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Voykit pocket guide · Spain
Roncesvalles
Spend one night in Roncesvalles as the first stop on the French Way; arrive by bus or taxi from Pamplona and walk the town.
Roncesvalles is a tiny Navarre village that serves as the traditional first night for pilgrims on the Camino Frances. With a handful of pilgrim hostels, a single restaurant and only walking needed, one night is enough to rest and start the trek eastward.
- Country
- Spain
- Best months
- May–June, Sep–Oct
- Avoid
- Jul–Aug (heat, limited bus service)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- EUR
- Money
- Currency is the euro (EUR, €). Cards and contactless work almost everywhere, including tapas bars and taxis in the cities.
- Daily spend
- Budget €20–30 excl. bed · Mid €35–50 excl. bed · High €60–80 excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- EU and EEA plans roam at home prices; UK and other plans may charge — check before you land.
- Emergency
- Police 091 · General emergency 112
- Plugs
- Types C, F · 230 V · 50 Hz · Round two-pin plugs; UK and US plugs need an adapter.
- Tipping
- Bar or café: Leave small change or nothing.; Restaurant: Round up or 5–10% for good service; service is not usually added.; Taxi: Round up to the next euro.; Hotel porter: €1–2 a bag.; Guide on a free walking tour: €10–15 a person is the expected payment.
- Water
- Tap water is safe across the mainland; it tastes of chlorine in some coastal areas. Ask for 'agua del grifo' in restaurants — by law since 2025 they must offer it free (check local application).
- Toilets
- Few public toilets; use bars and cafés (buy a coffee). Stations and shopping centres have free or cheap toilets.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Meal at Casa Sabina | €8–12 |
| Pilgrim’s Hostel breakfast | €5 |
| Pilgrim’s Hostel dinner | €11 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- PNA · Pamplona Airport
- about 30 min by bus or taxi to Roncesvalles
Typical fares
- Bus Pamplona → Roncesvalles
- Check schedule; few services daily, approx. €10–15 (check)
- Taxi Pamplona → Roncesvalles
- About €50–70, 30 min (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
The village is walkable; all sights and accommodations are within a few minutes’ stroll.
See and do
Known for
- Camino Frances first night stop
- Pilgrim’s Hostel
- Casa Sabina restaurant
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Pamplona | Bus or taxi from Roncesvalles | 30 min |
| Zubiri | Walk the Camino Frances eastward, about 21 km (13 mi)Walk the Camino Frances eastward, about 13 mi (21 km) | 5–6 h |
| Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port | Taxi or bus via the pass | About 1 h |
Sleep
- Casa Sabina
- 10‑bed private hotel with bar and restaurant; no published price
- Refugio Itzandegia
- 110‑bed pilgrim refuge; €6 per night; one‑night limit unless special circumstances
- La Posada
- High‑end hotel; prices from €40 per night
- Pilgrim's Hostel
- 72‑bed albergue; €14 per night, €5 breakfast, €11 dinner
- Camping Urrobi
- Camping site; €5.15 per person
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | Disculpedisˈkulpe |
| Thank you | Graciasˈɡɾasjas |
| How much is it? | ¿Cuánto cuesta?ˈkwanto ˈkwesta |
| Where is the hostel? | ¿Dónde está el albergue?ˈdonde esˈta el alβeɾˈɡe |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Two kisses on the cheek (right then left) between friends and when introduced socially; handshake in business; avoid: Being stiff — Spaniards stand close and touch arms
- Meal times: Late lunch and dinner; long sobremesa (chat after eating); avoid: Rushing to leave or asking for the bill with the last bite
- Noise: Join in the lively conversation; avoid: Reading loud voices as anger
- Siesta hours: Keep noise down in residential buildings 15:00–17:00 and after 23:00; avoid: Phone calls to people at lunch time
- Dress: Smart casual in cities; locals rarely wear shorts in Madrid in town; avoid: Swimwear or bare torsos away from the beach
- Regional pride: Ask about local dishes and festivals; avoid: Assuming Catalan or Basque are dialects of Spanish
Scams and watch-outs
- Bus from Pamplona runs only a few times daily; check the schedule.
- Taxi from Pamplona costs €50–70; confirm price before boarding.
Roncesvalles is safe for pilgrims; main risks are limited transport options and occasional mountain weather changes.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Roncesvalles yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Camino Frances first night stop
- Pilgrim’s Hostel
- Casa Sabina restaurant
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Roncesvalles, revision 5065117 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5065117
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/roncesvalles). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.