How to Get to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port ⎟ 5+ Most Convenient Ways
Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port is said to be the official starting point of the Camino de Santiago French Way. This small village is nestled in the foothills of the Pyrenees Mountains in the French Basque region.
The town is home to around 1,500 people, yet thousands of people take their first steps on their Camino journey from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port.
There is no airport in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port. Although the village is picturesquely tucked away in the mountains, there are plenty of transportation options, from buses, trains, and private shuttles. All these modes of transportation assist pilgrims in reaching the starting point of the French Way.
This is a short guide on how to get to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, the official starting point of the Camino Frances. These routes are the most direct ways to reach St Jean Pied de Port.
Table of Contents
- Where is the Closest Airport to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port?
- Bayonne to St Jean Pied de Port by Train
- Biarritz to Saint Jean Pied de Port
- How to Get to Saint Jean Pied de Port from the Spanish Basque Country
- More Resources on Ways to Get to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port
- Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port The Official Start of the Camino Frances
- Conclusion⎟Convenient Ways to Get to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port France
Where is the Closest Airport to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port?
One of the most popular starting points of the Camino de Santiago is from Saint Jean Pied de Port, France. As it’s a rather small village, some may wonder what the best way to reach Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port is.
International pilgrims may need to fly from overseas, and there is no airport in Saint Jean Pied de Port.
The closest airport to St. Jean Pied de Port is in Biarritz, France (BIQ). Flights to the Biarritz airport can be limited to budget airlines. There are also airports in San Sebastian, Spain (EAS) and Pamplona, Spain (PNA). These two Spanish airports offer even fewer and limited flights.
Most pilgrims can find decent international flights into Bilbao Spain (BIO). I’ve had good luck and fair prices using Bilbao as my airport of choice to walk the Camino de Santiago.
Busier Airports that Connect with Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port
Those who don’t mind longer travel times can also utilize the Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG). Paris has daily direct trains to Bayonne, or some have quick stopovers in Bordeaux. These TGV trains take an average of 4 hours and are run by SNCF Connect.
➜ SNCF Connect website with schedules and online ticket sale
Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport (MAD) is an extremely popular entry point into Spain for international travelers. There are direct Alsa buses from Madrid to Bayonne. Be mindful that Bayonne is spelt Baiona in Spanish. Baiona is also the name of a medieval village on the Camino Portuguese Coastal route.
⁉️ Make sure to verify you have the correct location in the correct country booked!
From Madrid, it’s also possible to take a train with Renfe to San Sebastian. From there, check out these detailed directions.
➜ Official Website for Renfe Trains
Be mindful that during the day, St-Jean-Pied-de-Port can be busy with day trippers who want to see this picturesque French Basque village. You’ll either need to be flexible with travel dates or consider booking your tickets in advance.
Bayonne to St Jean Pied de Port by Train
The easiest access point to reach Saint Jean Pied de Port is from Bayonne.
Bayonne has direct trains to St. Jean Pied de Port every single day.
During the week, there are usually six daily trains, and on the weekends, four. Be mindful that the schedules can change by day and season. Current train departures from Bayonne to St Jean Pied de Port are as follows:
| Departure Time | Day | ||
| 6:38 | Weekdays (M-F) | ||
| 8:14 | Saturday & Sunday | ||
| 8:49 | Weekdays (M-F) | ||
| 11:20 | Saturday & Sunday | ||
| 12:35 | Weekdays (M-F) | ||
| 14:20 | Saturday & Sunday | ||
| 14:24 | Weekdays (M-F) | ||
| 17:13 | Weekdays (M-F) | ||
| 18:20 | Saturdays ONLY | ||
| 18:37 | Weekdays (M-F) | ||
| 19:30 | Sundays ONLY |
The Bayonne Train Station (Gare) is found here. Look for the TER region trail to SJPDP. The average trip time from Bayonne to Saint Jean Pied de Port is around 1 hour. A one-way ticket costs around €12.
➜ Check the current Bayonne train schedule and purchase online tickets here
At the Gare de Bayonne Train Station it is also possible to purchase tickets from an attendant or an automatic kiosk.
Trains from Bayonne drop in St. Jean Pied de Port outside of the walled city here, which is a 10-minute walk to the historic center of the village.
Biarritz to Saint Jean Pied de Port
If you did find a flight to Biarritz airport, it’s just as easy to get to Saint Jean Pied de Port. In the Biarritz airport parking lot, hop on the #3 bus run by Txik Txax. The number 3 bus line stops near the Bayonne train station. From the train station, hop on the train to St-Jean-Pied-de-Port.
Additionally, if arriving at the Biarritz airport, the shuttle company Express Bourricot offers shared shuttles from the Biarritz airport to Saint Jean Pied de Port. Shuttle prices are €140 for the van rental. Up to eight pilgrims can share the price of a shuttle, which takes the cost down to €21.
In the summer months, it’s easier to find willing pilgrims to split the cost of the shuttle to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port.
How to Get to Saint Jean Pied de Port from Spain
The easiest way to get to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port from Spain is via the Spanish Basque Country.
Pamplona to St Jean Pied de Port
If walking the Camino Frances, you will walk through the city of Pamplona on the Camino Frances route. To get to St Jean Pied de Port from Pamplona, catch the daily bus.
There is only 1 daily bus from Pamplona to Saint Jean Pied de Port. The bus is run by Alsa company and departs at noon. The bus takes around 1 hour and 45 minutes and costs around €22.
