Santander

Summer is the best season, with mild days and the best chance of sun. Spring and autumn are green but rainy. Winter is cool and wet.

The biggest event is the Semana Grande in late July, with concerts and street events around the city.

• Peninsula de la Magdalena is a green headland between two beaches, with walking paths and sea views.
• Palacio de la Magdalena was built as a summer home for the Spanish royal family in the early 20th century. It stands at the end of the peninsula.
• Segunda Playa de El Sardinero and Primera Playa de El Sardinero are the main city beaches at El Sardinero, with a long promenade.
• Catedral de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción is the city's cathedral. It was rebuilt in part after the great fire of 1941.
• The Centro Botín is an arts center on the waterfront, designed by Renzo Piano and opened in 2017.
• The Mercado de la Esperanza is a covered market near the center, good for local food.

• Walk the Sardinero promenade from the first beach to the second one at the end of the day. The light on the water is best before sunset.
• Take a boat across the bay to the small towns on the other side. Short ferry trips run in summer.

• Cabárceno Nature Park (about 17 km, 20 minutes by car): a large park where animals live in a former mine landscape.
• Santillana del Mar (about 30 km, 35 minutes by car): a well-preserved medieval village, near the Altamira museum.
• Comillas (about 50 km, 50 minutes by car): a coastal town with Modernist buildings, including a villa by Gaudí.
• Picos de Europa (about 1.5 to 2 hours by car): a high mountain range with hiking trails.

Other places in Cantabria:

• Santillana del Mar for medieval streets.
• Comillas for the coast and Modernist buildings.

• By air: Santander airport (SDR) is about 6 km from the center and has flights from Spain and some European cities. Bilbao airport (BIO) is about 1.5 hours away by road.
• By train: Trains from Madrid are slow. Check Renfe for times.
• By bus: Coaches from Madrid take about 5 hours, and there are links along the coast.
• By ferry: Ferries sail from Santander to the UK.

• On foot: The center and the port are compact. The beaches at El Sardinero are about 3 km away, along a flat seafront.
• City bus: Local buses link the center with El Sardinero and the Magdalena peninsula.
• Cycling: The seafront paths are good for cycling.

• Is a car worth it?: Not for the city. A car helps for day trips to Cantabria's villages.
• Parking: Use an underground car park in the center. Street parking is paid.
• Restrictions: Few. Some streets in the center are pedestrian only.

Santander is known for seafood. Rabas are fried squid rings, a Cantabrian classic. Anchovies from nearby Santoña are famous. For dessert, try sobaos, soft butter sponge cakes from the Pas valley.

Eat in the streets around the Mercado de la Esperanza and the port. Fish restaurants are also found along the waterfront.

Santander is a safe city. Swim only on beaches with lifeguards, and watch the flags, because the Atlantic sea can be rough. Bring a rain jacket in any season.

Santander has been a port for centuries. In February 1941 a huge fire destroyed much of the old center, so most of the center today was rebuilt after that date. Catedral de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción was damaged but still stands.

The seaside district of El Sardinero grew in the 19th century, when the Spanish court and wealthy families came to the coast for the summer. Palacio de la Magdalena dates from that tradition.

Quick practical facts for Spain at a glance: