Travel from Bilbao to SJPDP

[Damien Rushe]

Hi all,

We (Three of us) are arriving in Bilbao on Sat June 28th at 3.30pm. We want to get to SJPDP that evening but the bus to Bayonne seems to only run twice daily and we'll miss it. Any suggestions??? Bus to Pamplona and then taxi??? Also would it be possible to organize our Camino passport etc..if we arrive in SJPDP late that evening? Is it feasible to start the work early Sunday morning?
Alot of questions but we are just looking to plan ahead.

 

[whariwharangi]

Bizkaia buses #A3247 travels from Bilbao airport to Bilbao Termibus where it terminates. Termibus is located in same area as San Mames station.

Take Metro from San Mames to Etxebarri Station or take Euskotren tram to Atxuri Station.

Euskotren commuter trains travel from Atxuri Station and Etxebarri Station to Hendaia station, co-located with SNCF Gare d'Hendaye France, where Euskotren tracks terminate. A transfer is required at San Sebastian Euskotren Amara station.

SNCF trains (TGV, Intercites, or TER) travel from Gare d'Hendaye to Gare de Bayonne. Trains continue to destinations such as Bordeaux and Toulouse.

SNCF TER trains #62 travel from Gare de Bayonne to SJPdP where it terminates.

ATCRB buses travel from Gare d'Hendaye to Place de Basques Bayonne.

Chronoplus bus #5, 8, B, or N departs from Place de Basques to Gare de Bayonne.

Or take a bus from Termibus/San Mames to San Sebastian. Then Ekialdebus from San Sebastian bus station to Irun. Cross the frontier to Gare d'Hendaye and catch the ATCRB bus. This won't get you to Bayonne in time to catch the train but it might be faster than the Euskotren so you don't end up racing for the last ATCRB bus. If you are going to Pamplona there are many more buses from San Sebastian.

Bizkaia bus
http://www.bizkaia.net/home2/Temas/DetalleTema.asp?Tem_Codigo=195&idioma=CA&bnetmobile=0&dpto_biz=&codpath_biz=|195

Euskotren
http://www.euskotren.es/

SNCF
http://www.sncf.com/en/passengers

Transdev ATCRB
http://www.transports-atcrb.com/

Chronoplus
http://www.chronoplus.eu/

Most transportation services shut down around 1800 - 1900. You might want to consider Express Bourricot, a private hire taxi to pick up at Hendaye (which is how far I think you'll get) or downtown Bayonne.

Express Bourricot
http://www.expressbourricot.com/

 

[Damien Rushe]

Cheers for the help. Saturday afternoon is not that easy to organize. We can get to Pamplona or SS using the bus. Do you think we would be better going to Pamplona or SS and then going to SJPDP??

 

[naplesdon]

Be aware Sunday bus and train schedules offer you less option. San Sebastian is a fascinating place but given you will be staying there with weekend crowds, it would be a coin toss with Pamplona. Bilbao is a great place to visit as well, Guggenheim Museum, great restaurant and then you can get am early start on Sunday to SJPdP. If you are going to visit Pamplona later when you are walking the Camino, why not consider Bilboa or San Sebastian. BTW, Biarritz is a great place to stop on Saturday as well. I don't know what your walking plans are but you might want to visit some of the threads about Pamplona during St. Fermin, to put it mildly that could be a nightmare.

 

[whariwharangi]

Cheers for the help. Saturday afternoon is not that easy to organize. We can get to Pamplona or SS using the bus. Do you think we would be better going to Pamplona or SS and then going to SJPDP??

The issue is frequency of service on following day (Sunday).

There are two buses from Pamplona to SJPdP 1430 and 1730.

ALSA (use international tab)
http://www.alsa.es/en/

There are 3 SNCF buses (in place of train due to washout) from Bayonne to SJPdP 0745, 1455, and 2110 Sunday.

SNCF TER 62
http://telechargement.ter-sncf.com/...ies_jeu_27_mars_nouvel_avis_tcm-11-101460.pdf

So if you aren't able to get to Bayonne Saturday so you can catch the 0745 bus in the morning ... it becomes a matter of choice between going via Bayonne or Pamplona with late arrival in SJPdP.

 

[whariwharangi]

Last ATCRB bus leaves Gare d'Hendaye 2022 Saturday arriving Place de Basques Bayonne 2135.

ATCRB
http://www.transports-atcrb.com/ligne-bayonne-hendaye/

Bilbao to Irun

The last ALSA bus that arrives at Irun before 2022 leaves Bilbao 1830 arrives 2010. That leaves 12 minutes to get from Irun Renfe Station to Gare d'Hendaye ... 3km. You'd have to have a taxi to do it.

The previous ALSA bus leaves Bilbao bus station at 1720 and arrives 1905.

Euskotren leaves from Irun 1918 and 1948 arrives Hendaia 1922 and 1952. Euskotren Colon station - leave Exit doors from Renfe Station (where ALSA bus terminates), turn right (North) cross bridge across the tracks and find entrance to Colon Station on Left (North) side of street.

ALSA
http://www.alsa.es/en/

Euskotren
http://www.euskotren.es/

Bilbao to Hendaye

The 1700 Euskotren leaves from Axturi station and arrives Hendaia at 2022. I would hope the ATCRB bus waits ...
However, getting from the airport to Axturi station would likely require a taxi.

The previous train leaves at 1600 ... no chance.

Airport to Termibus

The airport bus goes to Bilbao Termibus leaving every 20 minutes. The last bus you can catch is the 1640 bus which arrives at Termibus 1710. See Termibus for Schedule. You'll have 10 minutes to catch the ALSA bus.

Termibus
http://www.termibus.es/

Bilbao airport
http://www.aena-aeropuertos.es/csee/Satellite/Aeropuerto-Bilbao/en/Home.html

Airport to San Sebastian/Donostia

PESA operates buses hourly from Bilbao (Loiu) Airport to San Sebastian. The 1645 bus arrives at San Sebastian bus station at 1805 (Pio XII). The 1745 bus arrives 1905
http://www.pesa.net/pesa/public_home/ctrl_home.php

San Sebastian to Hendaye

From San Sebastian Bus Station go 700 meters to Amara Euskotren Station. Catch 1845 Euskotren to Hendaye arriving 1922 or 1915 arriving 1952.

Renfe operates Cercanius from Renfe Station San Sebastian. 1925 - 1948 arrival at Irun Renfe Station. That allows half an hour to catch a taxi to Gare d'Hendaye. Cercanius is faster than Euskotren but only terminates in Irun.

http://www.renfe.com/viajeros/cercanias/sansebastian/index.html

Conclusion

The best option is to go to Bayonne Saturday and catch the 0745 SNCF bus from Gare de Bayonne to SJPdP Sunday.

The last ATCRB bus leaves Gare d'Hendaye at 2022 and arrives at Place de Basques 2135.

The last suitable Euskotren leaves San Sebastian/Donostia Amara station at 1915 and arrives at Hendaia (colocated with Gare d'Hendaye) at 1952.

The last suitable PESA bus leaves the Bilbao (Loiu) Airport at 1645 and arrives at San Sebastian Bus Station at 1805. You might try the 1745 bus arriving at 1905 but that leaves 10 minutes to get to Amara Station to catch the Euskotren or 20 minutes to catch the Renfe Cercanius to Irun

1530 arrival should leave enough time to get the 1645 PESA bus to San Sebastian. Timings are a bit tight.