The city of Santander (Spain) is the administrative center of the Cantabria region, which is located in the northern part of the country. Santander is located near the Atlantic Ocean, on the shore of the Bay of Biscay, and, like most seaside cities, stretches along the coast.
The city has a fairly long and rich history: the first mention of it dates back to 1068 (under King Sancho II the Strong), and the year of foundation is considered to be 1755.
The city’s streets are interspersed with old white marble buildings and modern new buildings, while historical palaces stand out among areas with urban landscapes. These architectural contrasts are quite understandable: in 1941, all the wooden buildings in the historical part of the city were completely destroyed by fire, and in 1941-1950 this territory was rebuilt.
Modern Santander, which covers an area of 35 km2 and is home to 180,000 people – is a major port in Spain with a well-developed infrastructure. Since the beginning of the twentieth century, due to the fact that the royal family began to come here on vacation, this city has become quite a fashionable resort. Now it can not be called super-popular, but still many tourists from all over the world come here, attracted by the beautiful nature, clean beaches, and interesting sights.
Weather in Santander: when is the best time to arrive
Compared to the Mediterranean resorts of Spain, Santander is much cooler, because the local climate is dictated by the influence of the Atlantic. The climate in Santander is mild and very humid. Rain is a constant companion of these places in any season, but it is especially frequent from November to April.
- In summer, the daytime air temperature does not exceed +25…+27 °C, the water temperature in the ocean is kept in the range of +20…+22 °C.
- The weather in the first half of September almost does not differ from the weather in August, the temperature is +20…+24 °C. Then, as we approach winter, in November the average air temperature gradually decreases to +13…+15 °C.
- It gets colder in winter, and the average daily temperature rarely drops below +10 °C. And with warm winds come rain and storms.
- In spring, the weather is not stable, and temperature changes reach their maximum values. Average values: +13…+19 °C. Rain and strong squally winds are replaced by warm sunny days.
When to arrive! High season, when the beach holiday is in full swing, in Santander from the second half of July to the end of September. And winter, when storms rage in the Bay of Biscay with clear sunny skies, is considered the best season for surfers. For those tourists who travel to Spain to explore its attractions, the city will be interesting at any time of the year.
Santander Beach Holidays
Santander has 12 beaches stretching along the Atlantic Ocean for 5 km. This resort has long been known for having the cleanest beaches in all of Spain. All of them have soft light sand, with a convenient sandy entrance to the water. And the water is crystal clear, the bottom is perfectly visible for several meters in depth.
In each recreation area there are changing rooms, showers, toilets. Sun beds and umbrellas are available for rent, but since this service is not very popular, there is not much space for sun beds on the coast.
Compared to the Mediterranean resorts of Spain, the local beaches are not too crowded even in the season.
Playa Primera de El Sardinero
Primera de El Sardinero is not just a beach, but a historical landmark belonging to the” golden age ” of this resort. Just in this area, all the nobility and aristocrats of Spain gathered for a holiday “on the waters”.
The first Sardinero stretches for almost 3 km, along it runs a beautiful boardwalk, there are several gardens and parks. Even when it’s not hot and you don’t want to sunbathe or swim, you can go for a walk and admire the seascapes or enjoy a meal in one of the many cafes. The location is very convenient, close to public transport and Parking.
Playa del Camello
Quite a nice little beach, located in the bay in front of the entrance to the Magdalena Peninsula and almost connecting with Sardinero.
The beach got its name due to a local landmark-a rock, with its outline resembling a camel. You can only see this rock at certain times: the tide is high and low.
Throughout the year, Camello is home to local residents and players playing palas (a type of tennis born in Cantabria).
Playa de El Puntal
El Puntal is a sandy peninsula to which a small ferry departs from Centro Botín every 15 minutes in summer.
The beach is large and beautiful, but almost wild. There is no special equipment, there is only one restaurant. This place is an ideal option for those who love a secluded holiday, who want peace and quiet without people around.
El Puntal has a place where nudists can relax.
Playa de Matalenas
Matalenas, which can be considered a real natural attraction of Santander, is located on the outskirts of the city, next to the lighthouse. This picturesque sandy beach is located in a cozy small bay, closed on both sides by rocky capes. There is a lot of space due to the fact that the coastal strip is wide.
Important! You need to swim here carefully, as there are undercurrents and often large waves rise. You should always keep an eye on the flag: green – you can swim, yellow – there are waves and it is better not to take risks, red – you can not swim.
The only drawback of Matalenas is that you need to go down a steep, although absolutely safe staircase of 150 steps.
When traveling to Matalenas for the whole day, it is advisable to take food and drinks with you, so that you do not have to climb the stairs to the restaurant again. By the way, the toilets are also upstairs, there are none on the beach itself.
