My Thomas Cook Timetable (April 2009) shows Eusko Tren running at hh:03 and hh:33 to San Sebastian throughout the day. Journey time is 37 minutes. The speaker system plays beautiful classical music. The cost is nominal, €1.35 four years ago.

I can´t believe it, so many answers for such an easy and short ride!! My God, where has all the thrill of travelling gone??

Thanks, Pal, Geoff, and spaarne! Very helpful! Going from one country to another on different size rails is enough thrill for me, even though the distance looks short on a map.

Local trains ("cercanias") run between Irun and San Sebastian, but do not serve Hendaye>

Well that was one of my 'confusing' points that there are few cross-border trains from Hendaye to Donostia and thus better to take the Tren Eusko - and another 'confusing' thing i gave was that the Tren Eusko station was in the heart of San Sebastian - much more convenient for tourists than the RENFE station - Geoff correctly corrected that the RENFE station is closer to the commercial town center - I should have written the Tren Eusko station was much closer to the tourist center - the old port part of town and the famous beach.

IMO Geoff even mentioning the local trains Irun to San Sebastian only confuses the matter more and they are not a practical means of access due to the lack of trains from Hendaye to Irun - though you could like I did once walk the few miles between the two or take a cab. If Geoff had ever been to the Hendaye-Irun border by train he would have known such a gap existed.

This is what's so great about this forum: travelers with experience helping others.

I couldn't figure out the feasibility of this short trip for my study abroad daughter -- using my high school Spanish and college French -- even with a decent skill reading railroad timetables.

Mikel: I know what you mean!

It's cute having people post on threads complaining that they're too long, lengthening them and at the same time bringing them to the top.

PalenQ, I did not say that the RENFE station is closer to the "commercial" town centre. The RENFE station is slighly closer to the old part of the city, the "Parte Vieja" where most tourists will want to go. A glance at a map will show the location of the stations in the city.
I have been to Hendaye, Irun and San Sebastian several times over the years. If PalenQ has been there, his memory is obviouly failing.

Jubilada, you may want to click on my blog, the latest entry gives you good ideas on what to visit before you come.

Geoff - it is irrelevant where the location of the RENFE station is as it is a non-factor and RENFE trains from Irun to it are irrelevant and CONFUSING - enough said about the RENFE station and where it may or may not be. Totally confusing to the best way to get to Donostia from Biarritz.

Did SS to Biarritz by train 18 months ago. Get train from SS to terminus at Hendaye. Cross a small car park to the larger SNCF station. Take train from Hendaye to Biarritz. Not at all confusing, but time-consuming as we had an hour-long wait in Hendaye for the Biarritz train.

The bus route from SS to Biarritz is direct and therefore easier. Tell your daughter to take the bus. We only took the train because there were no buses running on a Sunday.

Thanks, ter!

mikel: I follow your blog closely. Unfortunately due to my partner's health we were unable to make the trip ( were supposed t be there now!). We are rescheduling for next fall and will have about 10 days in the Basque region. We had reservations at Extaberri today.