Top Santander Historical Tours

Get out of Santander for the day without the hassle of driving or catching public transport, on this private full-day tour to the caves at Puente Viesgo and Las Monedas. As well as checking out the archeologically significant cave paintings, you’ll visit the village of Puente Viesgo and drive up the Valles Pasiegos into the mountains. Add an optional e-bike tour if you want to get more active.

In this tour, you will discover the charms of the most important villages on the western coast of Cantabria. It will be a fascinating journey through the historic ensemble of San Vicente de la Barquera, its rías, and bay; Comillas, with its elegant Modernist buildings; and Santillana del Mar, with its cobbled streets and medieval buildings. As a grand finale, you will visit the neocave of Altamira and its magnificent cave paintings, an exact replica of the original cave, which was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1985.

On this incredible day, we will visit Bilbao and Castro Urdiales, two vibrant cities rich in history and culture. Upon arrival, you'll embark on a 2.5-hour guided tour through the charming Old Town. Strolling through its lively streets, you'll discover architectural gems such as the Gothic Cathedral of Santiago and the beautiful Church of San Nicolás. Continuing along the promenade of the Nervión River up to Guggenheim Museum—a true icon of contemporary architecture. After the guided tour, you will have nearly four hours of free time in Bilbao to enjoy lunch and explore at your own pace or doing suggested activities like visiting the Guggenheim Museum or taking a boat trip along the Nerbion River. After our visit to Bilbao, we will head to Castro Urdiales. This charming fishing village, with its stunning historic center, taking in the beauty of this seaside gem.

When you visit the Monte Castillo caves, be sure to see them the right way: with a professional local guide, in an intimate group that’s capped at just eight people. You’ll visit two UNESCO-listed caves, El Castillo and Las Monedas, to admire the wealth of cave art, and spend time in Puente Viesgo village and the Museum of Vega de Pas, too. Note that this is a Spanish-language tour.

Enjoy the wonderful places that Santander has to offer, with a guide just for you and your family or friends. We will take a walking tour, which can be modified to suit you. Discover the history, customs and traditions of the Cantabrian capital. We will begin with a visit to the Jardines de Pereda, next to the Santander extensions, where we will see the magnificent building of the Banco Santander and the internationally renowned art centre “Centro Botín”. We will continue with an explanation of the fire in Santander, what it destroyed and what it left behind. To continue with the Cathedral of Santa María de la Asunción. In addition, we cannot forget the traditional Mercado de la Esperanza, next to the Town Hall. We will continue towards the Plaza Porticada, passing by the Church of “La Compañía” and ending in the Plaza de Pombo, without leaving aside the Mercado del Este and the spectacular building of the old Banco Mercantil.

This private visit is a privilege: you can get to know the most emblematic places in the center of Santander, but also, the visit goes much further, because it gives you the opportunity to know two of its most cultural and historical points of interest: the Cathedral of Santa María de la Asunción and the Centro Botín, the most important art center of the city and international reference. We will start with the Gardens of Pereda, the historical importance of the great fire that ravaged Santander and the exterior and interior visit of the Cathedral of Santa María de la Asunción, the most important religious building in the capital. Later we will tour the Town Hall Square, Porticada Square, passing the Church of “The Company” and knowing the East Market, gastronomic reference of the city. At the end we will access the interior of the Botín Center, where we will make the guided tour of the fixed collection and move to the rooms where the temporary exhibitions are located.

Discover the magical city of Santander at your own pace with this guided tour With a tour of more than 2 hours, you can explore emblematic attractions such as the Cathedral, Porticada Square, Paseo Pereda or Prince Square. This option without schedules or groups allows you to enjoy the city flexibly, including recommendations on gastronomy and family activities. Available in six languages, this experience is ideal for those looking for hassle-free personalized tourism. - 3h self-guided tour with + 12 points of interest - Access to information in 6 languages: Spanish, English, Portuguese, French, Italian and German Explore iconic attractions and receive food recommendations. - No groups or schedules, ideal for traveling at your own pace.

