- Must visit
Centro Botín
Major contemporary art centre on Santander Bay, known for rotating exhibitions, architecture by Renzo Piano, and panoramic terrace views.
Cheapest price
$20
Average price
$25
Fastest journey
2 h 55 m
Average duration
3 h
Buses per day
13
Distance
149 km
The best way to find a cheap bus ticket from Donostia-San Sebastian to Santander is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid traveling at rush hour.
The average ticket from Donostia-San Sebastian to Santander will cost around $25 if you buy it on the day, but the cheapest tickets can be found for only $20.
Of the 13 buses that leave Donostia-San Sebastian for Santander on Tue, Jun 16, 6 travel direct so it’s quite easy to avoid journeys where you’ll have to change along the way.
On Tue, Jun 16 the direct buses cover the 149 km distance in an average of 3 h but if you time it right, some buses will get you there in just 2 h 55 m .
On Tue, Jun 16 the slowest buses will take 3 h 5 m and usually involve a change or two along the way, but you might be able to save a few pennies if you’re on a budget.
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Supra Economy
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NormalOmio recommends booking the bus as it is the most popular option from Donostia-San Sebastian to Santander among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price take the train with prices starting from $19. For those with little time consider booking a bus which can get you there in 2h 43m. The ticket price range depends on the travel mode: a train costs an average of $19, and a bus costs an average of $20.
Distance: 92 miles (149 km)
Most popular Bus | Train | Driving |
|---|---|---|
$21 Average price | $19 Average price Cheapest | $57 Average price (fuel + tolls) |
3h 13m Average total duration Fastest 2h 43m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 7h 44m Average total duration 7h 14m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 2h 7m Average total duration (door-to-door) |
Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options |
This is compared to other travel options from Donostia-San Sebastian to Santander:
A train is $2 (€2) less than a bus for this route with tickets for a bus from Donostia-San Sebastian to Santander costing on average $21 (€17).
Other travel options to Santander take longer:
Train takes on average 7h 14m.
Tickets start at around $21 (€17) compared to roughly $57 (€46) in fuel and tolls — a saving of about $36 (€29). The journey takes 2h 43m versus 2h 7m by car, so you'll arrive a bit later, but you can use the time productively rather than spending it behind the wheel. No parking to sort, no fuel stops, and most coaches have Wi-Fi and power outlets.
Direct services are operated by Alsa, BlaBlaCar, Alsa Supra.
Driving is worth considering if you're on a tight schedule, travelling as a group (where fuel costs split several ways), or want the flexibility to stop along the way.
| Operator | Departure Time | Arrival Time | Duration | Departure days | Cheapest price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Operator Alsa | Departure Time 12:50AM | Arrival Time 03:45AM | Duration 2h55 | Departure days Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun | Cheapest price $21 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 05:20AM | Arrival Time 07:30AM | Duration 2h10 | Departure days Mon | Cheapest price $20 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 06:20AM | Arrival Time 08:40AM | Duration 2h20 | Departure days Thu | Cheapest price $19 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 07:00AM | Arrival Time 09:30AM | Duration 2h30 | Departure days Wed, Thu | Cheapest price $19 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 08:20AM | Arrival Time 10:30AM | Duration 2h10 | Departure days Thu | Cheapest price $20 |
Operator Alsa | Departure Time 08:40AM | Arrival Time 12:35PM | Duration 3h55 | Departure days Tue, Wed, Fri | Cheapest price $21 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 09:00AM | Arrival Time 11:10AM | Duration 2h10 | Departure days Tue | Cheapest price $20 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 10:00AM | Arrival Time 12:30PM | Duration 2h30 | Departure days Thu | Cheapest price $24 |
Operator Alsa | Departure Time 10:00AM | Arrival Time 01:25PM | Duration 3h25 | Departure days Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri | Cheapest price $20 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 10:20AM | Arrival Time 12:30PM | Duration 2h10 | Departure days Sun | Cheapest price $22 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 11:10AM | Arrival Time 01:40PM | Duration 2h30 | Departure days Fri | Cheapest price $24 |
