Capital of northern Spain’s Cantabria region, Santander is a welcoming coastal city renowned for its surf spots, sandy beaches, and grand architecture. Seafood takes center stage on the Cantabrian coast, and this Spanish city delivers when it comes to modern, Michelin-starred restaurants serving contemporary takes on classic fare. Other things to do in Santander include hiking coastal paths to pristine, crowd-free beaches; taking day trips to Bilbao and San Sebastian in the Basque Country; and visiting some of the oldest cave paintings in the world.
While Cantabria experiences warm summers and mild winters, Spain’s northern coast sees more rain than the rest of the country—Santander is much more prone to a downpour than the sun-baked south. For the best weather, visit in July and August, when you’ll encounter far fewer crowds than central and southern parts of Spain. One August highlight (since 1948) is the Santander International Festival that sees the city come to life with a rich cultural agenda of music, art, and food.
The pedestrianized historical center of Santander is easy to explore on foot, as is the seafront promenade and coastal trails that lead to stunning beaches such as Playa de los Peligros with views of the Cantabrian Mountains. Buses to the Basque Country (just a couple of hours away) and the rest of Spain depart regularly from the central bus station, and Santander is also home to an international airport that serves as a gateway to the rest of Europe.
Depicting local fauna and human hands in charcoal, the Cave of Altamira is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that’s estimated to date back more than 40,000 years. While only five visitors per week get to explore the cave itself, you’ll find an exact replica of the cave at the Altamira National Museum and Research Center—just 30 minutes from Santander by car—which delves deeper into prehistoric life in the Iberian Peninsula. It’s a must-visit for history buffs.