Playa de Los Bikini
Bikinis beach is a very small stretch of beach surrounded on one side by a breakwater and on the other by a rocky promontory. The territory is equipped and sparsely populated.
The name Bikinis is historical: in the early 1970s, international students were the first in the city, and indeed in all of conservative Spain, to sunbathe here in bikinis.
Attractions
There is a lot to see in Santander. These are historical buildings, ancient churches, museums of various directions, and the magnificent nature in the surrounding area.
Botín Art Center
Opened in 2017, Centro Botín is one of the city’s most modern attractions.
The building, designed by Lorenzo Piano, is considered an architectural masterpiece. It consists of two blocks that resemble floating ships, connected by steel and glass bridges. This building is located near the sea and rises 20 meters above it. The facade of the building is covered with sparkling ceramic hemispheres (280 000 pieces), reflecting the color of the sky and sea.
On the ground floor there is a restaurant with beautiful views of the bay. You can also take the elevator to the roof, enjoy the scenery of the entire area and take panoramic photos of the city of Santander.
Centro Botín is not just a tourist attraction, but also a Center of Contemporary Art with exhibition halls and galleries (their total area is 2500 m2), which regularly change a variety of art exhibitions.
Practical information
The Botín Center is open:
- October-May – from 10: 00 to 20: 00;
- June-September – from 10: 00 to 21: 00.
Mondays, with some exceptions, are closed. There are weekends and public holidays.
You can view the calendar of events, specify ticket prices and opening hours on the official website: www.centrobotin.org.
Place of interest: Muelle de Albareda, Paseo de Pereda, s / n, 39004 Santander, Cantabria, Spain.
Maritime Museum
The museum is small, but very interesting. The collection presented here was collected for more than 200 years by the Naval School and the Royal Experimental Station operating under it. All exhibits are divided into several thematic sections.
- “Life at Sea” – an exhibition dedicated to marine life. There are many different exhibits, among which the most interesting attraction is the skeleton of a whale. There is a huge aquarium, inside which a special glass tunnel is laid for visitors. Stingrays, sharks, and other marine life swim around the tunnel and its occupants.
- “Fishermen and fishing” – this exhibition is dedicated to the history of the development of fishing in northern Spain.
- “The Cantabrian Sea and History “(Spanish geographers call the Bay of Biscay the Cantabrian Sea). The exhibition tells about the history of navigation in this part of the Atlantic. Among the most interesting exhibits are realistic models of ships from different eras.
- “Advanced technologies and the sea” – this exhibition is about the modern shipbuilding industry.
Important! It is forbidden to take photos of museum exhibits. Photos and videos are only allowed in the aquarium room, but due to the darkness, the images are of poor quality.
You can climb to the roof of the museum, there is a special terrace. From the height you can enjoy a beautiful view of the picturesque bay and passing ships.Practical information
Children under 5 years old can view the museum’s attractions for free, and on Sundays from 14:00 all visitors can visit. At other times, the entrance fee is paid:
- for adults – 8 €;
- for children 5-12 years – 3,50 €;
- for pensioners over 65 years of age – 5 €.
Museo Maritimo del Cantabrico is closed on Mondays, but on other days it is open as follows::
- May-September-from 10: 00 to 19: 30;
- October-April – from 10: 00 to 18: 00.
The Maritime Museum is located on the shore of the bay, at Los Peligros beach. Address: Av. de Severiano Ballesteros, s / n, 39004 Santander, Cantabria, Spain.
The Cathedral
In the 9th century, the monks brought the relics of the holy Martyrs Emeterius and Celedonius to these lands – this marked the beginning of the construction of the Abbey of the Holy Bodies, in the church of which the relics were kept.
On the site of the abbey in the XII-XIV centuries, the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary was built – the attraction that can be seen now. Initially, in the XII century, a church was built for the relics of Saints Emeterius and Celedonius – it was built on the foundation of the old church. A hundred years later, this temple was used as the foundation for the construction of a second church, the upper one. The whole building turned out to be monumental, more like a fortress: powerful thick walls, a belfry in the form of a watchtower.
The lower church now serves as a crypt for storing holy relics. In one of the naves, a unique landmark has been preserved: fragments of the walls of an ancient temple with a drainage system.
In addition to the lower and upper churches, the complex includes a nice courtyard (cloister). Now there is a fountain, before that there was an orange orchard, and a few centuries ago there was a city cemetery.
You can view this landmark of Santander in Spain from the outside for free. Entrance fee is 1 €.
The cathedral stands on a natural hill, address: Calle Somorrostro, s / n, 39002 Santander, Cantabria, Spain.
Royal Palace on the Magdalena Peninsula
Just a few minutes by bus or a short pleasant walk on foot – and you can find yourself on the Magdalena peninsula. It can also be reached by car, but parking may be difficult.
On the Magdalena Peninsula, in its very center, there is a famous landmark: the royal Palace of the same name.
