Bilbao to San Sebastian:
Expert Travel Guide 2024

Bilbao and San Sebastian are two of northern Spain’s greatest cities. I fell in love with both of them on my first visit in 2017 and have regularly returned to them both.

Based in the Basque Country, these two cities are home to two of the 12 Treasures of Spain. They are great to visit individually or even better as a pair. With around 80 miles between the two, I highly recommend making time to visit both.

Luckily getting from Bilbao to San Sebastian isn’t super tricky. There are multiple options to get between the two cities and it is relatively easy. I made the trip myself in 2017 and had no problems getting between the two.

Trust me, whether it’s your first visit or you’re looking for fresh tips, I’ve got you covered on traveling between these two gems in the Basque Country.

Bilbao to San Sebastian: Quick Guide

If you’re short on time, here is the essential information to plan your Bilbao to San Sebastian journey:

Option	Journey Length	Cost	Benefits
By Car	1 to 2 hours	Cost of hire car	Quickest way to get between the two. Various routes with no tolls and driving along the coast
By Coach	1 hour 20 minutes	Between €7.50 (one-way) to €26 (return)	Cheapest way with regular connections and a reliable service
By BlaBlaCar	1 to 2 hours	Dependant on driver’s own tariff	Travel by car without the cost of hiring a car.
By Train	4 to 5 hours including a transfer	Round trip starts at €58 and goes up to €81	No benefits – the train is not a viable option for this route.
By Taxi	1 to 2 hours	Around €155 from Bilbao International Airport during the day and €170 at night	Direct transfer to your accommodation. Could be a viable option if in a group.

Bilbao To San Sebastian By Car – FASTEST

A great option when travelling from Bilbao to San Sebastian is to hire a rental car. This gives you the flexibility and more independence when traveling. With a car you will see so much more of the countryside and gain an even more authentic experience of life in the Basque Country.

The drive from Bilbao airport to San Sebastian is around between 1 to 2 hours on average but can vary depending on traffic, time of day and the weather.

There are 4 main driving routes from Bilbao to San Sebastian:

Option 1: Driving Via AP-8 – QUICKEST

This is the route Google Maps will tell you to take and is the quickest option although there are tolls to pay.

Taking this route will take you along the N-637 and then onto the E-70/AP-8, one of Europe’s major highways.

The total length of this journey is 62 miles and it’s the most direct route. If time is tight, this is the best option for you. Tolls can be paid in cash or via credit card as you pass by the toll both. For cars, the cost of tolls can be between €5 and €30 so plan this accordingly into your budget.

Option 2: Driving Via N-634/GI-632 – NO TOLLS

At 80 miles, this route will take you an extra hour to complete than the toll road route but will offer you the chance to pass through some beautiful villages. This is more of a local route and will provide you with more views of the Basque countryside.

For this route, you will be travelling on the N-637 but then heading onto the N-634 and then onto the GI-627. You’ll then head onto the GI-632 and finally onto the GI-2632 before linking back up with the previous route close to San Sebastian.

This route offers you some great stop offs and could be included as part of a day itinerary of the Basque Country. Consider stopping off in Durango, a cinematic village which offers good hikes in the nearby mountains.

 Option 3: Driving Via The Coast – MOST PICTURESQUE

For those fans of Game of Thrones, this may be an unmissable stop on your trip and a highlight of the drive from Bilbao to San Sebastian. Located just 25 miles and a 45-minute drive from Bilbao airport is San Juan de Gaztelugatxe, a hermitage based on an islet off the coast. This incredible island was made famous as the location for Dragonstone in Game of Thrones, and you can climb the steps out to the island yourself.

From here, you can continue your drive, hugging Spain’s northern coast. First you will take the BI-2238 before joining the BI-2405 and then ending up on the N-634 and finally onto GI-11. This route will take you a lot longer at around 3 and a half hours but will provide some great stops on the coast.

Consider making a stop at Lekeitio, one of the most important fishing ports of the Basque coast and an important tourist destination during the summer months. You are bound to find some fantastic seafood and Basque traditional dishes.

