If you are planning a trip to the Basque Country, Bilbao, and San Sebastian are both must-visit spots! With them being fairly close to each other, you must plan your transportation ahead of time. After living in Bilbao and visiting San Sebastian often, I learned that the best way to get from one place to the other is by bus. I always took the bus from the intermodal station in Bilbao. If you go to the San Mames metro stop, the bus stop is UNDERGROUND. Since I lived only a 7-minute walk from the San Mames Intermodal station, people were constantly asking me where the bus was. DO NOT wait for the bus above ground, as you will miss it. Make sure you go to the bus station underground. Getting from Bilbao to San Sebastian or vice versa is super simple, but should be planned ahead! This guide will provide you with all the information you need for a smooth and enjoyable journey.
Why Choose the Bus to go from Bilbao to San Sebastian?
Both Bilbao and San Sebastian are popular places to visit and I advise that you plan your bus tickets at least a week in advance as they do get booked up. I personally ALWAYS use Omio. The app is simple to use and honestly, this is just the most efficient way for me. The app clearly shows you the optional routes and you can easily buy them on the app. Generally, the price is between 10 and 20 Euros and the bus is much quicker than the train. The bus ranges from an hour and 15 minutes to about an hour and 40 minutes. There are buses that have a change and I highly recommend you avoid these. The direct bus is the best option and is really easy to follow!
NOTE: If you use this link on Omio for your train, bus, or flight tickets, you will receive €10 off your next booking!
Cost-Effective Travel
Generally, the price is between 10 and 20 Euros and the bus is much quicker than the train. The bus ranges from an hour and 15 minutes to about an hour and 40 minutes. There are buses that have a change and I highly recommend you avoid these. The direct bus is the best option and is really easy to follow! Not only is the bus an affordable option compared to other modes of transport, but they offer great value for money. With the bus, it allows you to have more for your adventures in San Sebastian.
The Best Bus Company Operating Between Bilbao and San Sebastian
ALSA is the main bus operator on this route. Known for its reliable service, ALSA offers several daily departures, ensuring you have flexibility in planning your trip. I personally always choose ALSA when I can. I always have had the best experience with the drivers, my luggage, my seats, and honestly, the overall experience. The buses are usually air conditioned which also adds extra comfortable for the ride.
Based on my experience with ALSA buses, the ticket you purchase is valid only for the selected bus. Generally, you can cancel or change the ticket for free up to 48 hours before departure. Changes or cancellations made between 24 and 48 hours before departure incur a 20% fee. For changes or cancellations made between 2 and 24 hours before departure, a 30% fee applies. Tickets cannot be canceled or changed less than 2 hours before departure. I advise you book your tickets in advance and then change them if need be. From my experience, these buses are often quite full so planning ahead of time is ideal.
Getting from the Bilbao Airport to San Sebastian
If you are looking to go to San Sebastian from the Bilbao airport, there are direct buses that way as well! Bla Bla Car is often an option on the weekdays, it is like a shared taxi ride also known as ‘carpooling.’ This is generally very affordable around 8 to 15 Euros.
Usually, on the weekends you have more options that go directly from the Bilbao airport to San Sebastian. Sometimes, You can choose a FlixBus or an ALSA bus, but it depends on the day. I always aim to book an ALSA bus; as mentioned before, it is easiest to do on the Omio app.
If you are not interested in carpooling, you always have the option to take the airport bus – A3247. This is on the far right when you exit the Bilbao airport. You can take that bus (A3247) to the intermodal station, and then get another bus from the Intermodal Station to San Sebastian. I will say that will take much longer, but you may feel more comfortable than the carpooling option. You do not need to book the public bus (A3247) from the Airport to the Intermodal Station or Bilbao Center in advance. This bus runs generally every 20 minutes from the airport from 5 am to 10 pm. The bus from the Bilbao airport to the Center or Intermodal Station costs 3 Euros. This is always available from the airport and is a super easy way to get into the Bilbao center or to the intermodal station. If you decide to take bus A3247 to the Intermodal Bus Station, it takes around 30 minutes in total. Be sure to plan for the timing!
Understanding the Bilbao Bus Station
Once you are underground at the Bilbao Intermodal Bus Station, you will see an electronic board similar to at the airport. This board will have your destination on it as well as the number of the door your bus will come to. It happened to me twice where the bus showed up about a minute before it was supposed to leave. I do advise you get there early, but the buses are pretty consistent on leaving right on time once everyone is one board, but they do not always board early. It will depend on when the bus arrives. Be sure to watch the board for your bus. Since there are more than one bus company that go to San Sebastian, if you are taking an ALSA bus, make sure you see the ALSA logo, San Sebastian/Donostia as the destination, and then it will show what door the bus will be at when you can board. This is fairly simple to follow, but I recognize that bus stations can cause a lot of anxiety and I am here to make it as easy for you as possible.
Enjoy your trip to the Basque Country!
The Basque Country is a magical place filled with everything you could want – from great food to mountain to beaches to the Basque culture, you are in for a treat. Now that you know how to get from one place to the next, you can focus on enjoying your trip to the max. Traveling from Bilbao to San Sebastian is easy and convenient with multiple transportation options available. The bus is the best way to get from Bilbao to San Sebastian or vice versa and I hope you found this information helpful! Book your tickets today and get ready to explore the beautiful city of San Sebastian or Bilbao!
-TTT