Immerse yourself in some of northern Spain’s most spectacular mountain scenery—and enjoy a seamless way to explore—on this small-group, full-day tour. Following morning pickup from your Santander hotel, head into the Cantabria countryside. You’ll take a cable-car (separate expense) up to the Picos de Europa for spectacular vistas, will visit the historical Monastery of Santo Toribio de Liebana, will explore the charming village of Potes, and more.

Discover one of the most charming seafaring villas in Cantabria, a place that will captivate you with its rich history and breathtaking beauty. You will know its historic centre, with its majestic king's castle, its emblematic Gothic church of Mrs. de los Angles and its historic bridges, this destination is presented as the perfect setting to enjoy an unforgettable afternoon, next to the river and its marshes with the imposing Picos de Europa as a backdrop. In addition, on this tour you will have the opportunity to explore one of the largest redwood forests in Spain, declared a Natural Monument in 2003, a true natural paradise. Don’t miss this unique experience that combines history, nature and spectacular scenery!

When you’re in Santander, immerse yourself in the area’s architecture with visits to the mansion house known as El Capricho de Gaudí and the town of Comillas. You’ll head inside the Antoni Gaudí-designed house with a prebooked ticket to save time, and get all the background info on the architecture from a guide. Then, you’ll explore Comillas, seeing Palacio de Sobrellano, a cemetery, and more.

Discover some of the essentials of the Principality of Asturias on this day trip from Santander: ✔ Heading to the Picos de Europa Our guide waits for you at the meeting point to set out for the Picos de Europa National Park. Relax on the bus and enjoy the guide’s explanations of this unique natural environment in which the Lakes of Covadonga are located. Here we will have free time to appreciate the lakes Enol and Ercina, as well as discover the flora and fauna of the area. ✔ Visit to La Santina Afterwards, we will go to the Sanctuary of Covadonga, where we will know the history and importance of this place. ✔ Cangas de Onís, former capital of the Kingdom of Asturias Cangas de Onís will be the last stop, where we will travel its streets on a guided tour that will take us to its famous medieval bridge. In addition, we will have free time to enjoy the gastronomic wealth of the area.

Embark on a day trip from Santander and discover some of the most authentic landscapes and towns in Cantabria, combining mountain, history and sea in one experience. The route begins in Mogrovejo, one of the most picturesque villages in the region. Stroll among its stone houses and learn about its history and traditions, in a privileged setting within the Picos de Europa. Continue to the Monastery of Santo Toribio de Liébana, one of the main pilgrimage centers of Spain, a place of historical and spiritual importance in a unique natural enclave. Afterwards, you will arrive at Potes, one of the most beautiful villages in Cantabria. Tour its historic center and enjoy free time to taste the local gastronomy and soak up its atmosphere. In the afternoon, you will discover San Vicente de la Barquera, a charming seaside villa with stunning views of the sea and the Picos de Europa. A perfect place to stroll and relax before returning to Santander.

Spain is famous for its anchovies and this small-group day trip from Santander takes you to the heart of Spanish anchovies. Visit the village of Santoña and its anchovy factory to learn about the process. Then take a boat trip around the bays and marshes for beautiful views of the Cantabria region. This trip is a must for anchovy lovers!

Enjoy one of the most emblematic areas of Santander with a guide just for you and your family and friends. We show you an itinerary of the walking tour, which can be modified at your convenience. We will start the guided tour, getting to know the interior of Palacio de la Magdalena. We will tour the most important rooms on the main floor, which is the one that is open to the public and you can learn the history of the kings of Spain: Alfonso XIII and Victoria Eugenia, in their summers in Santander. Then we will tour the main points of interest of the Magdalene Peninsula, such as the open air museum: Man and the Sea, where you will know “The Raft” by explorer and adventurer Vital Alsar and the galleons who crossed the Atlantic imitating the route of Francisco de Orellana. We will visit the mini zoo and its sea lions, seals and Cape penguins, as well as the Royal Stables, which are currently facilities of the Menendez Pelayo International University.