Train from Madrid to Irun

[barryfr]

Long-time browser, first-time poster. Does anybody have tips on getting from Madrid to Irun by train? As I understand it, the train from Madrid only goes as far as Sebastian these days and you need to change to a local train to get from San Sebastian to Irun. Can you get advance tickets for the San Sebastian-to-Irun portion? Is it necessary? The train we're looking at arrives in San Sebastian at 14:33 on April 13.

Also, is there an advantage to taking the Elige rather than the Básico on Renfe?

Thanks.

 

[trecile]

Have you thought of flying? The San Sebastián airport is practically in Irun, and very close to the Camino. According to Rome2Rio it's the cheapest and fastest option. (I'm sure that the price is dependent on when you go though)
Second fastest is the bus.

Rome2rio

Discover how to get anywhere by searching plane, train, bus, car and ferry routes

www.rome2rio.com

 

[trecile]

Iberia has 3 flights on April 13th.

Google Travel

www.google.com

 

[Former member 104756]

Hi Barry - if you do take the train from Madrid to SS - you can then travel to Irun via the Euskotren, a sort of metro system used by local people all day every day. The Euskotren runs for most of the day every 15 mins. The trip takes about 30 mins and costs you a few euros. You can buy the ticket when you arrive at the station. It's very straightforward.

Edited to add: Hi again Barry, I didn't double check on your statement that the Madrid train only goes as far as SS, not Irun, these days, but it did seem surprising. Glad to see from @VNwalking post #5 below that you can still take a direct train to Irun. So much the better.

My only other comment (unrelated to trains) if you have a few hours to spare after arriving in Irun, I highly recommend taking a stroll to Hondarribia - well worth the visit.

 

[VNwalking]

It's rare that I disagree with @trecile, but local flights produce much worse carbon emissions than trains. So I would never take a local flight in Spain unless I absolutely had to for a medical emergency or something equally dire. Plus it's a very nice journey, much less stressful than the airport rigamarole and flying itself.

My experience on this route is pre-covid, and not exactly what you want to do. But twice I've gone to Irun on the train, once from Sahagun, and once from Santiago. Both times there were trains all the wsy to Irun/Hendaye, both times arriving.in the evening.

I just looked on Trainline and found this:

https://www.thetrainline.com/book/ticket-options?origin=a0893c38dcb9222abe36edec6a51a1ac&destination=03e27486b51010ea4735aadc70ce433e&outwardDate=2023-04-13T06%3A00%3A00&outwardDateType=departAfter&journeySearchType=single&passengers%5B%5D=1996-03-21%7C45ed2def-9a0a-4750-9000-aaae9443a4eb&directSearch=false&selectedOutward=9z%2Bsh3hkQ%2BQ%3D%3AJ86cghVnbL4%3D%3AStandard

There were many other options.

 

[VNwalking]

, is there an advantage to taking the Elige rather than the Básico on Renfe?

I don't know, because I've never done it.
You can check here for explanations.

A beginner's guide to train travel in Spain | How to use www.renfe.com

A guide to travelling around Spain by train, including how to buy cheap Spanish train tickets at www.renfe.com.

www.seat61.com

 

[Kirkie]

Not that the following was asked for...
One of the most unforgettable journeys of my life? The slow train from Santiago to Bilbao, after the CF.
The train itself was a hoot - cattle class could describe it.
The experience though: the nearest thing to walking by train in the opposite direction to the hard won foot pilgrimage of almost 800km from Roncesvalles! Approaching Bilbao the views were spectacular. Of course you cannot 'catch' such beauty, but you can savour it and let it light up your memories in times to come.
Yes, I would do it again if the opportunity came my way.

 

[evanlow]

Bus? I took the bus from Madrid to Irun when I did the Camino Norte but that was 10 years ago. Probably still an option?

 

[Jan Jones]

it might be worth checking out ‘The man in Seat 61‘website - https://www.seat61.com/ , It has a lot of useful information about train travel in Spain Including routes . I think the Básico is non changeable .

 

[VNwalking]

it might be worth checking out ‘The man in Seat 61‘website - https://www.seat61.com/ , It has a lot of useful information about train travel in Spain Including routes . I think the Básico is non changeable .

Link above already in post #6.

 

[Jan Jones]

Link above already in post #6.

Yes, sorry , I missed that.

 

[peregrino_tom]

Can you get advance tickets for the San Sebastian-to-Irun portion? Is it necessary? The train we're looking at arrives in San Sebastian at 14:33 on April 13.

As Pelerin says, there's a lovely Metro from San Seb to Irun for which booking in advance is not necessary. However, I'm fairly sure it doesn't run from the RENFE station.
You might find when you arrive that there's a local RENFE train departing imminently, (for which I wouldn't bother to book in case your Madrid train is delayed). Otherwise walk over to the closest metro stop, that looks to be Amara, about 600m away on the west side.
Are you walking the Norte?

 

[VNwalking]

I missed that.

Easy to do. Anyway your post amplifies the suggestion, so all good. It is a really good site.

 

[TheBigT]

At the beginning of March I took the following:

1) Train from Madrid to San Sebastion (overnight in SS)
2) Bus to Bayonne in France
3) Train from Bayonne to SJPP.

Each leg of the trip was wonderful.

Madrid to San Sebastián was spectacular through the multiple mountain ranges. Bus to Bayonne interesting. Train to SJPP a great run up narrow mountain valleys and small rivers.

Take the train for sure, just for reasons of beauty.

 

[barryfr]

As Pelerin says, there's a lovely Metro from San Seb to Irun for which booking in advance is not necessary. However, I'm fairly sure it doesn't run from the RENFE station.
You might find when you arrive that there's a local RENFE train departing imminently, (for which I wouldn't bother to book in case your Madrid train is delayed). Otherwise walk over to the closest metro stop, that looks to be Amara, about 600m away on the west side.
Are you walking the Norte?

Yes, we plan to walk the Norte starting April 14.