Camino Francés Itinerary: Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port

Our comprehensive Camino Francés itinerary, the most traveled Camino de Santiago route, includes accommodations (albergues), points of interest, and personalized recommendations. We traveled on a budget, mostly opting for municipal albergues or donation-based parishes instead of hostels or hotels. The parish stays—with community dinners and pilgrim blessings—were our favorite experiences, and we actively sought them out.

We’ll also share alternate routes that we highly recommend—the ones we took and the ones we wish we had taken. Throughout the itinerary, you’ll find reflections and lessons learned along the way.

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✨A Note Before You Start Booking

We do not recommend booking your entire Camino Francés itinerary before your trip. We booked the first three nights, but in hindsight, booking only the first two would have given us more flexibility. Create the outline, but you don’t need to have everything reserved before you leave.

You can’t predict how your body will feel, how fast you’ll walk, or when you’ll stumble across a charming town you’d love to linger in. Give yourself permission to be flexible and present. Let go of the need to plan every detail. Of course, it’s important to know where food and water are available—but leave room for spontaneity. That’s often where the magic happens on the Camino.

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🚶 Stage 1: Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port

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This charming French village is where many pilgrims—us included—begin their journey to Santiago de Compostela.

🛫 Getting to the Camino Frances:

If you’re flying into Madrid, take a Renfe train from Atocha Station to Pamplona, then catch an Alsa bus to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port (SJPP). The buses from Pamplona to SJPP are limited, so we recommend taking an early train out of Madrid. Alternatively, check Blablacar (a popular carpooling app) for rides from major Spanish cities to SJPP.

🐚 Pilgrim Essentials:

Pick up your shell and credential (pilgrim passport) at the  Pilgrim’s Office, which is open daily from 7:30 am–12 pm and 2 pm–8 pm. The credential costs 2 euros, and you’ll need at least 1 euro for a donation toward the shell.

Bring a small waterproof pouch or ziplock bag for your credential and passport—they’ll be checked often, and you’ll need at least two stamps per day to receive your Compostela in Santiago. Collecting stamps from cafes, churches, and albergues quickly became one of our favorite little rituals.

🏡 Where To Stay in SJPP:

We stayed at Gite Beilari—and we cannot recommend it enough! This was the most expensive place we stayed on the entire Camino (because it’s in France), but it was worth every euro. Joseph creates a beautiful sense of community, with shared meals and mindful moments that set the perfect tone for the journey ahead.

In 2024, the price was 43 euros, which included a bed, dinner, and breakfast.

You can read about our experience in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port here.

🙏 Other Tips:

• Ask about the pilgrim blessing at the Church of Notre-Dame and any local events happening in the village.
  
• Spend time wandering the cobblestone streets, visit the scenic lookout points, and take a walk along the river—it’s a lovely way to ground yourself before the journey begins.
  
• Stock up on snacks! You won’t pass another grocery store (like Covirán) until Burguete-Auritz, about 28 km away. Don’t worry—you’ll find restaurants in Orisson and Roncesvalles, but small food supplies for the next two days will come in handy.
  

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🥾 Get Physically Ready for the Camino

If you’re planning your Camino and wondering how to prepare your body for the miles ahead, we created something just for you.

Our Training for the Trails program is a yoga-based training plan designed to help you build the strength, stamina, flexibility, and lung capacity you’ll need on the Camino. It’s gentle yet effective—perfect if you’re not sure where to start or want to avoid injuries on the trail.

✅ Strengthen your legs and core
✅ Improve flexibility in hips and hamstrings
✅ Deepen your breath for endurance and focus
✅ Includes vinyasa yoga, yin yoga, and breathwork

Start your Camino feeling strong, steady, and supported.