Getting to San Seb from Madrid
 

Hi all,

My cousin and I are arriving in Madrid on May 1 (international flight, Emirates flight) at 1:45pm and need to get to San Sebastian that same day.

1. What would you recommend we take? Bus or train?
2. What are the websites where I can see the train and bus schedules, and buy tickets?


Thank you very much!!

katrina

There are buses for about 30E and trains from about 60E..Google and pick your choice.(Train might be more comfortable as you can get up and wander around. You can even get transportation from the airport to SS. 5/6 hours..Look for the sites that interest you! On the bus takre water and snacks. Trains should have snack bars..

Train - www.renfe.com
Bus - www.alsa.es

Bus: Movelia.es

Train: renfe.com renfe.es

You will have to take a train from Terminal 4 to the main train station. There you will catch the train to San Sebastian. Trains usually take about 5 to 5.5 hours. However, you must add another 45 minute of travel time from the airport.

Busses leave directly from the airport. The travel time is 5.5 to 6 hours.

Taking the train will probably cost ~15€ more per traveler.

I've never taken either. I have always driven this route. I have dropped friends off at the bus station in San Sebastian who were traveling to Madrid. They both said the trip was fine.

Iberia has flights to SS ?

Thanks all! I found a train from the Chamartin station. How far is that (via taxi?) in minutes? the train is at 4:10pm so am wondering if we can reach it, assuming we arrive 1:45 (international flight, so that means getting through immigrations, getting the bags, customs, etc).

What you might do ,to save time, is purchase and print the train ticket.
Chamartin is in the north of the city...you should be able to make the train
You only have to go through passport control and pick up your bags, ther is no customs control unless
you have something to declare.
From terminal 4, the Cercania train stops at Chamartin...If I remember , it took about 10minutes.

It's about a 25-minute taxi ride from the airport. There is now a set price for the taxi, €30. The Emirates flight lands at T4, so allow a few minutes longer to reach Madrid Chamartin station.

It takes at least 15 minutes after landing to reach the terminal, so depending on your passport, visa requirements and luggage situation (carry-on only), making the 16:10 train will be possible if there are no problems with your paperwork. They don't announce the track for the train until 20 minutes before departure and normally keep the gate open until the last minute.

I don't understand, if you are flying into T4 on Emirates, why not have your travel agent add the Madrid-San Sebastian flight. It's possible even if Emirates is not part of One World. Of course this doesn't work if you booked the flight online and not through an agent.

I'm not sure what terminal I'm landing in, so unsure if I'm in T4. But if Robert2533 is sure we're landing in T4, then that makes catching a train to Chamartin much easier!

danon- Yes, planning on buying the ticket (Madrid -SS) now and printing, and we'll have nothing to declare. So there is a train from terminal 4 of the airport straight to Chamartin? And this takes only 10 minutes? So if we're arriving in T4 (as Robert2533 said), we should be able to take this Cercania train easily? Can i buy this train ticket online as well? Should I buy it online?

Robert2533 - You would recommend I take the taxi (25 minutes) from the airport to Chamartin, than take the train danon cited (which danon said is a 10 min train ride)? There will be no problems with paperwork (never had any before, and all my papers are in order), but we will have checked-in luggage, so will have to wait for that to come out. I'll ask my agent re Madrid-San Seb flight. Never occurred to me that Emirates flies to San Seb. Thanks for that tip! Hope the schedule works out though.

Again, thanks so much for taking the time out to answer. I'm kinda stressed with this schedule.

The cercania is a local commuter train, you buy tickets from the machine...follow the orange C sign.
it take 12 minute and cost about5 euros.
Not sure if you can buy it on line.


http://www.renfe.com/EN/viajeros/cercanias/madrid/

The circadian operates from T4 every 30min, so the timing might not work.
Taxi is the safest.

Thanks danon!

I've already bought the train tickets for the 4:05pm, so wish me luck!!

I think you will be o.k.
taxi airport surcharge is added to fare ( 5-6 euros),it is not a rip-off. tell taxi driver to take you to Chamartin Renfe.

Taxi rates are now set at €30 to or from the airport, no surcharge. It's a bargain from T4, but more expensive from T1.

You will have to pay a surcharge when dropped off at the train station, so have them drop you off at the Hotel Tryp Madrid Chamartin and walk to the station from there. It's only a couple of minutes, if you have the time.

thanks danon and Robert 2533!! Such helpful tips!

Robert,
when did they change to flat rate of 30 euros?
We seldom paid that much even with the surcharge.