all.
Fly into Pamplona.
Easy peasy and smart!

 

[tlandry]

Also consider flying home from Porto. It's an easy bus ride from Santiago, and the bus actually stops at the airport.

We did this in 2019 and worked
Really well, about a 3 hour bus ride