City and Sea

London to San Sebastian by Train

DAY 1 Train to San Sebastian

Your London to San Sebastian by train trip begins today with an early morning Eurostar train from London St. Pancras International to Paris Gare du Nord, a journey that takes approximately two-and-a-half-hours. Nab a seat by the window and watch the world go by as you wind your way through the countryside, arriving into Paris late morning. From here, make your way to Gare Montparnasse. We recommend catching the metro on line M4 in the direction of Mairie de Montrouge. It's a journey of 14 stops that takes just under 20 minutes and at the far end there is a longish walk but you will still have time to relax and refuel with a hot coffee and croissant before your next train departs.

From Paris Montparnasse, you'll be travelling to the town of Hendaye in the extreme south west of the country, close to the border with Spain. You'll be on the train for four-hours-and-45-minutes so sit back, relax and enjoy the French countryside speed by. While the gastronomic offerings aboard the train may underwhelm, we can guarantee that on arrival into San Sebastian, your taste buds are truly in for a treat so don't despair if your lunch doesn't quite hit the mark.

The final leg of your journey is a short 40-minute metro train ride to the Spanish Basque capital of San Sebastian. After checking into your historical boutique hotel where you will be staying for the next four nights, it's time for dinner in a city with more Michelin stars per capita than anywhere on the planet. Our Concierge can recommend the best places for a taste of the city's sensational cuisine, whether you fancy a leisurely sit-down meal or a pintxos (Basque tapas) crawl around the lovely old town.

DAY 2 San Sebastian Stroll

After filling up on a tasty al fresco buffet breakfast in the hotel's gorgeous gardens, the second day of your London to San Sebastian by train trip will see you strolling your way around the city on a guided tour. By day, wind your way along the Old Town's endless narrow streets and learn about San Sebastian's history, architecture and famous food culture as you pass iconic landmarks, ancient churches, pretty plazas and buzzing bars. Enjoy lunch with one of the secretive gastronomic societies that San Sebastian is famous for. The quality of the produce available and the innately competitive nature of these Basque societies are arguably the two reasons the cuisine has reached such heights.

Come evening, take a tour of the city's most famous pintxo bars to sample the sublime stick-skewered snacks. Feast on everything from fresh prawns and line-caught squid to perfectly charred steak, all washed down with local wines and fruity (and seriously potent) cider. Do as the locals do and toss your napkin on the floor once you're finished devouring the dishes - the sign of any good tapas bar is how many carpet the floor by the end of the night.

DAY 3 Home Time

Today is the final day of your London to San Sebastian by train trip. After breakfast at your hotel, pack your bags and make your way to the station for your early morning train to Hendaye. Following the same route as on your outbound journey, you will be spending four-hours-and-forty-five-minutes on the train from Hendaye to Paris Montparnasse, arriving into the French capital in the early evening. Then the final leg of your journey is aboard the Eurostar from Gare du Nord to London St. Pancras, a journey that takes approximately two-and-a-half-hours.

Use the time to unwind and slow down. Gaze out the window at the changing scenery, read a good book and reminisce over the success of your San Sebastian trip.