How to Get to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port to Start Your Camino, the Start of the French Path
To undertake the French Path from the beginning, one must reach the town of Saint Jean Pied de Port, which is located on the French side of the Pyrenees. Since there is no airport, you have to make a stopover in a nearby town and then travel by public transport.
The most convenient airports to reach this pretty town are Lourdes, Biarritz, Bordeaux, and Toulouse.
Other good alternatives are the airports of Santander, Bilbao, San Sebastián, and Madrid, Spain. From these cities, it is possible to continue the journey via Pamplona, where there are 2 daily bus services to Roncesvalles or Saint Jean Pied de Port (from 17 April to 10 October, at 14h30 and 17h30). During the summer months (22/06 to 01/09), given the high concentration of pilgrims, 2 more trips are added (at 10am and 12.30pm).
How to Get to Saint Jean Pied de Port, Landing in Lourdes
One of the best ways to reach Saint Jean Pied de Port is to arrive at Lourdes airport.
From there, you can continue to Saint Jean Pied de Port by collective taxi or train. You may also consider stopping a day in Lourdes to visit the beautiful Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes and the Massabielle Grottos, where the Miracle took place, and the Virgin Mary first appeared to Bernadette.
Please note that at the Information Office, opposite the Basilica, it is possible to collect the Pilgrim's Credential for the Pilgrim's Way to Santiago.
From Lourdes to Saint Jean Pied by Collective Taxi
The taxi is the fastest way to get to Saint Jean Pied de Port; the journey takes about 2 hours. The cost of a collective taxi (7 seats) is around €30 per person. You will usually meet many pilgrims at the airport exit with whom you can share the journey.
From Lourdes to Saint Jean Pied by Train
Alternatively, from Lourdes station, you can take a train to Bayonne and from there change to Saint Jean Pied de Port. The journey can take 3 to 5 hours depending on connections. The cost ranges between €35-45.
Where to Sleep in Lourdes
From April to October, it is possible to stay overnight at the pilgrim reception centre: a simple accommodation with 9 beds in dormitories, open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. We suggest you check availability and book in advance through http://compostelle-lourdes.fr/.
Lourdes offers many other sleeping solutions, within reach of all budgets. Here is a short list of recommended accommodation in the centre or near the train station:
- Hotel Lutetia: located 100 metres from the train station, a very simple but comfortable and inexpensive guesthouse. Check availability on Booking.com.
- Citotel de La Vallee: a family-run hotel with welcoming and helpful owners. Located in a very quiet street, convenient for visiting the Sanctuary, which can be reached in about 15 minutes on foot or by using the public lift nearby. Check availability on Booking.com.
- Hotel Majestic: nice and central, located about 200 metres from the Sanctuary, therefore very convenient for those who want to visit the centre and at the same time easily reach the train station. Check availability on Booking.com.
Getting to Saint Jean Pied de Port from Biarritz, France
The nearest airport to Saint Jean Pied de Port is Biarritz (BIQ), France, 53 km away. There are many direct flights from numerous European cities, operated by Ryanair. Once you arrive in Biarritz, you can continue your journey with the Express Bourricot or a train.
From Biarritz to Saint Jean Pied de Port by shuttle bus
The shuttle is the fastest option: the journey takes about 45 minutes. The cost of a collective taxi (5+ seats) is around €20 per person. Usually, at the airport exit, you will meet many pilgrims with whom you can share the journey.
From Biarritz to Saint Jean Pied de Port by train
Alternatively, you have to reach Bayonne station, which is about 30 minutes from the airport. From here, you can take a direct train to Saint Jean Pied de Port. The journey takes about 1 hour and costs €11.
How to get to the Camino Frances from Bordeaux
Another good alternative to reach Saint Jean Pied de Port is to land in Bordeaux and from there proceed by train. Lots of domestic, low-cost, and international airlines use Bordeaux. You can take a direct train to Bayonne and continue to Saint Jean Pied de Port.
Train from Bordeaux to Saint Jean Pied de Port
There are no direct trains from Bordeaux to Saint Jean Pied de Port; all options require a change in Bayonne. The journey can take 3 to 4 hours, depending on connections.
* Train from Bordeaux to Bayonne: the journey takes 2 hours and costs €30.
Train from Bayonne to Saint Jean Pied de Port: 1 hour, €10*.
For more information on timetables, consult the official website of the French Railways (oui.sncf).
Where to sleep in Bayonne
If you arrive in the late afternoon, it is advisable to stay overnight in Bayonne and resume your journey the following morning. Here we suggest some good-value accommodations:
- Hotel Cote Basque: A guesthouse a stone's throw from the train station and fairly close to the city centre. Clean and cheap.
- Hotel Le Port Neuf: A pleasant guesthouse in the historic centre, on a pedestrian street beside the cathedral. Great for visiting the centre of Bayonne and easy access to the station.
- Hostel 20 Bayonne: A very spartan guesthouse, close to the train station and the old town. It offers the lowest price for Bayonne, making it suitable for low-cost travellers.
