Train or bus? San Sebastian to Bilbao

Bus there train back or vice versa.
I wish I had taken the bus back it is a long ride.
You can Google " Euskotren train station San Sebastian" and Alsa bus San Sebastian and the station address will be on the site where you buy tickets

So, can anyone help us locate the stations

They are in the middle of town.

In Bilbao the Euskotren station is where the Red dot is on the map- not the same station as the RENFE main line station- https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Euskotren/@43.2549162,-2.9272705,16z/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0xd4e4f6d7dec2405:0x287e033da53a2ace!8m2!3d43.2549162!4d-2.9221207!16s%2Fg%2F11fnx8tfk_?entry=ttu

And this shows San Sebastian Euskotren- https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Euskotren+Bulegoa/@43.3131418,-1.986776,16z/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0xd51a58ff47b30bf:0xca63de0af6b90d03!8m2!3d43.3131418!4d-1.9816262!16s%2Fg%2F11rxmncxgp?entry=ttu

This is Alsa Bus in San Sebastian- https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/ALSA/@43.3159584,-1.9872177,15z/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0xd51a52788302ebd:0xde7d6e10cdf1544e!8m2!3d43.3170981!4d-1.9775081!16s%2Fg%2F11qfzbjb75?entry=ttu

and Bilbao Intermodal Bus Station- https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Bilbao+Intermodal/@43.2611732,-2.9521686,17z/data=!3m2!4b1!5s0xd4e502fdb462ce1:0x290e58dced335e03!4m6!3m5!1s0xd4e51265500d945:0x4c0eee6469cc1c11!8m2!3d43.2611732!4d-2.9495937!16s%2Fg%2F11j4sc49ry?entry=ttu

isn31c and Jazz+Travels Thank you! We weren't sure which would be the correct locations especially so since the Renefe and the Euskotren are different.

Camborne2018, snark gets you no points with me.

The train route is very scenic, but the bus is much, much faster. I like the idea of trying to take the train one way if you have the time.

We took Euskotren.
I would do it again.

Train: you take it at Casco Viejo-Zazpikaleak metro (red) and narrow gauge (blue) station, same entry, just go left for the train. You can either pay at the machines at the entry (credit card or cash) or if you plan to use public transport often in the province of Bizkaia, buy a BARIK card for 3eur (one is good for up to 10 persons) and load it with 10eur, the discount on normal price is 50% (in any case, it´s not an expensive route). Train is modern but narrow, a short distance one, that stops in many towns along the way and that´s why it takes 2.5h to cover 60 miles. Euskotren (meaning Basque Train) is the public operator. Modern, efficient, clean, scenic.

Bus: you take it at Intermodal bus station, metro and tram station San Mamés, other end of the city. Many frequent departures daily, Pesa and Alsa being the operators. You can also use BARIK to pay, or cc or cash at the many machines at the station. 1.15h ride, just one stop or you can take the direct one. Modern, quick, efficient, clean.

Public transport is great all over Spain and specially good in the Basque Country.

MikelBasqueGuide Thank you for the excellent detail on each option!

We had this quandary and were planning on trying the train since we had been using only trains the last several weeks. Our hotel concierge convinced us to go by bus. Well, we just arrived in San Sebastián today by bus and have to say we are glad with this choice! It was So pleasant and not anywhere near as long. We were dropped close in and easily walked to our hotel.

As Americans, we have a tainted view of buses. The stations in both Bilbao and San Sebastián were fairly new and very nice.

Saved us over 2 hours and still very scenic.

Yes, I agree about this preference of trains over buses by US visitors...something us locals do not quite understand, as buses are absolutely great and bus stations are safe, clean, modern, efficient...as well as buses, very punctual too.

I agree that bus travel in Europe are much nicer than in the US. For this trip we were pondering the quicker route via bus or the longer, scenic route via train. We have til the end of the month before we are in San Sebastian and Bilbao before we have to make a choice. I think either way will work for us.

I’ve heard that luggage isn’t accepted on buses. We will have a backpack and a carryon no big heavy suitcases. Is this ok?

You´ve heard wrong, it´s modern coaches with luggage compartments on the sides of the bus.

In response to my question as the original poster: We took the bus. It was clean, comfortable and faster than the train. Our luggage was easily stored under the bus. It was raining the day we traveled and still enjoyed the scenery and arrived in Bilbao in no time. We had easy access to the tram system which had a stop close to our hotel so it worked out great.

There seems to be this projection of "bus" against "train" in most US visitors. Buses in Spain (and bus stations) are clean and safe, offer excellent bus connections at a very cheap price, in modern coaches.