The following is an extract from my Camino planning guide, "YOUR CAMINO on foot, bicycle or horseback in France and Spain."
Getting to the start
You can start your pilgrimage in any country, from any place, on any route.This guide is focused on the routes in
Flights to
Most international airlines fly into
The most convenient would be to fly on the Spanish carrier
Starting in
Most national airlines fly to Paris and then you get a train or bus to Orleans or Tours, or start walking from Paris.
The Via Podiensis - Starts in Le Puy
By Air from Paris to Le Puy www.hexair.com/vol-regulier-le-puy-en-velay-paris
By Rail: TVG from Paris to Lyon, local train to St Etienne, and a second local train on to Le Puy.
Via Lemovensis - Sarts in Vezelay:
Paris - TGV - Gare de Lyon station to Montbard – connection by bus to Avallon). Connections to Vézelay – Friday evening and Monday morning all year: Every other day only in July and August.
Or: Train from
Via Tolosana - Starts in
By air: www.amadeus.net or Airfrance to M
By rail: www.voyages-sncf.com
Chemin du Piemont - Starts in
Via Carcasonne and Lourdes to St Jean Pied de Port.
Ryanair and other airlines fly from various
Camino Frances from St Jean Pied de Port in France
The most popular and busiest route in Spain
is the Camino Frances. Many modern guide book publishers have included
a first-day stage from St Jean Pied de Port in France to Roncesvalles on the
Spanish side of the border, mainly because of the beautiful mountain scenery.
The most Frequently Asked Question about the Camino Frances is:
‘How do I get to St Jean Pied de Port?’
St Jean Pied de Port (St John at the Foot of the Pass - 163 m ASL) is a small, medieval tourist town
at the foot of the western Pyrenees close to the Spanish border. The Codex Calixtinus (Book of St James chapter) lists St Michel as the starting place to cross this part of the Pyrenees into Spain. The path went through Val Carlos (valley of Charlemagne) and the Ibaneta Pass to Roncesvalles. However, St Jean soon became a popular pilgrimage town and link to the Pass into Spain.
There is no
direct bus or train service to St Jean from the main cities of France and no
bus or rail link between France and Spain, so there is no direct way of getting
there from Spain on public transport.
The nearest airport in France is Biarritz and most
people travel to Bayonne/Biarritz by train then take the local train or bus to
St Jean Pied de Port – about 1.5 hours through pretty countryside. www.voyages-sncf.com
A quicker and easier way (but obviously
more costly) is to take a taxi from Bayonne/ Biarritz to St Jean. You can book a lift in a shuttle service –
Express Bouricott (Smart Donkey) – that operates between France and Spain,
transporting pilgrims from airports at Pau, Bilbao, Irun and Pamplona. They
also cart pilgrims over the mountain from Roncesvalles to St Jean, charging
according to the number of passengers in the vehicle. www.expressbourricot.com.
There is a facility on their website to form a carpool. (They cannot take people from one place in Spain to another place in Spain)
Or you could try the local taxi service in
Biarritz: www.taxis-biarritz.fr
A pilgrim hostel in St Jean offers a page on their website for you to
put your name down for a ‘carpool’ as well, so that you can share a taxi to St
Jean: www.espritduchemin.org/EC/carpoolEN.html
They also have a link to the timetable for the rail/bus line to St Jean and a town
map (www.espritduchemin.org/English/travelinfo.html)
and information on parking your car in St Jean and walking the Camino from
there.
When you arrive in St
Jean visit the Pilgrim’s Office to collect a pilgrim passport (Credencial) and
find out where to stay the night. Accueil des pelerins de St-Jacques, 39
rue de la Citadelle. The office is open from 7h30 to 12h30 and then from 13h30
to 22h00.
If you go
in the busy season (July–September) it is advisable to book a bed ahead in one
of the private albergues in St Jean.
