The 355-mile (571 km) trip between Barcelona and San Sebastian is a coast-to-coast journey from the Balearic Sea to the Bay of Biscay. While a flight is the shortest way to get from A to B, you can also opt to drive there in a day. A bus route is also available.
While you are in Barcelona, glean some tips and ideas from this itinerary. When you arrive in San Sebastian take advantage of this 5-day itinerary in Basque Country. You are on your way to seeing some of the most iconic architecture, drinking delicious wine, and taking in breathtaking sights.
By Plane
Duration: 1 hour, 15 minutes
Numerous flights go from BCN to EAS and are run by Vueling and Iberia Airlines. The direct flights are just 1 hour and 15 minutes, while flights with a stopover in Madrid are 3.5 hours. Smaller airlines will sometimes charge for baggage but Iberia, for instance, will include the typical personal item and full-sized carry-on.
By Rental Car or Private Transfer
Duration: 5.5 hours, more with stops
If you prefer to do some sightseeing on your own, renting a car is the recommended method to travel from Barcelona to San Sebastian. There are many rental car services to reserve in Barcelona. Small rental cars are popular choices, since streets are often very narrow, and parking can be hard to find when you plan to stop.
Start out along E-90 and enjoy the scenery. Eventually, you will hop on highway A-2 towards Zaragoza, which is the perfect place for a stop. The capital of Aragón and the fifth-largest city in Spain, Zaragoza is also home to the Goya Museum.
From Zaragoza, it's 2.5 hours further to your destination. Merge onto highway AP-15 and continue until you reach the coast. Another great stop on the way is Pamplona. While it's best known for the running of the bulls, Pamplona is worth a stop for many other reasons. Casco Viejo (Old Town) is where Ernest Hemingway would sit while writing his masterpiece The Sun Also Rises and sipping a cup of coffee. Take in the beauty of the Cathedral of Santa Maria la Real, the best-preserved cloister of the 14th century. If you are culinarily adventurous, try estofado de toro (bull stew) before getting back on the road. From Pamplona, it's just one hour further along highway A-15 to San Sebastian.
By Bus
Duration: 8 hours
By bus, this journey will take 8 hours. The companies that operate this route are Monbus and Vigo Barcelona S.A. and they usually have two runs a day— 8:45 AM and 2:40 PM. Tickets can be purchased online or at the station but it's recommended to purchase ahead of time.
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