San Sebastián Travel Forum

What is the best way to travel from Bilbao to San Sebastian?

Thank You

Jennifer

The main bus station in Bilbao has regular coach service to San Sebastian - its about 75 minutes by motor way through very spectacular scenery.

http://www.pesa.net/pesa/home/ctrl_index.php?accion=enter&lang=es Web site is Spanish language only, but if you can navigate the site, all questions answered. Sorry can't remember how much the tickets cost - maybe 10 Euro each, but don't quote me on that.

There is no train service between the 2 cities. Sorry can't answer you on Bilbao airport as we travelled by train to Madrid from Bilbao

Easiest and most cost effective is by bus. There is regular bus traffic between Bilbao and SS. The train service in that area is crazy. I think you can do it, but it will probably take at least twice as long. Haven't seen posts from you in a while. Looks like you are still singing. I really enjoy SS, let me know if you have any questions, Karl

Sirgao,
There IS a train service between Bilbao and San Sebastian. It is very picturesque too! One every hour from Atxuri. More details under transportation in my Bilbao tips. Narrow gauge, operated by Euskotren.

Bus is much faster. The airport bus (price: 1.25 euros) will take you straight to the Intercity bus terminal (TERMIBUS). Frequency of airport bus, every half an hour. From TERMIBUS you can catch the bus to SS operated by PESA. Price: 9.20. Journey time 1 hr 20 mins or so. Last bus leaves 22:00, so it is straightforward unless you come on a late flight.

If you need more info than my transportation tip, just ask.

Sorry bnanno, I bow to your local knowledge. Actually we went into the wrong train station in Bilbao (the one that is very ornate and is beside the river) and had a lot of difficulty finding out the correct station to get to Madrid. Luckily we went the day before we travelled or else we might have missed the train.

I think the problem is that trying to use the Renfe site to coordinate local train service is next to impossible. Maybe the Basques haven't bothered telling Renfe they have a train. ;-[) It is an absolutely gorgeous area though. and some of the best food in the world.

Its fine, thats what locals are for!
You went to the narrow gauge station, on the river opposite the Arriaga for trains going West to Santander and Oviedo. In fact, all long distance broad gauge trains leave from ABANDO, the train station right behind it, in the "Round" Plaza. Abando is also the station for RENFE commuter trains (called RENFE CERCANIAS).
The trains to the East, San Sebastian, Bermeo, Gernika, etc. leave from Atxuri, beyond the Ribera Market in the Old Town. In fact, the best thing now is to hop on to the tramway, whose last stop is Atxuri, so you can't go wrong!

Railways in Bilbao are confusing. The narrow-gauge lines, the only technology possible when they were built due to the difficult relief of the Basque Country, are now still used as commuting trains. Run by EUSKOTREN in the Basque Country and FEVE (Ferrocariles Espańoles de Via Estrecha) elsewhere in the country. The train to SS runs along the coast from time to time, and passes through some very Basque scenery: v. picturesque and worth it, especially if you are a tourist out to see the sights anyway! And still pretty reasonable price wise.

They are trying to link up the services somehow. Hence the Airport bus that takes you to TERMIBUS, the Intercity Bus Terminal, which is also has a Metro stop (San Mames), a Tramway stop, and a RENFE commuter train station, besides local Bilbao buses.

As the Euskotren website is only in Basque and Spanish, here is th link to the map of their network
http://www.euskotren.es/euskotran/html/castellano/pdf/PLANOLINEAS.pdf

This does not include the trains going West to Cantabria and Asturias, operated by FEVE, website www.feve.es. You can actually take what was called the miner's train to Leon or to Ferrol in Galicia. Slow journeys, but I really like them. 20 euros O/W to Leon.

Bnanno - great info on the local train situation. It is appreciated. I will be back again this July. Karl

Thank you everyone for your great advice!!!!! I should be going there either this friday or Saturday and only staying til thursday. I have never been to Spain. It sounds so nice, Maybe I will like it so much I will stay!! Yes, that sounds good right now!

I wonder if It is too late to see if anyone would like to meet one afternoon. Once my travel plans are confirmed maybe I will see.

Do the Basque people really have their own language they prefer? Is French of any use in that region?

The Basques are very proud of their language and are very pleased when you attempt to speak a bit, i.e. say hello, thank you, good morning. However, it is one of the most difficult languages to speak and understand. Very gutteral. The X is pronounced zsa and in Zsa Zsa Gabor. All of the signs are first in Basque and then (sometimes) in Spanish. Even though the Basque area crosses over between Spain and France, they do not consider themselves Spanish or French and have very strong feelings against being told what to do by either government. Several years ago in St. Jean Pied de Pont I toasted by friends on Bastille Day, and they politely told me that I need to keep my mouth shut. Karl

I saw a multi-lingual street sign photo (Spanish [Castille] and Basque) taken somewhere in the Basque country with the Spanish crossed out. In Barcelona we saw a sign in English painted on a wall that read, "Catalonia is NOT Spain."

Tough job for governments in various countries to keep their country as a whole rather than fragmented like the former Yogslavia and all the blood shed that followed.

Suppose as travellers we should try and keep our mouths shut rather than tread on corns.

Although people appreciate it if you speak Basque, Spanish is used everyday, especially in Bilbao.
San Sebastian you tend to hear more Basque being spoken, but everyone will a foreigner trying to speak Spanish. French is very limited, maybe a little more is spoken in border towns like Irun, but not much.

I had a great time and got to go to this cool cideria outside of San Sebastian. There was a men's chorus and it was just like being in a cathedral, except with cider! Amazing! I can't wait to return to Spain!