Esprit du
Chemin: www.espritduchemin.org
Auberg de Pelerin: www.aubergedupelerin.com
There are
two routes from St Jean to Roncesvalles – the ‘road route’ which is on the
original route through Val Carlos (Valley of Charlemagne), now a small tarred
road, and a cross country route called the Route Napoleon which also consists of a tarred road for about 15km and a cross country trail thereafter.
If it is the
first day of hiking many people take two days to walk from St Jean to
Roncesvalles. If you are reluctant to cross the Pyrenees on the Route Napoleon
to Spain in one day, you can book a bed at the Refuge Orisson which is about 8
km up the hill from St Jean: www.refuge-orisson.com/ refuge.orisson@wanadoo.fr
If taking the road route you can stay at a
pilgrim hostel in Val Carlos (valley of Charlemagne) or in a BandB or Casa
Rural. www.turismo.navarra.es
Starting from France or Spain – in alphabetical order
Arles Via
Tolosana
Fly to Nimes-Arles (or to Marseilles) Air France – Camargue Airport (FNI/LFTW) and then a
train to Arles: Or, TVG from Paris to Avignon and then a local train to Arles.
Astorga - from Valladolid
ALSA bus to
Astorga.
Astorga - from Madrid
Astorga - from Madrid
Travel to Leon by train or bus: You
can get the ALSA bus from Madrid Barajas airport. It takes about five
hours. www.alsa.es
If you go by train, there is a Renfe office
in the airport (on the lower level to the right of where you exit customs).
They can sell you a ticket there. There are about eight trains a day to
Leon. It takes ± 4 hours.
www.renfe.es
The train station you need to get to is Madrid-Chamartin. You get there on the metro which leaves from the airport. Once in Leon you can get an ALSA bus to Astorga. There are over 20 buses a day, they take about 50 minutes.
The train station you need to get to is Madrid-Chamartin. You get there on the metro which leaves from the airport. Once in Leon you can get an ALSA bus to Astorga. There are over 20 buses a day, they take about 50 minutes.
Bayonne - from London
Eurolines – National Express
overnight coach.
Biarritz - from Santiago
Biarritz - from Santiago
Train from Santiago passing Astorga, Leon, Burgos and then going
north-east via Bilbao to the border at Irun-Hendaye. Then another to Bayonne.
Bilbao - by sea
Bilbao - by sea
Brittany Ferries: Portsmouth twice a week. www.brittany-ferries.co.uk/routes
Burgos - from Madrid
Burgos - from Madrid
By bus: www.arriva.es By train: www.renfe.es
Irun from Barcelona
By train: www.renfe.es Barcelona Nord to Irun
By bus: Vibasa Bus runs an overnight bus from Barcelona Nord to Irun: www.vibasa.es
Irun - from Madrid
By bus, seven hours: www.alsa.es
By train, five hours: www.renfe.es
Jaca - from Barcelona
By bus: Vibasa Bus runs an overnight bus from Barcelona Nord to Irun: www.vibasa.es
Irun - from Madrid
By bus, seven hours: www.alsa.es
By train, five hours: www.renfe.es
Jaca - from Barcelona
Alosa bus www.alosa via Huesca
Jaca - from Pamplona
By bus www.alosa.es
Jaca - from Madrid
There are 19 ALSA buses a day between Madrid airport and Zaragoza and there are 20 trains a day from Madrid to Zaragoza - on the half hour, every hour - they take between 1h15 and 1hr21 and cost €60.The buses from Zaragoza to Jaca are at 06h30, 08h30, 11h00, 14h00, 15h30, 17h00 and 19h00
Léon - From Barcelona
Jaca - from Pamplona
By bus www.alosa.es
Jaca - from Madrid
There are 19 ALSA buses a day between Madrid airport and Zaragoza and there are 20 trains a day from Madrid to Zaragoza - on the half hour, every hour - they take between 1h15 and 1hr21 and cost €60.The buses from Zaragoza to Jaca are at 06h30, 08h30, 11h00, 14h00, 15h30, 17h00 and 19h00
Léon - From Barcelona
By train www.renfe.es. Or by bus Barcelona/Sants to Leon: www.alsa.es
Léon from Bilbao:
By train www.renfe.es
Léon - from Madrid
Léon from Bilbao:
By train www.renfe.es
Léon - from Madrid
By train
± 4 hours www.renfe.es: By air, fly to
Valladolid. Alsa.es
run a direct service from Valladolid airport to Leon – takes 1h45.