Where to sleep in Saint Jean Pied de Port
Saint Jean Pied de Port is considered the starting point of the French Way. This pretty little town in the Pyrenees offers many accommodation options. Considering the large influx of pilgrims, we advise booking in advance if you arrive in the evening or start your walk in the high season. For a complete and up-to-date list of accommodations on the Pilgrim's Way to Santiago, we refer you to our guide '31 Days in Santiago de Compostela'. Below we recommend some accommodations with a good quality/price ratio:
- Gite La Vita è Bella: A nice establishment in the centre of Saint Jean Pied de Port. Clean bathrooms and abundant, varied breakfast. The owners are friendly and helpful. A great way to start the walk.
- L'auberge du pèlerin - Saint Jean Pied de Port: A cosy hotel located in the historic centre. It has both dormitories and private rooms, which are comfortable and functional. The cheerful and genuine welcome is complemented by an owner fluent in English and supportive of pilgrims.
- Gite Izaxulo: A small family-run hotel with simple, clean rooms. The same goes for the bathrooms. Good breakfast with other pilgrims and helpful owners. It offers the lowest price for Saint Jean Pied de Port.
How to get to the Camino Frances from Madrid
There are many international flights to Barajas Airport (MAD) from all over the world.
Madrid is approximately 450 km from Saint Jean Pied de Port, after which you must reach Pamplona by bus or train. From there, you can take a bus to Roncesvalles and Saint Jean Pied de Port. The journey takes about 6 to 9 hours, depending on connections, and costs about 70 to 90 €.
A faster, but also more expensive option is to fly from Madrid to Pamplona, operated by Iberia Airlines and Vueling. The flight takes 1 hour.
How to get to Saint Jean Pied de Port by landing in Toulouse
Toulouse is another economical option for getting to Saint Jean Pied de Port from Italy. From the airport, you can easily travel to the station and from there take a train to Saint Jean Pied de Port, changing at Bayonne. The cost of the train varies between 40-60 € for a total of 5-6 hours, depending on the connections, so I recommend you book in advance.
How to get to Saint Jean Pied de Port by landing in Bilbao
Bilbao is about 200 km from Saint Jean Pied de Port. From the airport, you can then take the train to Bayonne and from there to Saint Jean Pied de Port. Alternatively, you can reach Pamplona by bus and take another connection to Saint Jean Pied de Port (see above).
How to get to Saint Jean Pied de Port by landing in San Sebastián
If you arrive in San Sebastián, the quickest option is to take a train to Hendaye (about 30 min) and from there take a connecting train to Saint Jean Pied de Port via Bayonne. This connection runs 4 times a day and takes about 1h 20 (for more information, see the official railway website http://www.sncf.com/). Alternatively, you can take a taxi from Bayonne to Saint Jean Pied de Port at a cost of approximately €80 (€120 night rate); journey time is 1 hour.
How to travel from Barcelona to Saint Jean Pied de Port
There are many direct international flights to Barcelona Airport El Prat (BCN) from all over the world.
There are no direct trains or buses between Barcelona and Saint Jean Pied de Port. You must first get to Pamplona and from there change to Saint Jean Pied de Port.
Train from Barcelona to Saint Jean Pied de Port
Taking a train from Barcelona to Pamplona is probably the best option. It's quick, reasonably priced, and direct. There are 3-4 direct trains daily from Barcelona Sants Station to Pamplona. The trip takes 4 hours and costs around 40-50 euros. For more information, see the official railway website http://www.sncf.com/. Then you can reach Pamplona by bus and take another connection to Saint Jean Pied de Port (see above).
Bus from Barcelona to Saint Jean Pied de Port
There are two daily buses to Pamplona. The journey takes 6 hours and costs 30 euros. You can buy tickets and check the schedule on the MonBus and FlixBus websites. Then you can reach Pamplona by bus and take another connection to Saint Jean Pied de Port.
How to get to Saint Jean Pied de Port from Paris
If you land in Paris, you can reach Saint Jean Pied de Port by train, bus, and plane.
Train from Paris to Saint Jean Pied de Port
There is a direct train from Paris CDG Airport to Bordeaux, where you then must make the connection to Bayonne and onward to Saint Jean Pied de Port. For more information, see the official railway website http://www.sncf.com/.
Bus from Paris to Saint Jean Pied de Port
You can get from Paris to Bayonne by bus. There are many daily buses departing from Bercy Seine Bus Station (10/12 hours, 40 €). There are direct buses from Charles de Gaulle Airport to Bayonne. Departure times and the number of buses depend on the day of the week. The journey takes between 12 and 16 hours, and the price is 60+ euros. A direct bus from Orly Airport to Bayonne takes 10-11 hours. Prices start at 45 euros.
Plane from Paris to Saint Jean Pied de Port
You can fly direct from Charles de Gaulle Airport to Biarritz with Air France. Transavia operates direct flights from Paris Orly to Biarritz. Air France offers direct flights from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport.