Details for Santander
Santander is an upmarket beach resort where kings have rubbed shoulders with fishermen, and where university students in flip-flops kick back with well-heeled holidaymakers. The most popular of its beaches is El Sardinero, which, with its fine white sand and elegant architecture, lies a couple of kilometres from the town centre. Playa de la Magdalena, on the southern side of the headland, has a water sports centre while Playa del Bikini is good for snorkelling. If they are all too crowded, visitors can take a boat over to the long stretches of sand at Somo. Away from the seafront, the city centre is lively, especially after dark. Many of the older buildings were lost in a huge fire in 1941, but there is still some beautiful architecture from bygone times. The elegant cathedral has been restored, and there are also some interesting museums to be discovered.
172,000 (2021)
1 Euro = 100 cents
Emergency: 112
Fire: 080
Civil Guard: 062
Shops are open from 9/10 am to 2 pm, and from 5/5:30 pm until 8/8:30 pm. Banks are open Monday to Saturday from 8:30 am until 2:30 pm.
Cabárceno Natural Park
Cabárceno Natural Park
Cabárceno Natural Park is a nature reserve and zoo situated in Penagos–17 kilometres south of Santander. Consisting of 750 hectares, the park is located in a former open-pit iron mine on a karstic landscape. It is home to animals such as brown bears, elephants, tigers, gorillas and lions–to name a few.
Centro Botín
Centro Botín
This first-rate arts centre was designed by Pulitzer Prize-winning architect Renzo Piano. The west block is dedicated to art, while the east block is for cultural and educational activities. The rooftop terrace offers breathtaking views of Santander and its Bay.
Club Náutico La Horadada
Club Náutico La Horadada
This yacht club on Playa de la Magdalena offers a wealth of water sports for the active beach-goer, including windsurfing, surfing, sailing, waterskiing, and canoeing. Courses in multiple water sporting activities are offered to beginners (from bodyboarding to kayaking).
Cuevas de Monte Castillo
Cuevas de Monte Castillo
Check out the magnificent caves at Puente Viesgo (24 kilometres from Santander), where stalactites and stalagmites stretch among incredible prehistoric paintings. The village itself is also worth a look around. Tours start at the visitor centre 1.5 kilometres above the village.
Forestal Park
Forestal Park
TirolinasGo Santander Forestal Park is an adventure park with fun outdoor activities located in a pretty setting in the woods. Here you can slide down 220-metre-long zip lines, cross some rope bridges and walkways, or simply enjoy an active day outdoors with different games and circuits available for the whole family.
Funicular del Rio de la Pila
Funicular del Rio de la Pila
If you find yourself by Río de la Pila street, do take a quick (a mere 3 minutes) ride up on the funicular to the Mirador Río de la Pila, from where spectacular views over the city below and the ocean waters unfold. The ride is free of charge, and the elevator has a maximum capacity of 20 people.
Jardines de Piquío
Jardines de Piquío
Stroll around this garden park located between two beautiful beaches in Santander. Here you can admire the views over the Cantabric Sea. Besides tree-lined alleys and flowers, there are lots of play areas for children as well as well-maintained, lush green lawns.
Las Dunas de Liencres Natural Park
Las Dunas de Liencres Natural Park
This sprawling parkland featuring pine forests and dunes is said to resemble something from another planet. This is a protected area and wild birds are abundant. There are also lovely beach areas for those interested in surfing.
Cañadío
Cañadío
Right in the centre of Santander, you'll find Cañadío, one of Santander’s most renowned restaurants, which specializes in Cantabrian cuisine. There is also an array of mouth-watering tapas and pinchos at the bar.
Casa Lita
Casa Lita
Casa Lita is a popular tapas bar offering a huge array of northern Spanish pincho appetizers –approximately three hundred different types–made daily and with the best quality produce. Plus, a selection of cheeses, Iberian sausages, tuna from the north, and some artisan anchovies from Santoña to be enjoyed in a lively atmosphere, with a bayside terrace.
Casa Mariano
Casa Mariano
Casa Mariano is an off-the-beaten path, hugely popular with locals, homely restaurant serving traditional dishes such as stews, sausages, and so on. It is especially known for its good-value fixed daily lunch menu, which includes two courses and a glass of wine.
El Serbal
El Serbal
El Serbal is an elegant restaurant overlooking the beach offering northern Spanish food with a modern touch. Dishes are prepared with market-fresh ingredients to satisfy the most discerning of palates. Try the tasting menu with wine pairing.
Frida Street Food
Frida Street Food
Frida Street Food serves creative Tex-Mex cuisine, gourmet burgers, and cocktails in a very casual setting and at very decent prices.
La Bombi
La Bombi
La Bombi is a long-standing, upscale restaurant serving seafood dishes and regional Spanish classics in a stylish setting. Reservations are highly recommended.
La Tagliatella
La Tagliatella
La Tagliatella is a restaurant chain with currently more than 140 restaurants and counting. The Santander instalment serves Italian cuisine, the main specialities being thin-crusted pizza and fresh pasta.
Los Peñucas
Los Peñucas
This place is located down by the fishing port and offers wonderfully simple food straight from the sea. The menu features mouth-watering seafood paella, grilled sardines, lobster, deep-fried calamari, squid with onions, and the fish of the day, among other excellent dishes.
Café Suizo
Café Suizo
Located directly on the city's main promenade, Café Suizo is a local institution and longstanding cafe with a view. It offers outdoor seating and serves great value breakfasts, lunches, dinners, and very decent coffee.
Chocolatería Valor
Chocolatería Valor
To enjoy a quintessential Spanish dessert, try the very popular waterside Chocolatería Valor. The menu features, of course, freshly-made churros (long, deep-fried sticks of special dough) with hot chocolate to serve as a dip. The menu also features other desserts, such as pancakes and tea cakes.
Gallofa&Co
Gallofa&Co
Gallofa&Co is a wildly popular local bakery offering an overwhelming array of tasty bread, pastries, and cakes.
Heladeria Via Mazzini 43
Heladeria Via Mazzini 43
Popular ice cream shop in central Santander offering artisanal ice creams and mouthwatering crepes.
Mercado del Este
Mercado del Este
This market isn't known for its shops as much as its selection of pleasant cafes ideal for a short break or a people-watching session. Sit down and enjoy authentic tapas with a nice glass of wine — get a bottle from one of the wine shops to bring back with you if you wish.
Siboney
Siboney
This cafe/restaurant in Puerto Chico is a good choice for lunch or dinner. With its outdoor seating and a great array of delicious foods —pizza, patatas bravas, meat and chicken skewers —Siboney is a great pick for those looking for sit-down dining in the area.
Bar Canela
Bar Canela
One of the little bars in the oh-so-popular-by-night Plaza de Cañadío, Canela is one of the best spots to grab a drink and take your place by one of the tall standing tables in the square. If the pub proves too crowded, there is no need to look too far for a watering hole.
Bar Caribe
Bar Caribe
A local bar scene classic, Caribe is a great spot for a very low-key evening drink. Its location in el Sardinero just behind the Casino is hard to miss. Choose from the multiple varieties of gin on display behind the bar, or order one of the many "copas" with snacks to go along.
Discoteca Amarras
Discoteca Amarras
The Amarras disco is popular with the local 40-and-above crowd. Nights here are filled with Latin beats and couples livening up the dance floor with salsa, rumba, and cha-cha moves. Events such as dance shows and live music performances are often hosted.
Gran Casino del Sardinero
Gran Casino del Sardinero
If trying your luck at roulette or one of the card games sounds more like your kind of fun, do check out Cantabria's finest casino located right across from the city beach. The elegant venue offers not only endless gambling but also excellent dining at the in-house restaurant.
La Barruca de Calderón
La Barruca de Calderón
Bar and grill known for its juicy burgers offered at very reasonable prices. La Barruca de Calderón is, perhaps, more of an eatery than a watering hole, but it is certainly fit for a pleasant evening drink.
La Rana Verde
La Rana Verde
This is not a place to go for a formal meal, but a lively joint that is popular with a young clientele grabbing a bite before embarking on a long night out. La Rana Verde is famous for its patatas bravas, but also serves hamburgers and sandwiches. Located in the Cañadío bar district.