Also worth visiting is Playa de Saturraran, a 300m long beach famous for its two rocks, shaped in the form of two sisters named Satur and Aran.

Zumaia is another fantastic option to stop at. The town is picturesque and the beach there was also used in Game of Thrones as the spot where Daenerys Targaryen first set foot on Westeros.

Option 4: Driving Via Vitoria-Gasteiz – BASQUE CAPITAL

And if you fancy visiting another important Basque city, why not visit the Basque capital of Vitoria-Gasteiz? Whilst Bilbao and San Sebastian as bigger cities and more well-known, the city of Vitoria-Gasteiz is the seat of the regional Basque government and an important city in the region.

This route will take you around 2 hours to complete and is around 110 miles in total. You will take you along the AP-8 and then onto the N-622 for your stop off in Vitoria-Gasteiz. After spending some time in the city, you will then head onto the N-240 onto AP-1 and finally re-join the AP-8.

On your stop-off in Vitoria-Gasteiz, you can visit the old town with its ancient walls and watch towers as well as Renaissance-style buildings. You can also visit the city’s cathedral, Plaza de la Virgen Blanca (White Virgin Square) and spend some time checking out the city’s street art.

What Is The Drive Like?

The drive from Bilbao to San Sebastian very much depends on the route you are taking, what time of day it is and the time of year.

The two cities are well connected, and the region’s roads are in good condition so driving between the two cities should be pretty straightforward.

One thing to consider however is the weather. San Sebastian is the rainiest city in Spain with an average of 141.1 days of rain every year. The Basque Country in general is also one of the wettest regions in the country and so this will affect driving conditions at various points throughout the year.

If you are a cautious driver, you may be best taking the more direct route via the AP-8 which will have better quality roads and a quicker travel time. For British, Australian and any other drivers that drive on the left, remember that the Spanish drive on the right-hand side of the road.

Manual cars are more common than automatics so if you are used to an automatic (as is the case with many American cars), please consider this when hiring your car as there can be a slight price increase when choosing an automatic.

Major holiday dates in the cities include Aste Nagusia in Bilbao in the latter half of August and the San Sebastian International Film Festival in the last week of September.

Generally, aim to travel during the week and avoid peak commuter times. Always check the weather and if you have flexibility, consider switching your day of travel if you wake up and the weather is bad.

Interested in seeing more of Bilbao? Check out my post 20 Places to Visit in Spain for First Timers for an introduction to this fabulous Basque city.

Bilbao to San Sebastian By Coach – CHEAPEST

My preferred method of traveling from Bilbao to San Sebastian is by coach. The coaches in Spain are good quality, arrive on time and are easy to navigate. And best of all, they’re inexpensive!

Alsa

Alsa is the best option when getting the coach from Bilbao to San Sebastian. Its routes service all major cities as well as making stops at some of the smaller towns in the region.

I travelled with Alsa on my own trip throughout the Basque Country. Every time, the buses were on time, clean and got me to my destination quickly.

Alsa offers different types of buses at different price points. Their Supra range of buses cost more but offer more amenities such as free Wi-Fi and onboard entertainment.

Your ticket includes luggage and you can pay an extra fee for a variety of optional extras. These include blocking out the seat next to you, sports equipment and to offset your carbon footprint.

There are multiple trips a day so you should be fine getting a ticket a few days before. However, the quickest journeys on the Supra buses may sell out quickly. Around major holidays, make sure you book in advance as tickets sell out quickly. Tickets cost from €7.50 for a one way up to about €26 for a return.

Bilbao To San Sebastian By Train

Unfortunately for train lovers, taking the train is not a great or viable option for traveling from Bilbao to San Sebastian. In some parts of Spain, the train network is phenomenal, but the north is not one of them. It is best to go by coach all the way!

For those passionate enough about trains to consider it, there is one option. This goes via Miranda De Ebro, some 51 miles from Bilbao and a whopping 83 miles from San Sebastian. There is also often a long transfer time. The price of a round trip starts around €58 and goes up to €81.

