Madrid to San Sebastian by train

Renfe doesn't allow you to buy tickets online more than 62 days before your date of travel, so you'll need to wait about another month. At ~2 months out there should be good discounts available, I believe its 50-60% off of the regular price. If you are able to get the web discount price then I wouldn't use a rail pass day on it. When I look on Renfe the timetable shows departures at 8:00 and 16:00...I don't see a 22:00 departure. Are you stopping someplace in between? As for whether you should buy a flex pass for your travel in other parts of Europe, there are some very knowledgeable people here who will likely weigh in on Pass vs point to point travel.

You may be able to see the schedules (and I also see no direct 1000 hours departure) but you are too early to purchase. Whatever rail pass, only you can determine value by maths. comparison, i.e. your journeys at point to point prices, (note discounts are available with early booking purchase from the national rail providers, e.g. up to 60% from RENFE on some trains and journeys) against the cost of whatever pass (plus any supplements).

Thanks so much for the very helpful info!!! I will hopefully be able to book it next mont at the discounted rate!I am flying in from the Azores the evening of the 28 so I guess I will just sleep one night and book the 8am train. Again thanks for the Help! since you both were so kind do you have any other input on where else to go near San Sab for 3 nights? I was looking into Bibao maybe by bus there for 2 nights, then return to Madrid to head towards Cordoba, then Malaga Granada etc...? Would love any input! I cant wait!!! Cheers,
Lisa

Loved San Sebastian - we were there for 3 nights a couple years ago did a day trip to Bilbao for the Guggenheim, by bus. I wouldn't stay in Bilbao more than a few hours. We much preferred San Sebastian. Also look into Burgos - amazing. We stayed right near the Cathedral...magical!. We did an overnight there and another overnight in Leon, on our way to Santiago de Compostela (3 nights). Beautiful trip.

Hi Jan, thanks for the post! I'm looking into both Burgos and Leon just not sure if there are busses or trains. I booked three nights in San Sab and your ideas sound Great! Did you have a rental car when you did this? Thanks again for the advise!
Lisa

Hello Lisa, All trains from San Sebastian to Madrid are passing through Burgos. I recommend you that you stop on your way back from San Sebastian to Madrid (you can see the cathedral and surroundings in about 3 or 4 hours). You should consider 3 hours by train from San Sebastian to Burgos. Other friends have given advice you here previously on how to book it. If you rent a car, the road (motorway) to Burgos is about 2 hours and 15 minutes and you should consider around 20 EUR only for the toll. Although my father is from Burgos and I am in love that nice medieval city (it has much more to see than the cathedral) I believe it can be a bit waste of time for you to go and return to San Sebastian for that tour. There are other options to see by car which are closer, and on other ways. Have a look as there is much to choose: * St Jean de Luz and Biarritz 45 minutes car drive to the North, in France. * Vitoria, the European Green Capital 1 hour car drive to the South. * Zarautz and Getaria 20 minutes drive to the West. * Rioja the Spanish top wine production area 2 hours car drive to the South. I can't help it, I love showing my country!
Best regards, Aitor Delgado

Aitor, Thanks so much for your input, sorry for the delay in responding to your post, I just saw it now. So I guess i will research trying to go to St Jean de Luz from San Seb as of now I'm not renting a car in Spain. I would like to take a train to Bibao fro a few hours the back on the train to Burgos overnight then train back to San Seb because Im flying out of San Seb to Granada what is your input on this plan? :) Again Thanks for your time I cant wait to get there!
Lisa

Lisa, we were advised against taking the train between San Seb and Bilbao because it is a "milk run" type of train taking 2 hours or more. So we took the bus which takes a little over one hour, costs about 10€ and has many departures every day.

' So we took the bus which takes a little over one hour' A three hundred miles per hour bus ?????

A bus would take about an hour from Pamplona to San Sebastian but not from either Burgos or Madrid (the drive from Burgos to San Sebastian is three hours). I would guess a bus ride from Madrid to San Sebastian is roughly five hours which may beat the train, if it's routed through Burgos, and is likely cheaper than a discounted train fare.