Operator Alsa | Departure Time 11:30AM | Arrival Time 02:50PM | Duration 3h20 | Departure days Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sun | Cheapest price $20 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 12:00PM | Arrival Time 02:00PM | Duration 2h00 | Departure days Mon | Cheapest price $14 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 02:00PM | Arrival Time 04:10PM | Duration 2h10 | Departure days Wed | Cheapest price $20 |
Operator Alsa | Departure Time 02:00PM | Arrival Time 04:50PM | Duration 2h50 | Departure days Sun | Cheapest price $21 |
Operator Alsa | Departure Time 02:10PM | Arrival Time 05:10PM | Duration 3h00 | Departure days Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri | Cheapest price $21 |
Operator Alsa | Departure Time 02:30PM | Arrival Time 05:30PM | Duration 3h00 | Departure days Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri | Cheapest price $33 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 02:30PM | Arrival Time 04:40PM | Duration 2h10 | Departure days Wed, Thu, Fri | Cheapest price $19 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 02:50PM | Arrival Time 05:10PM | Duration 2h20 | Departure days Wed | Cheapest price $24 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 03:00PM | Arrival Time 05:10PM | Duration 2h10 | Departure days Mon | Cheapest price $24 |
Operator Alsa | Departure Time 03:00PM | Arrival Time 06:00PM | Duration 3h00 | Departure days Sun | Cheapest price $33 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 03:40PM | Arrival Time 06:00PM | Duration 2h20 | Departure days Mon | Cheapest price $22 |
Operator Alsa | Departure Time 03:55PM | Arrival Time 07:30PM | Duration 3h35 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat | Cheapest price $20 |
Operator Alsa | Departure Time 04:00PM | Arrival Time 07:00PM | Duration 3h00 | Departure days Sun | Cheapest price $21 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 04:20PM | Arrival Time 06:30PM | Duration 2h10 | Departure days Sat | Cheapest price $20 |
Operator Alsa | Departure Time 04:30PM | Arrival Time 08:05PM | Duration 3h35 | Departure days Mon, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun | Cheapest price $20 |
Operator Alsa | Departure Time 05:00PM | Arrival Time 08:00PM | Duration 3h00 | Departure days Mon, Wed, Thu | Cheapest price $20 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 05:20PM | Arrival Time 07:50PM | Duration 2h30 | Departure days Tue | Cheapest price $22 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 05:30PM | Arrival Time 07:40PM | Duration 2h10 | Departure days Wed | Cheapest price $20 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 06:00PM | Arrival Time 08:30PM | Duration 2h30 | Departure days Tue | Cheapest price $19 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 06:10PM | Arrival Time 08:40PM | Duration 2h30 | Departure days Wed | Cheapest price $24 |
Operator Alsa | Departure Time 07:30PM | Arrival Time 10:45PM | Duration 3h15 | Departure days Sun | Cheapest price $20 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 08:40PM | Arrival Time 10:50PM | Duration 2h10 | Departure days Tue | Cheapest price $13 |
Operator Alsa | Departure Time 09:00PM | Arrival Time 12:00AM | Duration 3h00 | Departure days Everyday | Cheapest price $21 |
The table below shows live departures for Donostia-San Sebastian to Santander buses for today, Monday, June 15. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated bus journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Transfers | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Normal · Normal | 3:55 PM Donostia-San Sebastian, Estación de Autobuses | 3h35 | 7:30 PM Santander, Estación de Autobuses | 1 transfer | |
Normal · Normal | 4:30 PM Donostia-San Sebastian, Estación de Autobuses | 3h35 | 8:05 PM Santander, Aeropuerto De Santander | 1 transfer | |
Normal · Normal | 5:00 PM Donostia-San Sebastian, Estación de Autobuses | 3h05 | 8:05 PM Santander, Aeropuerto De Santander | 1 transfer | |
Normal | 9:00 PM Donostia-San Sebastian, Estación de Autobuses | 3h00 | 12:00 AM Santander, Estación de Autobuses | 0 transfersDirect | |
| Tuesday, June 16 | |||||
Normal | 12:50 AM Donostia-San Sebastian, Estación de Autobuses | 2h55 | 3:45 AM Santander, Estación de Autobuses | 0 transfersDirect | |
Find all the dates and times for this journey
Compare train and bus 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 Donostia-San Sebastian to Santander run on average 14 times per day, taking around 2h 43m. Cheap bus tickets for this journey start at $20 (€16) but you can travel from only $19 (€15) by train.
