Blessed with a physical beauty few towns can match, Santander is the perfect point from which to discover northern Spain. The city is far away from mass tourism but packed with natural and cultural beauties. Set on a tranquil bay, Santander’s landmass is comprised of lush green stretches of parks, golf courses and areas made for long romantic walks, as well as sandy coves.
Unfortunately, Santander is missing a significant portion of its old town, due to a fire in 1941. The city lost much of its centre and, along with it, a piece of its ancient heritage. However, Santander is still a very attractive place with an elegant and cosmopolitan atmosphere.
The Reina Victoria, Santander's main avenue, is among the most beautiful maritime avenues in Spain, and leads to Magdalena Peninsula, home to the English-style Magdalena Royal Palace. The palace was the summer residence of King Alfonso XIII and is now a fabulous venue for university and summer courses.
Beyond the peninsula, visitors should head towards elegant El Sardinero, an area featuring magnificent beaches. Additionally, the Gran Casino and the Piquio Gardens offer panoramic views across the bay. Perhaps the best way to get an orientation of the city is to board one of the bay's sightseeing motorboats and take a trip to the lighthouse of Cabo Mayor, located on a high, steep cliff.
Santander is also a great base from which to see some of the country's most famous sights. Bilbao, famous for its futuristic-looking Guggenheim Museum, is a two-hour drive away. In addition, one of the highest mountains in Europe, the Picos de Europa, is about a three-hour drive from Santander. Also nearby is Santillana del Mar, a romantic medieval town known as one of the best-preserved in Europe.
An excellent network of roads links Santander with the rest of Spain, the Spanish Costas and Portugal. Take the N634 westwards along the coast towards Coruna, and eastwards towards Bilbao. The N611 goes south to Valladolid and the N623 links the ferry port with Burgos. From France, take the toll highway from the French border to Bilbao, then the free highway from Bilbao to Santander.
Santander Airport, located about five kilometres from town, has daily connections with Madrid and Barcelona. There are still two sailings per week between Plymouth and Santander, once Britain’s only sea-link with Spain.
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