- Must visit
San Telmo Museoa
The city’s main museum, housed in a former 16th-century convent with a modern extension. It focuses on Basque society, history, and art, and is one of the best cultural introductions to Donostia.
Cheapest price
$20
Average price
$24
Fastest journey
2 h 40 m
Average duration
2 h 51 m
Buses per day
17
Distance
149 km
The best way to find a cheap bus ticket from Santander 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 Santander to Donostia-San Sebastian will cost around $24 if you buy it on the day, but the cheapest tickets can be found for only $20.
Of the 17 buses that leave Santander for Donostia-San Sebastian on Tue, Jun 02, 5 travel direct so it’s quite easy to avoid journeys where you’ll have to change along the way.
On Tue, Jun 02 the direct buses cover the 149 km distance in an average of 2 h 51 m but if you time it right, some buses will get you there in just 2 h 40 m .
On Tue, Jun 02 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 · Normal
NormalOmio recommends booking the bus as it is the most popular option from Santander to Donostia-San Sebastian 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 | $41 Average price (fuel + tolls) |
3h 13m Average total duration Fastest 2h 43m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 9h 49m Average total duration 9h 19m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 2h 18m Average total duration (door-to-door) |
Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options |
This is compared to other travel options from Santander to Donostia-San Sebastian:
A train is $3 (€2) less than a bus for this route with tickets for a bus from Santander to Donostia-San Sebastian costing on average $21 (€17).
Other travel options to Donostia-San Sebastian take longer:
Train takes on average 9h 19m.
Tickets start at around $21 (€17) compared to roughly $41 (€33) in fuel and tolls — a saving of about $20 (€16). The journey takes 2h 43m versus 2h 18m 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, Alsa Supra, BlaBlaCar.
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 02:30AM | Arrival Time 05:45AM | Duration 3h15 | Departure days Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun | Cheapest price $21 |
Operator Alsa | Departure Time 06:00AM | Arrival Time 08:50AM | Duration 2h50 | Departure days Wed, Thu, Fri | Cheapest price $21 |
Operator Alsa | Departure Time 07:00AM | Arrival Time 10:20AM | Duration 3h20 | Departure days Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri | Cheapest price $20 |
Operator Alsa | Departure Time 08:00AM | Arrival Time 12:50PM | Duration 4h50 | Departure days Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri | Cheapest price $36 |
Operator Alsa | Departure Time 08:40AM | Arrival Time 12:20PM | Duration 3h40 | Departure days Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat | Cheapest price $25 |
Operator Alsa | Departure Time 09:00AM | Arrival Time 12:20PM | Duration 3h20 | Departure days Sun | Cheapest price $28 |
Operator Alsa | Departure Time 09:20AM | Arrival Time 12:50PM | Duration 3h30 | Departure days Sun | Cheapest price $25 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 10:00AM | Arrival Time 12:40PM | Duration 2h40 | Departure days Thu, Sat | Cheapest price $24 |
Operator Alsa | Departure Time 10:00AM | Arrival Time 12:50PM | Duration 2h50 | Departure days Wed, Thu, Sun | Cheapest price $25 |
Operator Alsa | Departure Time 10:15AM | Arrival Time 12:50PM | Duration 2h35 | Departure days Sun | Cheapest price $21 |
Operator Alsa | Departure Time 11:15AM | Arrival Time 02:05PM | Duration 2h50 | Departure days Sun | Cheapest price $21 |
Operator Alsa | Departure Time 11:40AM | Arrival Time 03:00PM | Duration 3h20 | Departure days Wed, Thu, Fri | Cheapest price $21 |
Operator Alsa | Departure Time 12:00PM | Arrival Time 03:00PM | Duration 3h00 | Departure days Wed, Thu, Fri, Sun | Cheapest price $20 |
Operator Alsa | Departure Time 12:15PM | Arrival Time 04:05PM | Duration 3h50 | Departure days Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri | Cheapest price $29 |
Operator Alsa | Departure Time 12:30PM | Arrival Time 03:20PM | Duration 2h50 | Departure days Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri | Cheapest price $29 |
Operator Alsa | Departure Time 01:00PM | Arrival Time 04:05PM | Duration 3h05 | Departure days Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri | Cheapest price $21 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 01:20PM | Arrival Time 03:50PM | Duration 2h30 | Departure days Mon | Cheapest price $27 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 03:00PM | Arrival Time 05:50PM | Duration 2h50 | Departure days Mon | Cheapest price $20 |
Operator Alsa | Departure Time 03:15PM | Arrival Time 07:20PM | Duration 4h05 | Departure days Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat | Cheapest price $20 |
Operator Alsa | Departure Time 03:20PM | Arrival Time 07:50PM | Duration 4h30 | Departure days Tue, Wed | Cheapest price $25 |
