San Sebastian old town seen from Hotel de Londres
   

Take the train to San Sebastian!

Several times through the day, high-speed TGV Duplex trains link Paris Gare Montparnasse with Hendaye on the Spanish border in just 4h36 with fares from €25.  They have a cafe-bar & free WiFi.  Euskotren metro trains then link Hendaye to San Sebastian every 30 minutes, journey 37 minutes, fare €2.75.  The whole trip takes little more time than flying - yet it's far more comfortable, far better for the environment and a lot less hassle.  The only catch?  If you try to buy tickets from Paris to San Sebastian it won't work - you need to book from Paris to Hendaye, then buy a metro ticket to San Sebastian.  This page explains it!

small bullet point  Train times Paris to San Sebastian

small bullet point  Train times San Sebastian to Paris

small bullet point  How much does it cost?

small bullet point  How to buy tickets

small bullet point  What's the journey like?

small bullet point  Travel tips

small bullet point  Route map

small bullet point  Hotels in San Sebastian

small bullet point  San Sebastian to Barcelona, Madrid, Lisbon & other destinations by train.

Paris ► San Sebastian

San Sebastian ► Paris

How much does it cost?

How to buy tickets

What's the journey like?

1.  Paris to Hendaye by TGV

Paris-Hendaye trains are double-deck TGV Duplex with the Océane interior shown below, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Paris Montparnasse station guide.

TGV from Paris Gare Montparnasse to Hendaye, for the train to San Sebastian

A TGV Duplex at Paris Gare Montparnasse.

TGV Duplex Oceane at Paris Montparnasse

Boarding at Paris Montparnasse.  Note the automatic ticket gates at the entrance to the platforms, just scan the QR code on your ticket.

TGV Océane cafe-bar   TGV Océane 2nd class seats

TGV Océane cafe-bar (above left) and 2nd class seats (above right).

TGV Océane 1st class seats   TGV Océane 1st class drop-down table

TGV Océane 1st class seats.  All 1st class seats (except the end ones) rotate to face direction of travel.  There are USB & 2-pin outlets above each drop-down table.

TGV Océane stairs and landing   TGV Océane luggage racks

TGV Océane stairs, just 9 easy shallow steps.  There are toilets & luggage racks upstairs & downstairs.  Above right, luggage racks upstairs.

Scenery between Paris and San Sebastian

Scenery under cloudy skies as the train crosses France at up to 320 km/h (199 mph).

Hendaye SNCF station hall

Get off the TGV at Hendaye, walk off the platform and through the SNCF station ticket hall.  Incidentally, Hendaye station is where Hitler met Franco on 23 October 1940, you'll be treading the same platforms!  If you need a coffee, I recommend the Cafe Olé just across the road.

2.  Hendaye to San Sebastian Amara by Euskotren

Hendaye SNCF & Euskotren stations

Walk out of Hendaye mainline station & turn right.  The Euskotren station is just 50m away.

Hendaia Euskoten station, for trains to San Sebastian   Inside Hendaia Euskoten station

Hendaye Euskotren station has a staffed ticket counter & ticket machines, cash & cards accepted.  Buy a ticket and go through the ticket gates onto the platforms.

Euskotren train to San Sebastian at Hendaye   Inside Euskotren to San Sebastian

The Euskotren station has just two platforms, it's the terminus from which trains start, all trains go to San Sebastian-Donostia Amara!  These air-conditioned metro trains leave every 30 minutes.  There's plenty of space for luggage and they even have a wheelchair-accessible toilet.

Inside San Sebastian Amara station   San Sebastian Amara station

San Sebastian Amara station is a terminus with 6 platforms.  A row of ticket gates separates concourse from platforms.  Map of San Sebastian showing stations.

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Travel tips

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Route map

Paris to San Sebastian train route map

 

Click for larger map

Highlighted = Paris-Hendaye-San Sebastian route.

Green = scenic sections of line

European Rail Timetable and mapReproduced from the excellent European Rail Map with kind permission of the European Rail Timetable people.

I recommend buying a copy of the European Rail Map for your travels, www.europeanrailtimetable.eu with shipping worldwide.

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Enjoying San Sebastian

Euskotren train to san Sebastian at Hendaye   Inside Euskotren to San Sebastian

San Sebastian.  The sea front is 10 min walk from San Sebastian-Donostia Amara station, where Euskotren arrives.

San Sebastian   San Sebastian, main square
View of San Sebastian

Hotels in San Sebastian

Hotel de Londres, San Sebastian   Room at the Hotel de Londres

If your budget will stretch, the Hotel de Londres y Inglaterra is a classic.  The place has character, and is perfectly located right on the sea front, a few minutes walk from the old town and 10 minutes walk from Amara station.  Ask for a room with balcony overlooking the bay.  For something rather cheaper but still with great reviews right in the old town, try the Pension Garibai or Pension Alameda.

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