If you are a lover of trains and feel you must have this experience or have some important business in Miranda De Ebro, you can buy your tickets from the RENFE website, but for everyone else, the train is not the best option for this journey.

Bilbao To San Sebastian By BlaBlaCar

A bit of a Spanish phenomenon, BlaBlaCar is a great option for those who want to go in the comfort of a car but do not want to drive themselves or have the finances to do so.

This ride-sharing app pairs drivers with fellow commuters. Good for the environment and the pocket, you can select your start and end point of your journey and see if anyone is going the same route.

Prices vary depending on each individual driver and the pickup and drop-off point. Check out the exact location of the pickup and drop off point as sometimes these may not be in the city centre. There is also the disadvantage of not being able to choose a time but with a common route such as Bilbao and San Sebastian, you should be able to find somebody to take you.

On a personal note, BlaBlaCar saved me on a trip to La Coruña. Forgetting it was a holiday in Santiago de Compostela, I nearly ended up stuck in La Coruña when all the trains sold out. I checked out BlaBlaCar and secured a seat in a car with three Spanish people. The drive was quick, comfortable, and dropped me off closer to my accommodation.

The app is secure and monitored but if you are a solo traveler or do not speak Spanish, you may prefer the security of being on a more public setting such as a bus.

Bilbao To San Sebastian By Taxi

As a last resort, there is always the option to travel from Bilbao to San Sebastian by taxi. Whilst this would not be my first choice, it is doable.

It costs around €155 from Bilbao International Airport if you are travelling during the day or €170 if you are travelling at night.

If you are an international traveller who has come off a long-haul flight or are a group of four people, this could be a viable option (although there are coaches from the airport that go direct to San Sebastian!). Likewise, if you have a higher budget, this may be the option for you.

If you are planning on only visiting San Sebastian though, this is a great opportunity to see Bilbao and take the bus the following day.

FAQs

Can You Hitchhike In Spain?

Hitchhiking is not something I would recommend, especially if you don’t speak the language. Whilst the people of Spain are generally friendly and outgoing, hitchhiking in any part of the world is always a risk. Spain is a safe place to travel but getting into cars with strangers would not be my recommendation.

If you want the experience of travelling with some random Spanish people though, I can definitely recommend the BlaBlaCar app which is more secure.

What Is The Best Way To Get From Bilbao To San Sebastian?

The best two ways to get from Bilbao to San Sebastian are by coach and by car. If you are a solo traveler or on a budget, the coach is the best choice. If you are in a group, you might want to see more of the Basque Country and hire a car.

Is The Train From Bilbao To San Sebastian Scenic?

The train from Bilbao to San Sebastian is scenic but it is not the most efficient way to get between the two. You will have a journey time of 4 to 5 hours and have to transfer in Miranda de Ebro so it is not recommended.

Is It Better To Fly Into Bilbao Or San Sebastian?

When deciding if it is better to fly into Bilbao or San Sebastian, there are a few factors to consider. Bilbao is a bigger airport with more flight options and is a good option if you want to explore Bilbao. It has good public transport options.

If you want minimal transfer times and the main focus of your trip is San Sebastian, then flying into San Sebastian is the best choice.

Which City Is Nicer Bilbao Or San Sebastian?

Deciding which city is nicer Bilbao or San Sebastian is an impossible decision as both offer different things.

Choose Bilbao is you are interested in modern art, cultural events, urban exploration and a city that perfectly combines the old and new.

Choose San Sebastian is you are looking for beautiful beaches, a relaxed seaside atmosphere, incredible food and picturesque views.

Final Thoughts: Bilbao To San Sebastian

So there it is. These are the four reasonable possible ways to get from Bilbao to San Sebastian. Whilst the train is an option, it is not really viable for a trip visiting both cities.

My top recommendation if you are only intent on seeing Bilbao and San Sebastian or are short on time, would be to take the coach with Alsa. However, if you have more time, are in a group, or are a massive Game of Throne fan, renting your own car would be a great way to make a great trip even more memorable. The Basque Country really is such a beautiful part of Spain and with a car you will be able to delve deeper into this amazing corner of Spain.