Paris to SJPDP

[Genecamino55]

I arrive in Paris CDG September 1st at 9:20 am. I have already booked a hotel in SJPDP for that night.

What's the best way to get to SJPDP from Paris ?

 

[MickMac]

Trains from Paris to Bayonne
From Gare Montparnasse to Gare de Bayonne · Tue, 23 Jul
Climate friendly
07:11 – 11:03
3h 52m
·
0 changes
08:01 – 12:18
4h 17m
·
0 changes
10:11 – 14:14
4h 3m

15:11 – 19:18
4h 7m

·
1 change
16:11 – 20:10
3h 59m
·
0 changes
18:11 – 22:11
4h
·
0 changes
More trains then on to SJPP


Bayonne
St-Jean-Pied-de-Port
1h 1m1 hour 1 minute, 0 changes



17:13
18:18
Bayonne
St-Jean-Pied-de-Port
TER 867319
1h 5m1 hour 5 minutes, 0 changes

Cheapest
€11.60

18:37
19:43
Bayonne
St-Jean-Pied-de-Port
TER 867321
1h 6m1 hour 6 minutes, 0 changes

 

[CWBuff]

What @MickMac said. I can add that I bought the ticket all the way on the 10:11 train.

On Bayonne a bunch of us Pilgrims got "intercepted " as the next train was canceled and ushered outside and onto a parked bus which then took us to SJPdP

 

[Ianinam]

www.rome2rio.com

In short :

1) metro to Gare Montparnasse (ticket from vending machine in metro station)

2) from there TGV (fast train) to Bayonne. Book ticket in advance https://www.sncf-voyageurs.com/en/travel-with-us/booking-and-itinerary/book-tickets/

3) Then train to SJPdP. (Ticket from vending machine at railway station). Last train leaves at 9 pm (train earlier at 6.20 pm).

 

[Jarrad]

There are a number of Transavia France flights from Paris-Orly to Biarritz (BIQ-Pays Basque) for $70 to 90 USD. Flight time is about 1 hours and 20 minutes. There are bus, train, and shuttle services that can get you from there to SJPdP (I prefer Express Bourricot).

That said, although I did not compare prices and relative time commitment, the train system in France is quite good and highly recommend.

 

[Ianinam]

There is a regular local bus from Biarritz airport to Bayonne railway station. The Express Bourricot shuttle can be expensive (€ 130) if there are no other passengers! Train fom Bayonne to SJPdP is cheap (approx. € 12).

 

[mspath]

If you arrive by train in Bayonne too late to get a local train to SJPdP you might stay in the pilgrim albergue in Bayonne for the night. They take reservations. See more info in this Gronze citation. You could then catch the first local train in the morning from Bayonne to Saint Jean Pied de Port.

Good luck and Buen camino!

 

[trecile]

If you are going by train book it ASAP. The prices go up closer to the travel date, and they can sell out.

 

[CWBuff]

There is a regular local bus from Biarritz airport to Bayonne railway station. The Express Bourricot shuttle can be expensive (€ 130) if there are no other passengers! Train fom Bayonne to SJPdP is cheap (approx. € 12).

While the advice is good as another option, IMHO it presents an extra headache in the "extra step.

1. Get to Biarritz (presumably by plane)
2. Take a bus from Biarritz to Bayonne
3. Take a train (or substitute bus) from there to SJPdP

We've all been newbies and IMHO that's stressful enough (esp. if one didn't do the (ahem) pre-requisite training trip to Europe ) So the simpler - the better
Hence:

1. Fly to Biarritz and
2. do book Express Bouricott

or

1. take a train to Bayonne and
2. Take a train (or substitute bus) from there to SJPdP

now to be fair I guess the 2nd option predicates on how well one navigates a city in a foreign country (for the sake of an argument I will presume no knowledge of the city or the language; just to make it a bit more shall we say...interesting)

 

[markie6]

I like the train trip best

but .. have you booked Roncesvalles ? and the day after yet ?

 

[JabbaPapa]

If you are going by train book it ASAP. The prices go up closer to the travel date, and they can sell out.

The Olympics this year are making this even worse than usual.

 

[CWBuff]

but .. have you booked Roncesvalles ? and the day after yet ?

...and the day after.... and.... as everyone says - at least through Pamplona (and sometimes even then some)

 

[Molly Cassidy]

What @MickMac said. I can add that I bought the ticket all the way on the 10:11 train.

On Bayonne a bunch of us Pilgrims got "intercepted " as the next train was canceled and ushered outside and onto a parked bus which then took us to SJPdP

I think you'd be pushing it to make the 10:11 train.

 

[CWBuff]

I think you'd be pushing it to make the 10:11 train.

Well... (sheepish grin) I merely stated that thats the train i took.... but I guess I neglected to take a note that OP wants to do everything in one swift whoop as whereupon I spent a day in Paris and comfortably sashayed to Gare de Montparnasse next morning.

 

[Genecamino55]

www.rome2rio.com

In short :

1) metro to Gare Montparnasse (ticket from vending machine in metro station)

2) from there TGV (fast train) to Bayonne. Book ticket in advance https://www.sncf-voyageurs.com/en/travel-with-us/booking-and-itinerary/book-tickets/

3) Then train to SJPdP. (Ticket from vending machine at railway station). Last train leaves at 9 pm (train earlier at 6.20 pm).

This was perfect .. ticket purchased.. I am all set . Many Thanks ..

 

[naplesdon]

I am not sure what ticket you booked but if it is the 10h11 you better hope the stars are aligned in your favor that your plane and luggage arrive on a timely basis and then the only way you will make it to Montparnasse on time is to take a very fast taxi in the Paris traffic snarl after clearing immigration which can be quite time consuming early in the morning. Bonne chance!

