AboutVíctor Díaz Expertise I live in Madrid,and travel frequently to Valencia. I have also travelled to many places all over spain, if haven't been there i'd try to help anyway providing my knowledge and links.
I enjoy trekking in the mountains, and know pyrinees, Picos de Europa and mountains in the center.
Question Hi, in August I am in Malaga visiting family and I want to squeeze in 3 nights in Donostia to see a friend. I am travelling on a budget and cannot drive so I am thinking that train or bus would be a good idea. Has anyone got any idea of routes, what to do? Thanks Claire
Answer Hello Claire
It's a long distance (almost 1000km), trains and buses take a lot of time, but planes aren't cheap as San Sebastian/Donostia airport is a tiny one and have connections only with Madrid and Barcelona and no low-cost.
Cheapest flight in a quick search for august was 177euros from Malaga-Madrid-San Sebastian. Iberia and Spanair have flights to San Sebastian, just in case you want to check.
--------------About trains:
Need to do Malaga-Madrid-San Sebastian
There are many trains daily to Madrid from MAlaga, all of them are AVE high speed type trains, takes about 2h40. Trains are not specially cheap, but if you buy tickets online and in advance you may find Star offers and Web offers. I have checked for the first days of august and with an star offer the cheapest ticket was 42,40 euros.
These trains arrive to Madrid-Puerta de Atocha station.
For Madrid-San Sebastian
there are three trains daily, no high speed, but that also means they are cheaper. Takes between 5h:30 and 6h:30 depending on the type of train. Cheapest ticket of august, with star offer was 22,30euros and with web offer 14,90.
The trip Malaga-Dosnotia can take 8h + time between trains in Madrid.
Important! the train madrid-Donostia leaving at 7.40 departs from Puerta de Atocha station, but it's too early and probably is not an option for you. The other two trains depart from Madrid-Chamartin station!!!! you must bear in mind about 30 minutes to change station.
If you choose this option you may ask me again how to move from Atocha to Chamartin stations.
------------bus option.
This is the link for the Malaga bus station http://www.estabus.emtsam.es/
No direct bus service to Donostia. The website show Bilbao as an option but there is not finally any service oprating currently to Bilbao.
I have seek the Malaga-Madrid-San Sebastiona by bus
Malaga-Madrid have many buses daily with this company http://www.daibus.es/
cost 20,33 euros and takes 6h.
Bus station in Madrid is 'Estacion Sur autobuses' http://www.estaciondeautobuses.com/
Madrid-San Sebastian/Donostia
with Alsa http://www.alsa.es
From 30,54 euros. Takes 5h15.
Important! bus station is 'Intercambiador Avda America' again, about 30 minutes or less to change from one to the other.
You may ask me how to do it.
Total time 11h15 + time between buses, more than trains but much cheaper.
-----------antoher options
San sebastian airport is tiny and have no low cost companies flying there, but what about Bilbao airport? yes there is Vueling and Clickair doing Malaga-Bilbao
I have found for Clickair a final price of 50euros
they have one flight daily departure at 21:35 arriving at 23:05 which may be a problem as you must move from Bilbao to Donostia.
Vueling have also a daily flight from at 20:40 arriving at 22:10 with a similar cost to Clickair.
There are also buses from Bilbao bus station (termibus) but last one to Donostia departs at 22h.
There is the risk that any delay on the flight would make you loose that bus to Donostia.
and no direct trains Bilbao-Donostia with renfe, there are regional trains with Euskotren http://www.euskotren.es
but last train departs from Bilbao at 22:20, too late.
---------------
Finally if your budget is not so tight you could choose trains, buying in advance you may save some money.
If trains are too expensive, then plane to Bilbao or buses should be your option.
