The San Sebastián Film Festival: dates and atmosphere
The Zinemaldia is traditionally held in the second half of September and transforms San Sebastián for a week: the red carpet at the Kursaal Palace, screenings across the city, international stars and a Donostia entirely devoted to cinema. Together with the summer season, it is one of the busiest moments of the year.
This means full hotels, heavy traffic and saturated public transport, so planning your arrival from the airport well makes a big difference to your experience.
From Bilbao Airport to San Sebastián for the Festival
Most international visitors arrive at Bilbao Airport (BIO), the main gateway to northern Spain, 1h-1h15 from San Sebastián via the AP-8. During the festival, the options are the usual ones, but with stations and buses far busier:
| Option | Price | Time | Door to door |
|---|---|---|---|
| Private taxi (fixed price) | From €170 / vehicle | 1h – 1h15 | ✅ Yes |
| PESA bus (Bilbao–Donostia) | ~€17 / person | 1h15 – 1h30 | ❌ No |
| Train (Renfe/Euskotren) | ~€10–25 / person | 2h30+ (with transfer) | ❌ No |
During the Zinemaldia, the bus and train fill up and don't always match the timing of galas and screenings. A taxi from Bilbao Airport to San Sebastián at a fixed price takes you directly to your hotel or the Kursaal area without depending on timetables or queuing.
Advantages of the taxi during the Zinemaldia
- Direct to your hotel: especially useful if you stay near the centre or the Kursaal, the festival's epicentre.
- No queues or waiting: on high-traffic dates public transport is saturated and stops get congested.
- Timetable flexibility: ideal if you arrive late after a gala, screening or dinner.
- Closed fixed price: you know what you pay in advance, no surprises from festival traffic.
- Comfortable with luggage: if you come with suitcases or professional gear (press, industry), the taxi makes it easy.
Where to stay during the festival and how it affects your transfer
The most in-demand areas during the Zinemaldia are the centre (Área Romántica), Gros —next to the Zurriola beach and very close to the Kursaal— and the Old Town. As they are all central and partly pedestrian areas, a taxi drops you as close as possible to your accommodation, very valuable when you arrive loaded and the streets are packed.
If you end up staying in Bilbao and travelling to the galas, also check our taxi from Bilbao to San Sebastián for city-to-city transfers.
Tips for your trip to the Film Festival
- Book well in advance: September is peak season in Donostia; secure your transfer (and hotel) as soon as possible.
- If there are several of you, share the taxi: the price is per vehicle, not per person, so it's great value in a group.
- Check the return transfer: booking both ways usually improves the price and secures your departure.
- Add your flight number so we adjust the pick-up if there are delays.
- If your gala ends after midnight, remember the taxi is the only 24 h option to return to Bilbao or the airport.
Combine the festival with sightseeing
If the festival leaves you free time, take the chance to discover the city: La Concha beach, Monte Igueldo and, of course, the pintxos of the Old Town. You'll find ideas in our guides on what to see in San Sebastián in a weekend and the best pintxos in the Old Town.