4.9
4.6
Travel Information
Compare train, bus, and flight for Madrid to Donostia-San Sebastian
Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Madrid to Donostia-San Sebastian among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price, take the train, with an average ticket price of $37 For those with little time, consider booking a flight, which has an average total journey time of 3h 12m. If you are seeking to minimise your carbon footprint, the train is your best option, with estimated CO2 emissions of 0.1 - 0.3kg. Average ticket prices depend on the travel mode: a train costs an average of $37, while a flight costs an average of $223.
Distance: 218 miles (352 km)
Compare train with
Most popular Train | Bus | Flight | Driving |
|---|---|---|---|
$37 Average price Cheapest | $51 Average price | $223 Average price | $91 Average price (fuel + tolls) |
6h 13m Average total duration 5h 43m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 7h 24m Average total duration 6h 54m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 3h 12m Average total duration Fastest 1h 12m Onboard + 2h 0m Additional time* | 4h 40m Average total duration (door-to-door) |
0.1 - 0.3kg CO2 emissions Lowest | 0.4 - 0.9kg CO2 emissions | 1.1 - 2.1kg CO2 emissions | - CO2 emissions |
 Most popular train company |  Most popular bus company |  Most popular airline | Your own car or car rental |
Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options |
Additional time: Average total travel duration to departure point, security checks and transfers.
Compare ways to travel from Madrid to Donostia-San Sebastian
Compare the available ways to get from Madrid to Donostia-San Sebastian, with the key details around price, speed, convenience, and direct service.
This is compared to other travel options from Madrid to Donostia-San Sebastian:
A train is $15 less than a bus for this route with tickets for a bus from Madrid to Donostia-San Sebastian costing on average $51.
A train is $187 less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Madrid to Donostia-San Sebastian costing on average $223.
Other travel options to Donostia-San Sebastian take longer:
Train takes on average 6h 13m.
Bus takes on average 7h 24m.
Tickets start at around $37 compared to roughly $91 in fuel and tolls — a saving of about $55. The journey takes 5h 43m versus 4h 40m by car, so you'll arrive a bit later, but you can work, read, or sleep along the way rather than spending the time behind the wheel. You'll also save the hassle of parking at the other end.
Driving is worth it if you're on a tight schedule, travelling as a group, or want to stop somewhere en route.
Travel optionsfrom Madrid to Donostia-San Sebastian
How to get from Madrid to Donostia-San Sebastian by train, bus or flight.
Our recommendation
The best way to travel from Madrid to Donostia-San Sebastian is by taking a train because it’s the best combination of price and speed.
040876:55 AM 5h37 Madrid Chamartín 12:32 PM Donostia-San Sebastián $41 1 One-way 0 transfers
Cheapest
- 04087
6:55 AM 5h37 Madrid Chamartín 12:32 PM Donostia-San Sebastián $41 1 One-way 0 transfers
Fastest
- IB449
7:40 PM 1h10 Madrid Barajas Airport 8:50 PM San Sebastián Airport $267 1 One-way 0 transfers
Other options
- 18061
9:06 AM 7h37 Madrid Príncipe Pío 4:43 PM Donostia-San Sebastián $59 1 One-way 0 transfers - 18063
12:25 PM 7h59 Madrid Príncipe Pío 8:24 PM Donostia-San Sebastián $59 1 One-way 0 transfers - 04087+18061
6:55 AM 9h48 Madrid Chamartín 4:43 PM Donostia-San Sebastián $80 1 One-way 1 transfer
- Normal
11:45 PM 6h55 Madrid, Estación Sur de Autobuses 6:40 AM Donostia-San Sebastian, Estación de Autobuses $55 1 One-way 0 transfers - Supra Economy
6:30 PM 5h25 Madrid, Intercambiador de Avenida de América 11:55 PM Donostia-San Sebastian, Estación de Autobuses $86 1 One-way 0 transfers - Supra Economy
6:45 PM 5h10 Madrid, Terminal de autobuses T4 (Aeropuerto de Madrid) 11:55 PM Donostia-San Sebastian, Estación de Autobuses $87 1 One-way 0 transfers
- IB445
11:50 AM 1h10 Madrid Barajas Airport 1:00 PM San Sebastián Airport $415 1 One-way 0 transfers
Find all the dates and times for this journey by train, bus, flight, and ferry .
Compare prices and tickets Prices for trains, buses and flights
Compare train, bus, and flight 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.
