How do I get from Madrid to San Sebastian without a car?

You have the option of traveling from one city to the other by either bus or train. Either way you choose, you'll be sure to reach your destination in the most easy and sustainable way. You can also use carpool services and share a car ride with other travelers.

How long is the bus trip from Madrid to San Sebastian?

The travel time from Madrid to San Sebastian is about 6h, but you can get there in as little as 5h 10m with the quickest bus. This is the time it takes to travel the 219 miles (353 km) that separate the two cities.

How far is Madrid from San Sebastian?

About 219 miles (353 km) separate Madrid and San Sebastian.

What are the departure and arrival stations when taking the bus from Madrid to San Sebastian?

Most of the buses traveling from Madrid to San Sebastian leave from Estación Sur and arrive at Donostia. These are the main pick-up and drop-off locations on this route, but you could find others that could be a better fit for your travel plans.

How much does a bus ticket from Madrid to San Sebastian cost?

The average price of a one-way ticket from Madrid to San Sebastian is $57. Over the last 30 days, the prices ranged between $51 and $172, so make sure to compare them to get the best option.

Madrid to San Sebastian Bus Tickets

TodayApr 30

from $92

TomorrowMay 1

from $52

FriMay 2

from $52

SatMay 3

from $52

SunMay 4

from $52

MonMay 5

TueMay 6

WedMay 7

Cheap buses leaving tomorrow

One passenger / one way

This trip is recommended because it is: Cheapest
Departure time: May 1 at 5:00pm
Departure city: Madrid
Departure location: Avenida de América Metro
Arrival time: May 1 at 10:40pm
Destination city: San Sebastian
Destination location: Donostia
Operated by: ALSA
Vehicle: BusDuration: 5h 40m
This trip is recommended because it is: Fastest
Departure time: May 1 at 6:45pm
Departure city: Madrid
Departure location: Aeropuerto Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas, MAD T4
Arrival time: May 1 at 11:55pm
Destination city: San Sebastian
Destination location: Donostia
Operated by: ALSA Supra
Vehicle: BusDuration: 5h 10m
Departure time: May 1 at 5:15pm
Departure city: Madrid
Departure location: Aeropuerto Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas, MAD T4
Arrival time: May 1 at 10:40pm
Destination city: San Sebastian
Destination location: Donostia
Operated by: ALSA
Vehicle: BusDuration: 5h 25m
Departure time: May 1 at 6:30pm
Departure city: Madrid
Departure location: Avenida de América Metro
Arrival time: May 1 at 11:55pm
Destination city: San Sebastian
Destination location: Donostia
Operated by: ALSA Supra
Vehicle: BusDuration: 5h 25m
Departure time: May 1 at 8:50pm
Departure city: Madrid
Departure location: Aeropuerto Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas, MAD T4
Arrival time: May 2 at 12:15pm
Destination city: San Sebastian
Destination location: Donostia
Operated by: Flixbus
Vehicle: BusDuration: 15h 25m

Accepted payments

Compare 3 ways to go from Madrid to San Sebastian.

	Average Price	Average Duration	CO₂ emissions
Bus	Average Price$51 - $172	Average Duration6h	CO₂ emissions 9kg CO₂e5 out of 5 stars
Train	Average Price$23 - $133	Average Duration5h 23m	CO₂ emissions 8kg CO₂e5 out of 5 stars	Most eco-friendly
Carpool	Average Price$21 - $60	Average Duration4h 50m	CO₂ emissions 15kg CO₂e4 out of 5 stars	CheapestFastest

Busbud recommends carpooling from Madrid to San Sebastian

Among the sustainable travel choices, the carpool stands out as the good way to reach San Sebastian. The journey takes about 4 hours 50 minutes and with fares starting at just $21, it presents an excellent value for a comfortable ride.

21carpool per day

4h 50mAverage Duration

$21Cheapest ticket

15kgCO₂ emissions

Bus Madrid to San Sebastian: Trip Overview

Average ticket price$57

Average bus trip duration6h

Number of daily buses17

Earliest bus departure12:30am

Distance212 miles (341 km)

Latest bus departure11:45pm

Compare bus companies

ALSA

4.5/559,083 reviews

Staff4.7

Timeliness4.4

Cleanliness4.7

Wifi3.5

Users have shared positive feedback about the bus conditions, comfort, and cleanliness. They also appreciated the ease of getting around using ALSA and found customer service to be excellent. However, there were mentions of inconsistent availability or functionality of phone outlets on some buses and an isolated incident involving a driver's attitude in Madrid that was not well-received.

ALSA Madrid San Sebastian recent customer reviews

It was easy to get around using ALSA and using the wifi was helpful. It would have been better if they all had phone outlets to charge phones. Some did and other didn't. The ones that did would not work.

Joe B.

April 8, 2025

My daughter and I missed the 9:00 clock Bus to san Sebastian due to a train problem. Had to buy 2 new tickets. Nobody at Alsa to talk to. Very disappointed ☹️

Lydia T.

February 23, 2024

Everything was almost perfect, except the driver leaving Madrid. He seems to be very arrogant making smart comments and gestures. Never seen this kind of attitude traveling in other countries.

Jim K.

March 17, 2023

FlixBus

3.5/58,442 reviews

Staff4.1

Timeliness4

Cleanliness4.1

Wifi2.6

Flixbus is a European bus operator that offers intercity and bus travel in over 38 countries. Known for their easy-to-spot lime green buses and for offering affordable transportation between cities in Europe and the Americas, Flixbus is a good option for those looking for an affordable, reliable bus company. In their buses, you'll find free WiFi, bathrooms, and power outlets. You can also pay extra to choose your seat and get extra legroom, or even buy a snack or drink onboard directly from the driver. You can reschedule your ticket for a small fee, which varies from $1 to $5, depending on how close you are to the departure date.

