Your driver will meet you at your address in Madrid.
You’ll travel in comfort for 4 h 30 min.
Your driver will drop you off at your address in San Sebastian.
Considering the many remarkable things in San Sebastian, it's difficult to understand why it isn't as popular as its neighboring cities, Barcelona and Madrid. As an oceanside resort town with incredible beauty, world-class culinary delights, ancient history, and stunning architectural wonders, San Sebastian deserves the same regard as Madrid and other popular metropolises. So, if you're in Madrid, why not consider a day trip by car from Madrid to San Sebastian with Daytrip's private car service?
Our door-to-door service will get you where you need to be along the way and in San Sebastian. In only a few short hours, we'll drive the distance while you sit back, relax, and plan what you want to do in this Basque city that offers a wholly unique travel experience.
<show-more> At Daytrip, we understand that the beauty of Madrid and the route to San Sebastian can put travelers in a trance. So why not fully immerse yourself in this experience without worrying about navigating the countryside, coastal roads, and annoying roadsigns and traffic by driving with us?While planning what to do and see, remember that, unlike other cities in Spain, San Sebastian deviates from the norm. Although the city does offer a Spanish experience, the cultural traditions deviate, with bullfighting and flamenco taking a backseat while pintxo bar hopping is more popular. Although siestas are also still practiced and Spanish is spoken throughout the city, most residents are bilingual, with most speaking Basque, so expect to come across a lot of Basque culture, from the people and food to the buildings and attractions.
But what you can look forward to the most upon arriving in San Sebastian from Madrid is the small-town feel that will welcome you. So start planning! </show-more>
San Sebastian is a Spanish city on the coast of the Bay of Biscay. It is also only 12 miles (20 km) from the France-Spain border, so it's a popular stopping point for those who want their next adventure to be in France. Like other Spanish cities, it has a unique culture and history, but it differs in that it is mostly Basque Country.
depended on Navarran King Sancho El Mayors Monasterio de Leyre Navarre.
<show-more> San Sebastian has existed for centuries and has been traveled by billions of people since its founding, but what's interesting is that the town wasn't recorded as existing before the 11th century. According to historical texts, this city was only established because of a monastery that was built in the area, whichAs the monastery grew and prospered in 1180, so did the area, drawing in hundreds and then thousands of settlers whose livelihood depended on fishing. These settlers eventually turned San Sebastian into a significant maritime power. That's why fishing remains integral to the city's culture and history, especially because of these settlers.
Expectant visitors will also find it interesting to learn that San Sebastian is uniquely geographically located. Because of its unique position surrounded by the mountains on one side and the ocean on the other, it was often sought out as a military and navy stronghold.
As is the case with many other advantageous European countries, San Sebastian experienced a bout of Roman invasion during the 13th century. Despite the mighty conquerors laying siege to the city, it managed to persevere and hold onto its cultural roots and traditions. That's why you'll not see many Roman ruins or influences in San Sebastian when you visit.
Unfortunately, between the 15th and 18th centuries, this wondrous city suffered through several sieges and wars, including battles with Napoleonic troops in 1813. After years of vicious fighting, it turned over a new leaf during the 19th century when San Sebastian became one of the most popular destinations for aristocrats after Quenn Isable II made the city her holiday resort.
Unsurprisingly, with the queen's influence, the city became increasingly fashionable for many years and has never gone out of fashion since. Over the years, the city has continued to grow and prosper, and you can expect to see many old and new sights when visiting, including the Basque buildings made famous by the queen. So, intend to spend a few days exploring if you want to visit the quaint fisherman's houses, the smart suburbs and modern districts, and many of the city's cultural and historical attractions.
We recommend visiting places like the Museum of San Telmo, the Peine del Viento, and Kursaal. And once you've had your fill of attractions, don't forget to try the city's world-class cuisine at any of the fine dining establishments or extraordinary Pintxos bars. You also won't want to miss out on experiencing the city's cultural scene, so book tickets for one of the prestigious jazz concerts held every year and make sure you secure a place at one of the annual prestigious film festivals. </show-more>
There's no denying that Madrid is one of the most beautiful cities to tour, but if you want to ensure your positive experience extends beyond Madrid during your travel from Madrid to San Sebastian, you need to note a few simple travel tips. Below, we've put together a few must-remember tips to help you ensure your experience is memorable for the right reasons. <show-more>
First and foremost, if you're planning to drive from Madrid to San Sebastian, you must remember about sightseeing.
Half the fun will be stopping in places like Sepulveda, where you can experience an authentic medieval walkabout in a town square that appears not to have changed in centuries. Then there's Aranda de Duero, where you can wander across the Roman bridge next to the Gothic church of San Juan or tour the Church of Santa María la Real, which was built during the mid-15th and 16th centuries.
You also must visit the Anana Salt Valley, which was underwater nearly 200 million years ago. The Romans introduced salt panning centuries ago, and this valley is still used for salt panning today. Evidently, there's much to do along the way, and with Daytrip, we can accommodate your sightseeing requests and navigate the local roads, so you needn't worry about getting lost during your exciting explorations.
One of the most important aspects of planning a holiday is booking your accommodation. If you plan on stopping over for a night along the way, it's important to book in advance and carefully choose where you'll stay according to your budget and what's on offer.
Unfortunately, if you travel during the high season, accommodation will be pricey no matter where you stop over. In addition, it's best to plan your San Sebastian accommodation in advance and try to avoid staying in Parte Vieja, the most popular neighborhood in the city, which is often expensive. We recommend rather considering the Antiguo or Gros neighborhoods as they offer more reasonable rates.
San Sebastian and many of the cities along the way are easily walkable if you want to explore while sightseeing. So be prepared to get in more than your daily step count and wear comfortable shoes. This is especially true once you get to San Sebastian since the city's top attractions are less than a mile from one another.
If you don't want to walk, there are public transportation options. You can take the bus, which navigates most main areas and takes visitors to the top points of interest. Alternatively, you can use a local taxi or rent a bike and cycle around this beautiful city. </show-more>
Getting from Madrid to San Sebastian is fairly easy, considering numerous transportation options are available. Below, we've detailed the best options, each with its own advantages. Let's dive in and look at what you need to know:
You have two route choices if you want to take the train from Madrid to San Sebastian. You can either take the direct train with the Renfe Viajeros train line, which is more expensive, or you can take a train with the Renfe Cercanias train line and encounter stops. Although the latter usually involves one to two transfers, it is marginally cheaper.
Typically, a direct train from Madrid to San Sebastian takes about seven hours and 34 minutes, and you can choose between multiple time slots since the train travels this distance several times daily. If you take the train that involves transfers, you can choose between three available timeslots since this train offers trips from Madrid to San Sebastian three times daily.
You should also expect the trip to take about five hours and 20 minutes since the train is a high-speed option. However, regardless of which train you choose, you need to book tickets in advance, and you should expect to encounter the beautiful scenery only as you pass by it since there are no sightseeing opportunities.
One of the more straightforward ways to travel from Madrid to San Sebastian is by bus. Despite what many believe, bus travel between these two cities isn't incredibly lengthy—about five hours and 45 minutes—but it can be crowded and uncomfortable.
On average, the ALSA coach line offers a bus trip every three hours between Madrid and San Sebastian. Buses leave in the early morning, afternoon, and late evening, so you'll have variety when choosing a time slot that suits your travel needs.
However, the biggest downside is that the buses can be expensive. Tickets can cost upwards of $55 (€50), which is far more than it costs in other European cities to make a trip of the same distance.
Airlines like Transavia France, TAP Portugal, Air Europa, and Iberia offer flights from Madrid to San Sebastian, but we advise against using this travel route. Unfortunately, flights between these two cities are often long and involve multiple transfers and stopovers because there isn't a direct route.
For example, if you wanted to fly the entire way, you would need to fly from Madrid to Rome, then from Rome to Barcelona, and from Barcelona to San Sebastian. This flight requires numerous transfers and has a total travel time of almost 12 hours, which isn't worth it.
Alternatively, you can fly from Madrid to Pamplona and then take a bus the rest of the way to San Sebastian or fly to Logrona and then take a bus. Each option is time-consuming, although the combination of flight and bus is quicker than flying the entire way. In addition, it's expensive to fly with tickets costing over $100 (€91), and if you have to take additional transport to your accommodation, the price increases even more.
One of the best options worth considering for those planning on traveling from Madrid to San Sebastian is to do so by private car service Daytrip. A private car service offers many of the benefits that traveling by plane, bus, and train doesn't.
For example, it is significantly faster to travel with Daytrip. An average trip between the two cities takes about four and a half hours, and Daytrip will also handle your luggage and provide door-to-door services. This means that you can set your own pickup and drop-off locations and the time you want to travel, and you won't need to worry about hauling around your own cargo on and off public transportation. Not only will your belongings be safe, but you will be too.
In addition, driving with a Daytrip also opens you up to the possibility of sightseeing stops along the way. With us, you can pre-book stops at a few of the must-visit sights between Madrid and San Sebastian. Plus, our pricing is reasonable, with bookings starting at $154 (€140) per seat!
With its enchanting culture, beguiling architecture, captivating history, and delicious local cuisine, San Sebastian is definitely a destination you will want to visit at least once in your lifetime. But if you've managed to make it a reality and will drive from Madrid to San Sebastian, what is there to see and do? The answer: too much. That's why we've shared a few of the best things you can get up to when visiting this coastal city.
The alluring Naval Museum is one of the most important attractions to the people of San Sebastian because it shines a light on the city's immense maritime history and Basque culture. So, if you're a fan of the ocean and enjoy learning more about maritime powers, you might want to visit this museum.
It doesn't only pay tribute to local traditions and history but actively teaches visitors more about the region's fishing community. Moreover, if you visit on a Thursday, you get free entry and free reign to explore the three floors housing sea themes exhibitions, workshops, classes, and a naval library.
Those looking for a place to go for a walk and enjoy scenic views within the city should consider visiting Alderdi Eder, a park in San Sebastian. This park has spectacular gardens and picturesque spots perfect for photo opportunities.
It's also centrally located and near other attractions like La Concha Beach and Town Hall, so it's a convenient stop if you want to explore these destinations, too.
If there's one thing you must do when visiting this city, it's get lost in San Sebastian's old town. The old town is the heart of the city, and you'll find it incredibly easy to immerse yourself in everything that is going on.
If you've booked accommodation near it, you can walk, but if not, the old town is easily accessible by public transportation. However, no matter how you get there, be prepared to spend quite some time exploring its depths.
From wonderful shops selling art and other knickknacks to historical landmarks, cafes, boutique shops, stunning churches, the port itself, and incredible architecture, you'll get tuckered out trying to see and do everything you can during your visit, but oh, it will be worth it!
Every city has its must-see museum; for San Sebastian, it's the San Telmo Museum that embodies everything Basque society offers. From culture and art to architecture, this museum will leave you thinking about Basque culture for days afterward.
Be prepared to see historical masterpieces, modern representations of the city, and temporary and permanent exhibitions. The museum is also built within an old monastery, so there's ample opportunity to see the beautiful architecture of a bygone era inside and out.
If you're making the trip from Madrid to San Sebastian, you likely want to know the best time to visit to plan your travel arrangements around this. Usually, the best time to travel to San Sebastian would depend on your own travel needs and goals, but we recommend between May and July.
Although this time falls between the peak season, it's the months that offer the best temperatures in the city, with the summer seeing the least rain compared to the rest of the year. However, since May to July is predominantly the high season, you must plan to have a bigger budget since hotels, food, and attractions can be more expensive. But the price is often worth it.
If you don't want to pay high prices, consider visiting from August to September. This time of year is perfect for night owls who want to attend San Sebastian's marvelous cultural events, including a classical music festival.
Set among picturesque gorges, this medieval town is home to the region’s first Romanesque church, and Europe’s largest colony of vultures. A Gorge-ous Venue
Beneath the streets of the capital of the Ribera del Duero wine region, 5 miles of tunnels are used to age, and enjoy wine. Cave Dweller Cellars
Once the seat of the Crown of Castile, this medieval city’s myriads of landmarks, including its UNESCO-listed Cathedral, will leave visitors in awe. The Catholic Capital of Castile
For thousands of years, salt has been mined in the bed of this dried-up Triassic sea, the progression of which has been preserved to this day. Panning through the Centuries
The Basque community’s capital boasts the best preserved medieval center without the usual tourist traps. Basque-ing in Culture
Nestled quietly in a valley in the center of the Basque Country, this quaint countryside town dates back to the Medieval period. The Place of Many Hills
“I was unsure about this company but a few good reviews on Trip Advisor made me take the chance. I am so happy that we did. We needed a ride from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai. Our driver Saksun was an excellent driver - it's not a long distance to drive (by Texas standards!) but the road is challenging and there are a lot of places where improvements to the road are being made. It took around 3 hours with a stop at a place with very clean bathrooms, very interesting hot springs and a place to get a snack and cold drinks. Saksun had a vehicle that was fantastic for this type of drive - a very comfortable ride indeed and was obviously well maintained and very clean. I highly recommend this company. I used to post on trip advisor as "lakekariba" but got out of the habit of doing so. This company was so easy to use and the result was so enjoyable that I felt that the company Daytrip and the driver Saksun had earned our trust and a glowing review. Gillian and Ted Pearsall Austin, Texas”
lakekariba
Dec 4, 2024“We used Daytrip to travel between Budapest and Vienna with a 2 hour stop for lunch in Bratislava. Our driver Zsombor arrived on time at our hotel in Budapest and was very friendly and informative throughout our trip. His vehicle was roomy and clean and he was kind enough to provide us with some bottled water for the trip. Our quick visit stop in Bratislava was very nice as well. He gave us plenty of time to explore the city and have lunch before meeting him again when it was time to head for Vienna. Daytrip provided us with a happy and trouble free transfer between Budapest and Vienna. Many thanks to your team and especially to your driver Zsombor!”
pgh1125
Dec 3, 2024“Last minute plan change and Daytrip was our last resort so I chatted with them and had an immediate response from a real person, best situation ever. Never used Daytrip before but the reviews were incredible so we took the chance and booked a driver at like 11-12pm and by 7am the next morning when we woke, they found us a driver and the driver had already texed us making contact! Very impressed and will definitely use them again. We went from Dubrovnik, Croatia to Tivat, Montenegro.”
James B
Nov 9, 2024“What could of been a tedious travel day became a relaxing, entertaining and easy trip to San Sebastián. With a charming side trip to Sepúlveda, lots of car snacks and the able and interesting Susana at the wheel the drive was a true vacation day rather than an interruption in our fabulous Spanish holiday. Highly recommend Daytrip and will use them again on our next vacation.”
LibbySherry
Oct 13, 2019All Daytrip drivers speak English* as well as their native language (and sometimes additional languages too!). They'll be happy to discuss local history and culture with you, as well as answer any questions you may have. And because they speak the language, they're able to provide you with a unique opportunity to connect with local culture. *Drivers for Lite service aren't required to speak English but must meet all other standards.
We screen all our drivers for criminal and traffic records, and personally interview each one. We also inspect their cars for safety, comfort, and reliability. All cars must be less than ten years old, in excellent operating condition, and insured as required by local law. And because our drivers are locals, they're familiar with the rules and customs of the road.
If you’re traveling with children, make sure to let us know in the booking so we can get the appropriate child seats ready!
Pets are allowed (and loved)! We just need to know beforehand. You can tell us about them in the next phase of the booking.
Gratuity isn’t included or required, but if you really enjoyed your trip, you can show your driver your appreciation with an optional tip (10% is sufficient).
Each passenger is allowed to have one checked bag and one carry on. If you’re traveling with more bags or oversized luggage, you can adjust this while booking.
Pay by credit card online, or in cash directly to your driver!
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