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Madrid to San Sebastián by train
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First train08:00
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Last train17:40
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Avg changes0
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Fastest journey5hr 10m
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Distance353 kilometres
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Trains per day8
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Avg. journey time6hr 33m
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Train operators
Travelling from Madrid to San Sebastián by train
Fast trains from Madrid to San Sebastián take around 5 hours and 10 minutes, covering a distance of approximately 353 kilometres. There are frequent services on the rail route between Madrid and San Sebastián.
1. Are there direct trains from Madrid to San Sebastián?
Direct trains from Madrid to San Sebastián have been found.
We usually find around 9 direct trains on the route from Madrid to San Sebastián every weekday.
There are typically fewer departures at weekends, when we found around 8 departures.
2. How long is the train journey from Madrid to San Sebastián?
The Madrid to San Sebastián train travel time is normally about 5 hours and 10 minutes, whatever time you make the journey.
3. What are the Madrid to San Sebastián train times and schedule?
On weekdays the earliest direct train to San Sebastián is usually scheduled to depart Madrid around 08:00 and the last train is around 17:40. This is the same at the weekend.

What's the Madrid to San Sebastián train price?
The earlier you book the better, and the cheapest tickets we've found for trains from Madrid to San Sebastián are $19.92.
Trains departing 30 days in advance will cost around $45, and when booking 7 days in advance the price is usually the same. Booking on the day of travel may be more expensive.
When to book Madrid to San Sebastián train tickets?
Trains in Spain usually open for booking around 4 months in advance. If booking is not yet open for your dates then you can set a booking alert to receive an email on the day that the cheapest tickets are released for your journey from Madrid to San Sebastián by train.
Which train companies operate between Madrid and San Sebastián?
More than one train company operates on the route from Madrid to San Sebastián, so you’ll be travelling with one or more of the following rail operators:
- Alvia
- Intercity
- Media Distancia
You can check which train you’ll be travelling on by looking for the train name in search results.
Other journeys to San Sebastián/Donostia View all journeys to San Sebastián/Donostia
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From London From $226.73
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From Hendaye From $6.87
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From Barcelona From $23.36
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From Irun From $2.06
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From Vitoria/Gasteiz From $7.56
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From Bordeaux From $113.37
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From Burgos Rosa de Lima From $10.31
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From Zaragoza From $15.12
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From Palencia From $33.67
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From Pamplona/Iruña From $6.18
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From Paris From $177.26
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From Valladolid From $13.74
Alvia or Media Distancia
It is very easy to travel by train from Madrid to San Sebastián. On most days, there are Alvia trains and slower Media Distancia (MD) services linking the two cities.
The fast Alvia trains cut through the hills north-west of Madrid in a long tunnel. If you are interested in some beautiful Spanish landscape, you might prefer the slower option, for the rail route over the Sierra de Guadarrama is one of the most beautiful in Spain. It’ll add two hours to your journey time but the views are worth it.
Madrid to San Sebastián/Donostia

Choose between a high-speed Alvia train and slower Media Distancia train to travel directly from Madrid Chamartín station to San Sebastián. Fast Alvia trains stop six to seven times along the way, including Burgos. Media Distancia trains stop at least 20 times.
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Easy, fast and cheap
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