Santander

Santander, the bride of the sea

Max 21ºC / Min 13ºC

Cantabria

A city that seems straight out of a storybook and whose life revolves around the bay, recognised as one of the prettiest in the world.

Santander (Cantabria), in the north of Spain, is a combination of green mountain landscapes with white sand beaches, elegant mansions and palatial architecture with avant-garde buildings and the unmistakeable echo of its seafaring past. Many cities within a city, perfect for discovering.

City of monarchs and fishermen

Santander was the destination par excellence for royalty at the end of the 19th and early 20th centuries. A stroll through the old quarters, with its majestic buildings, transports us to this distinguished past, the greatest witness of which is undoubtedly the Magdalena Palace, the jewel in the city’s crown. This iconic building, located in the highest part of the peninsula of the same name, is one of the essential sights of Santander, allowing you to observe (and photograph) an impressive panoramic view of “the bride of the sea”, as the city is affectionately known, framed by the beach and mountains.Santander combines this magical palatial atmosphere with a fishing tradition that can be enjoyed today, especially in the area known as the city's fishing district: the ideal place to sample the most traditional local gastronomy, so closely linked to the sea, with dishes such as rabas (fried squid), maganos (squid) with onions or clams a la marinera.This identity of contrasts is completed with the “new” Santander, the part that has embraced the latest cultural and artistic trends, which is evident in places such as the Centro Botín, designed by the architect and Pritzker Architecture prize winner, Renzo Piano.

A family occasion

Santander is a perfect city for a family holiday, as apart from its sights and culinary attractions, it also has activities children will love, such as boat trips around the bay, the La Magdalena Marine Park or the Maritime Museum. Soak up the sun on one of the beaches is another of the essential plans for the area: Don't miss those in El Sardinero, El Camello, Mataleñas, La Concha or Los Peligros.

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View of Santander and La Magdalena Palace

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We suggest a route from east to west covering the four regions…

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Practical information

How to get there - transport information

Select the means of transport to see how to get there or how to get around at your destination.

How to get to aeroplane

Santander-Seve Ballesteros Airport is 5 kilometres from the city, about a 15-minute drive on the S-10.
Taxi services are available and connects to the city every 40 minutes between 7:00 and 23:00.
Connections with Madrid, Barcelona, the Canary Islands, Seville, Valencia and Malaga and also direct connections with other European cities such as London, Edinburgh, Brussels, Paris and Rome, among others.
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How to get to train

Santander Railway Station is located right in the city centre with connections to other Spanish cities, such as Madrid, Alicante, Bilbao, Palencia and Valladolid, among others.
Located opposite the bus and coach station.
Santander is also a stop on tourist trains such as the Transcantábrico Gran Lujo or the Costa Verde Exprés.
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How to get to bus

Santander’s bus and coach station is in the centre, offering regular bus services, with numerous national coach connections and some international ones to countries like France and Belgium.
Located opposite Santander railway station.
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How to get to boat

The port is located very centrally and makes it possible to access the city on foot.
It has two regular lines with Portsmouth and Plymouth (United Kingdom).
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How to get there by road

The main road link to Santander is the A-67 motorway, which connects to the A-1.
Another important road connection is the A-8 or Cantabrian Highway, which runs through the north of Spain.
Keep in mind that vehicles can only be parked for a maximum of two hours on city centre streets in Santander, and you must pay for parking (except Saturday afternoons and Sundays). There are many commercial car parks.

Practical information

Most of the sights and points of interests are in the city centre, so it’s easy to explore on foot.
Due to the old town’s characteristic sloping streets, there are several stretches of ramps and escalators, as well as a cable car, to assist you getting around.
If you are travelling by car, please note that the vehicles can only be parked for a maximum of two hours on city centre streets in Santander, and you must pay for parking (except Saturday afternoons and Sundays). There are many commercial car parks.

How to get around in bus

The urban buses run from approximately 6.30 am to 11.30 pm, although it is advisable to consult the timetables of each line.
Night buses also operate between approximately midnight and 5.00 am.
Different types of season ticket are available including rechargeable cards that can be purchased in kiosks and authorised establishments.
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How to get around in other means of transport

Taxis in Santander are white with a sky blue horizontal line across them.
There is a tourist bus which visits the main points of interest.
Another option is to explore the Magdalena Peninsula in the tourist train, popularly known as.El Magdaleno.
There is also a municipal bicycle service, TUeBICI, with multiple stops in the city centre and which allows the purchase of daily passes (as well as monthly and annual passes).
Several companies offer boat trips around the Bay of Santander.