BASQUE COUNTRY - France 2014 - page 741

day, 2.5 hours), Sarlat (1/day, 2/day on weekends, 6-8 hours, transfer in Bordeaux), Car-
cassonne (1/day, 5 hours, transfers likely in Bayonne and Toulouse).
By Train to San Sebastián: First, take the 10-minute train to the French border
town of Hendaye (Gare SNCF stop, about 10/day). Or get to Hendaye by bus (3/day, 35
minutes); check the schedule to see which leaves first.
Leave the Hendaye SNCF train station to the right, and look for the small building
on the same side of the street, where you'll catch the commuter EuskoTren into San Se-
bastián(usually4/hourMon-Fri,2/hourSat-Sun,runs7:00-22:33,35minutes).Localscall
thislinetheTopo(“Mole”),sincepartofitrunsunderground—althoughofficially,it'spart
of the new Metro Donostialdea system for San Sebastián.
By Bus: Buses leave from the bus station directly in front of the train station (cross
the road by using the pedestrian underpass). All tickets are bought on the bus. Local
ATCRB bus #816 connects St-Jean-de-Luz either to Bayonne or Biarritz almost hourly.
Confusingly, this one bus can run two different routes (one to Bayonne, the other to Biar-
ritz Centre, 45 minutes to either one)—check the destination carefully. Bus #24 connects
St-Jean-de-Luz to Sare (Mon-Fri 6/day, Sat 2/day, none Sun, 30 minutes, tel. [phone]
74, www.transports-atcrb.com ) .ASpanishPesabusrunsto San Sebastián (Mon-Satonly,
2/daydirect—likely at12:45and19:15,noneonSun,1hour,only1/weekoff-season,info
in Spain tel. [phone], www.pesa.net ) .
By Excursion: Ifyou're without a car,consider using Le Basque Bondissant 'sday-
trip excursions to visit otherwise difficult-to-reach destinations, such as the Guggenheim
Bilbao (see “Tours in St-Jean-de-Luz,” earlier).
By Taxi to San Sebastián: This will cost you about €75 for up to four people, but
it's convenient (tel. [phone] or mobile [phone]).
Route Tips for Drivers
Aone-dayside-triptobothBayonneandBiarritziseasyfromSt-Jean-de-Luz.Thesethree
towns form a sort of triangle (depending on traffic, each one is less than a 30-minute drive
from the other). Hop on the autoroute to Bayonne, sightsee there, then take D-810 into
Biarritz.LeavingBiarritz,continuealongthecoastalD-810.InBidart,watch(ontheright)
for the town's proud frontón ( pelota court) and stop for a photo of the quaint town hall.
Consider peeling off to go into the village center of Guéthary, with another frontón and a
massive town hall. Ifyou're upfora walk onthe beach, cross the little bridge in Guéthary,
parkbythetrainstation,andhikedowntothewalkwayalongthesurfingbeach(linedwith
cafésandeateries).Whenyou'rereadytomoveon,you'reaveryshortdrivefromSt-Jean-
de-Luz.