HOW TO GET TO SAN JUAN PIE DE PUERTO (SAINT JEAN PIED DE PORT) THE FIRST STAGE OF THE CAMINO DE SANTIAGO.

The first stage of the FRENCH WAY begins in the French village of San Juan Pie de Puerto (Saint Jean Pied de Port) and goes all the way to the Spanish town of Roncesvalles.

To get to San Juan Pie de Puerto from France we can take the train or bus from Paris or any other French location to the city of Bayonne and from Bayonne there are several regular bus and train services to San Juan Pie de Puerto.

Lately the French city of Biarritz and more exactly its airport has become an arrival point for many foreign pilgrims.

The gateway from Spain is the city of Pamplona, which we can reach through the following options:

– By train from Madrid, Barcelona, Bilbao, Burgos, etc. by Renfe.com

– By bus from Madrid (Alsa, PLM, Conda), Zaragoza (Conda), Bilbao (Autobuseslaunion), Barcelona (Vibasa).

– By plane from cities like Madrid, Barcelona, direct flights through IBERIA.

From Pamplona we can opt for the Shared Taxi service (parked in front of the bus station) or the bus service offered by the company ALSA (departures are between 10:00 and 17:30, and the price is 22 euros), which can be booked through its website alsa.es.

From the bus station in Pamplona, the company Autocares Artieda will take us to Roncesvalles; from Monday to Friday at 18:00, Saturdays at 16:00, and on Sundays and bank holidays there is no service, in July and August it is extended with another service at 10:00 (except Sundays and bank holidays), arriving in Roncesvalles we can opt for the shared taxi or Taxi service to San Juan Pie de Puerto (Saint Jean Pied de Port).