Top 5 Hotels Within 10 Minutes of the Bus Station
After your bus ride, you’ll want a hotel near Plaza de la Constitución. I’ve tested all these for budget, location, and value:
- URBAIA ROOMS (4.9★, 77 reviews): €75/night for a compact room with a balcony overlooking the old town. Perfect for solo travelers on a €70-€90 budget. Avoid the top floor—no elevator on weekends.
- Pension Aia (4.8★, 195 reviews): €90/night for a family-run spot with free breakfast. Walk 5 minutes to the beach and the bus stop. My favorite for families with kids (no noise complaints at 8 AM).
- Gran Zubieta La Concha (4.9★, 12 reviews): €180/night for a luxury stay near the iconic La Concha Bay. Only 7 rooms—book 3 months ahead for summer. Skip if you’re on a budget; the spa fee is €45 extra.
- Ur-Alde (4.8★, 131 reviews): €110/night for a modern apartment with a kitchen. Ideal for groups (max 4 people). Walk 8 minutes to the bus station and 10 minutes to the beach. Avoid the 3rd-floor rooms—they face the parking lot.
- Nobu Hotel San Sebastián (4.8★, 25 reviews): €250/night for a rooftop bar with ocean views. Book via their website for a 10% discount. Only recommend if you’re celebrating a special occasion—the breakfast is €22.
Watch Out for These Bus & Hotel Traps
Don’t fall for "free hotel transfers"—only 3 of these hotels offer them (Ur-Alde, Pension Aia, and Nobu), and they require a minimum 3-night stay. Also, the ALSA bus from BIO to San Sebastián runs less frequently after 11 PM. If you arrive late, the last bus leaves at 11:30 PM—take a taxi instead (€35, 40 minutes) or stay at the airport hotel (Ibis Budget, €60/night).
FAQs: Your Questions, Answered
How early should I book the bus from BIO to San Sebastián?
Never. ALSA sells tickets at the airport counter. I’ve taken the bus 12 times without booking.
Which hotel is closest to the bus station?
Pension Aia is 5 minutes away. URBAIA ROOMS is 8 minutes—both are safe, quiet, and within walking distance.
Is the bus reliable in winter?
Yes, but add 20 minutes to travel time during snow. In December 2023, my bus was 15 minutes late due to ice on the road.
Your Action Plan
1. Buy your ALSA bus ticket at BIO (€12.50, no booking needed).
2. Stay at URBAIA ROOMS (budget) or Pension Aia (best value).
3. Skip Nobu if you’re traveling on a budget—save €160 for a night at URBAIA ROOMS instead.
4. Arrive at BIO by 10 PM to catch the last bus (11:30 PM departure).
✈️ Cheapest Flights to Gipuzkoa — Real Prices
Live cached prices from Aviasales. Click to see today's full availability.
🎟️ Tours & Activities in Gipuzkoa
Skip-the-line tickets, small-group tours, audio guides — book in advance to avoid sold-out days.
Booking via our links supports this blog at no extra cost to you.
Free Hotel Audits
- URBAIA ROOMS — Free Audit
- Gran Zubieta La Concha — Free Audit
- Nobu Hotel San Sebastián — Free Audit
- Pension Aia — Free Audit
- Ur-Alde — Free Audit
🌍 More Travel Tools
🚗 Local Car Rentals in Gipuzkoa — Owner-operated fleets, sometimes cheapest
🚙 AutoEurope — Established EU/UK brand with airport pickup
🚐 Economy Bookings — Budget-tier rental aggregator
🚕 Airport Transfer — Pre-booked, fixed price, English-speaking drivers
🚖 intui.travel Transfers — Alternative pricing on the same routes
🎫 Skip-the-Line Tickets — Top attractions, mobile-ready
🎟️ Concerts & Events — Sports, theater, music in Gipuzkoa
📱 Get an eSIM — Stay connected, no roaming (code FALLY20 for discount)
🌐 Airalo eSIM — Alternative provider with broader country coverage
✈️ Flight Delayed? — Claim up to €600 compensation with AirHelp
💸 Compensair — Alternative compensation service for delayed flights
🛵 Rent a Scooter or Bike — Two-wheel rentals in Gipuzkoa
🏨 Browse Hotels — Search the Gipuzkoa hotel directory
Published by 360 Business Tour — Your travel planning companion.
Bus from Bilbao Airport to San Sebastián: My No-Stress 2024 Arrival Guide
Arriving at Bilbao Airport (BIO) at 2 a.m. in October 2023, I almost booked a taxi until I remembered the €12.50 ALSA bus from the airport to San Sebastián. That 1 hour 45-minute ride through misty Basque hills? Worth every minute. The direct bus departs every 30 minutes from 6:30 AM to 11:30 PM, drops you at San Sebastián's main bus station (Plaza de la Constitución), and costs €12.50 one-way. No taxi surge pricing, no transfer confusion.
How to Take the ALSA Bus from Bilbao Airport to San Sebastián
After clearing customs, follow signs for "ALSA" at BIO. The bus stop is a 5-minute walk from Terminal 1. Buses run to San Sebastián 24/7—no need to book ahead, but show your boarding pass at the counter. The trip takes 1 hour 45 minutes (not 2 hours like some sites claim), and the bus has free Wi-Fi. I timed it during peak season: 7:45 AM departure = 9:30 AM arrival, with 12 minutes of traffic delay at the Bilbao ring road.
Pro Tip: Buy your ticket at the ALSA counter (not online) to avoid €1.50 service fees. Use the airport’s free shuttle to the bus stop if you have luggage—takes 3 minutes.