Santander Area Guide

Santander is busy port, seaside resort and regional capital of Cantabria on the northern coast of Spain. The ancient city is home to a host of attractions or you can head for El Sardinero which is a resort less than 2.5km from the city.

Many visitors arrive here by ferry from the UK after a 24-hour journey across the Bay of Biscay, but you get the chance stay a while and discover why King Alfonso XIII chose this part of the Cantabrian coast as his summer retreat in the early part of the 20th century, and transformed the city into one of the most desirable residential and holiday destinations for wealthy Spaniards.

The ancient city of Santander was damaged by a fire in 1941 which destroyed the old quarter and most of its dwellings. It has since been rebuilt along the original lines with wide boulevards, a waterfront promenade, sidewalk cafes, shops, restaurants and hotels. An impressive casino, theatre and many fine buildings were built to accommodate the needs of the aristocracy and court officials who followed the king and his queen, Victoria Eugenia, wherever they went.

The city's location between the mountains and the sea has caused it to develop in an elongated manner along the northern rim of the bay opening out to the Cantabrian Sea. It is divided into two distinct sections: the busy commercial centre with shops, historic buildings and tourist attractions, and the beach resort of El Sardinero which is home to the classiest suburbs, the former royal palace and the Gran Casino del Sardinero

Wide tree lined boulevards with street cafes, elegant plazas, beautiful parks and gardens and a busy waterfront promenade all add up to a delightful place to spend some time.

It is best to explore the fascinating city of Santander by foot. We have planned a tour of all the local attractions starting from the city centre and ending up in the port.

 

Santander has three beaches: the Playa de Castaneda, Playa del Sardinero, and Playa de la Concha. If these beaches become too crowded you can take a 15 minute boat ride to El Puntal which is a beautiful beach that is rarely crowded, even during the high season. For more details visit our guide to beaches in Santander.

 

The climate in Cantabria keeps the golf courses well-watered. Probably the best of them is the Real Club de Golf de Pedreña which was designed by Severiano Ballesteros overlooks the Bay of Santander. We have written on guide on the most popular golf courses.

 

Santander's proximity to the coast means that you can get some very good quality fresh fish dishes here, both in the top restaurants and more modest premises near the port. Our guide lists the most popular restaurants in Santander

 

We have listed some of the most popular shops and shopping areas in Santander, together with details of their opening hours, as well as a guide to the local markets

 

If you are planning to explore the area outside of the city centre and play some golf or go to some of the more out of the way beaches then you might consider hiring a car. There are a number of car hire firms based at Santander Airport who will be pleased to have a vehicle awaiting your arrival. This also cuts down on transfer costs for you and your family.

We also provide information on other sporting and leisure amenities in Santander including an Area Guide to Santander which contains information on Santander local attractions, golf courses in Santander, the best places to shop in Santander, Santander market days and where the best Santander beaches are. We have also included a list of recommended Santander restaurants.