4.9
4.6
Travel Information
Compare train, bus, and flight for Donostia-San Sebastian to Madrid
Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Donostia-San Sebastian to Madrid among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price, take the bus, with an average ticket price of $58 For those with little time, consider booking a flight, which has an average total journey time of 5h 5m. 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 bus costs an average of $58, while a flight costs an average of $359.
Distance: 218 miles (352 km)
Compare train with
Most popular Train | Bus | Flight | Driving |
|---|---|---|---|
$59 Average price | $58 Average price Cheapest | $359 Average price | $115 Average price (fuel + tolls) |
5h 41m Average total duration 5h 11m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 7h 3m Average total duration 6h 33m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 5h 5m Average total duration Fastest 3h 5m Onboard + 2h 0m Additional time* | 4h 20m 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.
This is compared to other travel options from Donostia-San Sebastian to Madrid:
A bus is $1 (€0.93) less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Donostia-San Sebastian to Madrid costing on average $59 (€48).
A bus is $302 (€244) less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Donostia-San Sebastian to Madrid costing on average $359 (€291).
Other travel options to Madrid take longer:
Train takes on average 5h 41m.
Bus takes on average 7h 3m.
Travel optionsfrom Donostia-San Sebastian to Madrid
How to get from Donostia-San Sebastian to Madrid by train, bus or flight.
Our recommendation
The best way to travel from Donostia-San Sebastian to Madrid is by taking a bus because it’s the best combination of price and speed.
- Normal6:30 PM6h00Donostia-San Sebastian, Estación de Autobuses12:30 AMMadrid, Intercambiador de Avenida de América$471One-way0 transfers
Cheapest
- Normal6:30 PM6h00Donostia-San Sebastian, Estación de Autobuses12:30 AMMadrid, Intercambiador de Avenida de América$471One-way0 transfers
Fastest
- IB4509:30 PM1h10San Sebastián Airport10:40 PMMadrid Barajas Airport$2601One-way0 transfers
Other options
040565:00 AM5h38Donostia-San Sebastián10:38 AMMadrid Chamartín$561One-way0 transfers- 041764:25 PM5h55Donostia-San Sebastián10:20 PMMadrid Chamartín$591One-way0 transfers
180141:51 PM7h51Donostia-San Sebastián9:42 PMMadrid Príncipe Pío$611One-way0 transfers
- Normal8:30 AM5h10Donostia-San Sebastian, Estación de Autobuses1:40 PMMadrid, Intercambiador de Avenida de América$561One-way0 transfers
- Normal4:00 PM5h45Donostia-San Sebastian, Estación de Autobuses9:45 PMMadrid, Terminal de autobuses T4 (Aeropuerto de Madrid)$561One-way0 transfers
- Normal6:30 PM5h45Donostia-San Sebastian, Estación de Autobuses12:15 AMMadrid, Terminal de autobuses T4 (Aeropuerto de Madrid)$561One-way0 transfers
- IB4461:40 PM1h10San Sebastián Airport2:50 PMMadrid Barajas Airport$2601One-way0 transfers
- IB4449:20 AM1h10San Sebastián Airport10:30 AMMadrid Barajas Airport$3221One-way0 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.
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How to Travel from San Sebastian to Madrid
Getting from San Sebastian in the north to the Spanish capital is easy, with direct daily bus, train and plane routes between the two cities. Flying is easily the quickest way to reach Madrid, at around 1 hour 15 minutes, although buses and trains will complete the journey in approximately 5 hours, so they are excellent budget options.
Trains from San Sebastian to Madrid | Buses from San Sebastian to Madrid | Flights from San Sebastian to Madrid
San Sebastian to Madrid Travel Comparison
Average Price |
Travel Time |
Cheapest Time to Book |
|
|---|---|---|---|
|
€36 |
5:10 h |
1 Day Ahead |
|
€49 |
4:56 h |
1 Week Ahead |
|
€273 |
1:15 h |
2 Months Ahead |
What is the best way to travel from San Sebastian to Madrid?
Cheapest way to travel from San Sebastian to Madrid
Taking the bus is the cheapest way to travel from San Sebastian to Madrid. Alsa is the main bus company in Spain and operates all the buses from San Sebastian to Madrid. Alsa buses take at least 5:10 h to travel from San Sebastian to Madrid and depart 19 times per day with the first leaving San Sebastian at 12:30 a.m. Most Alsa buses depart from San Sebastian Donostia bus station and arrive at Madrid's Intercambiador Avenida de America bus station.
Fastest way to travel from San Sebastian to Madrid
Flying is the fastest way to travel from San Sebastian to Madrid. Taking a flight is still at least an hour faster than traveling from San Sebastian to Madrid by train or bus even when travel time to and from Madrid and San Sebastian's airports is taken into consideration. Flights traveling from San Sebastian to Madrid depart from San Sebastian airport and arrive at Madrid's Barajas airport after 1:15 h of flight time. Iberia is the main airline that offers direct flights from San Sebastian to Madrid, with around 5 direct flights departing per day.
Most popular way to travel from San Sebastian to Madrid
Taking the bus is the most popular way to travel from San Sebastian to Madrid. While buses and trains take approximately the same amount of time to travel from San Sebastian to Madrid, buses are €13 cheaper on average. Alternatively, while flights are approximately an hour faster than buses when travel time to and from San Sebastian and Madrid's airports is considered, flights are also €237 more expensive on average.
How to get from Donostia-San Sebastian to Madrid
The Best Way According to our Users
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FAQs: Travel from Donostia-San Sebastian to Madrid
Travel to Madrid 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 Donostia-San Sebastian to Madrid.
This is compared to other travel options from Donostia-San Sebastian to Madrid:
A bus is $1 (€0.93) less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Donostia-San Sebastian to Madrid costing on average $59 (€48).
A bus is $302 (€244) less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Donostia-San Sebastian to Madrid costing on average $359 (€291).
Other travel options to Madrid take longer:
Train takes on average 5h 41m.
Bus takes on average 7h 3m.
- Around 18 buses per day.
- Around 4 trains per day.
- Around 3 flights per day.
However, we recommend checking specific travel dates for your route between Donostia-San Sebastian and Madrid as scheduled services by train, bus, and flight can vary by season or day of the week.
- Flights mostly depart from San Sebastián Airport and arrive in Madrid Barajas Airport.
- Trains mostly depart from Donostia-San Sebastián and arrive in Madrid Chamartín.
- Buses mostly depart from Donostia-San Sebastian, Estación de Autobuses and arrive in Madrid, Intercambiador de Avenida de América.
- Travel with Alsa, BlaBlaCar, Alsa Supra, Autobuses Pamplona Madrid, FlixBus to go to Madrid by bus.
- Travel with Renfe ALVIA, Renfe INTERCITY, Renfe MD, Renfe Viajeros to go to Madrid by train.
- Travel with Iberia, Air Europa, Vueling to go to Madrid by flight.
- 18 direct buses per day with Alsa, BlaBlaCar, Alsa Supra.
- 4 direct trains per day with Renfe ALVIA, Renfe INTERCITY, Renfe MD, Renfe Viajeros.
- 3 direct flights per day with Iberia.
Travelling from Donostia-San Sebastian to Madrid: related information
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