Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
About half the visitors to this town are pilgrims; the rest are mostly French tourists.
Gift shops sell a strange combination of pilgrim gear (such as quick-drying shirts and
shorts) and Basque souvenirs. This place is packed in the summer (so come early or late).
Tourist Information:
The TI, on the main road along the outside of the walled Old
Town, can give you a town map (Mon-Sat 9:00-12:00 & 14:00-18:00, closed Sun, tel. 05
59 37 03 57). For Camino information, you'll do better at the Pilgrim Friends Office (de-
scribed on the next page). Ask the TI about weekly
pelota vasca
games (usually Mon at
16:00 or 17:00 at the
trinquet
court on Place du Trinquet).
Arrival in St-Jean-Pied-de-Port: Parking
is ample and well-signed from the main
road.Ifarrivingby
train,
exitthestationtotheleft,thenfollowthebusyroadatthetraffic
circle toward the city wall.
Sights:
There's little in the way of sightseeing here, other than pilgrim-spotting. But
St-Jean-Pied-de-Port feels like the perfect “Welcome to the Camino” springboard for the
upcoming journey. Many modern pilgrims begin their Camino in this traditional spot be-
causeofitseasytrainconnectiontoBayonne,andbecause—asitsnameimplies(“St.John
attheFootofthePass”)—itoffersaverychallengingbutrewardingfirstleg:up,over,and
into Spain.