Logroño - from Barcelona
Logroño - from Barcelona
Bus to Pamplona www.laburundesa.com and then another to Logroño from
there.
www.laestellesa.com
Logroño - from Madrid
www.laestellesa.com
Logroño - from Madrid
When you arrive at Madrid Barajas, you can take
either a taxi or the metro (stop at Avenida
de America Station) to Inter-cambiador de Avenida de América nº 9, and ask for the ALSA
bus to Logroño. www.alsa.es
Another service is PLM www.plmautocares.com/ which goes between Madrid and Pamplona
via Logroño.
Rail: There are very few trains from Madrid to Logroño. www.renfe.es
Logroño - from Pamplona
By bus - www.laestellesa.co
Madrid - from Barcelona
de America Station) to Inter-cambiador de Avenida de América nº 9, and ask for the ALSA
bus to Logroño. www.alsa.es
Another service is PLM www.plmautocares.com/ which goes between Madrid and Pamplona
via Logroño.
Rail: There are very few trains from Madrid to Logroño. www.renfe.es
Logroño - from Pamplona
By bus - www.laestellesa.co
Madrid - from Barcelona
AVE – fast train ww.renfe.es
O Cebreiro – from Bilbao, Madrid and Pamplona
Bus to Piedrafita (5 km
from Cebreiro) and then you walk up the hill or take a taxi.
www.alsa.es
O Cebreiro - from Ponferrada
www.alsa.es
O Cebreiro - from Ponferrada
By bus to
Piedrafita via Lugo www.alsa.es
Oviedo - from Madrid
Oviedo - from Madrid
By train
www.renfe.es
Pamplona - from Alicante
Pamplona - from Alicante
There are buses from the airport at Alicante to Pamplona. There is
one that leaves at 8h15 and
arrives in Pamplona at 18h15 and another that leaves at 20h20 and arrives at 5h35 Bilman
Bus Company www.bilmanbus.es
Pamplona from Barcelona
By bus: www.vibasa.es
By rail: At the BCN airport, exit the secured area and walk through the sky tunnel to the left
to the Cercania. It will take you to Sants Estació. Sants Estació has both the train station and
the bus station you need. There are three trains to Pamplona daily.
Or - Train to Irun and then from Biarritz to Pamplona:
By bus: www.laburundesa.com
Or 6h00 bus to San Sebastian (± 1 hour) so that you can get the 10h00 train to Pamplona
Pamplona - from Madrid
By bus: www.alsa.es or PLM www.plmautocares.com/
By train: www.renfe.es
Fly: www.iberia.com
Ponferrada - from Bilbao
By bus: www.alsa.es By train: www.renfe.es
Ponferrada - from Madrid,
arrives in Pamplona at 18h15 and another that leaves at 20h20 and arrives at 5h35 Bilman
Bus Company www.bilmanbus.es
Pamplona from Barcelona
By bus: www.vibasa.es
By rail: At the BCN airport, exit the secured area and walk through the sky tunnel to the left
to the Cercania. It will take you to Sants Estació. Sants Estació has both the train station and
the bus station you need. There are three trains to Pamplona daily.
