Donostia / San Sebastián (San Sebastian / Donostia)

The central area of Donostia / San Sebastian is served by two rail stations:

1. This station, managed by Adif, which is used by trains operated by the national rail company, Renfe - including the long-distance trains to and from both Barcelona and Madrid
2. The station named Amara-Donastia, which is used by the regional Euskotren network which connects Donostia / San Sebastian to Bilbao, Hendaia / Hendaye and Irun

This station is by these rail services:

• Alvia trains and IC trains to and from Madrid.
• A daily Alvia train to and from Barcelona; the daily train to Barcelona typically departs shortly before 07:00
• Local 'Cercanias' trains.

It is currently being modernized and expanded, so that in future it can be used by AVE trains / services.
Though as only up to six long-distance train per day depart from it, the facilities are currently comparatively sparse.

Particularly worth knowing is that it lacks any food /drink outlets - and the area around the station is also being compromised by the reconstruction work.
There is a supermarket in a passage under the station, but it won't be open when the Barcelona train and the first train of the day to Marid will be departing.

Departing by the Alvia trains

On arrival at the station you will need to join a queue, because the access to the via / platform will be closed off until 5 to 10mins prior to departure.
When boarding commences all travellers pass through a ticket check facility.

These trains depart from via / platform 1, which is beside the main station building.

To the city centre

As you step out of the main station building, you can't miss seeing the spectacular Maria Kristina Zubia bridge, which links the Renfe station to the city centre - which is on the other side of the river.
Hence virtually any location within central Donostia / San Sebastian is within a 5 to 15 min flat walk.

Euskotren operates a rather fabulous regional rail network in The Basque Country.
It's station, which is named Amara - Donastia, is located on the southern edge of the central area of Donostia / San Sebastian.
Though what can be confusing is that the name of the station is typically shortened to Amara, which is the name of an area of Donostia / San Sebastian, which is is to the south of it.

The two core routes from Amara - Donastia are:

• line E1 to Bilbao hourly in a journey time of around 2hr 45mins, the route is charming
• line E2 to Irun and Hendaia / Hendaye, 2 x trains per hour in a journey time of 35 - 40 mins.

France <> Donostia / San Sebastian

In Hendaia / Hendaye, the station used by the Euskotren services is immediately in front of the station used by SNCF's trains, so the interchange is very straightforward.