ES bus companies: FlixBus, BlaBlaCar Bus, ALSA, Rede Expressos, Sindbad, Grupo Samar, Infobus

Madrid to San Sebastian Bus

Busbud helps you find a bus from Madrid to San Sebastian. Get the best fare and schedule, book a round trip ticket or find buses with WiFi and electrical outlets.

We make it our job to connect you with the most dependable bus companies that cover bus service from Madrid to San Sebastian.

Whether it is cheap bus tickets or more luxurious buses going to San Sebastian from Madrid, we help you find what you're looking for based on how much of a budget you have.

Where are the popular stops in Madrid and San Sebastian?

Stops in Madrid

A - Madrid-Barajas Airport

B - Avenida de América Metro

C - Estación Sur

D - Moncloa

E - Príncipe Pío

F - Madrid Interc. Plaza Castilla

Stops in San Sebastian

A - Donostia

B - Pío XII

C - Universidad

Frequently asked questions for your trip Madrid - San Sebastian

How do I get from Madrid to San Sebastian without a car?
How long is the bus trip from Madrid to San Sebastian?
How far is Madrid from San Sebastian?
What are the departure and arrival stations when taking the bus from Madrid to San Sebastian?
How much does a bus ticket from Madrid to San Sebastian cost?

Find cheapest prices for buses

Price is for a one-way ticket for one passenger and based on past searches.

Best price found

04/28

$119

04/29

$52

Today

$91

05/01

$52

05/02

$52

05/03

$52

05/04

$52

05/05

$52

The cheapest trip from Madrid to San Sebastian was searched and found on May 1, 2025 with a price of $52

To save money and be sure you have the best seat, it's a good idea to buy your bus tickets from Madrid to San Sebastian, as early as possible.

You can expect to pay from $52 to $168 for a bus ticket from Madrid to San Sebastian based on the last 2 days. You can expect to find the cheapest price for the trip at $52 which is on 2025-05-01.

Usually Flixbus (ES), ALSA Supra will charge you higher prices for tickets closer to the departure date. To find the best prices, you should be flexible on your date of travel.

About Bus Travel

Bus Travel Tips

Make friends with the driver. They usually know a lot about your destination and may even recommend which side of the bus to sit on to get the best views on the road between Madrid and San Sebastian!

From miles long of beauteous natural landscapes to impressive man-crafted sights, you're bound to be in for a visual treat on your bus trip from Madrid to San Sebastian.

Buses are energy-efficient. Carrying a passenger over 100 kms by coach only takes 0.6-0.9 liters of gas. Compare that to the 2.6 liters required by high-speed train, 6.6 liters by airplane and 7.6 liters by gas-powered car, and it's clear that the bus is a more environmentally-conscious option for your bus transportation from Madrid to San Sebastian.

Make a music playlist for your bus ride from Madrid to San Sebastian, and enjoy the scenery to tunes from your own personal soundtrack.

Did you know?

The bus driver with the longest career in the world drove more than 2,000,000 miles and is a happy World Record holder.

One of the longest bus route in the world goes all the way from Ontario to Alberta in Canada (with the same bus). This trip is 3,435 km or 2,135 miles long and the price is a bit under $100.

The average number of passengers on a coach bus is 32 meaning that a bus could replace a minimum of at least 30 cars!

Will you be returning to Madrid by bus?

Bus from Madrid to San Sebastian

You can also go to San Sebastian by train

Train from Madrid to San Sebastian

Top traveled bus routes

Why choose Busbud?

The Best Way To Book Bus and Train Tickets

Busbud helps you easily search, compare and book intercity bus tickets on a worldwide scale with our comprehensive list of bus routes and schedules. Use Busbud to book your trip online, in your own language and currency, wherever you are. Busbud prides itself on its worldwide partnerships. We make it possible for you to buy tickets with its large network of trustworthy bus partners like Greyhound, Eurolines, ALSA, OUIBUS (BlaBlaBus), National Express and many others.

Bus Tickets from Madrid to San Sebastian

One passenger / one way

Cheap buses leaving tomorrow

One passenger / one way

One passenger / one way

One passenger / one way

One passenger / one way

Compare 3 ways to go from Madrid to San Sebastian.

Bus Madrid to San Sebastian: Trip Overview

Compare bus companies

ALSA Madrid San Sebastian recent customer reviews

Madrid to San Sebastian Bus

Where are the popular stops in Madrid and San Sebastian?

Frequently asked questions for your trip Madrid - San Sebastian

How do I get from Madrid to San Sebastian without a car?

How long is the bus trip from Madrid to San Sebastian?

How far is Madrid from San Sebastian?

What are the departure and arrival stations when taking the bus from Madrid to San Sebastian?

How much does a bus ticket from Madrid to San Sebastian cost?

Find cheapest prices for buses

About Bus Travel

Bus Travel Tips

Did you know?

Will you be returning to Madrid by bus?

You can also go to San Sebastian by train

Top traveled bus routes

Why choose Busbud?

The Best Way To Book Bus and Train Tickets

People from around the world trust Busbud

Popular Buses Connecting Madrid

Buses Leaving from Madrid

Buses Going to Madrid

Popular Buses Connecting San Sebastian

Buses Leaving from San Sebastian

Buses Going to San Sebastian

Popular routes in this country

Popular airport transfers