➜ Check and book tickets on Alsa here
Spanish Basque Region to St Jean Pied de Port
Personally, I prefer flying into the Spanish Basque region, just because I love the area so much. I typically spend a few days sleeping in Bilbao or San Sebastian before departing on my Camino journey. Both Basque cities are part of the Camino del Norte pilgrimage route.
Bilbao and San Sebastian are well connected to Bayonne in France.
Donostia-San Sebastian to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port
San Sebastian is farther east, so it’s closer to Bayonne. This makes it easier to reach Bayonne.
San Sebastian boasts plenty of food experiences from Michelin-Star restaurants to pintxos bars and cider houses. The city built for royalty has stunning beaches, fantastic day trips, unique hikes on the urban mountainsides, and charming fishing villages like Getaria.
Local trains are run by Euskotren. The line from San Sebastian to Hendaia is line E2 (Lasarte-Oria / Hendaia). This line runs frequently, with the final stop being in Hendaye in France. If coming from the Spanish Basque region, the station will be Hendaia.
From here, walk across the border to the Hendaye Train Station, where you can take the SNCF train to the Bayonne Train Station to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port.
Handaye to Bayonne trains are direct and frequent. Trains take around 30 minutes and cost around 10 Euros.
Euskotren’s central station in San Sebastian is Amara. The trains run a few times an hour every single day. San Sebastian to Hendaia typically takes around 45 minutes and costs just under 3 Euros.
There are also daily buses via Alsa Bus and FlixBus from San Sebastian to Bayonne.
Alsa Buses take around 1 hour and 15 minutes and cost around 12 Euros. From Bayonne, hop on the train to St-Jean-Pied-de-Port. Sometimes there is an option to take the bus to SJPdP, but it requires a transfer in Pamplona.
FlixBus runs multiple times per day from San Sebastian to Bayonne. These buses tend to a few Euros less expensive than Alsa.
Bilbao to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port
The train from Bilbao will require a transfer in San Sebastian. This is a slower option, but it is for those looking to enjoy the slow ride to the start.
Bilbao boasts the famous Guggenheim museum, a mountainside funicular, a delicious culinary scene, and easy access to seaside cities like Getxo.
Euskotren’s central station in Bilbao is Zazpikaleak, right next to the Old Town. The trains run a few times an hour every single day. You’ll need to hop on the E1 train (Bilbao / Donostia) and then transfer to the E2 in San Sebastian. Don’t worry these lines start and stop in the heart of San Sebastian’s Amara Station.
Again, this train is slow, with the E1 taking almost 2 and a half hours to reach San Sebastian. The general fare is 7 Euros. This route requires a lot of transfers (from San Sebastián to Hendaye to Bayonne to SJPdP)
FlixBus offers daily buses from Bilbao to Bayonne. Average bus times are around 3 hours.
Alsa offers frequent buses to San Sebastian. From there, it’s easier to take the train or another bus to Bayonne.
Once in Bayonne France, hop on the regional train to St Jean Pied de Port.
More Resources on How to Get to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port
Of course, time is money. The entire Camino Frances takes around 5 weeks to complete, and many wish to walk the Camino Finisterre Muxia afterwards.
Here are some faster (but possibly more expensive) ways to reach Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port.
➤ Taxis are always available, but they are the most expensive option. If you have many people, it might be worth utilizing a taxi. Taxis are direct and fast.
➤ Teletaxi San Fermín is a popular taxi company that runs between Pamplona to St-Jean-Pied-de-Port.
➤ If already in Europe, it’s worth a look to check BlaBlarCar. The ride-sharing app works kind of like a trusted carpooling option. People share where they are traveling to and from, and pay a set price per passenger. Oftentimes, BlaBlaCar is faster and cheaper than public buses. It’s also gaining popularity and has started a bus service.
➤ Express Bourricot also offers shuttles to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port from the Spanish cities of Bilbao, San Sebastian, Hondarriba, and Pamplona. They also shuttle from the French cities of Lourdes, Pau, and Navarrenx.
Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port The Official Start of the Camino Frances
Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port is the official starting point of the Camino Frances. From here, it’s almost 779 KM (484 miles) to arrive in Santiago de Compostela.
If this is your first Camino, here are some of my best tips for walking the Camino de Santiago. The most important thing is to pack light!
You may wish to browse these frequently asked questions. Most people walking plan to sleep in Albergues, which are budget-friendly accommodations for pilgrims. I love taking at least one detour off the main path.
➜ Here are all my Camino de Santiago resources
Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port has plenty of things to do. Pilgrims can grab last-minute supplies at one of the many stores and stop by the official Pilgrim Office to get a stamp and updated route information. There are plenty of restaurants, cafes, and places to eat in SJPdP. Within the medieval city walls, there are plenty of places to sleep, from budget-friendly Gites to hotels.
Conclusion⎟How to Get to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port Tips
In short, this is a quick guide on the best ways to reach Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port. This small village in the Basque region of France is the official starting point of the Camino Frances.
As the village sits at the foothills of the Pyrenees Mountains, it is a little out of the way to reach. However, there are multiple ways to get to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port from trains, shuttles, and taxis.
I am a budget traveler, so I always prefer taking the train from Bayonne, France, to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port. I typically fly into Bilbao and move slowly east to Bayonne from Spain.
However you choose to arrive in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, I wish you a Buen Camino!
How did you get to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port? Are there any updates I should know about? Let me know in the comments below!
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