Night taxi during the San Sebastián Film Festival: galas, red carpet and back to your hotel

Night taxi during the San Sebastián Film Festival

During the San Sebastián Film Festival, the day is spent walking from venue to venue, but the night is another story: the Kursaal galas and last sessions finish late, public transport runs less often, and as a packed screening lets out grabbing a taxi in the street is nearly impossible. With a pre-booked taxi, fixed price and no night surcharge, the ride back to your hotel or between venues stops being a problem. Here is how to arrange it.

Why the night is the festival's weak spot

La Concha bay in San Sebastián / Donostia

The Zinemaldia packs many of its star moments into the evening and night: the opening and closing galas, the awards ceremony, the Official Selection premieres and the red carpets. When they end, thousands leave the venues at once, the metro and buses already run at reduced frequency, and everyone is looking for a taxi at the same time.

Add the road closures around the Kursaal for the red carpet and you have the perfect storm. The only way to secure your ride back is to have it booked in advance.

Tip: book the ride back from the galas and night sessions in advance, setting a pick-up point outside the area closed for the red carpet.

Fixed price and no night surcharge

The big advantage over the traditional meter, which applies a night tariff, is that our fixed price does not change with the hour:

Same price at midnight as at midday.
No night surcharge even if the gala finishes in the early hours.
Fixed price you know before getting in.
Tolls and VAT included, also on trips to nearby towns.

Just when everyone else's fare goes up, you pay the same as always.

Back to the hotel after the gala

If you stay in the centre, in Gros or in the Old Town, the ride back is short but in huge demand on those nights. And if you sleep in a nearby town — Hondarribia, Irún, Zarautz — the taxi is simply the best (or only) option at those hours, when the train no longer runs. Booked in advance, the driver waits for you at the agreed point the moment you come out.

Transfers between venues and the night atmosphere

The festival does not end with the last film. Many carry the night on in the Old Town over pintxos or at the side events. The taxi handles the hops between the venue, dinner and the hotel without depending on timetables, and with a fixed price so you always know what you pay. For the food plan, see the best pintxos in the Old Town.

Early-morning or first flight after the closing?

If your flight from Bilbao airport leaves very early the day after the closing, you will have to leave Donostia in the early hours. The fixed-price taxi with no night surcharge takes you from San Sebastián to the airport at any hour. We cover it in how to get from Bilbao airport to San Sebastián at night or early morning.

Tips for getting around at night during the festival

Book the return in advance: as the galas let out there are very few free taxis.
Fix the pick-up point outside the area closed for the red carpet.
If you sleep outside Donostia, the taxi is the safest option when the train no longer runs.
Early flight after the closing: book the early-morning transfer to the airport now.
In a group, a van takes you all together at the same fixed price (van up to 7 seats).

The night is the weak spot of the Zinemaldia logistics: galas that finish late, reduced public transport and closures for the red carpet. With a taxi booked in advance, a fixed price and no night surcharge, the ride back to your hotel, the hop between venues or the early-morning transfer to Bilbao airport stop being a problem. Book your return and enjoy the galas without thinking about how to get back.

Frequently asked questions

Are there taxis as the festival galas let out?

As galas and packed premieres let out there is huge demand and few free taxis in the street. The safe move is to book the return in advance, with a pick-up point set beforehand.

Does the taxi have a night surcharge during the festival?

No. Our price is fixed, with no night surcharge. It is the same at midnight as at midday, even if the gala finishes in the early hours.

Can you pick me up near the Kursaal with the red carpet on?

Yes. We set a pick-up point as close as possible to the entrance but outside the area closed for the red carpet, so the exit is quick.

What if I stay in Hondarribia, Irún or Zarautz?

The taxi is the best option at those hours, when the train no longer runs. With a fixed price it takes you from the venue or central Donostia to your accommodation without depending on timetables.

Can I go to Bilbao airport in the early hours after the closing?

Yes. The fixed-price taxi with no night surcharge takes you from San Sebastián to Bilbao airport at any hour, ideal if your flight leaves very early after the festival.

How do I book the return from a night gala?

Tell us the venue, the approximate exit time and your destination when booking. We fix the pick-up point and the driver waits for you there as soon as it ends.

Is a night taxi worth it if we are a group?

Yes. In a group, a van for up to 7 people takes you all together on a single fixed price, more comfortable and cheaper per person than looking for several taxis.