St-Jean Pied de Port
A walled Basque town on the Nive river, known as the traditional start of the French Camino to Santiago de Compostela.
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St-Jean-Pied-de-Port is a walled town in the French Basque Country, in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department, a short distance from the Spanish border. It sits on the Nive river at the foot of the Pyrenees. Its old citadel was reworked by Vauban, the military engineer of Louis XIV, and the upper town still sits inside those walls.
People come here mainly as the start of the Camino Francés, the most walked route to Santiago de Compostela. Many walkers cross the Pyrenees to Roncesvalles on their first day, a long day with a steep climb on a mountain path. The alternative is the lower road through Valcarlos, which avoids the high crossing. Snow and fog can close the high route, so spring and early autumn are the usual months to walk it. Plan at least one night here, and two if you want time in the old town and at the pilgrim office before you set out.
St-Jean Pied de Port in five
- Register at the pilgrim officeWalkers collect their credencial and route advice at the pilgrim reception. Check opening hours before you arrive, because they vary by season.
- Plan the Pyrenees crossingThe first day to Roncesvalles is long and steep, and the high route is usually closed in winter. Check conditions and consider splitting it.The Pyrenees
- Count your Schengen daysA long walk across France and Spain can use up your 90 days in any 180, because days count across Schengen countries.Schengen 90/180 rule
- Book beds early in peak monthsAlbergues and guesthouses fill in spring and fall. Reserve the first night if you arrive late.
Need to know
- Airport
- Biarritz Pays Basque (BIQ), about 1 hour by road
- Getting there
- TER from Bayonne, about 1 hour
- Getting around
- On foot; the old town is small
- Best base
- In town or at an albergue by the trail
- Time needed
- A night before the crossing; a day to look around
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryRain15 rainy daysHigh11°Low6°Cold, route closedJanuaryRain
Poor
- High
- 11°
- Low
- 6°
- Precipitation
- 156 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, route closed
- FebruaryRain12 rainy daysHigh13°Low7°Cold, route closedFebruaryRain
Mixed
- High
- 13°
- Low
- 7°
- Precipitation
- 120 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, route closed
- MarchRain16 rainy daysHigh14°Low8°Mild, showersMarchRain
Mixed
- High
- 14°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 137 mm
- Rainy days
- 16
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, showers
- AprilRain14 rainy daysHigh16°Low9°Camino season opensAprilRain
Mixed
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 118 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Camino season opens
- MayRain15 rainy daysHigh19°Low12°WarmMayRain
Good
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 118 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm
- JuneRain14 rainy daysHigh22°Low16°WarmJuneRain
Best
- High
- 22°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 125 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm
- JulyPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh24°Low17°Hot, busyJulyPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 17°
- Precipitation
- 63 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, busy
- AugustClear11 rainy daysHigh24°Low18°Hot, busyAugustClear
Best
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 18°
- Precipitation
- 78 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, busy
- SeptemberRain13 rainy daysHigh23°Low16°Clear, goldenSeptemberRain
Best
- High
- 23°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 130 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Clear, golden
- OctoberRain13 rainy daysHigh20°Low13°Fall colorOctoberRain
Good
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 115 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Fall color
- NovemberRain16 rainy daysHigh15°Low10°Cool, quietNovemberRain
Poor
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 219 mm
- Rainy days
- 16
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, quiet
- DecemberRain14 rainy daysHigh13°Low8°Cold, route closedDecemberRain
Poor
- High
- 13°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 181 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, route closed
Average daily high and low in St-Jean Pied de Port, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in St-Jean Pied de Port
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
10
- Feels like
- 9°
- Humidity
- 66%
- Wind
- 6 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 0%
St-Jean Pied de Port
09:48 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today13°4°0%Monday: Cloudy. High 13°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Tue10°2°3%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 10°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 3%.
- Wed14°3°1%Wednesday: Clear. High 14°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 1%.
- Thu16°4°15%Thursday: Clear. High 16°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 15%.
- Fri15°4°7%Friday: Clear. High 15°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 7%.
- Sat14°4°12%Saturday: Drizzle. High 14°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 12%.
- Sun21°9°39%Sunday: Cloudy. High 21°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 39%.
Updated 09:11 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
What's on in St-Jean Pied de Port
Concerts, festivals and big events in and around the city
Events calendarEvery year
- Jul–AugFêtes de BayonneBayonne, a day trip
Before you go to St-Jean Pied de Port
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Rules for St-Jean Pied de Port, checked
- Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port is in France, so Schengen entry rules apply. Check the rules for your passport on France-Visas before you travel.Source
- Pilgrims on the Camino Francés need a credencial to stay in pilgrim hostels. Get it before you start walking, and have it stamped along the route.
- Mountain weather on the Pyrenees crossing can change quickly. Ask the pilgrim office in town about current conditions before you set out.
- Dial 112 for police, ambulance and fire in France. Keep your insurance details and emergency contacts on paper as well as on your phone.
Plan around St-Jean Pied de Port
Mountain towns, passes and walks
Read the guideFrench Basque CountryCoast and hills around the Camino start
Read the guideBayonne travel guideThe rail link to the Camino start
Read the guideSchengen 90/180 ruleStay-day counting for long walks
Read the guideAll of FranceRegions, trains, entry rules and money for a France trip
Read the guideSt-Jean Pied de Port FAQ
How do you get to St-Jean Pied de Port?
By TER from Bayonne in about 1 hour. Biarritz airport is the nearest, then change at Bayonne.
Is St-Jean Pied de Port worth visiting if I am not walking the Camino?
Yes for a night or a day. It has a citadel, a river and Basque cooking, and it is a quiet base for the western Pyrenees.
When does the Camino route from St-Jean open?
The high route over the Pyrenees is usually closed in winter. Check conditions with the pilgrim office before you set out.
Do I need to book accommodation in St-Jean?
In spring and fall, yes. Reserve at least the first night and your Roncesvalles bed before you start.
Can you visit St-Jean Pied de Port as a day trip?
Yes from Bayonne by train, but the real atmosphere is the morning start with walkers. Stay overnight if you can.