Or - Train to Irun and then from Biarritz to Pamplona:
By bus: www.laburundesa.com
Or 6h00 bus to San Sebastian (± 1 hour) so that you can get the 10h00 train to Pamplona
Pamplona - from Madrid
By bus: www.alsa.es or PLM www.plmautocares.com/
By train: www.renfe.es
Fly: www.iberia.com
Ponferrada - from Bilbao
By bus: www.alsa.es By train: www.renfe.es
Ponferrada - from Madrid,
By train:
www.renfe.es By
bus: www.Alsa.es
Porto - from Santiago
By bus: www.alsa.es By train: www.renfe.es to
Vigo and then www.cp.pt to Porto
Roncesvalles - from Bilbao
By bus: www.laburundesa.com Or 6h00 bus to San Sebastian (± 1 hour) and 10h00 train to Pamplona – 2 hours. (Next train is 18h00)
6h00 bus to Roncesvalles. www.autocaresartieda.com
Roncesvalles - from Paris
Porto - from Santiago
By bus: www.alsa.es By train: www.renfe.es to
Vigo and then www.cp.pt to Porto
Roncesvalles - from Bilbao
By bus: www.laburundesa.com Or 6h00 bus to San Sebastian (± 1 hour) and 10h00 train to Pamplona – 2 hours. (Next train is 18h00)
6h00 bus to Roncesvalles. www.autocaresartieda.com
Roncesvalles - from Paris
By rail: high-speed train south
to Bayonne or Biarritz: www.sncf.com: Train from Biarritz (and Bayonne) to St Jean Pied de Port ± 1hr50. Express Burricot taxi to Roncesvalles –book ahead: Email: apcaroline@hotmail.com
Roncesvalles - from Madrid
By bus: www.alsae.es to Pamplona By PLM www.plmautocares.com/ to Pamplona
By train: www.renfe.es to Pamplona
Fly: www.iberia.com to Pamplona
Then a 6h00 bus to Roncesvalles www.autocaresartieda.com or Taxi to Roncesvalles
Salamanca - from Madrid
Roncesvalles - from Madrid
By bus: www.alsae.es to Pamplona By PLM www.plmautocares.com/ to Pamplona
By train: www.renfe.es to Pamplona
Fly: www.iberia.com to Pamplona
Then a 6h00 bus to Roncesvalles www.autocaresartieda.com or Taxi to Roncesvalles
Salamanca - from Madrid
By bus from Conde de Casal Station www.auto-res.net
By train: www.renfe.es
Santander - from Plymouth
By train: www.renfe.es
Santander - from Plymouth
Brittany Ferries www.brittanyferries.com
Sarria - from Burgos
By bus to Lugo: www.alsa.es And then to Sarria on www.monbus.es
By train: www.renfe.es
Sarria from Madrid
By overnight train: www.renfe.es
Or – fly to Santiago – bus to Lugo and then bus to Sarria. Or train, bus to Santiago and taxi to Sarria
Sarria - from Pamplona
Sarria - from Burgos
By bus to Lugo: www.alsa.es And then to Sarria on www.monbus.es
By train: www.renfe.es
Sarria from Madrid
By overnight train: www.renfe.es
Or – fly to Santiago – bus to Lugo and then bus to Sarria. Or train, bus to Santiago and taxi to Sarria
Sarria - from Pamplona
By train: www.renfe.es
on the LUGO line
Sarria - from Santiago
By bus to Lugo: www.empresafreire.com and then half an hour bus to Sarria:
www.monbus.es
Santiago - from Madrid
Sarria - from Santiago
By bus to Lugo: www.empresafreire.com and then half an hour bus to Sarria:
www.monbus.es
Santiago - from Madrid
Fly: Ryanair.com By bus: www.alsa.es By train: www.renfe.es
Seville from Madrid By bus: www.socibus.es
Seville from Madrid By bus: www.socibus.es
Somport - from Madrid
You can go to Pamplona and then get a bus to Jaca and then a local bus to Somport.
