How to Get to St. Jean Pied de Port, Starting Point of the Camino Frances

Have you ever heard of St. Jean Pied de Port, France? I hadn’t either until I decided to thru-hike the Camino de Santiago. Nestled in the Pyrenees Mountains, this medieval town (abbreviated to SJP, or SJPP or SJPDP in Camino circles) is known as the starting point of the Camino Frances. Although there are many routes to Santiago de Compostela, Spain, about half of pilgrims choose to walk the Camino Frances each year. Many start their journey in St. Jean Pied de Port, but you may start anywhere you’d like such as from Astorga.

Read on to find out how to get to St. Jean Pied de Port. Plus, we offer some tips on the town, booking tools, and info on the surrounding area.

How long should I stay in St. Jean Pied de Port

St. Jean Pied de Port is a picturesque village located in France, just before the France/Spain border. On the first day of the Camino Frances, pilgrims leave SJP and head through the mountains towards the border. Depending on how long you prefer to walk, you’ll reach Spain within 1-2 days walking.

Depending on the time of your arrival, we recommend you stay 1-2 nights in St. Jean Pied de Port. First, you’ll want to rest before your first day’s walk. Jet lag can be a killer! Since the hike over the Pyrenees is one of the hardest of the entire journey, we suggest you start out with plenty of energy for the walk so as not to injure yourself.

A second reason to stay in SJP is to finish any last minute preparations for the journey. You may need to get some last minute gear from a sporting goods store. For example, if you didn’t bring trekking poles or a poncho, you can buy them. You can also pick up your credencial (More on the credencial and other Camino de Santiago symbols can be found here.) from the tourist office.

The town will be abuzz with other pilgrims eager to start walking. Although you’ll be excited, take a minute to take a breath. Meet other pilgrims, have a good meal and wine, and get a good night’s sleep! As a matter of fact, many pilgrims make friends for the journey in SJP.

You may also want to book another night in SJP if you plan to use the mountain shuttle. What is the mountain shuttle, you ask? Since the first day on the route is quite the challenge, some pilgrims walk to the Virgin of Orisson statue rather than continuing on to Roncesvalles. Express Bouricot will then pick you up and deliver you back to SJP for the evening. The next morning at 8:30 am, they will drop you off at the Virgin once again to resume your journey.

Lastly, for safety reasons, you should plan to head out in the morning from SJP. To expand, you want to have plenty of daylight during which to make the trek. Due to rapidly changing weather conditions, it may not be safe to set out late in the day. So, even if you arrive with some daylight left, it’s wise to sleep in St. Jean Pied de Port and leave early the next morning.

Now that you’re ready to head to SJP, don’t forget to protect your trip by purchasing travel insurance. Unfortunately, things happen. From bags getting lost to injuries on the trail, it’s a good idea to purchase insurance.

How do I get to the starting point of the Camino? 

In order to start your journey on the Camino Frances on the Way of St. James, you need to know how to get to St. Jean Pied de Port. Located some 500 miles/770 km away from Santiago, it’s best to fly into airports nearby rather than Santiago. 

The most popular major international airports to fly into to get to St. Jean Pied de Port are Paris, Barcelona, and Madrid. From there, the smaller nearby cities to fly into are Biarritz, Pamplona, and San Sebastian. In the following sections, we’ll give details on how to get to SJP from each of these cities.

The methods of getting to SJP once you’re in France or Spain are up to you. We’ll cover flights, trains, busses, taxis, and private shuttles. Before you write off a certain method as too expensive or uncomfortable, take a look at all your options. Sometimes what you think is the cheapest option actually isn’t really or will cause you to have to stay overnight at a hotel, which could be more expensive in the long run.

That being said, check out the following options, and decide which is best for you! But, always check schedules ahead of time as things change from time to time. Plus, daytime schedules often differ from weekend or holiday schedules. As well off-season and on-season schedules and prices may differ. Schedules and prices up to date at the time of writing.

How to get to SJP from Paris

Many international flights land in Paris, just a hop, skip, and a throw from SJP. If you are coming from the U.S., you will land at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG). Paris Orly (ORY), located just 13 km south of Paris, is another airport you may land at. 

From Paris, you’ll need to head south to Bayonne before heading to delightful St. Jean Pied de Port. Your options are to take an additional flight, train, or bus.

Most international flights from the U.S. arrive in Paris in the morning. Therefore, you’ll have all day to get to SJP. That being said, if you don’t make it in early enough to catch the last train or shuttle to SJP, there is no need to worry! You can easily rest for the evening in Bayonne. Steps from the Bayonne train station, the Ibis Styles is always a clean, affordable place to stay when visiting France. As a bonus, they serve a great breakfast!

See below for details on getting to SJP from Paris.

Option 1: Fly

1. From Paris CDG or ORY, fly to Biarritz Airport (BIQ) . (1 hr 25 min / from $60)
2. Once in Biarritz, take the T1 or Number 5 bus directly from BIQ to the Gare de Bayonne. The T1 bus (35-50 min / every 15-30 min / $2)
3. From the Gare de Bayonne station, hop the TER train to SJP. (1 hr 4 min / 5x day $9-$26)
4. As an alternative, you may book the Express Bourricot shuttle from the Biarritz Airport. Because this is a carpool, you will pay in cash upon arrival in SJP depending on the number of passengers in the vehicle. (19€-84€)

If you book early enough, flying is not only quick, but economical as well.