Operator Alsa | Departure Time 04:00PM | Arrival Time 07:20PM | Duration 3h20 | Departure days Everyday | Cheapest price $20 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 04:00PM | Arrival Time 06:20PM | Duration 2h20 | Departure days Sun | Cheapest price $24 |
Operator Alsa | Departure Time 04:15PM | Arrival Time 07:50PM | Duration 3h35 | Departure days Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun | Cheapest price $20 |
Operator Alsa | Departure Time 04:30PM | Arrival Time 07:20PM | Duration 2h50 | Departure days Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun | Cheapest price $20 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 04:40PM | Arrival Time 06:50PM | Duration 2h10 | Departure days Mon | Cheapest price $22 |
Operator Alsa | Departure Time 04:40PM | Arrival Time 08:40PM | Duration 4h00 | Departure days Tue, Sat | Cheapest price $25 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 05:00PM | Arrival Time 07:40PM | Duration 2h40 | Departure days Sat | Cheapest price $21 |
Operator Alsa | Departure Time 05:00PM | Arrival Time 07:50PM | Duration 2h50 | Departure days Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun | Cheapest price $21 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 05:10PM | Arrival Time 07:20PM | Duration 2h10 | Departure days Thu | Cheapest price $21 |
Operator Alsa | Departure Time 05:20PM | Arrival Time 09:30PM | Duration 4h10 | Departure days Everyday | Cheapest price $25 |
Operator Alsa | Departure Time 05:30PM | Arrival Time 08:40PM | Duration 3h10 | Departure days Sun | Cheapest price $20 |
Operator Alsa | Departure Time 06:00PM | Arrival Time 08:40PM | Duration 2h40 | Departure days Tue, Sat | Cheapest price $21 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 06:20PM | Arrival Time 08:10PM | Duration 1h50 | Departure days Sun | Cheapest price $21 |
Operator Alsa | Departure Time 06:40PM | Arrival Time 09:30PM | Duration 2h50 | Departure days Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat | Cheapest price $21 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 07:00PM | Arrival Time 09:10PM | Duration 2h10 | Departure days Thu | Cheapest price $21 |
The table below shows live departures for Santander to Donostia-San Sebastian buses for tomorrow, Tuesday, June 2. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated bus journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Transfers | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Normal | 2:30 AM Santander, Estación de Autobuses | 3h15 | 5:45 AM Donostia-San Sebastian, Estación de Autobuses | 0 transfersDirect | |
Normal · Normal | 7:00 AM Santander, Estación de Autobuses | 3h20 | 10:20 AM Donostia-San Sebastian, Estación de Autobuses | 1 transfer | |
Normal · Normal | 7:00 AM Santander, Estación de Autobuses | 3h20 | 10:20 AM Donostia-San Sebastian, Estación de Autobuses | 1 transfer | |
Normal · Supra Economy | 8:00 AM Santander, Aeropuerto De Santander | 4h50 | 12:50 PM Donostia-San Sebastian, Estación de Autobuses | 1 transfer | |
Normal · Normal | 8:40 AM Santander, Aeropuerto De Santander | 3h40 | 12:20 PM Donostia-San Sebastian, Estación de Autobuses | 1 transfer | |
Supra Economy · Normal | 12:15 PM Santander, Aeropuerto De Santander | 3h50 | 4:05 PM Donostia-San Sebastian, Estación de Autobuses | 1 transfer | |
Supra Economy · Normal | 12:30 PM Santander, Estación de Autobuses | 2h50 | 3:20 PM Donostia-San Sebastian, Estación de Autobuses | 1 transfer | |
Normal | 1:00 PM Santander, Estación de Autobuses | 3h05 | 4:05 PM Donostia-San Sebastian, Estación de Autobuses | 0 transfersDirect | |
Normal · Normal | 3:20 PM Santander, Aeropuerto De Santander | 4h30 | 7:50 PM Donostia-San Sebastian, Estación de Autobuses | 1 transfer | |
Normal · Normal | 4:00 PM Santander, Estación de Autobuses | 3h20 | 7:20 PM Donostia-San Sebastian, Estación de Autobuses | 1 transfer | |
Normal · Normal | 4:00 PM Santander, Aeropuerto De Santander | 4h40 | 8:40 PM Donostia-San Sebastian, Estación de Autobuses | 1 transfer | |
Normal · Normal | 4:00 PM Santander, Aeropuerto De Santander | 3h50 | 7:50 PM Donostia-San Sebastian, Estación de Autobuses | 1 transfer | |
Normal · Normal | 4:40 PM Santander, Aeropuerto De Santander | 4h00 | 8:40 PM Donostia-San Sebastian, Estación de Autobuses | 1 transfer | |
Normal | 5:00 PM Santander, Estación de Autobuses | 2h50 | 7:50 PM Donostia-San Sebastian, Estación de Autobuses | 0 transfersDirect | |
Normal · Normal | 5:20 PM Santander, Aeropuerto De Santander | 4h10 | 9:30 PM Donostia-San Sebastian, Estación de Autobuses | 1 transfer | |
Normal | 6:00 PM Santander, Estación de Autobuses | 2h40 | 8:40 PM Donostia-San Sebastian, Estación de Autobuses | 0 transfersDirect | |
Normal | 6:40 PM Santander, Estación de Autobuses | 2h50 | 9:30 PM Donostia-San Sebastian, Estación de Autobuses | 0 transfersDirect | |
This is the last bus of the day. | |||||
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 Santander to Donostia-San Sebastian run on average 20 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 9 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 40m.
