Getting from San Sebastián to Biarritz, France

In the northeastern corner of Spain, San Sebastián is just a hop away from the French border and makes for an excellent point to make a side-trip to France. Besides getting from Barcelona to Nice, another great way to go from Spain to France is via Biarritz. Known as the Beach of Kings, Biarritz is a glitzy beach town and popular summer vacation destination for the European royalty and famous figures such as Napoleon III and Frank Sinatra. Home to some of the best beaches in France, Biarritz can also be easily visited as a daytrip from San Sebastian.
With easy access between San Sebastián and Biarritz, you can easily explore two countries in just a few days. Depending on how far in advance you are planning the trip, you can choose either the train, bus or driving yourself to cover the 50km between San Sebastián and Biarritz.

By train

There is no direct train from San Sebastian to Biarritz. First, take the Euskotren local train to Hendaye and then the French train to Biarritz. There are regular trains running everyday, you can easily get your tickets at the train station. Check the Euskotren website for updated schedule (website only available in Spanish).

By bus

There is also no direct bus from San Sebastian to Biarritz. You have to catch the bus from San Sebastian to Bayona first – the journey takes one hour and the tickets cost €48 one way on ALSA. There are several departures per day. Check ALSA website to book the tickets in advance. From there, catch a local bus to Biarritz. The bus is the easiest and cheapest way to get to Biarritz.

By car

If you prefer the independence of driving, renting a car in Spain is a convenient and fast way to travel. The 50km journey from Biarritz to San Sebastian takes about 40 minutes. Take the A63 and A-8 roads. Note that these are toll roads.
Here’s a map (with the shortest route marked) to help with directions:

View Larger Map
Note:
* search the route on Google Maps exactly as mentioned above, otherwise you’ll get the directions to a different city.

Other related information: