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Voykit pocket guide · Spain
Somport
Somport is a mountain pass on the French–Spanish border, not a town. Use it as a 1–2 hour stop for the ski resort Candanchú or as a stage on the Aragonese Way of St James. No overnight needed unless you are walking the Camino.
Somport is a high Pyrenean pass (1,632 m) that marks the end of the Via Tolosana and the start of the Aragonese Way of St James. It has no village, only a ski resort (Candanchú) and a few pilgrim hostels. Most travellers pass through in under an hour; walkers on the Camino stay one night.
- Country
- Spain
- Best months
- Dec–Mar for skiing; Jun–Sep for hiking and cycling
- Avoid
- Nov (snow can close the pass road)
- Stay
- 0 nights
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 €30–50 (hostel bed, self-catering) · Mid €60–100 (hotel room, restaurant meals) · High €120+ (ski resort hotel, lift pass) (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 112 · Fire and ambulance 112 · Guardia Civil 062
- 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 |
|---|---|
| Coffee | €1.50–2.50 |
| Menu del día (lunch) | €12–18 |
| Beer (caña) | €2–3 |
| Ski lift pass (Candanchú, one day) | €35 (check) |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- PUF · Pau Pyrénées
- About 1 h 30 min by car; train to Bedous then bus to Somport (check)
- ZAZ · Zaragoza
- About 2 h by car; train to Canfranc then bus to Somport (check)
Typical fares
- Taxi Canfranc → Somport
- about €20–25 (check)
- Bus Jaca → Canfranc
- about €3–5 (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 pass area is walkable. The Somport Road Tunnel is closed to pedestrians. A car or bus is needed to reach Candanchú or Canfranc.
See and do
Known for
- Somport Road Tunnel (8 km, 2003)
- Candanchú ski resort (one of Spain's oldest, 1928)
- Aragonese Way of St James
- Quebrantahuesos cycling event (June)
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Canfranc | Car or bus, 12 km (7.5 mi) south on N330Car or bus, 7.5 mi (12 km) south on N330 | 15 min |
| Jaca | Car or bus via Canfranc, about 30 km (19 mi)Car or bus via Canfranc, about 19 mi (30 km) | 35 min |
| Huesca | Car via N330, about 100 km (62 mi)Car via N330, about 62 mi (100 km) | 1 h 15 min |
Sleep
- Candanchú
- 1 km (0.6 mi) from the border; ski resort with restaurants and hostels.0.6 mi (1 km) from the border; ski resort with restaurants and hostels.
- Canfranc
- 12 km (7.5 mi) south; more accommodation and the nearest ATM.7.5 mi (12 km) south; more accommodation and the nearest ATM.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Holaoh-lah |
| Thank you | Graciasgrah-thee-ahs |
| How much? | ¿Cuánto cuesta?kwahn-toh kweh-stah |
| Where is the ATM? | ¿Dónde está el cajero?don-deh es-tah el kah-heh-ro |
| I don't understand | No entiendonoh en-tee-en-doh |
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
- Snow can close the pass road in winter; check conditions before driving.
- The road tunnel (8 km) is not for pedestrians or cyclists.
- No ATM at Somport; nearest is in Canfranc (12 km).
The main risks are winter road conditions and altitude (1,632 m). Carry snow chains in winter. The area is very safe for travellers.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Somport yet. Suggested stay: 0 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Somport Road Tunnel (8 km, 2003)
- Candanchú ski resort (one of Spain's oldest, 1928)
- Aragonese Way of St James
- Quebrantahuesos cycling event (June)
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: Somport, revision 5229016 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5229016
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/somport). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.