Getting around · San Sebastián · Spain
Getting around San Sebastián
Public transport, passes, airport connections and when a car makes sense.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Nicola at German Wikipedia, Public domain
Quick answer
Central San Sebastián is compact and flat along the bay, so walking covers the Parte Vieja, Centro, La Concha and Gros. Dbus city buses and Euskotren trains fill the gaps, and a network of bike lanes follows the beach and river. Not for the city, where parking is scarce and expensive.
Key facts
- Main way around
- Walking
- Airports
- EAS, BIO, BIQ
- Need a car?
- Sometimes
- Travel pass
- Mugi card
Ways to get around
Walking
The walk from Zurriola in Gros through the Parte Vieja and along La Concha to the Peine del Viento is about 4 km and links almost every sight.
Bus
Dbus runs frequent red-and-white city buses, including to Monte Igueldo, Miramón and Amara; Lurraldebus coaches serve the rest of Gipuzkoa, including Hondarribia, Getaria and the airport.
Pay by contactless card on board or use a Mugi transport card for cheaper fares across buses and trains.
Train
Euskotren suburban trains run east to Pasaia, Irun and Hendaye on the French border and west towards Bilbao; Renfe trains use the main Donostia station in Egia.
Cycling
Dedicated bike lanes (bidegorris) follow La Concha, the Urumea and routes to the suburbs, and the city runs a dBizi bike-share scheme alongside private rental shops.
Taxi
Taxis wait at ranks around the Boulevard and the stations and can be booked by phone; they are useful for cider houses in Astigarraga or Hernani at night.
Tickets and passes
Mugi card
Gipuzkoa's rechargeable transport card, valid on Dbus, Lurraldebus and Euskotren, with lower fares than single cash tickets.
From the airport
San Sebastián Airport (EAS) at Hondarribia is about 20 km east, with mainly domestic flights; Lurraldebus buses reach the centre in about 30–40 minutes. Bilbao Airport (BIO), about 100 km west, has more international routes and a direct coach to San Sebastián in about 1 hour 15 minutes. Biarritz (BIQ) in France is about 50 km away.
Do you need a car?
Not for the city, where parking is scarce and expensive. A car helps for cider houses, inland villages and the coast west of Zarautz, but buses and trains reach most day-trip towns.
Reaching the day trips
| Destination | Travel time | How |
|---|---|---|
| Hondarribia | About 35–45 minutes by bus | Lurraldebus coach from the city centre |
| Getaria and Zarautz | About 30–45 minutes by bus | Lurraldebus coach along the coast |
| Zumaia flysch cliffs | About 45 minutes–1 hour by bus or train | Lurraldebus coach or Euskotren |
| Bilbao and the Guggenheim | About 1 hour 15 minutes by coach | Frequent coaches from the San Sebastián bus station |
| Saint-Jean-de-Luz and Biarritz | About 1 hour by train | Euskotren to Hendaye, then SNCF regional train |
| Pasai Donibane | About 20 minutes by bus, or 2–3 hours on foot | Bus to Pasai San Pedro and the passenger boat, or the coastal walk |
Questions travellers ask
+Do you need a car in San Sebastián?
Not for the city, where parking is scarce and expensive. A car helps for cider houses, inland villages and the coast west of Zarautz, but buses and trains reach most day-trip towns.
+How do you get from the airport to San Sebastián?
San Sebastián Airport (EAS) at Hondarribia is about 20 km east, with mainly domestic flights; Lurraldebus buses reach the centre in about 30–40 minutes. Bilbao Airport (BIO), about 100 km west, has more international routes and a direct coach to San Sebastián in about 1 hour 15 minutes. Biarritz (BIQ) in France is about 50 km away.
+What is the best way to get around San Sebastián?
Walking: The walk from Zurriola in Gros through the Parte Vieja and along La Concha to the Peine del Viento is about 4 km and links almost every sight.