There are 8 buses per day. The earliest bus runs at 00:50, the last at 22:55. The fastest bus covers the 92 miles (149 km) distance in 2h 55m.
Distance 92 miles (149 km) |
Average bus duration 2h 43m |
Cheapest ticket price $20 (€16) |
Buses per day 14 |
Direct buses 8 |
Fastest bus 2h 55m |
First bus 12:50 AM |
Last bus 10:55 PM |
Cheapest Month Mar |
Cheapest Day Thu |
High Season Jul - Sep |
Low Season Jan - Mar |
Busiest Day Tue |
Least Busy Day Sun |
Best time to book 77 days |
Discover the best of Santander — top attractions, local food, transport tips, budget advice, and currency essentials. Plan your perfect Santander trip today.
Major contemporary art centre on Santander Bay, known for rotating exhibitions, architecture by Renzo Piano, and panoramic terrace views.
Leading maritime museum covering Cantabrian Sea ecology, fishing, naval history, and aquariums; a strong family-friendly stop by the waterfront.
City museum with modern and contemporary art, including works tied to Cantabria and changing exhibitions in a central location.
Scenic headland with palace grounds, coastal walks, beaches, and viewpoints; Santander’s top area for leisurely exploration.
Prestigious seafront promenade and gardens by the bay, ideal for strolling between historic buildings and Centro Botín.
Santander’s famous beach area with broad sands, belle-époque atmosphere, and one of the city’s most popular walking fronts.
Lightly battered and fried squid rings, a classic Cantabrian tapa especially popular for aperitivo in Santander.
Premium Cantabrian anchovies from nearby Santoña, usually served in olive oil on bread or as a tapa, prized for their rich flavor.
Traditional northern tuna stew made with bonito, potatoes, peppers, and tomato, strongly associated with the Cantabrian coast.
Well-established fine dining restaurant with a Michelin-star reputation, offering modern Cantabrian cuisine and elegant service.
One of Santander’s best-known dining addresses, popular for refined tapas, seafood, and polished Cantabrian cuisine in a lively setting.
Historic and atmospheric restaurant known for traditional regional cooking, classic fish dishes, and a long-standing local reputation.
Generally moderate by Spanish standards. Casual dining and coffee are reasonable, while central hotels and upscale seafood restaurants cost more.
Tipping is modest. Round up or leave 5-10% in restaurants for good service. Small change is fine in cafes; taxis are usually rounded up.
Official public transport app
Aeropuerto De Santander, Santander -> Santander Estacion, Santander
San Sebastian-Santander buses run daily for 200 kilometres between the two Spanish cities. During this pleasant route, which runs along the coast of the Gulf of Viscaya and lasts less than 3 hours, travelers can relax, watch television and enjoy unforgettable panoramic views.
The ALSA company operates every day this busy journey by means of buses of 2 categories: Premium and Normal. Both have spacious armchairs with footrests, free wifi connection and the Ociobus channel with a wide range of series, films and other audiovisual content. Premium San Sebastian Santander buses also have plugs, individual screens, press and headphones.
The journeys on board Premium class coaches are shorter, have fewer stops and last 2 hours and 40 minutes. The rest of the San Sebastian Santander buses stop at a greater number of localities, so the duration of their journeys ranges between 2 hours and 50 minutes and 4 hours. All routes between the two cities are direct.
From Monday to Friday there are 10 daily connections between San Sebastian and Santander. On Saturdays the frequency of departures is reduced to 9 a day, while on Sundays there are 10 daily buses. Depending on the route and category of the bus, intermediate stops are made in places such as Éibar, Bilbao, Baracaldo, Laredo, Deba or Zarautz.
San Sebastian Bus Station/Donostia: is located 7 minutes walk from the Old City and a short walk from the beaches. The station offers 15 minutes of free underground parking, keyed and coded lockers, pastries, vending machines, ticket offices, cafeterias, ATMs and ticket vending machines. Buses 09, 17, 24, 27, 37, 41 and 42 connect the railway enclosure with other urban areas.
Santander bus station and airport: the first one is located in the centre of the city, one step away from the train station. Its premises have a leisure area, slogans, information points, ticket sales, kiosks, cafeterias, shops and a bakery. Every 30 minutes the buses of Transporte de Cantabria link the station with the airport of Santander.
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Donostia-San Sebastian to Santander 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 Santander, this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.

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