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Better options to get to SJPP

Stephan the Painter

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It always makes me wonder.

People are always appearing on this forum struggling to get from Pamplona to SJPP. But it's never mentioned that there are multiple trains and buses each day that go to San Sebastian from Pamplona (or Madrid) where you can catch another bus to Bayonne and then a train on to SJPP

Even better, why not just recommend to people to take a train or plane direct to San Sebastian from Madrid, and skip Pamplona.

I guess it is more changes, but it solves the scheduling problems and possibly having to pay for a taxi or spend the night in Pamplona just to wait for a bus. And it runs all winter.

You may have to spend a few minutes sorting out all the complicated options it gives you on the google map directions below, but when I did it in 2024, I caught a direct bus to Bayonne from san Sebastian that took about an hour and then got on a train to SJPP. And it runs multiple times a day.

Donostia-San Sebastian to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port

www.google.com
 
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Agreed, the Donostia option seems to be largely ignored. There seems to be a comparable amount of flights from Madrid to both Pamplona and Donostia, while at the later you can pretty much walk (or Bus or Taxi) from the airport to the (Hendaye) trainstation and hop on a train to Bayonne, change there and get to Saint Jean multiple times a day, where as in Pamplona you can only hope to catch that one single bus.
But i can also understand that at first it does look more complicated...
 
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K_Lynn said:
I flew into Biarritz/Bayonne and caught a shared taxi to SJPdP. It was the simplest option for me.
Click to expand...
True, even easier. Anything that skips Pamplona seems to simplify matters.

But it seems the most common travel plans involve flying in into Madrid and then making their way by ground transportation to Pamplona and then SJPP.
 
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Pafayac said:
I doubt there is a bus from San Sebastian to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port.
The google map you show tells about car travelling.
Click to expand...
Sorry if that was not clear. You take a bus to Bayonne and then a train to SJPP.

When I click it it shows me bus travel, but they give you an option near the top for car, public transportation, or walking, which you might have to change.

Here it is on Rome to Rio.
 
I elected to fly into Paris, and then it is two easy trains to SJPDP, with a reasonable amount of choice..unless flying into Madrid is a significant price saving, this could be an option..
 
Stephan the Painter said:
Even better, why not just recommend to people to take a train or plane direct to San Sebastian, where there's a bus every couple hours every day?
Click to expand...
You take a bus or train to Bayonne or Biarritz, then a bus or train to St Jean Pied de Port. There's no direct bus from San Sebastián to SJPdP.
 
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Agreed, its just tradition. And perhaps the romance of the walking over the Pyrenees…
 
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Anyway, my imagined audience for this idea is all those pilgrims who fly through Madrid and end up in Pamplona and are unhappy that they have to wait overnight or get a cab. And those who are on a tight schedule.

A simple itinerary change from Pamplona to San Sebastian might make it easier. And it makes it much easier to get to SJPP early enough to leave ( spend the night in San Sebastian or Bayonne). Or if you arrive early enough in the day in Madrid you could conceivably be in SJPP that night.

From Paris, it’s a totally different itinerary, perhaps better. But it seems unless you fly into Biarritz, many people have to overnight in Paris before getting the train.
 
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The overnight is possible, for those flying from the west coast of North America, many of the flights arrive early in the morning Paris time, which gives a decent selection of trains..This is the route I chose this year..I only mentioned it as an option in case people had not considered it.
 
Stephan the Painter said:
A simple itinerary change from Pamplona to San Sebastian might make it easier.
Click to expand...
An itinerary change to Biarritz would be even easier, but cost could be a deterrent for many.

stewinyvr said:
The overnight is possible, for those flying from the west coast of North America, many of the flights arrive early in the morning Paris time, which gives a decent selection of trains.
Click to expand...
I prefer flying through Paris and taking the train from there, though I like spending a several nights in Paris first.

But as @J Willhaus said:

J Willhaus said:
Any way you cut it, it just isn't that easy or fast to get to SJPDP.
Click to expand...
 
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I’ll remain puzzled by the lemming like determination to get to StJdP from wherever on the planet and at whatever expense.

