How to travel from Santander to San Sebastián, Spain

The distance between Santander and San Sebastián is around 197km (122 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to drive which takes around 2h 5m.

3 routes found

We've found 3 different ways to get from Santander to San Sebastián by bus, train and car. The recommended routes, which include information on duration, ticket price, and level of difficulty, can be found below.

👋 Also check out San SebastiánSantander if you're planning a return trip.

1
bus
+

Bus

Take the bus to San Sebastian.

  • Duration2h 25m
  • Departsevery 2 hours
  • Typical cost
    €20($20)
Operated byALSA+ 1 others
💰 Cheapest
2
train
+
train
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Train

Take the train to Bilbao and then to Amara-Donostia.

  • Duration5h 30m
  • Departsevery 20 mins
  • Typical cost
    €15($15)
Operated by

Multiple train operators

🚀 Fastest
3
car
+

Drive

Drive to Donostia / San Sebastián.

  • Duration2h 5m
  • Distance198km (123 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Santander and San Sebastián

There are several options for getting from Santander to San Sebastián by bus, train and car. The cheapest option is to take the train which costs around €15 ($15) and will take around 5h 30m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can drive and arrive in approximately 2h 5m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately €37 ($37).

The distance between Santander and San Sebastián is around 197km (122 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 148km (92 miles)

It takes around 2h 25m to get from Santander and San Sebastián by bus. If you are travelling by car it will take around 2h 5m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Santander to San Sebastián is to drive which takes around 2h 5m and will set you back approx €37 ($37).

The cheapest way to travel between Santander and San Sebastián, if you exclude driving, is to take the train which will typically cost around €15 ($15) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between Santander and San Sebastián. It typically takes around 5h 30m and departs every 20 mins.

There are no direct train services that runs from Santander to San Sebastián. However, you can instead can take several connecting trains with a changeover in Bilbao and Zazpikaleak/Casco Viejo-Bilbao. These services run every 20 mins and will take a minimum of 5h 30m.

Renfe Feve and Euskotren run train services between Santander and San Sebastián. Trains depart every 20 mins and will take around 5h 30m, however, this may vary depending on the particular service and whether it runs express or stops all stations.

Bus travel

Yes there is a bus that runs regularly from Santander and San Sebastián. It typically takes around 2h 25m and departs every 2 hours.

Yes there is a direct bus service that runs between Santander and San Sebastián with no changeovers required. The bus runs every 2 hours and takes 2h 25m.

ALSA run regular bus services between Santander and San Sebastián. Buses run every 2 hours and take around 2h 25m on average but will vary depending on you book with.

Flights and Airlines

It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Santander to San Sebastián. We recommend that you take the bus to San Sebastian. instead which will take 2h 25m.

The closest major airport to San Sebastián is San Sebastian Airport (EAS) (EAS) which is approximately 16km (10 miles) from San Sebastián. Bilbao Airport (BIO) (BIO) and Vitoria Airport (VIT) (VIT) are also nearby and might be a better alternative airport depending on where you are flying from.

Drive yourself

Yes it is possible to drive from Santander and San Sebastián. The distance is around 198km (123 miles) by road and it will take around 2h 5m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Santander to San Sebastián is to take the bus which takes, on average, 2h 25m and will usually cost around €20 ($20).

How do I get from Santander to San Sebastián

Compare travel optionsbetween Santander and San Sebastián

Transport options from Santander to San Sebastián
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Bus
2h 25m
€20($20)
every 2 hours197km (122 miles)
Train
5h 30m
€15($15)
every 20 mins221km (138 miles)
Drive
2h 5m
€37($37)
on demand198km (123 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Santander and San Sebastián

Train operators

Airports near San Sebastián

The following major airports near San Sebastián offer regular flights to various popular destinations within Spain and internationally.

EAS
San Sebastian Airport (EAS)
Domestic Airport
Distance
16km (10 miles) from San Sebastián
BIO
Bilbao Airport (BIO)
International Airport
Distance
75km (46 miles) from San Sebastián
VIT
Vitoria Airport (VIT)
Domestic Airport
Distance
78km (48 miles) from San Sebastián