This page explains how to buy train tickets from San Sebastian - Donostia to other European cities at the cheapest prices, buying online direct from the operators, usually with print-at-home or collect-at-station tickets.  Click here to for journeys starting in another city.  Suggested hotels in San Sebastian.  Information current for 2024.

I want to go from San Sebastian to:

Before you buy your tickets

Take a moment to read these tips for buying European train tickets.  It answers all the usual questions, "Must I book in advance or can I buy at the station?", "Can I stop off?", "Are there Senior fares?" and that old favourite, "Should I buy an $800 railpass or a €35 point-to-point ticket?".  How far ahead can you buy train tickets?

European train travel FAQ

San Sebastian stations: Location map  Stations guide

San Sebastian has two stations, Amara for the narrow-gauge Euskotren trains to Bilbao and to Hendaye on the French border, and the Iberian-gauge Renfe station for mainline trains to Madrid, Pamplona & Barcelona.  See stations guide.

Back to top

San Sebastian to Barcelona from €25

• A comfortable air-conditioned Alvia train leaves San Sebastian every morning at 07:10, direct to Barcelona Sants, journey time 5h59.

  The train is fully-air-conditioned with standard class (2nd) & comfort class (1st) and a cafe-bar serving beer, wine, tea, coffee, snacks.

  Other departures are available with a change of train.

  It's a great ride:  The train leaves from San Sebastian's Renfe station, 10 minutes walk from the city centre.  The journey starts slowly with the train wending its way through the Pyrenean foothills, then it emerges from the hills and gather speed across the plains with the Pyrenees to your left, calling briefly at Pamplona.  Approaching Zaragoza it passes slowly through a shed and automatically changes track gauge from Spanish 5'6" broad gauge to standard gauge 4' 8.5" and joins the modern high-speed line for a final dash at up to 250km/h (155 mph) to Barcelona.  Look out for the distinctive dragon's back of Montserrat on your left as you approach Barcelona.  You've crossed Spain, from the Bay of Biscay to the Mediterranean!

• Fares start at €28 in standard class or €38 in comfort class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

• Buy tickets at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use. in £ or €, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or www.petrabax.com (in $, small mark-up) or Renfe's own site www.renfe.com (much more fiddly, may reject some overseas credit cards, see advice on using it).

  Booking opens 60 days ahead, sometimes less, don't bother trying to book too far ahead.  You print your own ticket.

  Tip:  If you only see indirect journeys with a change of train in the search results, then booking for the direct trains isn't open yet.  Just wait until the direct train appears, 40-60 days out, sometimes less.  Other less convenient routes & trains often open for booking earlier so they appear in search results a few weeks before the direct trains open for booking.  So If you are too impatient you'll end up on a more expensive non-direct journey that takes significantly longer.  So I repeat, WAIT until you see the direct trains with 0 changes in the search results.

Comfort class (1st class).		Alvia train at San Sebastian's temporary platforms.

Cafe-bar.		.Standard class seats (2nd class).

The train descends from the foothills of the Pyrenees onto the plain below.

Back to top

San Sebastian to Bilbao for €6.50

• Narrow-gauge local trains run by Euskotren link San Sebastian-Donostia Amara station with Bilbao's Matiko station in 2h35 every hour throughout the day, for only €6.50.

  No reservation is necessary or possible, just go to San Sebastian Amara station (the Euskotren station, not the Renfe station), buy a ticket and hop on the next train.  Easy!

  Matiko station is the end of the line and closest to the Guggenheim Museum (18 minutes walk), but Zazpi Kaleak station (two stops before Matiko) may be more convenient as it's closer to both the old quarter and the 19th century new town, but 22 minutes walk from the Guggenheim.

• Check times & fares from Donostia-San Sebastian Amara to Bilbao Matiko at www.euskotren.eus.  It's a slow all-stations ride on a narrow-gauge railway.

• You can continue by narrow gauge train to Santander by FEVE for just a few more euros.