Or, follow the instructions to Jaca and then: Bus from
Jaca 8:25 h,
12:00 h, 14:45 h, 19:35 h. and 21:45
Somport - from Pau
Pau to Oloron Ste Marie by train - 34 mins and then to Somport by Bus in 1hr 23 mins
Book one ticket - bus and train - through sncf - www.sncf.com:
St Jean - from Barcelona
By train to Bayonne www.renfe.es
Then French train to St Jean: www.sncf.com
By train to Pamplona and a taxi to St Jean (Or bus to Roncesvalles and taxi to St Jean)
St Jean – From from Bayonne/ Biarritz
By train to Pamplona and a taxi to St Jean (Or bus to Roncesvalles and taxi to St Jean)
St Jean – From from Bayonne/ Biarritz
Taxi: www.taxis-biarritz.fr or www.expressbourricot.com
By train or bus from Biarritz to St Jean via Bayonne: www.voyages-sncf.com
Take the #6 bus from the Biarritz airport to the train station. It leaves about every 30 minutes and takes about 45 minutes.
Or train to Bayonne then bus or train to St Jean Pied de Port.
St Jean - from Blibao
By train or bus from Biarritz to St Jean via Bayonne: www.voyages-sncf.com
Take the #6 bus from the Biarritz airport to the train station. It leaves about every 30 minutes and takes about 45 minutes.
Or train to Bayonne then bus or train to St Jean Pied de Port.
St Jean - from Blibao
By bus: www.pesa.net
Or: ALSA buses to IRUN leave Bilbao many, many times a day. The next day you travel
from IRUN to BAYONNE by bus/train and from BAYONNE to SJPP by train: www.pesa.es
www.sncf.com
By train to Hendaya
St Jean - from Madrid
Or: ALSA buses to IRUN leave Bilbao many, many times a day. The next day you travel
from IRUN to BAYONNE by bus/train and from BAYONNE to SJPP by train: www.pesa.es
www.sncf.com
By train to Hendaya
St Jean - from Madrid
www.renfe.es – then SNCF train to St Jean www.voyages-sncf.com/
Or
by train to Pamplona
and taxi to St Jean
Triacastela
and taxi to St Jean
Triacastela
By bus to Lugo on Freire: www.empresafreire.com
from Santiago and then Monbus to
Triacastela: www.monbus.es
Vezelay
Triacastela: www.monbus.es
Vezelay
TGV from Paris: from Paris – Gare de Lyon
station to Montbard (connection by bus to
Avallon)
Train from Paris (Gare de Lyon station or Bercy station) to Laroche-Migennes or Auxerre – then local train-stop at Sermizelles (10 km from Vézelay). www.sncf.com Taxi from Sermizelles www.chez.com/taxivezelay
Walking the last 100km
Many people like to walk the last 100km in order to earn the Compostela ceertificate. It is much easier to reach the 100km starting points on the different routes from Santiago airport than from other cities many kilometers away.
Avallon)
Train from Paris (Gare de Lyon station or Bercy station) to Laroche-Migennes or Auxerre – then local train-stop at Sermizelles (10 km from Vézelay). www.sncf.com Taxi from Sermizelles www.chez.com/taxivezelay
Walking the last 100km
Many people like to walk the last 100km in order to earn the Compostela ceertificate. It is much easier to reach the 100km starting points on the different routes from Santiago airport than from other cities many kilometers away.
Camino Frances:
From Sarria to
Santiago 114
km
Closest airport Santiago
Bus to Lugo and then to Sarria from Santiago
Camino Ingles:
Closest airport Santiago
Bus to Lugo and then to Sarria from Santiago
Camino Ingles:
From Ferrol to
Santiago 108
km
Closest airport Santiago
Bus or train to Ferrol
Closest airport Santiago
Bus or train to Ferrol
Camino Portuguese:
From Tui to
Santiago 117 km
Closest airport – Porto
Or, Vigo – Tui
Closest airport – Porto
Or, Vigo – Tui
Via de la Plata:
From Ourense to
Santiago 108 km
Nearest airport Santiago
Bus from Santiago to Ourense
Whichever route you walk, whichever way you get there, wishing you a Buen Camino!
Nearest airport Santiago
Bus from Santiago to Ourense
Whichever route you walk, whichever way you get there, wishing you a Buen Camino!
Sil,
ReplyDeleteAs always with your efforts this an invaluable resource for all pilgrims!
Bravo, once again.
Margaret Meredith