Bilbao - trains and accomodation
 

Hi there,

First time travelling to Bilbao so just have a few questions, if anyone is familiar with the area, would really appreciate some help!

- We are arriving into Bilbao late and need to get accomodation close to the train station as we are getting a train early the next morning. Would anyone know of some nice cheap place to stay for one night closeby?

- We then need to get from Bilbao to a small place called O Cebreiro. It seems the only way to do this is get a train from Bilbao to Ponferrada and a local bus (hopefully!) to o Cebreiro. Renfe Timetable states there is a train from Bilbao-Abando to Ponferrada. Is Bilbao-Abando the name of the train station or is this a different place altogether?!

Thanks for any help...

Bilbao-Abando is the name of the station. I haven't been in Bilbao so I can't help you with the hotel question. Hope you have a good time in Spain :)

Thanks for the reply Kenderina!

Just as a follow on from this, does anyone know if I can get a bus to O Cebreiro from Ponferrada. Are there local buses that are not advertised online with timetables?

We are doing the last stretch of the Camino di Santiago and would like to start in O cebreiro...

I don't think you can take a bus to o cebreiro , I've done a bit of researching on the net. You can take one to Villafranca del Bierzo..and then take a taxi, o cebreiro is only 30 km from there. (It's what most people do according of what I've read).
I'm very sorry I cannot help you more.

hmm you seem to be right.

Another option is getting a bus from Bilbao to Piedrafita, one goes at 7.45 in the morning - about an 8 hour journey. Then O Cebreiro is only about 4km away..

That depends on your budget..but 8 hours in a bus can be a destroyer :)

Yes the budget could very well be the decider for us :)

Thanks for your help..

i was able to get the LUGO bus station number . called them. there is a bus every weekday at 5.30 pm to o' cebeiro. It takes approx. 1.5 hours. the lady was not sure about the price but thought it was 7-8 euros.

o´cebeiro is very unique.

my husband started in villafranca del bierzo, where we have friends, but we arrived there by car.

i am sure if you are lucky and can google some of these camino de santiago sites, there are lists of transport as everyone has the same questions.

perhaps you need to be on different forum.

is there a "friends of the road to santiago" or something.? i know there is in spanish.. tons of websites.

Hi Fionuala,

here you have the address for the confraternities in Ireland and the UK (the crowd from the UK are very knowledgeable in the Camino), and I think that they will be really helpful.

Have you thought of beginning either at Villafranca or at Sarria? I know that many people who decide to walk just the last part begin on those places (or even Leon), because of the difficulty of getting to O Cebreiro. Sarria is the limit to be able to get the credential, 100 kms (unless you are riding a horse or a bike, in that case it´s 200 kms).

Most of the people beginning at O Cebreiro or Sarria do a bit of backtracking : they go first to Santiago, and get a bus from there to the beginning of the route. It is easier and much more frequent.

Regarding accomodation in Bilbao ... when are you arriving and how much is cheap? There isn´t a lot near the station, and nevertheless Bilbao is small enough to allow you to stay in some other place, and don´t forget the metro. The train to Ponferrada (it´s the same train that goes to Santiago) leaves at 9:15 in the morning, and that´s not really bad. You will be able to avoid the rush hour in the metro, have breakfast and sit on your train ... The bus leaves much earlier, and arrives in Ponferrada more or less at the same time, so I wouldn´t choose it.

Rgds, Cova

Thanks a mil for that Lincasanova & Cova...
Lugo would be a good option also, but it will be a sunday that we will be travelling from Bilbao to get to O Cebreiro so bus will be no good if it just goes on weekdays.

cova, I think you took me up a little wrong - the bus is bit longer alright, and earlier in the morning, but instead of only going to Ponferrada, it takes us nearly full way to Cebreiro, only 5km which is fine!

By cheap, I would say anything up to 40 euro....
and close enough to airport / bus station...
Thinking of "Husa Jardines de Albia".

http://www.hostelworld.com/hosteldet...a-Bilbao-11952

From the website, it sounds like its pretty close to everything...?

Sorry Cova, meant to say, arriving in Bilbao late Sat evening, the 6th August...

Hi Fionuala,

sorry about the mishaps with the train and bus. I kept checking Ponferrada as final destination ...

I checked Bancotel, and there was a new place called Zenit for 1 voucher. It didn´t look bad at all.
If you mean up to 40 Euro for one room ... well, it will be really difficult (been there, done that, I tried to find something so cheap for some Madrid friends, and they ended up having to raise their expectations ...).

I have checked the Hostal Begoña. It is very near the station and it gets good reviews, but it doesn´t have availability for that night (it will be difficult, being a Saturday night and with so many cheap flights in Bilbao ...).

http://www.hostalbegona.com/
http://www.bancotel.es

The Abba Parque is quite near to the bus station (the airport bus also arrives there, so ...), and it would be handy for you if you decide to go the bus route.
http://abba.hotelsearch.com/hotelparquebilbao/

Another good option is the Petit Palace Arana, just by the Teatro Arriaga and the Old Town. I like them a lot.
http://www.petitpalacearana.com/

The Husa Jardines de Albia is quite nice. A bit noisy, because one of the most popular clubs in Bilbao is right next door. Check their prices at http://www.husa.es

Another good website to check prices is http://www.atrapalo.com
I have always found good offers with them.

Good luck, Cova

Hi Fionuala,

a friend has given me the name of another pension near the station, http://www.pensionbilbao.com/ It seems to be quite decent.

Anyway, if you decide to go by bus, I would try to stay at the Abba. Very, very near from the bus station.

Rgds, Cova

The walk up to O Cebreiro is quite challenging on the first walking day but it is beautiful! We stayed in a tiny little town called Ambasmestas (http://www.ambasmestas.com/) and started walking from there.

Try contacting the amigos del camino society. It could be very well possible that someone could give you a ride from Ponferrada or Villafranca del Bierzo up to O'Cebreiro. It is amazing what the people that dedicate their lives to supporting the camino are willing to do for pilgrims!

Buen camino!

Your 6 Aug Bilbao arrival brings another factor into the equation: Many of the budget-priced accomodations will be filled up with vacationers from all over. August is peak season on Spain's north coast.

Kenderina writes: "... 8 hours in a bus can be a destroyer" Yea, but you can 'break it up' (i.e., Bilbao-Santander and then another bus Santander-O'Cebreiro).

I'm sure you know Fionuala is one of the 'Children of Lir:' bewitched swans that fly near Belmullet in County Mayo, Ireland. It's also what the 14th hole on Carne Golf links (Belmullet) is called. Just an 'aside' ...
BTW
Does FEVE have a stop anywhere near O'Cebreiro?? http://www.FEVE.es