Option 2: Train

1. From CDG, you’ll need to get to the Montparnasse train station. Here are the three best options:
   • Train B to Saint-Michel-Notre Dame, then Bus 96 to Gare Montparnasse (1 hr / every 10 min / $8-$13)
   • Roissybus to Opera, then 95 bus from Auber to Gare Montparnasse (1 hr 20 min / every 15-30 min / $6-$8)
   • Train B to Denfert Rochereau, then walk 16 min to Gare Montparnasse (1 hr / every 10 min / $7-$12)
2. From ORLY, the best option is to take the Orlybus to Denfert-Rochereau-Metro-Rer, then walk 16 min to Gare Montparnasse (or hop the 6 metro). (30-40 min / every 24 min / $11-$13)
3. Once you have arrived at Paris Montparnasse, take the high speed TGV train to Bayonne. (3 hr 55 min / 5 times a day / $120-$180)
4. Hop the TER train to SJP. (1 hr 4 min / 5x day / $9-$25)

Although I personally find the train to be the most comfortable option, it is significantly more expensive over flying or taking the bus. Book train tickets from Paris to St. Jean Pied de Port here.

Option 3: Bus

1. From CDG, go to Bercy Seine in the Paris city center. Options:
   • Take the Flixbus (40 min – 1 hr / hourly / from $6)
   • From CDG, take the B train to Saint-Michel-Notre-Dame, transfer to the C, and take it to Bibliotheque F. Mitterrand. Then, walk 12 min to Paris City Centre – Bercy Seine. (1 hr 4 min / every 10 min / from $9)
2. from ORY, the cheapest and easiest option is to take the Flixbus or BlaBlaCar bus. (30-40 min / at least hourly / $5-$10)
3. From Paris City Center – Bercy Seine, take the Flixbus or BlaBlaCar Bus to Bayonne. (9 hr 55 min+ / 2-5x day / $26-$55).
4. Hop the TER train to SJP. (1 hr 4 min / 5x day / $9-$25)

Since the bus leaves from the city center, this is a good option if you are looking to save money and are spending several days in Paris beforehand. Book your bus and corresponding train tickets.

Getting to St. Jean Pied de Port from Barcelona

Barcelona isn’t too far from the France/Spain border. However, you’ll still need to do some work to get to SJP. From Barcelona, your options are to take a flight, train, or bus to Pamplona or a flight to San Sebastián. 

From Pamplona, it’s a short trip to SJP. Since there are multiple options from Pamplona, we’ve included those in the Pamplona section, below.

Here are three options to get to SJP from BCN.

Option 1: Fly

From Barcelona, you can fly to either Pamplona or San Sebastián. San Sebastián does require several train transfers once you are on the ground, so if you’re not comfortable with that, you may want to go with Pamplona. Also, be sure to check schedules ahead of time as trains and busses only leave to St. Jean Pied de Port a few times daily. In other words, if your flight arrives late in the day, you may miss the train/bus and need to spend a night elsewhere before heading to SJP.

Barcelona – Pamplona

1. From Barcelona–El Prat Airport (BCN), fly to Pamplona Airport (PNA). (3 hr 35 min / from $80)
2. Then, see options from Pamplona.

Barcelona – San Sebastián

1. From Barcelona–El Prat Airport (BCN), fly to San Sebastián Airport (EAS). (1 hr 15 min / from $35)
2. From Ficoba-Irun, take the E2 train to Hendaye, France. (2 min / hourly / $1-$3)
3. Hop the TER Intercités train to Bayonne. (36 min / hourly / $7-$35)
4. Take the TER train to SJP. (1 hr 4 min / 5x day / $9-$25)

If you book early enough, flying is not only quick, but economical as well.

Option 2: Train

1. From BCN, take the train to Barcelona-Sants train station. If you are arriving into T1, take the free shuttle to the airport station, located at T2. (20 min / $5)
2. Take a Renfe train to Pamplona (3 h 45m+ / 4 times a day / $35-$50).
3. See bus, taxi, private car options from Pamplona, below.

The train is always a comfortable option.

Option 3: Bus

1. From Barcelona, take a bus from Barcelona Sants train station or or Barcelona Nord bus station. Options:
   • From BCN, take the train to Barcelona-Sants train station. If you are arriving into T1, take the free shuttle to the airport station, located at T2. (20 min / $5)
   • There are no direct routes from the airport to Barcelona Nord. Check out these options for getting there.
2. There are daytime and overnight buses along this route. (approx 6 hrs / daily / $29+)
3. See options from Pamplona bus station, below.

Getting to St. Jean Pied de Port from Madrid

Depending on where you live, it may be cheapest for you to fly into Madrid. Not to worry, you can get to SJP from Madrid as well! Once again, your options are to take a  flight, train, or bus to Pamplona. From Pamplona, you can head into SJP. See below for options from Pamplona.

