Via Verde del Plazaola: Pamplona - San Sebastian

Before you start cycling, it’s time to enjoy Pamplona with its charming center full of old streets lined with restaurants and (tapas) bars. Pamplona is the capital of Navarra and one of the highlights of Basque culture. Take a walk to the castle where pilgrims on the Camino de Santiago enter the city. If you have chosen to rent a bike, you can pick it up in the city today so you can set off at your leisure tomorrow. But first, relax and enjoy an evening in the vibrant atmosphere of Pamplona.

You cycle out of Pamplona under the watchful eye of Mount San Cristobal, heading towards the starting point of the Via Verde del Plazaola in the village of Sarasa. After Sarasa, there’s a very short, steep climb, but then it’s like most Vias Verdes: you always climb very gradually, sometimes almost imperceptibly. The route is beautiful, passing through forests and along rivers. And just imagine—the most scenic part of the Via Verde is still to come. Suddenly, you find yourself in the town of Lekunberri. The train station has been converted into a visitor center for the Via Verde del Plazaola, with an information desk and a cozy bar with a terrace.

As soon as we start pedaling and leave the old station behind, we suddenly find ourselves in a stunning landscape. Green hills, forests, and valleys accompany us to the end of the Via Verde. This is a section where you truly ride through nature. The beauty of this Via Verde is that you cycle through a mountainous landscape without having to climb steeply. This is thanks in part to the many tunnels along the route. You’ll even pass through the longest Via Verde tunnel in Spain. When a tunnel is closed, we follow an alternative route. The Via Verde del Plazaola ends in Andoain. From here, you continue on a quiet route to your hotel in the beautiful and very bike-friendly city of San Sebastian. This is where the arrangement ends, but we recommend extending your stay by at least one more night in the city. There is so much to see and do here.

Today is the day to explore San Sebastián. Take the day to visit the beaches, neighborhoods, and streets filled with restaurants, bars, and shops. The La Concha beach is simply stunning. Don’t forget to try the “pintxos,” small bites offered in many restaurants. Don’t call them ‘tapas’ because pintxos are true culinary masterpieces. Speaking of culinary delights… San Sebastián is nationally and even globally renowned for its excellent restaurants. Here, you’ll find the highest concentration of Michelin stars.

Difficulty level 3 for trekking tours are cycling vacations that are manageable for the average recreational cyclist. The routes are not too long but may include some elevation changes. The route may cover longer stretches of unpaved terrain (gravel), but it is always easily rideable. There may be 1 or 2 days where the ride is a bit longer and more challenging. On average, the distances range between 30 and 50 kilometers per day, with elevation gains between 200 to 400 meters per day.

Want to return from San Sebastián to Pamplona? You can do so by train. There is a direct train that will bring you back in less than two hours. However, it only runs early in the morning. Trains running later in the day make a detour and therefore take more time. The price of a train ticket (book in advance) ranges from €16 to €30. You can check the current schedules and prices on the Renfe website (the Spanish national rail service).

The hotels on this bike route along the Plazaola Greenway have been selected based on quality and their location, as close to the route as possible. They are 3-4 star establishments with private bathrooms and good dining options.

Pamplona is the capital of the autonomous region of Navarra. It is easily accessible by train, including via the TGV to the French-Spanish border town of Bayonne.