Husband and I are going to start the Camino de Santiago walk in Pamplona, but we would like to find a way to get up to the Pyrenees for a day trip. We don't have a car. Any suggestions? Thank you!
Posted by
Mid-Atlantic area
7162 posts
I can’t answer the question directly since you don’t say where in the Pyrenees you wanted to go. They run the entire width of the country. With few exceptions, the roads can be very rural when going to remote towns and public transportation will be sporadic. For one day I’d rent a car if I really wanted to see something specific. From Pamplona the French border, in the direction of Roncevalles, is about a 1.25 hours drive. I seem to recall a previous poster mentioning there isn’t bus service any longer between Pamplona and Roncevalles.
Posted by
stevens point, wi, usa
1194 posts
Hello from Wisconsin,
I did not drive from Pamplona into the Pyrenees. I did drive the length of that mountain range on the Spanish side of the border. From Pamplona to Roncesvalles there is some bus service at 10AM that takes 70 minutes along with 23 stops. What would you expect to do when you got off the bus? Roncesvalles has places to stay and not much more.
This route is on the N135, a common route for the Camino.
You could go all the way to Saint Jean Pied de Port, France which would take you through the mountain range and into the traditional starting point of the Camino which is a place filled with energy.. That trip takes about 2 hours. But getting back to Pamplona ...I don't see a way except walking or an enormous circuitous route.
I would rent a car. Driving is a lot like here. For the most part, everybody drives around like they don't want to hit another car. And the more rural the easier to drive.
wayne iNWI
Posted by
OP
4 posts
Thank you both for your replies. I’m hoping to find a reliable tour guide or such to drive us up into the Pyrenees from Pamplona. We would like to see St Jean Pied du Port although we are not starting the walk there. Might try the car rental idea if there isn’t an easier way.
Posted by
Mid-Atlantic area
7162 posts
The road to St Jean Pied du Port from Pamplona is direct and probably not the prettiest part of the Pyrenees. St. Jean is fairly small and good for a couple hours. En route, you could stop at Roncevalles as it is the usual end of day 1 for the Camino. There isn’t much to it at all. A few 2017 photos of St. Jean and Roncevalles are on my website.
My opinion is biased, but if you can’t find a reasonable driver, get a rental car. To me, it’s the best way to see the countryside and small town Spain.