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Paris to Hendaye / Hendaia by train
For rail journeys between Paris and north-east Spain, the first stage is to take the TGV to Hendaye / Hendaia, where simple connections are available into local metro services on to Irun and San Sebastian, connect in San Sebastian for Bilbao.
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Routes
From Paris Montparnasse to Hendaye
Journey Summary
4hr 42min - 4hr 47min
Daily
Travel Information
Note that these trains depart from the Gare-Montparnasse in Paris.
Final Destination: Hendaye or Irun
If you will be travelling to destinations in Spain south of Irun, including Bilbao and San Sebastian/Donastia then leave the train in Hendaye
There are 1 or 2 x local 'Euskoren' trains per hour fom Hendaye/Hendaia to San Sebastian/Donastia; separate tickets required and connections will be available in San Sebastian into trains on to Bilbao.
To reach Bilbao by the end of the day, you will need to take trains which are schedule to depart Paris before 13:00.
If the train will be heading to Irun, the interchange into the local trains is easier at Hendaye/Hendaia, so book to Hendaye/Hendaia and make the first connection there.
All Trains Also Call At: Bordeaux, Bayonne and Biarritz
Mon-Thurs = 5 x trains
Friday = 7 x trains
Saturday = 4 x trains
Sunday = 6 x trains
Tickets
Book early and save: Yes
Online bookings usually open: up to 6 months ahead of the travel date, but bookings can open sooner when SNCF is running a promotion
If tickets aren't on sale yet for your travel date, you can sign up to the ticket availability notification service on SNCF Connect.
Rail Pass Users:
If you will be travelling with an InterRail or Eurail pass, you will have to pay a reservation fee prior to boarding.
The €10 rail pass reservations tend to sell out particularly quickly for this journey on Fridays-Sundays in the summer months.
However, there are no viable alternatives for avoiding these TGV trains on this route.
Where to book
| Ticket Provider | Approximate Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| SNCF Connect | from €39 | |
| Download the SNCF Connect App | from €39 | |
| Trainline | from €39 | |
| Save A Train | from €39 | |
| Happy rail | from €39 | |
| Rail Europe | from €39 |
On this journey
Travelling On
Journey Features
Good to Know
Two TGV trains will be usually be joined together for the part of the journey between Paris and Bordeaux, the coach number on your ticket will for a coach in the part of the train heading to Hendaye.
So don't be surprised to see a train, heading to a destination other than Hendaye/Irun, departing at the same time AND from the same voie (platform/track) as your train.
This will be the destination of the other TGV train that will be attached to the train heading to Hendaye/Irun - for the journey between Paris and Bordeaux.
On to Madrid
Compared to travelling from Paris to Madrid by connecting in Barcelona, this routing is typically cheaper option for rail pass users and is usually available if the Paris to Barcelona train has sold out; though the train from Irun to Madrid can also sell out around national holidays and on summer Sundays in particular.
- Take the daily TGV train from Paris Montparnasse to Hendaye which usually departs the French capital at 10:11 and arrives in Hendaye at 14:47; this train also typically departs Bordeaux at 12:20.
- On exiting Hendaye station, walk across to the right to the Hendaia station used by Spanish local, metro-style, trains branded Euskotren, the trains depart every 30 mins and the journey to Irun station Irun Colon station will only take 4 mins, it's a two stop journey.
- The walk to the main station in Irun will take around 7 to 12 mins. Turn right from the main Euskotren exit and follow the road which will soon curve to the right over railway bridge, on the other side of the bridge, go left towards the domed building and then go straight ahead to the left of it, the main statin in Irun will then be ahead on the left.;
- An Alvia train to Madrid usually departs Irun daily at 16:17 and typically arrives in the Spanish capital at 22:03.
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This journey is an opportunity to experience the best of French high speed rail travel; you'll be travelling on the latest version of the TGV train on the newest high speed line in France.
These trains comprise the fastest ever Paris - Hendaye service because they use the full length of the new LGV Sud Europe Atlantique high speed line - so are non-stop between Paris and Bordeaux.
There isn't a high speed line between Bordeaux and Hendaye - and this part of the journey isn't particularly scenic either, though they are occasional glimpses of the Atlantic Coast, as the train nears the end of its journey.
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