Barcelona to San Sebastian/Donostia by train

How to take the rail journey from Barcelona to San Sebastian/Donostia on a direct train

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Routes

From Barcelona Sants to San Sebastian/Donostia

Journey Summary

To
San Sebastian/Donostia
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San Sebastian/Donostia
Travel Time
5hr 33 - 5hr 40min
Frequency
Daily
Travel Information

This train is usually scheduled to depart daily from Barcelona at 15:30, it travels on a high speed line as far as Zaragoza.

Final Destination: Irun

This trains alsos call at: Miranda De Ebro

Departing from Barcelona:

On departure from Barcelona, this train heading to Irun via San Sebastian/Donostia can be joined to another train heading to Bilbao.
There is no risk of boarding the wrong part of the train as your reserved seat(s) will be in the part of the train heading for Bilbao.
Though if you only see a train heading to Billbao on the departure screens at Barcelona Sants station, then the info will also be for this train.

At Barcelona Sants station these trains depart from the part of the station used by the high speed trains - vias (platforms/tracks) 1 - 6,

So when you're in the station follow the signs that are pointing the way to the ' Alta-Velocidad' trains.
Aim to be at Barcelona Sants a minimum of 20 mins before departure, in order to allow time to pass through the security checks.

1 x train per day

Tickets

Book early and save: Yes

Online bookings open: 2 months ahead

This train is usually scheduled to depart daily from Barcelona at 15:30.

This route is a comparative bargain, book more than a couple of weeks ahead and you'll find 'Turista'/2nd class tickets for less than €20.
Though as Renfe doesn't apply a 'tickets from' pricing policy, we're unable to provide prices below.

Seat Reservations:

Seats will automatically be assigned when booking tickets for this journey.

Rail Pass Users:

Rail pass users will need to be pay a reservation fee prior to boarding, but these reservations cannot be booked on the ticket agent's websites.

The mandatory reservations for for rail passes are not available on the Eurail/Interrail reservation service for journeys within Spain.
The only option, other than booking them at a station in Spain, is to pre-reserve seats by calling Renfe phone sales: +34 91 232 03 20.

Pre-reserving a seat is possible up to 24 hours before a train's departure. You will receive a PNR code which you must use to pick up and pay for your reservation at a local station ticket office, making sure to show your Interrail Pass. You must collect your reservation within 72 hours. After this time the pre-reservation will expire.
Please note that a pre-reservation is not the same as a reservation. It only holds a seat for you for 72 hours.

Where to book
Ticket Provider Approximate Cost
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Trainline Guide

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Renfe Guide

Renfe is the national rail operator in Spain and it has recently simplified the range of tickets it sells for express and regional train journeys in Spain.
Which is convenient as there are big savings to be made if you book ahead online.

Take the stress out of your journey Everything planned to your specification, so sit back and relax… Try Concierge
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