It all started in 1861, when Queen Isabella II began to go on vacation “on the water” in Santander. Her example was followed by all the aristocrats of Spain, and her grandson, King Alfonso XIII, decided to build his summer residence here. So in 1912, the Palacio de la Magdalena appeared.
When the monarchy was overthrown in 1930, the palace housed the university. It was here that foreign students who showed bikinis on the beach of conservative Spain were trained.
At the end of the twentieth century, the palace was restored, and now conferences and congresses are organized in its premises, and even wedding ceremonies are held. Everyone can visit this landmark and see all its splendor.
Palacio de la Magdalena is surrounded by a picturesque park with sculptures and replicas of ancient ships. Walking paths and convenient benches are laid out throughout the territory, among numerous flower beds. There is a small zoo with penguins, sea lions and seals.
The park offers wonderful views of the city, the lighthouse, and the bay area. There are a lot of places where you can take great panoramic photos to remember Santander and Spain.
Important! The walking route is marked on the map that is available at the entrance to the park. If it is difficult to get around an area of 25 hectares, you can take a tourist train for 2€. The round trip takes 20 minutes.
Practical information
Entrance to the territory is free, open from 8: 00 to 22: 00.
Entrance to the palace is only possible with a guide, 45-minute guided tours take place at strictly scheduled times and exclusively in Spanish. Price 3 €. The tour schedule can be viewed on the website http://palaciomagdalena.com
Address of the attraction: Av de la Reina Victoria, s / n, 39005 Santander, Cantabria, Spain.
Cabo Mayor Park
Cabo Mayor Park is one of the natural attractions of Santander in Spain, where you can enjoy beautiful hiking trails. The route starts at Sardinero Beach, then goes along the coast through Matalenas Park, then next to the small Molinucos beach, and goes directly to Cape Menor, to the Cabo Mayor lighthouse. During the walk, you can admire the carved lines of the coast, green fields, and the ocean.
Important! You need to be very careful: there are no fences on the edge of the rocks, and the grass can be slippery.
Accommodation in Santander
Although the city of Santander is small, there are many hotels in it. But during the summer, tourists come here for a beach holiday, and at other times business travelers come: Santander is a business city in Spain, conferences and other events are often held here.
Important! Since there are always a lot of visitors in this city, you need to book your accommodation in advance in any season, especially for August.
It is logical that when coming for a beach holiday, it is better to settle as close to the coast as possible. Such options for settlement in this resort are offered by hotels, and there are very few private apartments and they are quite expensive. There are hotels along the entire coast, especially near Sardinero beach (the prices here are the highest).
In winter, spring and autumn, when proximity to attractions becomes more relevant, it is better to stay in the historical center. There is a good choice of hotels, there are also private apartments.
Estimated cost of a night’s stay in the summer months:
- room for two in a 3* hotel from 40 € to 175 €, but most often it is 80-130 €;
- one-bedroom apartment with living room and kitchen – from 50 €.
How to get to Santander
The most convenient option is to fly to Spain, Madrid or Barcelona, and then get to Santander.
From Madrid
You can go from Madrid, from the Madrid bus station, by bus with the Alsa carrier: the journey time is almost 6 hours, the fare costs 35-50 €. Tickets must be purchased at the ticket office or on the bus station’s website, or on the carrier’s website: https://www.alsa.es/
But a more convenient way to get from Madrid is by rail:
- At Madrid-Puerta De Atocha station, take the Alv train with direct flights from Madrid to Santander. Travel time is almost 5 hours, ticket price is 29-40€, carrier Renfe Viajeros.
- From Sol Station, take the C4 train (operated by Renfe Cercanias) to Chamartin Station. In terms of time, the trip takes 10 minutes and costs 5-7 €. From Chamartin, go to Madrid-Chamartin station (distance 116 m), and then take the Alv train to Santander. Travel time 4 hours 10 minutes, fare 28-35 €, carrier Renfe Viajeros.
There are 7 flights a day from Madrid to this destination. You can find out the exact train schedule and buy tickets on the Spanish Railways website: http://www.renfe.com
From Barcelona
From Barcelona, it is most convenient, faster and cheaper to get to Santander by Ryanair low-cost airline. The flight time is 1 hour and 15 minutes, and ticket prices start from 20 €.
Important! In Barcelona, it is better to make a long stopover, as flight connections are not very convenient and flight delays are also possible.
Santander airport is 7 km from the center. The Plaza Estaciones bus station is a 15-minute bus ride from the airport. Buses run every 30 minutes from 6: 45 to 23: 00. At the exit of the terminal, you can take a taxi, the trip will cost about 15 €.
Conclusion
This article contains only the most important information about Santander (Spain). It remains to add that this city invariably attracts the attention of numerous tourists with a huge number of different pastime options. In this city, every traveler will find something to do.
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