Your guide to Santander
Santander highlights
Art on the bay
Opened in 2017, Centro Botín is a Renzo Piano–designed arts centre that brings contemporary art to Santander’s waterfront. Elevated above the bay, the light-filled building appears to hover over the water, with galleries and public terraces framing wide harbour views. Inside, rotating exhibitions from the Botín Foundation focus on modern and contemporary art.
Path to the palace
One of the best things to do on a visit to Santander is hike to the Palacio de la Magdalena, a lavish palace that was once a summer retreat for Spanish royals. The forested path, which takes about 30 minutes each way, winds along beachside cliffs and rewards your effort with panoramic bay views.
Historic holdouts
Much of Santander was destroyed in the Great Fire of 1941, but a handful of older buildings still stand. The 14th-century Santander Cathedral anchors the city’s past with its Gothic structure, cloister and vaulted nave. Nearby, the 19th-century Iglesia de Santa Lucia offers a different contrast, with neo-Renaissance details and a busy square outside.
Santander: Know before you go
| Language | Spanish |
|---|---|
| Currency | Euro (€) |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) and UTC+2 (CEST) |
| High season | June - September |
| Low season | November - March |
Find the best time to go to Santander
Weather in Santander
March – May: Spring brings blustery winds and mild temperatures. Rainfall is common early in the season, welcoming flowering camellias by May.
June – August: Summer is the best time to visit Santander. The sun is out, the water is warm enough for swimming, and the rain lets up.
September – November: Autumn brings thickening cloud cover and increasing rain. It’s a good time for museum visits and drinks in a ‘sidrería’ (cider house). Pack layers and an umbrella.
December – February: Winters can be chilly and rainy — not always ideal for outdoor activities. But if you love to surf, you’ll find the best waves at this time of year. Don’t forget your wetsuit.
Events in Santander
Baños de Ola (July): This summertime festival nods to the 19th century, when Spanish aristocrats visited Santander for sea bathing, which was believed to have restorative qualities. Today, the city revisits that era with concerts, exhibitions and seaside events, including a lively parade where participants dress in period costume.
Semana Grande (July): Santander’s main summer celebration fills the waterfront with concerts, parades and fireworks, drawing large crowds for several days of festivities around the Magdalena Peninsula and city centre.
Festival Internacional de Santander (August): This classical music and arts festival has been going strong for more than half a century, celebrating opera, ballet and orchestral music at Palacio de los Festivales.
The best neighbourhoods in Santander
El Sardinero
If you’re planning on spending most of your time by the sea, El Sardinero is the city’s classic beach district. Wide stretches of golden sand, gentle surf and a long seafront promenade set the tone, with Belle Époque mansions and grand hotels adding a more polished feel to the neighbourhood.
Good for: Upmarket hotels, casinos, beaches
Puerto Chico
If you’re deciding where to stay in Santander, Puerto Chico stands out for its pretty marina setting and easy access to the rest of the city. Tapas bars and small shops line the surrounding streets, while the old city is just 10 minutes away on foot, and beaches are about 20 minutes away.
Good for: Morning coffee, boutique shopping, sunset drinks
Centro (City Centre)
Stay in the city centre to be close to Santander’s main sights and daily life. While much of the historic fabric was lost in the 1941 fire, pockets remain around the cathedral and the Mercado de la Esperanza. You’ll be within easy reach of tapas bars, shops and transport, with a more local, lived-in feel than the beach districts.
Good for: History, architecture, markets
Things to do in Santander
Family friendly
Head to the Magdalena Peninsula for a picnic — kids can spot penguins and sea lions and ride the small tourist train. The Museo Marítimo del Cantábrico adds another stop, with detailed model ships and a full-sized whale skeleton. Back in the city, the bayfront Jardines de Pereda offers open space, playgrounds and room to run.
Take in the culture
The Museo de Arte Moderno y Contemporáneo de Santander (MAS) is arguably the best museum in Santander, featuring works by Chillida, Goya and Tàpies, along with a collection of Flemish and Italian paintings. For something entirely different, stop into the Museum of Prehistory and Archaeology, home to a prehistoric bear skeleton and Paleolithic cave art.
Places to eat
Restaurants in Santander lean heavily on seafood, with menus built around grilled sardines, white anchovies from Santoña and plates of ‘rabas’ (fried calamari). You’ll find some of the best spots around Plaza Porticada and surrounding streets, where tapas bars cluster together. Pair it all with a glass of local cider — it’s dry, tart and lightly fizzy.
Nightlife
The Santander nightlife scene tends to be on the mellower side. On Calle Vargas in the city centre, you’re likely to find students drinking beers in the plazas or sipping gin and tonics in a cosy jazz club. El Sardinero boasts casual beach bars and casino shows, while Puerto Chico’s vibe skews more upmarket.
Shopping
Shopping in Santander centres on the compact downtown, where vintage finds and indie boutiques line streets like Calle Hernán Cortés and Calle Burgos. You’ll come across ceramics, jewellery and locally made fashion along the way. For food, Mercado de la Esperanza brings together cured meats, cheeses and sweets under one roof, while El Corte Inglés covers everyday essentials.
Beaches
Alongside clean, family-friendly beaches like Playa los Bikinis and Segunda Playa del Sardinero, Santander also draws surfers, especially in winter. Head to Playa de Somo for beginner-friendly breaks across the bay. Closer to the city, Playa del Camello and Playa de la Concha are known for their calm waters and stretches of sand where shell collectors linger.
Get ready for Santander
Budget
Between the beach and admission-free museums like the MAS, planning a cheap trip to Santander is easy. You can fill up on a tasty tapas dinner for less than 15 euros (€), and throw in a beer for just a couple of euros more. If you’re looking for a quick ride, a short taxi trip usually starts at less than €4.
Day trips from Santander
Day trips from Santander bring a mix of architecture, prehistory and nearby cities in easy reach. In Comillas, El Capricho offers a glimpse of Gaudí at his most playful. Head inland to the Monte Castillo caves, where UNESCO-listed sites preserve prehistoric cave art. Or take the 90-minute bus ride to Bilbao to see the Guggenheim up close.
Getting around Santander
Santander’s city centre is compact and easy to explore on foot, though reaching the Magdalena Peninsula or El Sardinero beach takes closer to an hour. Public buses connect the main sights, and taxis are easy to find. There’s also a small tourist train on the Magdalena Peninsula, so you can easily take in the area’s key sights.
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