Of course you can save money on your flight which will leave room in your budget for a ridiculously expensive taxi ride or a convoluted public transport adventure that will eventually get you to a small provincial French town in the foothills of the Pyrenees: but why. Why?

There is no easy way to get to StJdP for most trans-Atlantic or trans-global travelers. There aren’t many easy ways to get to StJdP for most Europeans or those of us who live in isolation just off the coast. The sheer determination expressed by those that make it deserves admiration. Perhaps the Pilgrims Office will eventually issue Compostela to those who made it to the “start”. Nonetheless, for a pilgrim to the shrine of Santiago your journey starts when you set foot in Spain. Scuttling in the opposite direction, sprinting away from Santiago just so you can heave your way back to somewhere you were days ago?

It’s no wonder that sometimes when I kneel before that splendid casket I can hear the old boy’s forehead smacking against the lid
 
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I guess I'm old school. I still do the Pamplona -> SJPdP thing. I probably arrive in Pamplona via either Madrid or Santiago (More likely)... The taxi ride up and down the hill isn't all that expensive IF I can split the costs among several walkers... Sadly, usually it costs me between 100 - 130 euros because I can't find anyone to share it with and I always feel a little sick about the cost. If I am doing Pamplona -> SJPdP I will spend the night in Pamplona, then venture out in the morning and FIND a taxi to take me to SJPdP. Now just finding the taxi is a bit of an adventure... but I walk to a "taxi stand" (searched for on google maps)... there are never taxis there... but... there is a sign with a phone number to call. 5 minutes later a taxi pulls up.

I just start walking as soon as I am dropped off... well, after getting a sello and some coffee.

I like the challenging hike over the Pyrenees. I don't like to spend the night in SJPdP.
 
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Good to know about these options, when I did my Camino I didn’t know any better. I did look into flying into Paris, but this was during the Olympics and the fares were astronomical, so Madrid made more sense to me, besides I’m a Spanish speaker so that would made it easier for me, and I didn’t mind the overnight in Pamplona…

…that being said, the bus ride from Pamplona to SJPDP was a nightmare for me because of the hairpin turns through those mountains causing me to have severe motion sickness. I got to SJPDP drenched in cold sweats and having dry heaves. I wish I had been aware of these other options, which brings up the question for me: are the train rides between San Sebastián, Bayonne, and SJPDP more linear (ie, few curves)? I would assume so because after all, this would be on trains, but I’m curious even if I take a bus from San Sebastián, would I get sick from too many curves?

Thankfully, I recovered from my nausea after 2-3 hours, and I spent 3 beautiful days at SJPDP, I’m glad I didn’t skip it. Other than the harrowing bus ride, it was a great start for my Camino. I loved the French/Basque language mass at the church, complete with the Pilgrim Blessing that although I didn’t understand a word, (just like there’s so much about life I don’t understand), felt very appropriate to begin my journey not understanding much, and finish it as Santiago understanding more.

But no more Alta bus Pamplona-SJPDPD ride for me. Never again.
 
As I recall, you don’t go through mountains at all on that route.

When I took the bus from San Sebastian to Bayonne the bus route did not have any curves or elevation of note. Mostly flat highway.

When I went from Bayonne to SJPP the train was sold out, so they scheduled a bus, but that also had no curves or elevation of significance, (also as I recall). I could often see the train tracks, and it didn’t look like there was an issue there that might trigger your motion sickness.

I did drive the road through the Pyrenees from SJPP once, and that is quite an adventure!
 
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Thanks! That’s reassuring!
 
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I agree- it isnt easy. But I had ONE beautiful walk over the mountains....
 
Everyone has their own unique perspective. I thoroughly enjoyed exploring Pamplona and SJPP for a few days before taking an exhilarating albeit strenuous walk over the Pyrenees.
 
Bear in mind that San Sebastián airport (EAS) is really far from the city centre (23km) it is actually in the town of Hondarribia on the border with France (he runway is on reclaimed land in the Bidasoa river which is effectively the frontier).

The buses that go from San Sebastian city to Biarritz/Bayonne do not stop at San Sebastian airport.
 
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