Distance 92 miles (149 km) |
Average bus duration 2h 43m |
Cheapest ticket price $20 (€16) |
Buses per day 20 |
Direct buses 9 |
Fastest bus 2h 40m |
First bus 12:50 AM |
Last bus 10:55 PM |
Cheapest Month May |
Cheapest Day Wed |
High Season Jul - Sep |
Low Season Jan - Mar |
Busiest Day Tue |
Least Busy Day Fri |
Best time to book 91 days |
Discover the best of Donostia-San Sebastián — top attractions, local food, transport tips, budget advice, and currency essentials. Plan your perfect Donostia-San Sebastián trip today.
The city’s main museum, housed in a former 16th-century convent with a modern extension. It focuses on Basque society, history, and art, and is one of the best cultural introductions to Donostia.
A major sculpture museum dedicated to Eduardo Chillida, set in expansive gardens just outside the city. It combines large-scale artworks, landscape, and architecture, making it a standout experience.
A science museum with interactive exhibits suited to families and curious visitors. It is a good option for a different kind of museum visit beyond art and history.
The Old Town is the city’s most atmospheric historic quarter, packed with narrow streets, churches, and classic urban scenery. It is essential for walking and soaking up local character.
The elegant seafront walk along the city’s most famous bay is one of the best urban strolls in Spain. It is especially popular for sunrise, sunset, and scenic photos.
A classic viewpoint overlooking La Concha, the city, and Santa Clara Island. It is highly popular for panoramic photos and remains one of the top places to prioritize.
Small Basque bar bites served on bread or as composed morsels. They are central to Donostia dining culture, with bars specializing in creative and traditional versions.
Spider crab baked Donostia-style with its meat, vegetables, and breadcrumbs. It is one of the city’s signature seafood dishes.
Salt cod gently cooked so its gelatin emulsifies with olive oil, garlic, and chili into a silky sauce. A classic Basque specialty widely associated with the region.
World-famous fine dining restaurant serving inventive Basque cuisine in an elegant, established setting. Ideal for a landmark gastronomic experience.
Legendary Old Town bar and restaurant known for exceptional pintxos, wild mushrooms, and seafood, with a lively traditional atmosphere.
Popular pintxos bar celebrated for modern small plates like seared foie and slow-cooked meats. Casual, busy, and highly regarded.
Prices are high for Spain, especially in the center. Pintxos, hotels, and summer dining cost more than in many other Spanish cities.
Tipping is modest. Round up or leave 5-10% for good restaurant service; small change in bars or taxis is enough. Not expected for counter service.
Official public transport app
Donostia-San Sebastian, Estación de Autobuses -> Donostia-San Sebastian, Centro
There are several daily travel options from Santander to San Sebastian to the respective airports. The journey with a direct connection without change takes 1:05 hours. The last journey of the day starts at 17:55 o'clock from Santander, the earliest travel possibility starts at 7:30 o'clock in the morning.
The route by bus from Santander to San Sebastian is operated by the bus companies Iberia and Vueling. The direct connection is served by Iberia.
The buses company Iberia operates from Santander Airport SDR to San Sebastian de los Reyes, Madrid Airport Barajan MAD directly. The journey at 7:30 am lasts 1:10 hours, the journey at 9:15 am 1:05 hours
The direct bus connections from Santander to San Sebastian are only available until noon: at 7:30 am, 9:15 am and 13:50 pm. The journey with Iberia at 17:55 takes 5:00 hours. It passes through Barcelona. Vueling also runs the route from Santander to San Sebastian via Barcelona.
At which bus station does the bus depart in Santander? Iberia and Vueling depart from the bus station of Santander airport SDR.
At which bus station does the bus arrive in San Sebastian? Destination is the bus station at Madrid Barajas airport MAD.
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Santander 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.

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