Travel from Madrid to San Sebastian
If you are traveling in Spain and want to visit the beaches of San Sebastian or sample the unique culture of the Basque Country, there are plenty of buses, trains, and flights from Madrid every day. Buses and trains take around the same amount of time to reach San Sebastian (between 5 and 7 hours). That leaves flying as easily the fastest route, at about 55 minutes; however, it will take approximately 4 hours to fly from Madrid to San Sebastian when travel time to and from Madrid and San Sebastian's airports is taken into consideration.
Trains from Madrid to San Sebastian | Buses from Madrid to San Sebastian | Flights from Madrid to San Sebastian
Madrid to San Sebastian Travel Comparison
Average Price |
Travel Time |
Cheapest Time to Book |
|
|---|---|---|---|
|
€40 |
5:10 h |
1 Week Ahead |
|
€43 |
5:23 h |
2 Months Ahead |
|
€241 |
0:55 h |
2 Months Ahead |
What is the best way to travel from Madrid to San Sebastian?
Cheapest way to travel from Madrid to San Sebastian
Taking the bus is the cheapest way to travel from Madrid to San Sebastian. Buses traveling from Madrid to San Sebastian depart from either Madrid's Estacion Sur De Autobuses, Avenida de América, or Aeropuerto Barajas T4 bus station and take at least 5 hours and 10 minutes to arrive at San Sebastian's Donostia bus station. Approximately 18 buses travel from Madrid to San Sebastian every day. The first Madrid to San Sebastian bus departs at 7:30 a.m. while the last departs at 12:30 a.m. All Madrid to San Sebastian buses are operated by Alsa.
Fastest way to travel from Madrid to San Sebastian
Taking a flight is the fastest way to travel from Madrid to San Sebastian. Even when travel time to and from Madrid and San Sebastian's airports is taken into consideration, taking a flight is still at least an hour faster than traveling from Madrid to Paris by bus or train. Direct flights depart from Madrid's Barajas airport and arrive at San Sebastian airport after approximately an hour of flight time. Direct flights from Madrid to San Sebastian are operated by Iberia.
Most popular way to travel from Madrid to San Sebastian
Taking the train is the most popular way to travel from Madrid to San Sebastian. While taking a flight is faster, it is also significantly more expensive than taking the train or bus. Most travelers prefer the convenience and comfort of traveling from Madrid to San Sebastian by train. There are usually 4 trains traveling from Madrid to San Sebastian per day, with the first departing Madrid at 9:00 a.m. All trains traveling from Madrid to San Sebastian are direct and operated by Renfe.
How to get from Madrid to Donostia-San Sebastian
The Best Way According to our Users
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FAQs: Travel from Madrid to Donostia-San Sebastian
Travel to Donostia-San Sebastian easily. Whether you want fast, cheap or something entirely different, our travel experts have collected everything you need to know so you can find the best option from Madrid to Donostia-San Sebastian.
This is compared to other travel options from Madrid to Donostia-San Sebastian:
A train is $15 less than a bus for this route with tickets for a bus from Madrid to Donostia-San Sebastian costing on average $51.
A train is $187 less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Madrid to Donostia-San Sebastian costing on average $223.
Other travel options to Donostia-San Sebastian take longer:
Train takes on average 6h 13m.
Bus takes on average 7h 24m.
- Around 42 trains per day.
- Around 19 buses per day.
- Around 3 flights per day.
However, we recommend checking specific travel dates for your route between Madrid and Donostia-San Sebastian as scheduled services by train, bus, and flight can vary by season or day of the week.
- Flights mostly depart from Madrid Barajas Airport and arrive in San Sebastián Airport.
- Trains mostly depart from Madrid Chamartín and arrive in Donostia-San Sebastián.
- Buses mostly depart from Madrid, Intercambiador de Avenida de América and arrive in Donostia-San Sebastian, Estación de Autobuses.
- Travel with Renfe MD, Renfe ALVIA, Renfe INTERCITY, Renfe to go to Donostia-San Sebastian by train.
- Travel with Alsa, FlixBus, Autobuses Pamplona Madrid, Alsa Supra to go to Donostia-San Sebastian by bus.
- Travel with Iberia, CitizenPlane, Vueling, Air Europa to go to Donostia-San Sebastian by flight.
- 5 direct trains per day with Renfe MD, Renfe ALVIA, Renfe INTERCITY, Renfe.
- 16 direct buses per day with Alsa, Alsa Supra.
- 3 direct flights per day with Iberia, CitizenPlane, Air Europa.
Travelling from Madrid to Donostia-San Sebastian: related information
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