Train from Madrid to San Sebastian - Round Trip

There aren't a lot of trains on that route, but what you're seeing is a timing issue, with information for only one train loaded at this point. It's probably safe to look at the schedule for the correct days of the week in mid-May and make your plans based on that.

Spanish intercity buses are generally very comfortable, and they make comfort stops every 2 hours or so. On-board toilets that you are actually expected to use are a rare thing indeed, in my experience. Much more likely there will be no toilet or the toilet will be locked.

Thank you so much for the quick response. We will definitely be taking the train now that I know that! I will look at May's schedule.

Thank you!

Most locals use the bus on that route, as they are normally faster and cheaper (clean, modern, safest). Long-distance routes have normally toilets on board, and if you choose the more comfortable SUPRA option there´s WC for sure. I think there may be just two trains per day, as mentioned before, not a very popular train route. It seems you´ll be spending over a week in Donostia-San Sebastian, which seems a lot of time, do you have other visits planned on the area? It tends to be a rainy city, so travel prepared for almost any kind of weather.

Hi Mike,

Yes we are using it as a home-base for day trips to Bilbao, Pamplona, French Basque towns, etc.. We like hiking, kayaking, eating and drinking and would like to try fly fishing.

I only looked at Alsa buses, is there another bus line I should look into?
Thanks

Hi, it's me again!

Am I doing something wrong? This is our first time trying to travel in Europe using the buses or trains, usually we rent a car and drive everywhere. Besides my early post about trying to book a train, now I am training to book a bus from San Sebastian to Bilbao for the day. Is it typical that the bus will cost 2 seniors $53 round trip?

Not clear to me if you find it expensive or cheap? A round trip would cost around 18eur, or somewhere around it, per person, I believe.

The route Bilbao-Donostia/San Sebastian is served also by Lurraldebus/Pesa/Avanza, which operates in other connections to and from Donostia/San Sebastian.

Don´t know about fly fishing boats, but take into account that it´s a rough sea and sailing is not an everyday thing, even in the summer. Think of Seattle weather and sea, more or less.

Mikel (with an "l")

Is it typical that the bus will cost 2 seniors $53 round trip?

Yes. The Pesa bus (I think the best option) from San Sebastián to Bilbao is €13.65 for one person each way, so that's €27.30 per person round trip or €54.60 for two people.

Keep in mind this is a 100 km (60 mile) distance (for comparison, Metro-North Railroad in my neck of the woods charges $21 each way for a single ticket between Grand Central Terminal and Poughkeepsie, which is a similar distance).

I believe the bus is significantly cheaper for holders of Mugi cards (a local transport cards), but put purchasers of single tickets are -- in my opinion, justifiably -- charged the full fare.

We took trains from Bilbao to Madrid - with a stop in Segovia, which you might consider for the experience, as well as the logistics. So Bilbao to Segovia, spend a night, then Segovia to Madrid. Or the other way around! Bus between San Sebastian and Bilbao for sure.

I believe the bus is significantly cheaper for holders of Mugi cards (a local transport cards), but put purchasers of single tickets are -- in my opinion, justifiably -- charged the full fare.

That´s correct, you may want to buy a MUGI card for fare reduction (at a cost of 3eur per card), it´s a frequent transport card intended for locals but can be purchased by anybody. It works only in the province of Gipuzkoa, capital Donostia/San Sebastian.

Thank you everyone for your replies. I appreciate this forum so much!