- Must visit
Tabakalera
Major contemporary art center in a former tobacco factory. It hosts ambitious exhibitions, local culture, and one of the city’s strongest programs.
Cheapest price
$107
Average price
$123
Fastest journey
21 h 25 m
Average duration
22 h 2 m
Buses per day
10
Distance
1082 km
The best way to find a cheap bus ticket from Cologne to Donostia-San Sebastian is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid traveling at rush hour.
The average ticket from Cologne to Donostia-San Sebastian will cost around $123 if you buy it on the day, but the cheapest tickets can be found for only $107.
It's difficult to get from Cologne to Donostia-San Sebastian without transferring at least once.
FlixBus · FlixBus · FlixBus
FlixBus · FlixBus · FlixBus
50429 · 3163
FlixTrain+
FlixBus · FlixBus
FlixBus · FlixBus · FlixBus
50429 · 3163
FlixBus · FlixBus · FlixBus
FlixBus · FlixBus · FlixBus
FlixBus · FlixBus · FlixBus
FlixBus · FlixBus · FlixBusOmio recommends booking the bus as it is the most popular option from Cologne to Donostia-San Sebastian among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price take the bus with prices starting from $63. For those with little time consider booking a train which can get you there in 10h 48m. The ticket price range depends on the travel mode: a bus costs an average of $63, and a train costs an average of $144.
Distance: 672 miles (1082 km)
Most popular Bus | Train | Driving |
|---|---|---|
$100 Average price Cheapest | $291 Average price | $386 Average price (fuel + tolls) |
19h 35m Average total duration 19h 5m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 11h 18m Average total duration Fastest 10h 48m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 13h 0m Average total duration (door-to-door) |
Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options |
This is compared to other travel options from Cologne to Donostia-San Sebastian:
A bus is $192 (€155) less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Cologne to Donostia-San Sebastian costing on average $291 (€236).
Other travel options to Donostia-San Sebastian take longer:
Bus takes on average 19h 5m.
You'll arrive about {timeSavings} sooner ({durationInMinutes} by bus vs {drivingDurationInMinutes} by car) and save roughly {savingsAmount} compared to fuel and tolls ({cheapestPrice} vs {drivingPriceInCents}). You also skip the drive itself — no traffic stress, no parking, and you can use the time to work, nap, or catch up on a series with the onboard Wi-Fi.
Direct coaches are operated by {directProviders}.
Driving is still worth considering if you're travelling with bulky luggage, need flexibility on departure times, or plan to stop along the way.
| Operator | Departure Time | Arrival Time | Duration | Departure days | Cheapest price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 12:00AM | Arrival Time 02:35AM | Duration 26h35 | Departure days Tue, Wed, Fri | Cheapest price $102 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 03:05AM | Arrival Time 12:50AM | Duration 21h45 | Departure days Mon, Thu, Sat, Sun | Cheapest price $108 |
Operator Deutsche Bahn | Departure Time 07:43AM | Arrival Time 04:10AM | Duration 20h27 | Departure days Sat | Cheapest price $100 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 07:50AM | Arrival Time 06:35AM | Duration 22h45 | Departure days Mon, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun | Cheapest price $103 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 08:14AM | Arrival Time 09:30AM | Duration 25h16 | Departure days Tue, Sun | Cheapest price $136 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 08:38AM | Arrival Time 09:30AM | Duration 24h52 | Departure days Sat | Cheapest price $110 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 09:01AM | Arrival Time 09:30AM | Duration 24h29 | Departure days Mon, Wed, Thu, Fri | Cheapest price $105 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 09:15AM | Arrival Time 06:40AM | Duration 21h25 | Departure days Everyday | Cheapest price $94 |
Operator Deutsche Bahn | Departure Time 09:43AM | Arrival Time 06:00AM | Duration 20h17 | Departure days Tue, Wed, Thu, Sat, Sun | Cheapest price $92 |
Operator Deutsche Bahn | Departure Time 10:08AM | Arrival Time 07:00AM | Duration 20h52 | Departure days Sat, Sun | Cheapest price $107 |
Operator Deutsche Bahn | Departure Time 10:40AM | Arrival Time 11:10AM | Duration 24h30 | Departure days Tue, Wed, Thu | Cheapest price $95 |
Operator Deutsche Bahn | Departure Time 11:43AM | Arrival Time 11:10AM | Duration 23h27 | Departure days Tue, Wed, Thu, Sun | Cheapest price $105 |