Little Bobby Speakeasy
Little Bobby Speakeasy
The bar's elaborate, Prohibition-inspired interior stands in stark contrast to the vibes of most other Santander bars. Marvel at the curious pieces found within its walls. Enjoy the two areas with different music styles played and try the not-so-prohibitionist cocktails from the bar menu.
Malaspina
Malaspina
This wildly popular bar tends to get a little cramped up, party-goers of all ages filling the dance floor holding on to generous servings of gin and tonic poured here. Music played normally features local and international top charts. The vibes are stylish yet rather casual.
Centro Comercial Valle Real
Centro Comercial Valle Real
A short ride outside Santander lies the Centro Comercial Valle Real, one of the largest shopping centres in the area. Here you can shop for everything you need, ranging from clothes and make-up to books and toys. There are also several restaurants onsite.
El Corte Inglés
El Corte Inglés
The nationwide department store chain enjoys a well-deserved good reputation. The Santander instalment is located a short drive outside the city centre. Apart from a large hypermarket, it contains a multiple-screen cinema, as well as a wide selection of local and international brand stores.
Gómez Pastelerías
Gómez Pastelerías
Those with a sweet tooth will certainly be delighted to find out that Santander is famous for its sobaos (a popular sponge cake from Cantabria) and quesada cakes (another dessert typical of the Cantabrian region). One of the best places to buy them is Gómez Pastelerías, which has several branches in the city.
Mercado de la Esperanza
Mercado de la Esperanza
This covered market is housed inside a late 19th-century building on the street just behind the Ayuntamiento, aptly named Calle El Mercado. Here you can join the locals browsing stalls selling freshly caught fish, local cheese and sausages, as well as fruit, vegetables, and flowers.
Mercado de México
Mercado de México
The Mercado de México on Calle Alta hosts vendors selling everything from leather to ceramics to olive oil. The second floor is mostly given over to produce vendors, selling fresh vegetables, seafood, deli items, pastries, and bread.
Nuks
Nuks
This colourful candy shop offers visitors endless freedom of choice — sweets come in all shapes, flavours, and sizes, and shoppers are free to browse around filling bags with candy to their liking. The end cost is calculated by weight. Sugar-free varieties are also available.
Santander Airport (SDR)
Santander Airport (SDR)
Seve Ballesteros-Santander Airport is located five kilometres from the town centre. A bus runs between Santander’s main bus station and the airport. It departs every 30 minutes from 7am to 11pm. Taxis leave from outside the terminal building.
Public Transport
Public Transport
Buses run throughout the city every 15 minutes. You can take buses number 1, 4, 7, 9, 13, and 14 that run from the city hall to El Sardinero beach stopping at Plaza de Italia and Piquio Gardens. You can also take bus number 15, which runs from RENFE train station to El Sardinero beach. The Santander Bus Station is located on Calle Navas de Tolosa. There are two bus companies that link Santander with other destinations: ALSA is for long- and short-haul destinations. www.alsa.es La Cantábrica runs services mostly for destinations within Cantabria. www.lacantabrica.net For further away destinations by train, visit: www.renfe.com
Taxi
Taxi
Santander has 16 taxi ranks from where you can pick up a cab. Central locations include outside Banco de Santander on Paseo de Pereda 22, outside the Correos on Avenida Alfonso XIII, on Plaza de las Estaciones, and at various places along Vargas, General Dávila, and Juan de Herrera.
Boat
Boat
For boat trips between Santander, Pedreña, and Somo, go to Los Reginas at Paseo Marítimo. Los Reginas also runs one-hour excursions around the bay. The ferry terminal for longer journeys is at Estación Marítima.
Electricity
Electricity
220 V/50 Hz; plugs have two round pins
Pharmacy
Pharmacy
There are several pharmacies throughout the city centre. Farmacia GPalacios Calle Lope de Vega, 7, Santander Mon–Fri 9am–9pm, Sat 10am–2pm Farmacia Compostizo Calle Sta. Lucía, 32 Mon–Fri 9am–9:30pm, Sat 9am–2:30pm
Post
Post
Look for yellow signs and mailboxes. The main post office is located on Calle Alfonso XIII. There are other offices on Calle Vargas 73-75, and on Las Cruces 6, both closed on Sundays.
Telephone
Telephone
Country Code: 34 Area Code: 942
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