Airport arrival · EAS

EAS (San Sebastián / Hondarribia) Arrival Guide: Bus & Taxi into Town

San Sebastián Airport (EAS) is a tiny, easy airport in Hondarribia by the French border — about 20 minutes from the city. Taxis are metered and honest, so arrival here is genuinely simple; the only choice is bus versus taxi (and whether you flew into Bilbao instead).

2026-08-26

The calm version

San Sebastián Airport (EAS) is a tiny, easy airport in Hondarribia by the French border — about 20 minutes from the city. Taxis are metered and honest, so arrival here is genuinely simple; the only choice is bus versus taxi (and whether you flew into Bilbao instead). There’s no arrival-scam scene at all.

Getting to the city

Metered taxi. Straight to the centre (~20–25 min), on the meter plus small official supplements — no haggling. Use the official rank.
Local bus (E21 / E27). Into San Sebastián for a couple of euros; a bit longer with stops. Have euros or contactless ready.
Flew into Bilbao (BIO) instead? Take the direct Pesa/ALSA coach to San Sebastián (~1h15) — the common international route. Biarritz (France) is also close.

The small habits that matter

Use the official taxi rank or the bus — both honest; nothing to haggle.
Pay by card/contactless (universal) or euros; choose euros on terminals.
Onward: the city’s one real risk is peak-season pickpocketing — read the city brief and keep your bag zipped in the old-town crush.

What it looks like

EAS is about as easy as European arrivals get — a tiny border airport, metered honest taxis, and a cheap local bus, 20 minutes from the city. No hustle, no fare games. Pick the taxi or the bus and go; the only thing to carry forward is normal old-town pickpocket sense in peak season.

Do this instead

Take a metered taxi from the official rank, or the E21/E27 bus, into San Sebastián — both honest, nothing to haggle. Pay by contactless or euros. If you flew into Bilbao, take the direct coach. That’s the whole EAS arrival, into one of Spain’s safest cities.

If something needs sorting

Lost item / info: the terminal is small — staff and the information desk are easy to find.
Card issue: choose euros on terminals; card/contactless is universal.
Onward safety: the San Sebastián city brief covers the one real risk — peak-season pickpocketing in the old-town bars and on the beaches.

Arrive prepared

The services this guide's advice points to — sorted before you land, not in the arrivals hall.

Airport transfer Welcome Pickups
A licensed, fixed-price driver waiting with your name — the pre-booked ride these guides recommend for late or first-time arrivals.
Pre-book a licensed transfer →
Arrival data Airalo eSIM
Working data the moment you land, so your map, ride app, and this guide all work before you leave the arrivals hall.
Get an arrival eSIM →
Travel insurance SafetyWing
The police report in these guides is for a claim — this is who you claim from. Covers theft, medical, and trip disruption.
Compare travel cover →
Anti-theft gear Anti-theft gear guide
The crossbody bags, RFID sleeves, door alarms, and hidden pockets behind the two-pocket system — what to look for, and where to get it.
See the gear guide →

Some links below are partner links: if you book or buy through them, Arrival Brief may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. We only list services that match the advice on this page, and money never changes what a brief recommends. More →

Quick answers

How do I get from San Sebastián Airport (EAS) to the city?

San Sebastián Airport (EAS) is small and sits in Hondarribia, about 20 km east of the city near the French border, roughly a 20–25 minute drive. Two easy options: a metered taxi straight to the centre (honest and fixed by meter — no haggling, since Spanish taxis run on the meter plus small official supplements), or the local bus (the E21 or E27, run by Ekialdebus/Lurraldebus) into San Sebastián for a couple of euros, which takes a bit longer with stops. Both are simple. If you're a couple with luggage a taxi is quick and reasonable; solo or budget travelers take the bus. There's no scam scene here — just pick your ride and go.

Should I fly into San Sebastián (EAS) or Bilbao (BIO)?

It depends on flights. San Sebastián Airport (EAS) is closest — about 20 minutes from the city — but it's tiny with limited routes (mostly domestic Spanish connections). Bilbao Airport (BIO) is bigger with far more international flights and is about 1 hour 15 minutes away by the direct Pesa/ALSA intercity bus (a comfortable, inexpensive coach that runs frequently to San Sebastián's bus station). Many international visitors fly into Bilbao and take that direct bus, or into Biarritz (France, BIQ), which is also close. If a convenient flight lands at EAS, it's the fastest; otherwise Bilbao plus the direct bus is the common, easy route. All are low-hassle.

Are taxis at San Sebastián airport safe and metered?

Yes — this is Spain's Basque Country, a very safe, well-run region, and taxis are metered and trustworthy; the fare from EAS to the city runs on the meter plus small official supplements (airport, luggage), with no haggling and no fare games. Use the official taxi rank outside the terminal or your rideshare/taxi app. There's no arrival hustle to speak of. Pay by card or contactless (universal here) or with euros, choose euros on any card terminal, and you're in the city in about 20 minutes. For the bus, have a few euros or a contactless card ready.