Operator BlaBlaCar Bus | Departure Time 11:55AM | Arrival Time 09:20AM | Duration 21h25 | Departure days Everyday | Cheapest price $89 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 12:07PM | Arrival Time 01:35PM | Duration 25h28 | Departure days Mon, Thu, Sun | Cheapest price $119 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 12:20PM | Arrival Time 12:15PM | Duration 23h55 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Sat, Sun | Cheapest price $93 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 01:20PM | Arrival Time 01:35PM | Duration 24h15 | Departure days Tue, Wed | Cheapest price $95 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 02:39PM | Arrival Time 01:35PM | Duration 22h56 | Departure days Sat | Cheapest price $107 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 02:45PM | Arrival Time 01:35PM | Duration 22h50 | Departure days Mon, Thu | Cheapest price $107 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 03:00PM | Arrival Time 01:35PM | Duration 22h35 | Departure days Fri | Cheapest price $131 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 03:01PM | Arrival Time 01:35PM | Duration 22h34 | Departure days Fri | Cheapest price $137 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 03:55PM | Arrival Time 01:35PM | Duration 21h40 | Departure days Sat, Sun | Cheapest price $110 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 08:30PM | Arrival Time 08:30PM | Duration 24h00 | Departure days Everyday | Cheapest price $98 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 11:50PM | Arrival Time 12:50AM | Duration 25h00 | Departure days Fri, Sat | Cheapest price $115 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 11:55PM | Arrival Time 12:50AM | Duration 24h55 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Sun | Cheapest price $97 |
The table below shows live departures for Cologne to Donostia-San Sebastian buses for today, Sunday, August 16. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated bus journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Transfers | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ICE 316+ 50338 · 95929 | 9:43 AM Cologne Hbf | 25h27 | 11:10 AM Donostia-San Sebastian, Estación de Autobuses | 2 transfers | |
ICE 316+ 51112 · 3163 | 9:43 AM Cologne Hbf | 23h37 | 9:20 AM Donostia-San Sebastian, Estación de Autobuses | 2 transfers | |
ICE 316+ 1660 · 4003 | 9:43 AM Cologne Hbf | 21h17 | 7:00 AM Donostia-San Sebastian, Estación de Autobuses | 2 transfers | |
ICE 1110+ 1660 · 4003 | 10:08 AM Cologne Hbf | 20h52 | 7:00 AM Donostia-San Sebastian, Estación de Autobuses | 2 transfers | |
ICE 1110+ 50338 · 95929 | 10:08 AM Cologne Hbf | 25h02 | 11:10 AM Donostia-San Sebastian, Estación de Autobuses | 2 transfers | |
ICE 1110+ 51112 · 3163 | 10:08 AM Cologne Hbf | 23h12 | 9:20 AM Donostia-San Sebastian, Estación de Autobuses | 2 transfers | |
ICE 16+ 51112 · 3163 | 11:43 AM Cologne Hbf | 21h37 | 9:20 AM Donostia-San Sebastian, Estación de Autobuses | 2 transfers | |
ICE 16+ 50338 · 95929 | 11:43 AM Cologne Hbf | 23h27 | 11:10 AM Donostia-San Sebastian, Estación de Autobuses | 2 transfers | |
ICE 16+ 1660 · 4003 | 11:43 AM Cologne Hbf | 19h17 | 7:00 AM Donostia-San Sebastian, Estación de Autobuses | 2 transfers | |
50429 · 3163 | 11:55 AM Köln, Köln Bonn Flughafen (Terminal 2) | 21h25 | 9:20 AM Donostia-San Sebastian, Estación de Autobuses | 1 transfer | |
FlixBus · FlixBus+ FlixTrain | 12:07 PM Cologne Hbf | 24h08 | 12:15 PM Donostia-San Sebastian, Estación de Autobuses | 2 transfers | |
FlixBus · FlixBus · FlixBus | 12:20 PM Köln, Köln Bonn Flughafen (Terminal 2) | 23h55 | 12:15 PM Donostia-San Sebastian, Estación de Autobuses | 2 transfers | |
FlixBus · FlixBus | 3:55 PM Köln, Köln Bonn Flughafen (Terminal 2) | 21h40 | 1:35 PM Donostia-San Sebastian, Estación de Autobuses | 1 transfer | |
FlixBus · FlixBus · FlixBus | 8:30 PM Köln, Köln Bonn Flughafen (Terminal 2) | 24h00 | 8:30 PM Donostia-San Sebastian, Estación de Autobuses | 2 transfers | |
FlixBus · FlixBus · FlixBus | 11:55 PM Köln, Köln Bonn Flughafen (Terminal 2) | 24h55 | 12:50 AM Donostia-San Sebastian, Estación de Autobuses | 2 transfers | |
FlixBus · FlixBus · FlixBus | 3:05 AM Köln, Köln Bonn Flughafen (Terminal 2) | 21h45 | 12:50 AM Donostia-San Sebastian, Estación de Autobuses | 2 transfers | |
FlixBus · FlixBus · FlixBus | 7:50 AM Köln, Köln Bonn Flughafen (Terminal 2) | 22h45 | 6:35 AM Donostia-San Sebastian, Estación de Autobuses | 2 transfers | |
FlixBus · FlixBus+ FlixTrain | 9:01 AM Cologne Hbf | 24h29 | 9:30 AM Donostia-San Sebastian, Estación de Autobuses | 2 transfers | |
FlixBus · FlixBus · FlixBus | 9:15 AM Köln, Köln Bonn Flughafen (Terminal 2) | 21h25 | 6:40 AM Donostia-San Sebastian, Estación de Autobuses | 2 transfers | |
This is the last bus of the day. | |||||
Find all the dates and times for this journey
Compare bus and train prices over the next three weeks. See the best deals at a glance, find the lowest fares, and choose the option that fits your budget.
Buses from Cologne to Donostia-San Sebastian run on average 6 times per day, taking around 19h 5m. Cheap bus tickets for this journey start at $63 (€51) if you book in advance.
The earliest bus runs at 00:30, the last at 23:55. The fastest bus covers the 672 miles (1082 km) distance in 20h 35m.
Distance 672 miles (1082 km) |
Average bus duration 19h 5m |
Cheapest ticket price $63 (€51) |
Buses per day 6 |
Fastest bus 20h 35m |
First bus 12:30 AM |
Last bus 11:55 PM |
Cheapest Month Feb |
Cheapest Day Tue |
High Season Oct - Dec |
Low Season Jan - Mar |
Best time to book 7 days |
Discover the best of Donostia-San Sebastian — top attractions, local food, transport tips, budget advice, and currency essentials. Plan your perfect Donostia-San Sebastian trip today.
Major contemporary art center in a former tobacco factory. It hosts ambitious exhibitions, local culture, and one of the city’s strongest programs.
Fine arts museum in a historic building with Basque, Spanish, and international works. A compact stop for painting and sculpture lovers.
Aquarium with historic maritime displays and a famous underwater tunnel. It combines family appeal with local ocean and fishing context.
The city’s most famous beach promenade curves around La Concha Bay. Essential for classic views, elegant walks, and sunset atmosphere.
Historic Old Town of lively squares, churches, and traditional streets. It is the best area for atmosphere, architecture, and everyday city life.
Urban beach and neighborhood promenade popular with surfers and locals. Great for broad sea views, people-watching, and a more contemporary vibe.
Small bar snacks on bread or bites, central to local txikiteo culture. San Sebastián is famous for creative and classic pintxos in packed old-town bars.
Whole grilled turbot, prized on the Basque coast for its clean flavor and simple preparation with olive oil, garlic, and grill smoke.
Basque-style cod often cooked with garlic, olive oil, and peppers. It reflects the region’s deep seafood tradition and classic home cooking.
Celebrated fine-dining restaurant with innovative Basque cuisine and tasting menus in an elegant, destination setting above the city.
Refined modern Basque restaurant by the bay, known for seafood-focused tasting menus and a polished but welcoming dining room.
Well-known grill restaurant specializing in premium beef and Basque classics, with a smart, contemporary atmosphere near the center.
Moderate for Spain: lodging is pricier in peak season, but pintxos, set lunches, and local buses keep daily costs manageable for most tourists.
Tipping is optional. Round up or leave 5-10% in restaurants for good service; small change is fine in cafes. Taxi tipping is usually just rounding up.
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Cologne to Donostia-San Sebastian by bus. From journey times and ticket prices to direct connections, first and last departures, and even whether the route is scenic, our FAQs cover everything you need to plan your trip. Whether you’re looking for the fastest bus, the cheapest option, or tips for making the most of your visit at Donostia-San Sebastian, this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.

Most Cologne to Donostia-San Sebastian buses use the Köln, Kennedystraße (Bonn Flughafen) to Donostia-San Sebastian, Estación de Autobuses station pair. Use this guide to compare Cologne and Donostia-San Sebastian bus stations on this route, check city-centre transport, alongside checking practicalities like bus station facilities and services.
Köln, Kennedystraße (Bonn Flughafen) is 13 km from Cologne city centre. Public transport options include:
Köln, Kennedystraße (Bonn Flughafen) has practical services for this route, including Wifi, Parking, ATM, Accessibility, and WC.
Free Wi-Fi. ATMs are located near the entrance.
Available at Köln, Kennedystraße (Bonn Flughafen): Parking, WC.
Accessibility facilities are available at Köln, Kennedystraße (Bonn Flughafen): Elevators, ramps.
Köln, Köln Bonn Flughafen (Terminal 2) is 13 km from Cologne city centre. Public transport options include:
Köln, Köln Bonn Flughafen (Terminal 2) has practical services for this route, including Wifi, Parking, ATM, Taxis, Accessibility, WC, and Ticket Office.
Free Wi-Fi. ATMs are located near the entrance and baggage claim area.
Ticket office support is available at Köln, Köln Bonn Flughafen (Terminal 2).
Available at Köln, Köln Bonn Flughafen (Terminal 2): Parking, Taxis, WC.
Accessibility facilities are available at Köln, Köln Bonn Flughafen (Terminal 2): Elevators, ramps.
Donostia-San Sebastian, Estación de Autobuses has practical services for this route, including Wifi, Parking, Dining, ATM, Taxis, Accessibility, WC, and Ticket Office.
Food options include: Café de la Estación (in the station), Fast Food Express (in the station), Restaurante Aitzgorri (0.5 km).
Free Wi-Fi. ATMs are located near the main entrance.
Ticket office support is available at Donostia-San Sebastian, Estación de Autobuses.
Available at Donostia-San Sebastian, Estación de Autobuses: Parking, Taxis, WC.
Accessibility facilities are available at Donostia-San Sebastian, Estación de Autobuses: Elevators, ramps.
Here are some other resources that might have the information you need