How to get to Roncesvalles

[Former member 93062]

Hi everyone!

I'm planning on walking Camino Frances in May of this year!
This is my first time ever going on this big of an adventure, so therefore i have quite an important question to ask all of you who have experienced this amazing journey.
My plan is starting in Roncesvalles (instead of in France), but my question is, what is the easiest way to get there?
I was planning on flying to Pamplona, but then i'm not sure how i will get to Roncesvalles from there.
But what would you all suggest? What is - in your opinion - the easiest way to get to Roncesvalles?

Kind regards
Lasse

 

[Tincatinker]

Bus or taxi if you are determined to travel away from Santiago before walking to Santiago. otherwise just start walking from Pamplona. many do.

Services provided by http://www.autocaresartieda.com/ and dependent on season.

 

[Former member 93062]

Thank you!
And yeah i am thinking about just starting in Pamplona, but i just wanted to know what options i have to get to Roncesvalles

 

[BROWNCOUNTYBOB]

Lasse, you can take a bus from Pamplona to St Jean Pied de Port, which stops at Roncesvalles. Pilgrims get on and off at Roncesvalles. You can order tickets on line from ALSA or at the Pamplona bus station. The cost for one way trip from Pamplona to St Jean is around 20 euros per person. Buen Camino! Bob

 

[SYates]

... You can order tickets on line from ALSA or at the Pamplona bus station. The cost for one way trip from Pamplona to St Jean is around 20 euros per person. Buen Camino! Bob

The website of the bus company Autocares Artieda, not ALSA, states that you can't order their tickets online or by phone and that the cost for a one way trip Pamplona>Roncesvalles is 4,75 euros / passenger and 6 euros for a bike.
Source: http://www.autocaresartieda.com/?scc=roncesvalles
BC SY

 

[Kevin Jackson]

Hi Lasse, Welcome. I'm doing my first camino this year as well. If you have the time to spare, it's usually cheaper to fly into Madrid instead of Pamplona, as it's a more major hub. Then you can take a direct train from Madrid to Pamplona. I'm going in April, and in my case, direct flights to Pamplona were $800+, and a flight to Madrid and train to Pamplona was $550. Worth the savings in my opinion. Plus on a train, you get more chance to talk to people and see the countryside.

 

[TaijiPilgrim]

Interesting. I have flown twice from the US to Pamplona because it was the same or just slightly more than flying to Madrid. The Iberia flight actually stopped in Madrid where I changed planes for Pamplona. So I would suggest comparing prices for various transport options. In Pamplona, you can take a bus to Roncevalles or share a taxi.

 

[Terry Callery]

Since I did my French Camino in February, I did not want to start in Saint Jean and go over the Pyrenees in the winter on the first day. So I took high speed rail from Madrid to Pamplona. I stayed in Pamplona right off the Plaza Virgin at Hotel Eslava in a private room for 38 Euros and got a good night sleep for the jet lag. Nice little hotel friendly helpful owner. Room was a bit small but I did not care - I was finally in Spain!
The bus to Roncesvalles leaves only once each day - it was 3 pm when I took it. There is no rest room on the small bus and it took a little over an hour to get to Roncesvalles. Check the bus schedule at Rome2Rio.com.
Have a great Camino Lasse!
PS Go to Cafe Iruna --Hemmingway's favorite cafe about 6 blocks from hotel. Very Victorian and grand!