Back to top

San Sebastian to Madrid from €25

• Several fast daily air-conditioned Alvia & Intercity trains link San Sebastian-Donostia with Madrid Chamartin every day, taking around 4h55.

  Departures are typically at 05:02 Mondays-Fridays, 09:02 daily, 15:17 daily, 17:03 Sundays.

  These Alvia & Intercity trains wend their way through the Pyrenean foothills, then gather speed across the plain. Near Burgos they slow down and pass through a special shed which automatically changes their wheels from Spanish 5'6" broad gauge to standard gauge 4' 8.5".  The trains then join the modern high-speed line for a final dash into Madrid at up to 250km/h (155 mph).

  Fares start at €28 in standard class or €38 in comfort class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

• In addition to these fast trains, you'll find several slower Media Distancia (MD) trains which although comfortable and air-conditioned take 7h30 as they use the classic route all the way, not the high-speed line.  You'll also find several options with a change of train at Zaragoza or Valladolid onto an AVE high-speed train.  I'd stick to the direct Alvia & Intercity trains if you can.

• Buy tickets at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use. in £, € or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or www.petrabax.com (in $, small mark-up) or Renfe's own site www.renfe.com (in €, much more fiddly, may reject some overseas credit cards, see advice on using it).

  Booking only opens 60 days ahead, often less, so don't bother trying to book too far ahead.  Wait till the train you want appears!  You print your own ticket.

Comfort class (1st class)		An Alvia train at Madrid Chamartin.

Standard class seats (2nd class).		The cafe-bar does an excellent cafe con leche.

The train descends from the foothills of the Pyrenees onto the plain below.

Back to top

San Sebastian to Santiago de Compostela, Vigo, A Coruña

Option 1, the 09:02 departure

• Step 1, travel from San Sebastian to Madrid by air-conditioned Alvia train, leaving San Sebastian at 09:02 & arriving Madrid Chamartin 13:56.

• Step 2, travel from Madrid to Vigo by air-conditioned Alvia train, leaving Madrid Chamartin at 16:00 arriving Vigo Urzaiz 20:12.

  These Alvia trains are comfortable and air-conditioned with cafe-bar.

• Fares from San Sebastian to Santiago de Compostela start at €25 in standard class or €38 in comfort class.

  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

• Buy tickets at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use. in £, € or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or www.petrabax.com (in $, small mark-up) or Renfe's own site www.renfe.com (much more fiddly, may reject some overseas credit cards, see advice on using it).

  Booking opens 60 days ahead, sometimes less, so don't bother trying to book too far ahead.  You print your own ticket.

Option 2, the 11:58 departure

• Step 1, travel from San Sebastian to Vitoria/Gasteiz  by Intercity train, leaving San Sebastian at 11:58 every day arriving Vitoria/Gasteiz at 13:43.  This is a guaranteed connection into the daily Barcelona to Galicia Alvia train.

• Step 2, travel from Vitoria/Gasteiz to Galicia by Alvia train, leaving Vitoria/Gasteiz at 14:03 every day.

  On Wednesdays, Fridays & Sundays it goes to Vigo Guixar arriving 23:35.

  On Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays & Saturdays it goes to Santiago de Compostela (arriving 22:27) and A Coruña (arriving 22:59).

• Fares from San Sebastian to Santiago de Compostela start at €25 in standard class or €38 in comfort class (1st class).

  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead

• Buy tickets at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use. in £, € or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or www.petrabax.com (in $, small mark-up) or Renfe's own site www.renfe.com (much more fiddly, may reject some overseas credit cards, see advice on using it).

  Booking opens 60 days ahead, often less, so don't bother trying to book too far ahead.  You print your own ticket.

Comfort class seats on the Talgo train from Irun & San Sebastian to Vitoria/Gasteiz, 2+1 across the car width.  Standard class seats are 2+2.		The Talgo train from San Sebastian, arrived at Vitoria/Gasteiz.  Courtesy Daniel Alfonso.

