How To Get to Saint Jean Pied de Port (to Start Your Camino)
The Camino Francés is the most popular Camino route and Saint Jean Pied de Port, France is the second most popular starting point. Last year, over 30,000 people who ended in Santiago chose Saint Jean as the place to begin their pilgrimage.
This cute little French village doesn’t have an airport and isn’t on a major rail line. In Camino forums and even our own Facebook group, the question of how to get to Saint Jean Pied de Port is frequently asked. If you’re also trying to figure it out, read on for advice on how to sort out your travel logistics.
In addition, there’s also advice at the end of this article on how to get home from Santiago.
What’s the Best Way to Get to Saint Jean Pied de Port?
There is no one “best” way to get to St. Jean. Madrid, Barcelona and Paris are the most common international gateways used by pilgrims from the US. Regardless of which city you choose, you’ll need to make at least two additional transfers by bus, rail, shuttle or air. So, if you are wondering which is the best major airport to choose (of those three), simply pick the one with:
- The cheapest ticket.
- The most convenient flight times from your home airport.
- And/or a place where you’d like to spend a day or two burning off jet lag.
Then plan your ground logistics from there. You can even look into getting what’s called an “open jaw” ticket, into one city (such as Paris) and out of another (such as Madrid).
Here are four tips for making this as smooth as possible:
- Book your major international air ticket first.
- Book any train tickets ahead . . . but not too far ahead. The longer-distance trains sell out and get more expensive closer to the departure date. Look for a 30-day window.
- Remain flexible. Sometimes the trains don’t run. Sometimes there’s a train or bus strike. Bad weather happens. Give yourself some extra time on the front end to reduce stress.
- Allow your body to get over jet lag.
Getting to St. Jean from Madrid
From Madrid, all of your transfers will be going through Pamplona.
By Air
Iberia operates multiple flights each day between Madrid (MAD) and Pamplona (PNA). The fares are usually not too expensive and this can be a good choice if your international flight aligns well with an Iberia flight. Note that there are four terminals in Madrid and your connection might involve a lengthy walk, a shuttle ride, customs/immigration, and an additional security screening.
By Bus
Alsa operates several buses per day between Madrid’s Terminal 4 and Pamplona. The five-hour ride is the least expensive option and a good choice if you want to get to Pamplona in one day.
By Rail
Renfe (Spain’s national rail service) runs 10 trains per day from the Atocha station in central Madrid. The journey takes ~3 hours and is a good choice if you want to spend a day or two in Madrid before getting started. You can get downtown from the airport by taking the Cercanias commuter rail line, which makes multiple stops, including at Atocha. Or you can take the Metro, or the express airport shuttle bus.
From Pamplona to St. Jean
During the high season, Alsa operates a daily bus between Pamplona and St. Jean. This seasonal service usually begins in April and runs into October. The bus departs around noon. Check the schedule, but don’t expect to see it appear on their site until closer to their seasonal start date.
You can also take a taxi to St. Jean. The cost is around €115, but if you can find other pilgrims to share the cost, you can save money. And the timing is much more flexible. Services like Taxi Pamplona, Camino Facil and others will let you pre-schedule a ride. Or you can catch a cab on the fly.
Getting to St. Jean from Barcelona
Renfe has four trains a day from Barcelona Sants station to Pamplona. The ride takes ~4 hours. There is train and subway service between the airport and the main train station.
Monbus runs two buses a day to Pamplona in the afternoon and evening. The ride takes over 5 hours.
Beyond that, the advice above for Pamplona applies.
Getting to St. Jean from Paris
By Train
SCNF is the French national rail service. From Charles de Gaulle airport (CDG), you can catch one of the many train options to Bayonne, changing in Bordeaux. Most connections take 5-6 hours.
If you want to spend some time in Paris, or are looking for alternative connections, take the RER commuter rail into central Paris. Then catch a direct train to Bayonne from Paris Montparnasse train station. The ride will take ~4 hours.
From Bayonne, you can get one of the three daily trains to St. Jean, which depart in the afternoon and early evening.
By Air
Biarritz has regular flights on Air France from both CDG and Orly (ORY). The airport is also served by Ryanair, easyJet and Lufthansa, from Dublin, Copenhagen, Zurich, Brussels and Munich…all cities with connections from the US.
From Biarritz, you can book the Express Bouricott shuttle to St. Jean, or take the #15 bus ride to Bayonne to catch the train.
Getting Back to Madrid from Santiago de Compostela
Iberia offers multiple flights per day from Santiago (SCQ) to Madrid. And the prices are surprisingly competitive compared with last-minute rail travel.
Renfe runs nine daily trains to Madrid Chamartin station, most taking 3-4 hours. This is a popular line so book a seat when you are fairly confident when you’ll be leaving Santiago. From Chamartin station, you can get to either MAD airport or central Madrid on the Cercanias commuter rail line.
You can also take one of several daily Alsa buses back to Madrid, but the trip will take you 8 hours.
Getting Back to Paris (or Elsewhere in Europe) from Santiago de Compostela
SCQ airport offers flights to Paris and other gateway cities like Amsterdam, Dublin, London (Gatwick) and Zurich. They also offer connecting flights to just about anywhere. The primary carriers are Iberia, Vueling, Ryanair, Aer Lingus, easyJet and Air France.
More Camino Planning Resources
We have tons of resources to help you plan your pilgrimage. Start with our FAQ for first-timers. Then look at our packing list (which includes a printable one), suggested guidebooks and apps, and advice on what to expect while on the Camino.
You can also order your pilgrim credential from us and join a local chapter to aid your training and spark your Camino spirit.
If you’d like to read some inspirational stories, check out La Concha, our quarterly online magazine.