Euskotren

Euskotren trena is the passenger train service of Euskotren, the publicly owned Basque transport company. It is a regional railway: the E1 line links Bilbao and Donostia / San Sebastián, and two other lines reach Hendaia and Bermeo.

Lines and stations

The E1 is the Bilbao to San Sebastián line. It starts at Matiko in Bilbao and runs east through Zazpikaleak, Durango, Eibar, Elgoibar, Deba, Zumaia and Zarautz, then enters San Sebastián at Errekalde, Añorga and Lugaritz before ending at Amara. The E2 runs from Lasarte-Oria to Hendaia on the French border, and the E4 from Matiko to Bermeo. Euskotren also operates Line 3 of the Bilbao metro, between Matiko and Kukullaga-Etxebarri.

Journey times and frequency

On weekdays a through train leaves Matiko for Amara every hour, from 5:55 to 19:55, and the full trip takes around 2 hours 43 minutes. The busiest stretches get more trains. Between Matiko and Elgoibar they run every 30 minutes from 5:55 to 14:55, and between Zumaia and Amara every 30 minutes from 6:00 to 22:30.

At weekends and on public holidays trains run hourly from 6:52 to 19:52. On Saturday nights a night service leaves Matiko from 23:45 through to about 5:30. These times are from the winter 2026 timetable.

Tickets and travel cards

Each line is split into fare zones: the E1 covers zones 1 to 7, the E2 zones 7 and 8, and the E4 zones 1 to 4. A one way ticket covers a single trip and must be validated within 24 hours of purchase. A separate Inter-Province one way ticket covers one trip between Gipuzkoa and Bizkaia. Travelling without a ticket brings a €50 fine, and children under 6 travel free with an adult who has a ticket.

Barik (Bizkaia) and Mugi (Gipuzkoa) are the regional travel cards. In 2026, trips paid with BAT, Barik or Mugi cards get 40% off, and cards linked to the youth (gazte) profile get 50% off.

Crossing into France

Euskotren ends at Hendaia, where SNCF's TER trains take over and passengers change trains. Passbask is a single ticket for the whole trip between Lasarte-Oria and Baiona, at €14.40 for an adult and €9.60 for a child under 12. The Euskopass Txik Txak is a one-person return ticket between the same two places and costs €6.50. Interrail passes are not valid on Euskotren.

Luggage, bikes and pets

Bags and packages up to 100 x 60 x 25 cm are allowed, along with prams, strollers, pets and bicycles. Pets must not be dangerous or a nuisance. Surfboards go in a sock or bag no longer than two metres and stay on the central platforms of the carriage, where they do not block the way. Riding a bicycle, skates or similar on board is not allowed.