San Sebastián (known as “Donostia” in Euskera, the Basque language) is a slightly out-of-the-way destination, but we promise it’s worth the trip! Its remoteness is part of its charm, and shields the city from the tourist hordes endemic to hotspots like Madrid and Barcelona. You cannot fly non-stop from the U.S. to the Basque Country, so you will need to book either a connecting flight through a major European hub (e.g., Madrid, Paris, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, etc.) or plan to spend some time elsewhere in Europe before or after the wedding.

Below are our tips on how to get to San Sebastián. If you need help or have any questions, please reach out to us.

air

Three airports serve San Sebastián, so be sure to search flights to all three to find the itinerary that works best for you:

  • San Sebastián Airport (EAS): Located at the French border, San Sebastián Airport is the closest airport to the city center but is very small and has non-stop service only to Madrid and Barcelona. From the airport, we recommend hailing a taxi or hiring a driver. The drive into the city center takes around 25 minutes.

  • Bilbao Airport (BIO): The largest airport in the Basque Country is in Bilbao, around 60 miles west of San Sebastián. Bilbao Airport has connections to most major European and Spanish airports, and will offer the most one-stop flight options from the United States. Buses run regularly from the airport non-stop to the San Sebastián Bus Station in the city center. You can also hail a taxi from the terminal or hire a driver. The drive takes around 75 minutes.

  • Biarritz Pays Basque Airport (BIQ): The third airport option is Biarritz, over the border in France. While only 30 miles east of San Sebastián, airline service in the low season is limited. Cross-border bus service is currently suspended, but you can hire a taxi or a driver to drive you to San Sebastián. The drive takes around one hour.

rail

Spanish national rail company RENFE offers service from both Madrid and Barcelona to San Sebastián’s Estación del Norte. The journey from Madrid or Barcelona will take between five and six hours, as Spain’s high-speed AVE network has yet to reach San Sebastián. But the train itself is comfortable, and unlike airlines does not charge for luggage. If you plan to travel on RENFE, we highly recommend booking the tickets directly through their website.

From France, you can take the train to Hendaye, 500 yards from the Spanish border. From there, you can either transfer to the narrow-gauge Metro Donostialdea train to Amara-Donostia station in the San Sebastián city center or arrange for a driver to pick you up and drive you across the border to San Sebastián. The trip from Hendaye to San Sebastián takes around 30 minutes by car, or around 40 minutes on the Metro Donostialdea.

car

You will not need a car while in San Sebastián. The entire city is walkable, and all of the weekend's events can be reached on foot or by short taxi ride. If you do plan to drive to San Sebastián, please keep in mind that street parking is severely restricted, so you will either need to book a one-way rental car or leave your car in one of the underground parking garages scattered throughout the city center.