How to get to San Sebastian & the Basque Country
There are many travel options to get to the Basque Country.
The nearest airports to fly to are San Sebastian, Biarritz and Bilbao. Please note these airports haven't got flights from outside Europe but you can also get to the area by public transport from Madrid or Barcelona.
Below we list all of the travel options to get to the Basque Country - if you have any questions or would like further help just drop us an email at info@hikepyrenees.co.uk
From Barcelona
5 1/2 hrs driving time or flights, train and bus links.
From Madrid
4 1/2 hrs driving time or flights, train and bus links
From Pyrenees
2 1/2 hrs driving time or train and bus links
Bilbao
Direct buses from Bilbao airport or city centre.
From Barcelona
Barcelona is one of the main interantional airports in Spain and many of our guests come from Barcelona. Below you can see the diferent options to get to San Sebastian/Bilbao from Barcelona. If you want to get here quickly the best idea is taking a flight to Bilbao.
Self drive - 5 1/2 hrs
It's quite a long drive from Barcelona to San Sebastian but it is perfectly doable. It's a good idea to discover some places in the route, for example a stopover in Alquézar.
Public transport
By bus
There are no direct buses from Barcelona to San Sebastian/Bilbao, you need to change in Zaragoza. There are several buses each day but we've listed only the buses which have good connections.
Bus stop: Barcelona Nord
Duration: 8 hours - one hour stop in Zaragoza.
Prices: roughly 40€ per person and way.
Timetables: Depart Barcelona - 7:00 am; 10:30 am and 1:00 pm.
Arrival place: San Sebastian bus station
By train
There is a direct train from Barcelona to San Sebastian.
Train station: Barcelona Sants
Duration: 5 1/2 hours.
Prices: roughly 40€ per person and way.
Timetables: Depart Barcelona - 7:30 am and 3:30 pm.
Arrival place: San Sebastian train station.
View train information on RENFE.
By plane
Although is not the most common way to arrive in there is flights from either Madrid and Barcelona.
Barcelona to San Sebastian roughly one hour and from 50€ the flight ticket. You can see more information in VUELING
From Madrid
Madrid is of the main international airports in Spain and all of the major rent a car companies have offices at the airport or in the city. There are also different options to travel to the Basque Country by public transport and here we suggest the better routes.
Self drive - 4 1/4 hrs
Please note that the directions are from Madrid airport. It's a fairly long drive from Madrid to San Sebastian, so you may want to discover some places in the route as an stopover in Burgos - with it amazing gothic cathedral.
Public transport
By bus
There are direct buses each hour from Madrid to San Sebastian.
Bus stop: Avenida de América bus station - please note that most of the buses have a stop in the airport.
Duration: 6 hours.
Prices: roughly 40€ per person and way.
Timetables: there are buses each hour from 7:30 am to 9:30 pm.
Arrival place: San Sebastian bus station
By train
There is a direct train from Madrid to San Sebastian.
Train station: Madrid Chamartin
Duration: 5 1/2 hours.
Prices: roughly 40€ per person and way.
Timetables: 8:00 am; 4:05 pm and 5:35 pm.
Arrival place: San Sebastian train station.
View train information on RENFE.
By plane
Although is not the most common way to arrive in there is flights from either Madrid and Barcelona.
Madrid to San Sebastian roughly one hour and from 150€ the flight ticket. You can see more information in IBERIA
From the Pyrenees
Many guests do a week hiking in the Pyrenees with some time in the Basque Country either at the beggining or at the end of their hiking holidays. So here you'll find how to get to the Basque Country from our bases in the Pyrenees - Biescas, Sallent de Gállego, Torla.
Self drive - 3 hrs
There is a fairly good east-west road along the southern side of the Pyrenees. It's being upgraded all of the time and the majority of the route is now on two-lane roads (dual carriageways). Although it's not that far to drive, if time allows, there are quite a few good spots to visit on the way such as Pamplona, Jaca and the castle of Javier.
View driving directions on Google Maps.
Private transfer
We can offer our guests a private transfer either to/from Pamplona, where is easier arrange public transport to Basque Country, or directly all the way to/from San Sebastian.
Pyrenees (Biescas or Sallent de Gállego) to Pamplona: 200€ per trip - roughly 1 3/4 hours.
Pyrenees (Torla) to Pamplona: 250€ per trip - 2 1/4 hours.
Pyrenees (Biescas or Sallent de Gállego) to San Sebastian: 300€ per trip - roughly 2 3/4 hours.
Pyrenees (Torla) to San Sebastian: 350€ per trip - 3 1/4 hours.
Public transport
By bus
Unfortunately, there are no direct buses or trains from the Pyrenees to the Basque Country. However if you get the timings right the journey can be made fairly easily – you first get to Jaca and from there to Pamplona where you’ll catch a bus to the Basque Country, Below we explain the diferent options you have:
Stage 1: Biescas – Jaca
Bus stop: Biescas main square
Duration: 30 min.
Prices: roughly 4€ per person and way.
Timetables: 8:20 am and 4:35 pm.
Arrival place: Jaca bus station. Where you’ll catch a bus to Pamplona.
View bus information on ALOSA.
Quicker option: we’ll organise a taxi for you which picks you up at the hotel and drop you off at Jaca bus station – 20 min and 30€ per trip (from Biescas, Torla and Sallent a little more).
Stage 2: Jaca - Pamplona
Bus stop: Jaca bus station.
Duration: 1 3/4 hours.
Prices: roughly 8€ per person and way.
Timetables: 9:00 am and 4:00 pm.
Arrival place: Pamplona bus station. Where you'll catch a bus to either Bilbao and San Sebastian.
View bus information on La Burundesa. Please note this website is not in English, don't hesitate in contacting us if you need help.
Stage 3A: Pamplona - Bilbao
Bus stop: Pamplona bus station.
Duration: 2 hours.
Prices: roughly 15€ per person and way.
Timetables: 7:00 am; 10:00 am; 1:00 pm; 3:30 pm; 6:00 pm and 8:30 pm.
Arrival place: Bilbao bus station.
View bus information on La Unión.
Stage 3B: Pamplona - San Sebastian
Bus stop: Pamplona bus station.
Duration: 1 1/4 hours.
Prices: roughly 8€ per person and way.
Timetables: 8:30 am; 9:30 am; 11:00 am; 11:30 am; 1:45 pm; 2:00 pm; 3:30 pm; 5:30 pm and 6:30 pm.
Arrival place: San Sebastian bus station.