Above left, Comfort class seats on an Alvia train, 1+2 across the car width.  Standard class seats are 2+2 across the car width. Above right, the 14:10 Alvia train from Vitoria/Gasteiz to Galicia.  The trains starts in Barcelona.  Note the unusual power car nose - these Alvia-S130 trains are nick-named Patito (little duck) by staff.  They have adjustable axles so can run on standard-gauge high-speed lines at up to 250 km/h or on Iberian broad gauge classic lines at lower speed.  Photo courtesy of Ekain Munduate.

Scenery as the train enters Galicia on its way to Vigo.  Photo courtesy of Martin Hill.

Back to top

San Sebastian to other destinations in Spain

• Step 1, take the morning Alvia train to Madrid as shown above.

• Transfer from Madrid Chamartin to Madrid Atocha as shown here

• Step 2, take a train from Madrid Atocha to change there for Seville, Malaga, Cordoba, Algeciras (for Gibraltar or Morocco), Valencia or Alicante.

• The Renfe website isn't good at finding journeys with changes of train, it only does this when selected connections have been manually pre-programmed.  So I suggest using www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com instead as these link to Renfe's system but have no problem finding routes with changes of train.

  Tip:  Using try www.raileurope.com, click More options, enter Madrid (any station) as a via station and a stopover duration, if you want longer in Madrid than it allows by default.

San Sebastian to Gibraltar

• Day 1, take any Alvia train to Madrid as shown above.

  Transfer from Madrid Chamartin to Madrid Atocha as shown here.

• Stay overnight in Madrid.  The classic Hotel Mediodia is across the road from Atocha with good reviews, or try the NH Hotel Madrid Atocha or Only YOU Hotel Atocha, also across the road from the station.  For somewhere cheaper, try the Pensión Mollo or Hostal Residencia Fernandez.

• Day 2, travel from Madrid to Algeciras by Intercity train, leaving Madrid Atocha at 07:38, arriving San Roque-La Linea 13:35 & Algeciras 13:54.

• Day 2, take a bus or taxi from Algeciras to la Linea & walk into Gibraltar.

  A taxi from Algeciras railway station to La Linea costs €24.75 and takes about 22 minutes.  Taxis don't use the meter on this run, and aren't normally allowed to cross the border into Gibraltar.

  To go by bus, cross the roundabout outside Algeciras railway station and enter the San Bernado bus station, then take bus M-120 to La Linea for around €2.50.  Bus M-120 runs every 30 minutes Mon-Fri at xx.00 and xx.30 past each hour or every 45 minutes at weekends, journey time about 45 minutes to La Linea, for bus information see siu.ctmcg.es.

  La Linea is the Spanish town outside the border crossing to Gibraltar, and La Linea's bus stop and taxi rank are right outside the entrance to Gibraltar.  Walk through the Spanish then UK passport checkpoints into Gibraltar (5-10 minutes).  Then either (a) keep walking straight ahead of you into Gibraltar town, it's takes about 15 minutes to the centre or (b) take a frequent local Gibraltar bus from the border into town or (c) look for the taxi stop on the right just after the passport check and wait for a taxi to your hotel for a few pounds - Gibraltar taxis will accept euros.  The walk from the border to Gibraltar's Main Street takes you across Gibraltar airport's runway, though they stop cars and pedestrians when an aircraft is landing or taking off!   Map of Algeciras - La Linea - Gibraltar area.A

• Or take a bus/taxi from San Roque-La Linea station:

  The closest station to Gibraltar is actually San Roque-La Linea, and all trains to Algeciras call here around 20 minutes before arriving at Algeciras.  So if you prefer, you can get off here and take a taxi to La Linea, or walk the 1.6 km (1 mile) to the Bar La Redonda bus stop on the main road on the M-120 bus route from Algeciras to La Linea.  Buses run to La Linea every 30 minutes weekdays, every 45 minutes weekends.  Taxis are usually available outside San Roque station, San Roque to the La Linea/Gibraltar border is about 16 km (10 miles) and it takes just over 30 minutes depending on traffic.

• How much does it cost?

  San Sebastian to Madrid starts at €28 in standard class (2nd class) or €38 in comfort class (1st class).

