Guides › Spain (España) › Santander, Spain
City guide

Santander, Spain

Santander is the capital of the autonomous community of Cantabria, Spain. It has a population of 172,000 (2017).

Type CityPopulation 172,000

Why go

  • Municipality in Cantabria, Spain.
  • Served by Seve Ballesteros-Santander Airport (SDR).

History

Santander is the capital of the autonomous community of Cantabria, Spain. It has a population of 172,000 (2017). It is a port city located in the northern coast of the Iberian Peninsula, facing the Cantabrian Sea.

Restaurants & places to go

Restaurant · restaurant · 2 Plaza de Italia, Santander · sardinerohoteles.com
Indoor
Seafood, Restaurant · Especialidades de mariscos variados, sartenes, arroces y platos de picoteo como las rabas acompañadas de aros de cebolla. Opening hours:… · tabernalaradio.es
Indoor
Spanish, Restaurant · Menú económico con un número variado de platos tradicionales. Envasan la comida que sobra para llevar si se solicita. Opening hours:… · latobamaliano.shop
Indoor
Seafood, Restaurant · Especializado en productos del mar, especialmente pescados frescos y mariscos de la costa del Mar Cantábrico. Features: outdoor seating… · bardelpuerto.com
Indoor
Seafood, Restaurant · Pescados y mariscos. Features: outdoor seating · 9 Calle de Calderón de la Barca, Santander · elmachi.es
Indoor
German, Restaurant · Especializado en la gastronomía alemana autóctona y sus cervezas con más de 30 tipos diferentes. · 24 Calle de Hernán Cortés, Santander · cruzblancasantander.com
Indoor
Tapas, Restaurant · Cocina tradicional y casera especializada en comida lebaniega. · 21 Calle de los Ciruelos, Santander · mesondesfiladero.com.es
Indoor
Regional, Restaurant · Destacan el chuletón de vaca pinta de Cantabria y el rape negro a la brasa. · 2 Calle del Capitán Palacios, Santander · paellasgigantesvicente.com
Indoor

292 more places in the Ultimate edition. See the Ultimate edition →

Airports

Seve Ballesteros-Santander Airport (SDR) 1.6 km to the centre
Santander, CB, ES — Indoor waiting areas, but some gates board by bus or on foot across the apron — plan for the weather on the day. ✈ 3 airlines (Ryanair, Iberia Airlines, Vueling Airlines) · direct flights to 17 destinations incl. Barcelona, Arrecife, Bergamo, Charleroi, Dublin… (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Serves Bilbao (74 km) — the low-cost way in
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 3 airlines, 17 direct destinations

Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.

Indoor | Outdoor
Cóbreces Airfield 31 km to the centre
Cóbreces, CB, ES
Outdoor
Camaleño-Artañin ULM 74 km to the centre
Argüébanes, CB, ES
Outdoor

Getting there by ferry

Maritime Terminal of Santander
Ferry terminal · 3.2 km from the centre
Outdoor
Embarcadero de Santander
Ferry terminal · 3.6 km from the centre · Los Reginas, SA
Outdoor
El Puntal
Ferry terminal · 5.2 km from the centre · Los Reginas
Outdoor
Embarcadero de Pedreña
Ferry terminal · 5.3 km from the centre · Los Reginas, SA
Outdoor
Embarcadero de Somo
Ferry terminal · 7.1 km from the centre · Los Reginas, SA
Outdoor
Santander - Playa de El Puntal
Ferry route · Los Reginas
Outdoor
Santander - Pedreña - Somo
Ferry route · Alsa
Outdoor
1: Santander - Somo
Ferry route · Alsa
Outdoor
Plymouth (UK) - Santander (E)
Ferry route · Brittany Ferries
Outdoor
Portsmouth - Santander
Ferry route · Brittany Ferries
Outdoor

Where things are

Full geo-intelligence in Better Mapping →
Local search powered by Geoverts and geo-intelligence by Better Mapping base map © OSM

Photographs

When to go

Tourist season
May – September

The warmer, longer-day half of the year is the safest bet for a first visit.

Shoulder season
April, October

Cooler and quieter, with fewer visitors and better value.

Worth avoiding
Deep winter

Short days and the coldest weather — check local conditions before travelling.

Getting there & around

Getting there. The nearest airport on record is Seve Ballesteros-Santander Airport (SDR); 4 other airports serve the wider area. Check rail and road links from the tourism sources below. By air: SDR has direct flights to 17 destinations on 3 airlines (incl. Barcelona, Arrecife, Bergamo, Charleroi, Dublin…). By water: 5 ferry terminals within 20 km (nearest: Maritime Terminal of Santander, 3.2 km); routes include Santander - Playa de El Puntal, Santander - Pedreña - Somo, 1: Santander - Somo.

Getting around. Use the map above to orient yourself; nearby hotels, attractions and places to eat are listed from the live Ultimate data for Santander, Spain. Local transit details will be added as the guide is expanded.

Trains & rail

National rail

Coaches & shuttles

Intercity coach