 

[LisaJS]

www.rome2rio.com

In short :

1) metro to Gare Montparnasse (ticket from vending machine in metro station)

2) from there TGV (fast train) to Bayonne. Book ticket in advance https://www.sncf-voyageurs.com/en/travel-with-us/booking-and-itinerary/book-tickets/

3) Then train to SJPdP. (Ticket from vending machine at railway station). Last train leaves at 9 pm (train earlier at 6.20 pm).

Thank you for these details. Just to confirm, it's not necessary to book the ticket from Bayonne to SJPdP in advance? We are staying overnight in Bayonne and already purchased the TGV ticket from Paris to Bayonne. We'd like to leave the timetable from Bayonne to SJPdP the next day open in case we decide to spend the morning in Bayonne.

 

[Ianinam]

No problem, it is just a simple ticket, not a seatnumber, no time on it.
if you arrive in the afternoon/evening in Bayonne, get your ticket for the following morning upon arrival immediately from the vending machine! You are not in a hurry then and have all the time to find out how it works.
In the morning it can be very crowded with pilgrims and they might be queing up for the vendingmachine.
Bayonne by the way is a beautiful little town, worth paying a visit. The historical centre is over the bridge.

 

[NicolaWyke]

I arrive in Paris CDG September 1st at 9:20 am. I have already booked a hotel in SJPDP for that night.

What's the best way to get to SJPDP from Paris ?

Check on RometoRio

While the advice is good as another option, IMHO it presents an extra headache in the "extra step.

1. Get to Biarritz (presumably by plane)
2. Take a bus from Biarritz to Bayonne
3. Take a train (or substitute bus) from there to SJPdP

We've all been newbies and IMHO that's stressful enough (esp. if one didn't do the (ahem) pre-requisite training trip to Europe ) So the simpler - the better
Hence:

1. Fly to Biarritz and
2. do book Express Bouricott

or

1. take a train to Bayonne and
2. Take a train (or substitute bus) from there to SJPdP

now to be fair I guess the 2nd option predicates on how well one navigates a city in a foreign country (for the sake of an argument I will presume no knowledge of the city or the language; just to make it a bit more shall we say...interesting)

remember that he has to get from Paris airport to the Paris train station - so flying to Biarritz might be simpler. Biarritz airport is not large and many buses seem to go through it. I think I was on a BlaBla bus that stopped there before dropping me in Bayonne.

 

[LisaJS]

No problem, it is just a simple ticket, not a seatnumber, no time on it.
if you arrive in the afternoon/evening in Bayonne, get your ticket for the following morning upon arrival immediately from the vending machine! You are not in a hurry then and have all the time to find out how it works.
In the morning it can be very crowded with pilgrims and they might be queing up for the vendingmachine.
Bayonne by the way is a beautiful little town, worth paying a visit. The historical centre is over the bridge.

Great advice - thank you!

 

[Ianinam]

Check on RometoRio

remember that he has to get from Paris airport to the Paris train station - so flying to Biarritz might be simpler. Biarritz airport is not large and many buses seem to go through it. I think I was on a BlaBla bus that stopped there before dropping me in Bayonne.

He has to go to a trainstation anyway, either in Paris or in Biarritz.
The transfer in Paris from CDG to Gare Montparnasse is by metro.
In Biarritz he can take a local bus to Bayonne railwaystation.

And - my personal thoughts - why take an inland flight - with all the pollution of flying - when there is a perfect fast train?

 

[CWBuff]

Check on RometoRio

remember that he has to get from Paris airport to the Paris train station - so flying to Biarritz might be simpler. Biarritz airport is not large and many buses seem to go through it. I think I was on a BlaBla bus that stopped there before dropping me in Bayonne.

Yes see my post #15 I didn't see that the trip is all one day

 

[CWBuff]

The transfer in Paris from CDG to Gare Montparnasse is by metro.

Technically it's by RER B which is slightly different beast but at this point just semantics .
I sort of wouldn't want anyone looking for an "M" (or similar sign) IIRC it's "Gare Train Station Aeroport CdG". (T1 or T2) Please correct me if I m wrong

 

[Ianinam]

@CWBuff, yes, you are right. It is less simple ...
And as the Paralympics are in Paris up till September 8th, I suppose it will be busy!

 

[NicolaWyke]

He has to go to a trainstation anyway, either in Paris or in Biarritz.
The transfer in Paris from CDG to Gare Montparnasse is by metro.
In Biarritz he can take a local bus to Bayonne railwaystation.

And - my personal thoughts - why take an inland flight - with all the pollution of flying - when there is a perfect fast train?

I only suggested flying as it does not appear from an earlier post in available trains that he would get to St Jean the same day if he took the train.

 

[StDenis]

In 2022, it took me 3 hours from landing to arriving at Montparnasse. Flight was first one in (6am) so few people in the US/CAN passport line. Walked from Denfert station because I didn't want to mess with Metro tickets. Had a lot of time to burn since I booked the 1:?? train to SJPP. You will be arriving near the end of the Paralympics so I wouldn't expect unusual volume of travelers arriving at CDG. In looking at SNCF site there are 2 departures that day - 12:11 and 2:05. Both get you into SJPP at the same time. So, you would probably be safe in booking the 2:05 which will give you enough time to get from CDG to Gare Montparnasse.

 

[CWBuff]

OP already stated he got the ticket although didn't specify on which train.
Hopefully it's not 10:11 because that would be cutting it close.
I also favor just taking RER B and getting off at Denfert-Rochereau it's a nice walk to Gare Montparnasse