  Madrid to Algeciras starts at €28 in standard class (2nd class) or €38 in comfort class (1st class).

  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

• How to buy tickets

  The Renfe website isn't good at finding journeys with changes of train (it only does this when selected connections have been manually pre-programmed) so I suggest using www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com for this, as they link to Renfe's system and have no problem finding routes with changes of train.  Booking normally opens 60 days ahead, but this varies greatly.

  Tip:  Using www.raileurope.com, click More options, enter Madrid (any station) as a via station and a stopover duration, if you want longer in Madrid than it allows by default.

The Intercity train (formerly branded Altaria) at Madrid Atocha.

Cafe-bar, with bar stools.		Comfort class seats.

Standard class seats.		Algeciras station, across the road from the bus station.

Bus M-120 boarding at Algeciras bus station		Rock of Gibraltar, seen from a taxi near La Linea.

Back to top

San Sebastian to Paris from €29

• See the San Sebastian to Paris page

• It's so easy to do this by train, the best way to go.  But people have problems finding it, as running a San Sebastian to Bordeaux enquiry on a train booking journey planner won't work.  You can see why - it's a metro ride to the border, then a train ride.  Easy when you know how!

• Step 1, simply take the little Euskotren metro train from San Sebastian Amara station to Hendaye.

  A train leaves every 30 minutes from early morning until late at night, journey time 37 minutes, fare €2.75.

  Check times at www.euskotren.eus.

  Buy a ticket at the station from the staffed office or ticket machines with cash or card and hop on the next train.

• Step 2, take a train from Hendaye to St Jean de Luz, Biarritz, Dax or Bordeaux St Jean, change at Dax for Lourdes.

  Check times for this at www.raileurope.com, www.thetrainline.com (in €, £ & $, easy to use, small booking fee) or www.sncf-connect.com (in €, no fee) and either buy the ticket online or wait till the day of travel and buy at the station.

  It only takes a few minutes to walk from metro train to mainline train in Hendaye, although I'd plan half an hour between trains to be on the safe side and perhaps grab a coffee at the station.

  Some departures are TER regional trains which don't require reservation and have fixed prices with unlimited availability so tickets can be bought at Hendaye station on the day - although buying online saves time.  Other departures are TGVs en route to Paris which require reservation and which have dynamic prices, so ideally book these beforehand to save a few euros, although for short hops like this the full-flex fare isn't that expensive and there are always be places available so you can also buy at the station on the day if you prefer.

• PassBask:  €12 buys a 2-day pass giving unlimited travel on Euskotren San Sebastian-Irun-Hendaye and on French trains Hendaye-St Jean de Luz - Biarritz - Bayonne.  On the French side, it can only be used on TER regional trains, not on TGVs or Intercités.  It's worth buying if you're making a round trip between San Sebastian and St Jean de Luz, Biarritz or Bayonne, or doing a lot of travelling up and down.  For a one-way journey stick with normal one-way tickets.  You can buy at staffed counters at Euskotren & SNCF stations or from the TER ticket machines at SNCF stations.  For more information, Google ter.sncf.com PassBask (use Google as the search facility on the SNCF site doesn't work).  Children under 4 free, children under 12 €8.

Step 1.  These air-conditioned metro trains run from San Sebastian Amara station to Irun & Hendaye (Hendaia in Spanish) every 30 minutes, a turn-up-and-go metro service.  There's plenty of space for luggage and they even have a wheelchair-accessible toilet.

Hendaye Euskotren station, for trains to San Sebastian.  Photo courtesy of Geoff Phillips.		Hendaye Euskotren station, looking back towards the station building.  Courtesy of Nicholas Brooke.

The Euskotren station is 50m across the forecourt from the mainline SNCF station.  Courtesy of Geoff Phillips.

Step 2, take a TER or TGV from Hendaye to St Jean de Luz, Biarritz or Bordeaux, change at Dax for Lourdes.  This is a TGV Duplex Océane at Hendaye station.

