--- title: "San Sebastian train stations | EveryRail" description: "Use Donostia / San Sebastián for Renfe and Cercanías; Amara is the Euskotren station for routes towards Bilbao or the French border." image: "https://znmmduxdxnnnebgevjdu.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/blog-media/entity-featured/city-san-sebastian.webp" --- [Home]()[Spain]()San Sebastian [Home]()[Spain]()San Sebastian **Share** - - [Share on WhatsApp]() - [Share on X]() - [Share on Facebook]() - [Share by email]() **On this page** - [About train stations in San Sebastian]() - [Where to book]() - [Train stations in San Sebastian]() - [Train routes to and from San Sebastian]() - [Find places to stay in San Sebastian]() - [Frequently asked questions]() [Book now]() Last reviewed September 2026 # Train stations in San Sebastian Use Donostia / San Sebastián for Renfe and Cercanías; Amara is the Euskotren station for routes towards Bilbao or the French border. ![View of San Sebastian, Spain]() Stations 1 Primary station [Donostia-San Sebastián]() Passenger operators 1 Routes covered 3 Use Donostia / San Sebastián for [Renfe]() long-distance and Cercanías trains; choose Amara when your trip is on the Euskotren network. ## Choose the station by operator San Sebastián has two rail networks that visitors need to distinguish. The main Adif station, shown in booking systems as Donostia / San Sebastián, is the default for Renfe. Amara is the Euskotren station. Identify the operator first, then use its named station for the rest of the plan. Choose by network, not by whichever pin looks closer to the hotel. The stations serve different networks. A result labelled only with the city can hide the detail that decides where you board, so open the train details and match the station, operator and train number. ## Use Donostia / San Sebastián for Renfe Choose Donostia / San Sebastián for Renfe long-distance journeys and the local Cercanías network. Renfe long-distance trains link San Sebastián with Madrid and Barcelona. These are useful examples of when the main station is the right search target, although the exact timetable depends on the departure date. Cercanías C1 services use Donostia / San Sebastián, with trains in the Irún and Brinkola or Zumarraga directions. Check the live board for the train you plan to use. The line label helps, but it does not replace the destination and time printed in the itinerary. Exact journey times, frequencies and fares are deliberately not fixed here. They vary by train and date, but they do not change the station-choice rule. Check Renfe for the selected departure and read the fare conditions before you pay. ## Choose Amara for Euskotren Choose Amara when the journey is on Euskotren. Amara is the Donostia endpoint of the E1 corridor from Bilbao. E2 runs between Lasarte-Oria and Hendaia through the Donostia network. That matters for trips towards Bilbao or the French border. Do not search for a Renfe train and assume Amara is an alternative platform for it. Confirm the Euskotren line and direction for the date, especially when the journey involves a later connection at Hendaia. The network pattern does not mean every itinerary is a through journey. Check the current Euskotren timetable before building a fixed appointment around the arrival. ## Compare the complete itinerary For Madrid or Barcelona, compare Renfe departures from Donostia / San Sebastián. For Bilbao or a journey using the E1 or E2 network, check Euskotren and Amara. If the trip combines both networks, treat the change between stations as a real city transfer rather than a platform change. Allow time for that transfer with luggage and to find the next departure. A short headline journey can be a poor choice when it relies on separate tickets or a tight cross-city connection. Before booking, check whether the complete trip is sold as one itinerary and which ticket conditions apply to each leg. Use the operator's own timetable to confirm the service pattern. For every leg, confirm the operator, station and ticket conditions in the full itinerary details. ## Check the ticket conditions, not only the fare Renfe fares can have different change and refund conditions, so read the terms attached to the exact departure. A lower fare is not automatically better when the train follows a flight, a separate Euskotren trip or another service that could be delayed. For Euskotren, check the current fare and ticket product for the zones and route you will use. Do not assume a Renfe ticket covers a separate Euskotren leg. The practical comparison is the total itinerary, including any separate local ticket and the time needed to change stations. If you use an Interrail or Eurail Pass, check the exact long-distance train before travel. A pass can cover eligible travel without including every reservation. Compare the pass plus any required reservation with the ticket conditions for the journey you actually plan to take. ## Plan the arrival from the correct station Donostia / San Sebastián station is at Paseo de Francia 22, with bus and taxi interchange. Save that address if you are arriving on Renfe. It helps prevent a map search from sending you to the wrong station after a long journey. For an Amara arrival, use Amara as the starting point for the final city leg. Check the route to the accommodation before travelling and keep a backup for a late arrival. The same city name does not make the two arrival plans interchangeable. Plan an airport journey separately unless the confirmed itinerary explicitly includes it. The flight and train can have different ticket conditions and different recovery options after a delay. The safest plan starts with the station and operator on the ticket, not a generic search for San Sebastián. ## Where to book ### Train tickets - Omio Omio connects you with over 1,000 transport providers - trains, buses, flights, and more - to simplify your travel planning. [Check times & prices]() - Rail Europe Rail Europe is a leading travel tech company specializing in European train bookings for over 15,000 travel professionals worldwide. - Trainline Trainline sells rail and coach tickets worldwide on behalf of major UK and European transport companies. ### Passenger train operators - [Renfe]() Renfe serves Spain with AVE, Avlo, Alvia and regional trains. AVE tickets are named and reserved, while Interrail and Eurail passes need reservations. [Official website]() [Check times & prices]() ## Train stations in San Sebastian [![Map showing the location of Donostia-San Sebastián]()© OpenStreetMap contributors![Renfe]()Main stationDonostia-San Sebastián0.4 km from the city centreDonostia-San Sebastián is the main railway station in San Sebastian, served by Renfe.]() ## Train routes to and from San Sebastian [![View of San Sebastian, Spain]()Barcelona to San Sebastian by trainRenfe runs Barcelona to San Sebastián/Donostia on one direct Alvia train a day each way, no change needed, taking around 6 hours 30 minutes.]()[![La Concha Bay and beach in San Sebastian, Spain]()Bilbao to San Sebastian by trainBilbao to San Sebastian takes around 3 hours 15 minutes; Euskotren and Renfe require at least one transfer, with advance tickets from €13.80.]()[![Temple of the Sacred Heart on Tibidabo hill in Barcelona at sunset]()San Sebastian to Barcelona by trainRenfe ALVIA to Barcelona Sants in around six hours. Advance fares from the low €20s. Pass holders must book a seat reservation separately (\~€6.50).]() ## Find places to stay in San Sebastian [![Bright bedroom with white bedding and a breakfast tray on the bed]()**Browse stays in San Sebastian**Hotels and apartments via Booking.com]() ## Frequently asked questions ### What station should I give to a taxi driver or hotel pickup? Give the full station name from your ticket, not only San Sebastián. For a Renfe arrival, the Donostia / San Sebastián name and its Paseo de Francia 22 address make the pickup point clear. For an Euskotren arrival, give Amara instead. ### When should I avoid separate tickets between the two rail networks? Avoid splitting the tickets when a late first train would make the next departure hard to replace. A lower headline fare is poor value if it leaves no useful fallback, so check both ticket conditions before choosing the split itinerary. ### Where should I check the platform on the day of travel? On the day of travel, use Adif's live station information for Donostia / San Sebastián and Euskotren's current information for Amara. Match the destination, departure time and train or line on your ticket. ### How should I plan a train journey before a flight? Start from the airline's check-in time, then choose the airport transfer and the train. This creates a real buffer for baggage and a delay, instead of treating the rail ticket as protection for the whole airport journey. ### Does an Interrail or Eurail Pass decide which San Sebastián station I should use? No. The station follows the operator and service. Check the exact train and any reservation requirement before travel, then confirm Donostia / San Sebastián or Amara on the itinerary. ## All train routes to and from San Sebastian - [Barcelona to San Sebastian by train]() - [Bilbao to San Sebastian by train]() - [San Sebastian to Barcelona by train]() ## Other destinations in Spain - [Train stations in Alicante]() - [Train stations in Barcelona]() - [Train stations in Benidorm]() - [Train stations in Bilbao]() - [Train stations in Cordoba]() - [Train stations in Girona]() - [Train stations in Granada]() - [Train stations in Madrid]() - [Train stations in Malaga]() - [Train stations in Ronda]() - [Train stations in Seville]() - [Train stations in Toledo]() - [Train stations in Valencia]() ## Rail passes for Spain - [Interrail in Spain]() ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://everyrail.com/#organization", "name": "EveryRail", "url": "https://everyrail.com/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://everyrail.com/_astro/everyrail-logomark-2026.VJ4vNX1T.webp", "@id": "https://everyrail.com/#organization-logo-1" }, "sameAs": [ "https://www.instagram.com/everyrailtravel/", "https://www.facebook.com/everyrail", "https://www.threads.com/@everyrailtravel" ] }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://everyrail.com/#website", "name": "EveryRail", "url": "https://everyrail.com/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://everyrail.com/#organization" }, "inLanguage": "en" }, { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://everyrail.com/spain/san-sebastian/#webpage", "name": "Train stations in San Sebastian", "description": "Stations: 1. Primary station: Donostia-San Sebastián. Passenger operators: 1. Routes covered: 3.", "about": { "@id": "https://everyrail.com/spain/san-sebastian/#city" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://everyrail.com/#website" }, "publisher": { "@id": "https://everyrail.com/#organization" }, "url": "https://everyrail.com/spain/san-sebastian/", "dateModified": "2026-09-05T09:39:17.412Z", "inLanguage": "en" }, { "@type": "City", "@id": "https://everyrail.com/spain/san-sebastian/#city", "name": "San Sebastian", "containedInPlace": { "@type": "Country", "@id": "https://everyrail.com/spain/san-sebastian/#city-country", "name": "Spain" } }, { "@type": "FAQPage", "mainEntity": [ { "@type": "Question", "name": "What station should I give to a taxi driver or hotel pickup?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Give the full station name from your ticket, not only San Sebastián. For a Renfe arrival, the Donostia / San Sebastián name and its Paseo de Francia 22 address make the pickup point clear. For an Euskotren arrival, give Amara instead.", "@id": "https://everyrail.com/spain/san-sebastian/#faqpage-mainEntity-1-acceptedAnswer-1", "inLanguage": "en" }, "@id": "https://everyrail.com/spain/san-sebastian/#faqpage-mainEntity-1", "inLanguage": "en" }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "When should I avoid separate tickets between the two rail networks?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Avoid splitting the tickets when a late first train would make the next departure hard to replace. A lower headline fare is poor value if it leaves no useful fallback, so check both ticket conditions before choosing the split itinerary.", "@id": "https://everyrail.com/spain/san-sebastian/#faqpage-mainEntity-2-acceptedAnswer-2", "inLanguage": "en" }, "@id": "https://everyrail.com/spain/san-sebastian/#faqpage-mainEntity-2", "inLanguage": "en" }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Where should I check the platform on the day of travel?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "On the day of travel, use Adif's live station information for Donostia / San Sebastián and Euskotren's current information for Amara. Match the destination, departure time and train or line on your ticket.", "@id": "https://everyrail.com/spain/san-sebastian/#faqpage-mainEntity-3-acceptedAnswer-3", "inLanguage": "en" }, "@id": "https://everyrail.com/spain/san-sebastian/#faqpage-mainEntity-3", "inLanguage": "en" }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "How should I plan a train journey before a flight?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Start from the airline's check-in time, then choose the airport transfer and the train. This creates a real buffer for baggage and a delay, instead of treating the rail ticket as protection for the whole airport journey.", "@id": "https://everyrail.com/spain/san-sebastian/#faqpage-mainEntity-4-acceptedAnswer-4", "inLanguage": "en" }, "@id": "https://everyrail.com/spain/san-sebastian/#faqpage-mainEntity-4", "inLanguage": "en" }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Does an Interrail or Eurail Pass decide which San Sebastián station I should use?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "No. The station follows the operator and service. Check the exact train and any reservation requirement before travel, then confirm Donostia / San Sebastián or Amara on the itinerary.", "@id": "https://everyrail.com/spain/san-sebastian/#faqpage-mainEntity-5-acceptedAnswer-5", "inLanguage": "en" }, "@id": "https://everyrail.com/spain/san-sebastian/#faqpage-mainEntity-5", "inLanguage": "en" } ], "@id": "https://everyrail.com/spain/san-sebastian/#faqpage", "inLanguage": "en" }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "@id": "https://everyrail.com/spain/san-sebastian/#breadcrumb", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://everyrail.com/", "@id": "https://everyrail.com/spain/san-sebastian/#breadcrumb-itemListElement-1" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Spain", "item": "https://everyrail.com/spain/", "@id": "https://everyrail.com/spain/san-sebastian/#breadcrumb-itemListElement-2" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "San Sebastian", "item": "https://everyrail.com/spain/san-sebastian/", "@id": "https://everyrail.com/spain/san-sebastian/#breadcrumb-itemListElement-3" } ], "inLanguage": "en" } ] } ```