San Sebastián Travel Forum

Would like to take train from Biarritz to San Sebastian in late June 2008. Can't seem to find info, can anyone please provide guidance. Are there direct trains, or must one change at Hendaye. Is it a pretty journey, or am I better off driving? Any advice appreciated. Thanks.

I have only done this journey by road and it was an interesting one with variable scenery. It can be done by train but the voyages-sncf website is not easy - try
http://www.renfe.com/

You may have to change at Hendaye but the total journey should take under 2 hours. Less if you allowed to board the TGV train.

Please no TGV.

The entire section from Biarritz to Hendaye(Fr) is a mere 27 km and the expensive international tariff is 5.40 Euro, locally it should be around 3 Euro maybe (my gut feeling). Spain is not in the international tariff, but San Sebastian is very close to Hendaye, only 17 minutes by local train should be less, than 2 Euro. I have Port Bou- Figueres price of 1.95 Euro and it's for longer trip by local train.

The entire Biarritz -> San Sebastian venture by local trains should be ca. 5 Euro. There is nothing to reserve, just go to the station and buy the ticket as you would buy a city bus ticket.

The change is in Irún going "there" and in Hendaye going back to France.

Best is to take any train to Hendaye, and in Hendaye take the "Euskotren" narrow gauge train to San Sebastian. This train leaves from a separate station opposite the Hendaye main station, and runs every 30 minutes. This train is cheap, and takes between 30 minutes and 45 minutes to get to San Sebastian, depending on where you get out.

I found out that from Biarritz to Hendaye is 4.80 in a regional train, and 8.20 in a TGV (the TGV isn't faster, so only take that if the departure time would be more convenient for you).
Hendaye - San Sebastian only costs "a couple of euros" according to the well informed www.seat61.com site...

The train from Hendaye to San Sebastian is called "El Topo" (The Mole), operated by Euskotren. Starts right from the entrance yard of the Hendaye Station. www.euskotren.es (only in Spanish and Basque).