Back to top

San Sebastian to Brussels & Amsterdam from €57

• Step 1, travel from San Sebastian to Hendaye by Euskotren then from Hendaye to Paris Montparnasse by TGV Duplex as shown above.

  San Sebastian to Hendaye by Euskotren costs €2.75.

  Hendaye to Paris starts at €25 in 2nd class or €45 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Allow at least 60 minutes, preferably a bit more, to change trains & stations in Paris by metro or taxi to Paris Gare du Nord.

• Step 2, travel from Paris Gare du Nord to Brussels Midi in 1h20 or to Amsterdam Centraal in 3h20 by Eurostar (formerly Thalys).

  Eurostar trains have 3 classes, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  More about Eurostar (formerly Thalys).

  Fares start at €29 from Paris to Brussels or €35 from Paris to Amsterdam.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

• Book from Hendaye to Brussels or Amsterdam at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, small booking fee) or the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in €, no fee).

  You'll need to specify a morning departure from Hendaye.  If you choose to break up the journey with an overnight stop in Paris, simply book Hendaye to Paris and add to basket, then Paris to Brussels or Amsterdam, add to basket and check out. 

  Booking opens up to 4 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

A Eurostar at Paris Nord.  More about Eurostar (formerly Thalys).

Comfort & Premium seats, 2+1 across the car.  Larger photo.		Standard seats, 2+2 across.  Larger photo.

Back to top

San Sebastian to London

• Step 1, travel from San Sebastian to Hendaye by Euskotren then from Hendaye to Paris Montparnasse by TGV as shown above.  San Sebastian to Hendaye by Euskotren costs around €2.75 and Hendaye to Paris starts at €25.  Allow at least 60 minutes, preferably a bit more, to change trains and stations in Paris to Paris Gare du Nord.

• Step 2, travel from Paris to London by Eurostar in 2h20 from £52.

• For details of this journey in either direction, see the London to Spain page.

A Eurostar e320 about to leave London St Pancras.		Plus or Premier seating. Larger photo.

Back to top

San Sebastian to Lisbon & Porto from €38

• Day 1, travel from San Sebastian to Vigo.

  There's a morning departure with 2 changes, every day:  Travel from San Sebastian to Madrid by Alvia train, leaving San Sebastian at 09:02 and arriving Madrid Chamartin 13:56.  Then travel from Madrid to Vigo by Alvia train, leaving Madrid Chamartin at 16:00 arriving Vigo Urzaiz 20:12.  Vigo Urzaiz is an easy 10 minute 500m walk from Vigo Guixar, see how to walk between stations using the halo lift.

  Alternatively there's an afternoon departure with just 1 easy change on Wednesdays, Fridays & Sundays:  An Intercity train leaves San Sebastian at 11:58 arriving Vitoria/Gasteiz at 13:43.  This is a guaranteed connection into the Barcelona-Galicia Alvia train which leaves Vitoria/Gasteiz at 14:03 on Wednesdays, Fridays & Sundays arriving Vigo Guixar at 23:35.

  These Alvia trains are comfortable and air-conditioned with a cafe-bar.

  Fares start at €23 each way.  The price varies, book ahead for the cheaper prices.

  Book this at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com.

  Booking for Spanish trains normally opens 60 days ahead, but this varies greatly.  You print your own ticket.

• Stay overnight in Vigo.  The lovely NH Collection Vigo hotel & cheaper Hotel Atlantico Vigo are both near the station with great reviews.

• Day 2, travel from Vigo to Porto by Celta regional express, leaving Vigo Guixar at 08:58 arriving Porto Campanhã 10:20.

  The fare is €15.90, fixed price. 2nd class only.

  Book this at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com.  Booking opens 60 days ahead, but this can vary.

• Day 2, travel from Porto to Lisbon by Alfa Pendular, leaving Porto Campanhã at 11:40 and arriving Lisbon Santa Apolonia 14:30.

  Or book a later train and spend some time exploring wonderful Porto.

