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Take the train to San Sebastian!
Several times through the day, high-speed TGV Duplex trains link Paris Gare Montparnasse with Hendaye on the Spanish border in just 4h36 with fares from €25. They have a cafe-bar & free WiFi. Euskotren metro trains then link Hendaye to San Sebastian every 30 minutes, journey 37 minutes, fare €2.75. The whole trip takes little more time than flying - yet it's far more comfortable, far better for the environment and a lot less hassle. The only catch? If you try to buy tickets from Paris to San Sebastian it won't work - you need to book from Paris to Hendaye, then buy a metro ticket to San Sebastian. This page explains it!
Train
times Paris to San
Sebastian
Train times San Sebastian
to Paris
San
Sebastian to Barcelona, Madrid, Lisbon & other destinations by train.
Paris ► San Sebastian
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Step 1, take a TGV Duplex high-speed train from Paris Gare Montparnasse to Hendaye in 4h36.
There are a range of departures every day, check times at www.sncf-connect.com, www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com.
The TGV has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats and free WiFi. Most TGVs on this route are double-deck TGV Duplex with the new Océane interior, see the photos below. Book an upstairs seat for the best views.
You'll speed across France at up to 320 km/h (199 mph), calling at the magnificent station at Bordeaux, then Dax, Bayonne, Biarritz and the pretty seaside town of St Jean de Luz. The train terminates at Hendaye, the French border station just across the border from Spain.
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Step 2, walk out of Hendaye station exit and turn right to the little Euskotren metro station just 50m away.
Hop on the next air-conditioned metro train from Hendaye to San Sebastian, they leave every 30 minutes from early morning till late at night, journey time 37 minutes, no reservation necessary or possible. There's plenty of room for luggage and these excellent air-conditioned metro trains have a toilet & on-board information screens.
There are only two platforms and all trains go to San Sebastian. The station's full name is San Sebastian-Donostia Amara, sometimes just shown as San Sebastian-Donostia but the station signs simply say Amara. And on ticket machines it can be listed under A, D or S! The final destination of these trains is usually Lasarte. You can check fares and times at www.euskotren.eus if you feel you need to.
San Sebastian ► Paris
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Step 1, hop on the little Euskotren metro from San Sebastian-Donostia Amara station to Hendaye (Hendaia in Spanish).
These run every 30 minutes, journey time around 37 minutes, no reservation necessary or possible, just turn up and go.
You can check times at www.euskotren.eus. On weekdays, the first train leaves Amara for Hendaye around 06:00, later at weekends.
Hendaye is the French border station, just across the border from Spain. Walk out of the little Euskotren station and you'll see the mainline SNCF French Railways station right in front of you, just 50m away.
Make sure you allow plenty of time for the connection. The friendly Café Olé directly across the road from Hendaye SNCF station does excellent coffee and the best Pain au Chocolat you will ever taste.
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Step 2, take a high-speed TGV Duplex from Hendaye to Paris Gare Montparnasse in around 4h40.
There are a range of departures every day, check times at www.sncf-connect.com, www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com.
The TGV has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats and free WiFi. Most TGVs on this route are now double-deck TGV Duplex with the new Océane interior, see the photos below. Book an upstairs seat for the best views.
How much does it cost?
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Paris to Hendaye starts at €25 in 2nd class or €45 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
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Hendaye to San Sebastian by Euskotren costs €2.75.
How to buy tickets
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Step 1, book the TGV between Paris & Hendaye at either www.sncf-connect.com (French Railways own website, in €, no booking fee), www.raileurope.com (in €, £ or $, small booking fee, about Raileurope) or www.thetrainline.com (in €, £ or $, small booking fee, about Trainline).
Booking opens up to 4 months ahead, fares work like air fares so book early for the cheaper prices.
If booking an early train from Hendaye, check that there's a sufficiently early connection from San Sebastian, see step 2 below.
You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
If you buy a 1st class ticket at www.sncf-connect.com or www.thetrainline.com you can choose your seat from a seat map.
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Step 2, buy an Euskotren ticket between Hendaye and San Sebastian at the station on the day.