To get to SJP from Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD), you may:

Option 1: Fly

Madrid – Pamplona

1. From Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD), fly to Pamplona Airport (PNA). (1 hr / from $70)

Madrid – San Sebastián

1. From Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD), fly to San Sebastián Airport (EAS). (price varies)
2. From Ficoba-Irun, take the E2 train to Hendaye, France. (2 min / hourly / $1-$3)
3. Hop the TER Intercités train to Bayonne. (36 min / hourly / $7-$35)
4. Take the TER train to SJP. (1 hr 4 min / 5x day / $9-$25)

If you book early enough, flying is not only quick, but economical as well.

Option 2: Train

1. From MAD, take the Cercanías C1 train from MAD’s Terminal 4 to the Madrid-Puerta de Atocha train station. (33 min / every 15 min / $3). You may also check other options (taxi, bus, metro) to get to Madrid.
2. Or, take the 203 Exprés Aeropuerto (airport express) bus to Atocha. (30 min / 15-20 min / $2)
3. Take a Renfe train to Pamplona. (3 hr 5 min+ / 5x day / $35-$45)

The train is a comfortable, affordable, and quick option to get to Pamplona. Depending on the time of day, you may need to make a transfer, although there are some direct trains.

Option 3: Bus

1. Take a bus from the Madrid bus station or directly from the Madrid-Barajas Airport to Pamplona. (approx 6 hrs / daily / $29+)
2. If you choose a bus departing from the bus station, take bus number 200 from T1, T2, or T4 to the bus station at Avenida de América (Intercambiador). (40 min / every 10-20 min / $2).

Getting to St. Jean Pied de Port from Pamplona

Pamplona is the closest large Spanish city to St. Jean Pied de Port. Thus, you may fly, train, or bus into Pamplona to get closer to the starting point of the Camino. Sometimes, the bus to SJP leaves Pamplona just once a day, but often more in the high season. Depending on your arrival time, you may choose to stay in Pamplona overnight to catch it the following day. You may also take or share a taxi or private car.

Since the options from Pamplona are the same no matter how you get to town, we’ve consolidated them in one section. Check out the options below.

By Bus

The cheapest way to get to SJP is by bus.

From the Airport

1. From PNA, you’ll need to get to the bus station at C/ Yanguas y Miranda. You may take the L16 bus to get there. (15 min / every 20 min / $2)
2. Taxis are also a quick and affordable option to get to the bus station, especially if you are sharing with other pilgrims. (7 min / $10-$13)

From the Bus Station

1. From Pamplona bus station, take the ALSA bus to SJP. (1 hr 45 min / once daily / $11-$13)
2. To get to the bus station from the train station, you can take the L16 bus, which stops just a few blocks from the train station. If you’re in a pinch, take a taxi. (10 mins / $1)

From the Train Station

1. To get to the bus station from the train station, you can take the L16 bus, which stops just a few blocks from the train station. If you’re in a pinch, take a taxi. (10 mins / $1)
2. From Pamplona bus station, take the ALSA bus to SJP. (1 hr 45 min / once daily / $11-$13)

If you miss the ALSA bus, you may alternatively take the bus to Roncesvalles. From Roncesvalles, you can then taxi to SJP.

By Taxi

1. You may take a taxi to SJP. We recommend finding some other pilgrims with whom you can share the taxi to cut costs. You can catch a taxi from anywhere, and taxis will allow up to four pilgrims to share the car. (1.5 hr / reported fares from $30 each to $100+)

By Private Car

1. You may book in advance with Teletaxi San Fermín (website in Spanish) who will pick you up and deliver you to SJP (1.5 hr / 7 am-10pm weekday, 24 hr weekends & holidays / $130-$160).

Where to stay in Pamplona

If staying in Pamplona for the night, we highly recommend a night at the Hotel Tres Reyes. Check prices and book.

Remember, you’ll be walking back through Pamplona in a few days. If you like it and/or need a rest, you can visit it at that time.

Let’s go to St. Jean Pied de Port

As you can see, there are many ways to get to St. Jean Pied de Port, France. Although you may have a preferred option, it’s best to check out various prices and schedules as flights, trains, and busses don’t run 24 hours per day. That way, you can see what option best fits your budget and schedule.

Now that you’re ready to arrive in St. Jean Pied de Port, don’t forget to protect your trip by purchasing travel insurance! From time to time, pilgrims get injured, lose luggage, or deal with family emergencies and have to leave the trail.

You may also want to check out the booking tools below.

Stopping in Biarritz, France? Check out these tours.

If you’re spending a day in Biarritz, why not make the most of it? While some pilgrims head strait to SJPP, others spend an evening, recover from jet lag, and see the sights!

Since you will likely just have one day in Biarritz, consider taking a tour. Although they might cost more than wandering around for the day, day tours allow you to cover a lot of ground quickly! By taking a tour, you can get a good feel for the city and top things to enjoy during your limited stay.

Check out these popular tours for Biarritz and fascinating Basque country.

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