  Fares start at €15.  Book this at the Portuguese Railways website www.cp.pt (in €) or at Omio.com (in €, £ or $).

Back to top

San Sebastian to Faro & the Algarve

Option 1, San Sebastian to Seville by train, overnight stop in Seville, Seville to Faro by bus next day

• Step 1, travel from San Sebastian to Madrid by Alvia train, leaving San Sebastian Renfe station at 09:02, arriving Madrid Chamartin 13:56.

  The Alvia train wends its way through the Pyrenean foothills, then gathers speed across the plain. Near Valladolid it slows down and passes through a special shed which automatically changes the wheels from Spanish 5'6" broad gauge to standard gauge 4' 8.5".  The train then joins the modern high-speed line for a final dash into Madrid at up to 250km/h (155 mph).

  Fares start at €28 in standard class or €38 in comfort class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Buy tickets at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use. in £, € or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or www.petrabax.com (in $, small mark-up) or Renfe's own site www.renfe.com (much more fiddly, may reject some overseas credit cards, see advice on using it).

  Booking opens 60 days ahead, often less, so don't bother trying to book too far ahead.  You print your own ticket.

• Transfer from Madrid Chamartin to Madrid Atocha by suburban train.

• Step 2, travel from Madrid to Seville by high-speed AVE train, leaving Madrid Atocha at 17:00 & arriving Seville Santa Justa at 19:34.

  Fares start at around €28 in standard class (2nd class) or €38 in comfort class (1st class).  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Buy tickets at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use. in £, € or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or www.petrabax.com (in $, small mark-up) or www.renfe.com (the operator's own site, much more fiddly, may reject some overseas credit cards, see this advice on using it).

  Booking opens 60 days ahead, but this varies greatly.  You print your own ticket.

• Stay overnight in Seville, see suggested hotels near the station.

• Step 3, travel from Seville to Faro by bus, journey time 2h30 to 3h15, with a departure roughly every 2-3 hours.

  Several bus companies run on this route including Also, Damas, EuroLines and Iberobus, you can check times for all these companies and buy tickets at Omio.com.  You print your own ticket.

  Buses typically leave at 08:30, 09:30, 11:30 & 16:00, and from Faro back to Seville at 08:20, 10:30 & 16:00, 18:30, but it varies by day.  Look for buses that start from Seville Santa Justa station, where the trains arrive, so it's an easy same-station train-bus interchange.

  The fare is around €17-€21 each way.

• Alternatively, you could take the late afternoon Alvia train from San Sebastian to Madrid Chamartin, booked as in option 1 above.

• Stay overnight in Madrid.  The classic Hotel Mediodia is across the road from Atocha with good reviews, or try the NH Hotel Madrid Atocha or Only YOU Hotel Atocha, also across the road from the station.

• Next day, take a morning AVE from Madrid Atocha to Seville Santa Justa and an afternoon bus from Seville to Faro, each booked just as in option 1.  I'd allow at least one hour between train and bus in Seville.

Back to top

San Sebastian to all other destinations & countries

• You can take a train to Paris then onwards from there to Cologne, Hamburg, Copenhagen, Stockholm, Warsaw.  See the Trains from Paris page.

• You can take a train to Barcelona then onwards from there to Marseille, Nice, Switzerland, Austria, Italy.  See the Trains from Barcelona page.

Back to top

Hotels in San Sebastian

At the top end, the grand old Hotel de Londres y Inglaterra is right on the seafront a short stroll from the old town, and just 10-15 minutes walk from both the Renfe station and the Amara Euskotren station.  I've stayed there myself, a classic hotel of the Belle Époque in the perfect location.

For something cheaper. the Pension San Ignacio Centro is just 10 minutes walk from San Sebastian Renfe station and gets great reviews, or if you want somewhere in the old town try the Pension Garibai or Pension Alameda.

Backpacker hostels

www.hostelworld.com:  If you're on a tight budget, don't forget about backpacker hostels.  Hostelworld offers online booking of cheap private rooms or dorm beds in backpacker hostels in most cities at rock-bottom prices.

Back to top