You can buy from the staffed counter or ticket machines, paying with cash or debit/credit card. Reservation is neither necessary or possible, it's a turn-up-and-go metro.
What's the journey like?
1. Paris to Hendaye by TGV
Paris-Hendaye trains are double-deck TGV Duplex with the Océane interior shown below, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. Paris Montparnasse station guide.
A TGV Duplex at Paris Gare Montparnasse.
Boarding at Paris Montparnasse. Note the automatic ticket gates at the entrance to the platforms, just scan the QR code on your ticket.
TGV Océane cafe-bar (above left) and 2nd class seats (above right).
TGV Océane 1st class seats. All 1st class seats (except the end ones) rotate to face direction of travel. There are USB & 2-pin outlets above each drop-down table.
TGV Océane stairs, just 9 easy shallow steps. There are toilets & luggage racks upstairs & downstairs. Above right, luggage racks upstairs.
Scenery under cloudy skies as the train crosses France at up to 320 km/h (199 mph).
Get off the TGV at Hendaye, walk off the platform and through the SNCF station ticket hall. Incidentally, Hendaye station is where Hitler met Franco on 23 October 1940, you'll be treading the same platforms! If you need a coffee, I recommend the Cafe Olé just across the road.
2. Hendaye to San Sebastian Amara by Euskotren
Walk out of Hendaye mainline station & turn right. The Euskotren station is just 50m away.
Hendaye Euskotren station has a staffed ticket counter & ticket machines, cash & cards accepted. Buy a ticket and go through the ticket gates onto the platforms.
The Euskotren station has just two platforms, it's the terminus from which trains start, all trains go to San Sebastian-Donostia Amara! These air-conditioned metro trains leave every 30 minutes. There's plenty of space for luggage and they even have a wheelchair-accessible toilet.
San Sebastian Amara station is a terminus with 6 platforms. A row of ticket gates separates concourse from platforms. Map of San Sebastian showing stations.
Travel tips
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Boarding the train: There's no check-in, you just board the train any time before it goes. There are ticket gates at Paris Montparnasse, so allow a minute or two to get through these, the gates close 2 minutes before departure. You scan your ticket QR code to open the gates.
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Luggage: You take your luggage onto the TGV with you and stick it on the racks above your seat or between the seats or at the car ends just inside the entrance doors. Luggage on European trains. On the Euskotren, your bags just go on the floor next to you.
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Food & drink: The TGV has a cafe-bar or feel free to bring your own food and drink - even a bottle of wine if you like.
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Upper deck TGV seats are best! The TGVs on this route are double-deck TGV Duplex, with the Océane interior. I recommend an upstairs seat (any seat number >60) for the best views. There are just 9 steps from the entrance up to the upper deck, wide, shallow, with handrails. There are toilets and luggage racks both upstairs and downstairs. Access through the train to the cafe-bar is at the upper level.
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Power sockets & WiFi: The TGV has power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. The mobile data signal is pretty good most of the way.
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Stopovers? The TGV takes you from Paris to Hendaye via St Pierre des Corps (just outside Tours), Bordeaux, Biarritz & St Jean de Luz. Bordeaux might be the place if you felt like a stopover on the way - just buy separate tickets Paris-Bordeaux and Bordeaux-Hendaye.
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Onwards to Bilbao? Trains link San Sebastian Amara station with Bilbao Matiko station every hour, fare around €6, see www.euskotren.eus. San Sebastian to Bilbao is listed as Amara to Matiko.
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Onwards to Madrid or Barcelona? Two direct trains a day link San Sebastian's Renfe station with Barcelona Sants and also with Madrid Chamartin. These Alvia trains are comfortable and air-conditioned, with cheap fares if you book in advance at www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com - you print your own ticket.
Route map
Enjoying San Sebastian
Hotels in San Sebastian
If your budget will stretch, the Hotel de Londres y Inglaterra is a classic. The place has character, and is perfectly located right on the sea front, a few minutes walk from the old town and 10 minutes walk from Amara station. Ask for a room with balcony overlooking the bay. For something rather cheaper but still with great reviews right in the old town, try the Pension Garibai or Pension Alameda.