A information to issues to do in Santander, the capital metropolis of Spain’s Cantabria area. This beachside metropolis is thought for being a trip vacation spot among the many Spanish, however sees far fewer worldwide vacationers than different Spanish cities. Santander doesn’t really feel touristy or crowded. It’s a spot to chill out and immerse your self within the Spanish lifestyle.
What introduced me to Santander? It’s my mother-in-law’s hometown, and she or he spends nearly all of her time right here. After years of invites, we lastly made the journey to Spain with our four-year-old daughter.
I arrived in Santander with out expectations aside from spending time with my husband’s dad and mom, aunts, and cousins. I discovered Santander to have a pleasant steadiness of historic structure, pretty seashores, small museums, and full of life cafes, bars, and eating places the place we might spend our days. We spent a complete of eight days in Santander, however I might say you would actually see most websites and benefit from the seaside over a protracted weekend.
About Santander
The place is Santander?
Santander is the capital of Cantabria. It’s on the North Coast of Spain, simply over an hour west of Bilbao.
The best way to Get to Santander
Fly
RyanAir flies instantly from London to the Santander airport, and Vueling flies from London Gatwick to Bilbao. Or, fly into Madrid and take the practice to Santander.
Ferry
There’s a ferry from Santander to Portsmouth, however the journey time is about 29 hours.
Prepare
If you’re touring from Madrid, the practice trip to Santander is about 4 and a half hours.
What to Learn about Visiting Santander
Most companies are closed on Sundays. This contains the markets, grocery shops, many museums, and most retailers. Sunday is a good day to move to the seaside or a museum. Or, use Sunday as a journey day. Museums are closed on Mondays.
Siesta is from 2 pm to five pm, and most companies are closed throughout these hours. Museums, nonetheless, are open all day.
Mealtimes are totally different from what Individuals are accustomed to. Lunch is at 2 pm, and most eating places don’t open for dinner till 8 pm.
Keep away from renting a automotive if you happen to can, as parking could be very arduous to search out in Santander. We did hire a automotive since we had been persevering with on to Casa Beatnik, however parking was so difficult that we saved the automotive parked in a storage whereas we had been in Santander and relied on the bus as an alternative. The bus system could be very environment friendly!
The best way to Match Santander into Your Spain Trip
Santander is about an hour and fifteen minutes from Bilbao, two and a half hours from San Sebastian, and 7 and a half hours from Barcelona by automotive. The practice from Madrid to Santander is about 4 and a half hours.
Santander is a small metropolis with a inhabitants of about 173,000 and a big neighborhood of retirees. It is not an enormous vacationer vacation spot, nevertheless it’s a spot to decelerate and benefit from the Spanish lifestyle. It is actually price a go to in case you are within the space. See Santander along side Spain’s bigger cities.
Issues to Do in Santander
Seashores
Playa de Magdelena
This small seaside is fashionable with households because it’s situated on the bay aspect and there are not any waves. Watersport leases, together with paddleboats with slides and paddleboards, can be found. Moreover, there’s a cafe that provides gentle meals.
Sardinero I and Sardinero II
This pair of enormous sandy seashores is on the opposite aspect of the peninsula from Playa de Magdelena. These seashores have waves and are fashionable with surfers. There are a number of meals stands alongside the seashores.
Palacio de la Magdalena
Constructed between 1909 and 1911, this palace sits on a hill on the Magdalena Peninsula overlooking the ocean as a summer time residence for the Spanish royal household. In 1977, the palace and peninsula had been bought again to town of Santander. At the moment, it is dwelling to a college. Excursions of the palace can be found on weekends throughout the summertime and day by day from mid-September by way of mid-June.
Santander Cathedral
Catedral de Santander is formally named Nuestra Señora de la Asunción Church-Cathedral and was constructed within the early thirteenth century within the Gothic type. A further part dates from the 14th century. The cathedral has a decrease church which was constructed on the stays of a Roman-era acropolis.
The cloister dates from the fifteenth century. The cathedral is open day by day type 10 am till 1 pm and from 4:30 pm till 7:30 pm. For a panoramic view of town, climb to the highest of the belltower.
Centro Botin
Positioned on the water within the middle of town, Centro Botin is an arts and tradition middle that hosts rotating artwork reveals, music, theatre, and dance performances, plus movie and literature occasions.
Museums
Observe that Santander’s museums are closed on Mondays.
MAS (Museo de Arte Moderno y Contemporáneo de Santander y Cantabria)
This newly opened museum devoted to Trendy and Up to date Artwork from Santander and Cantabria is free to go to. The gathering spans 4 flooring and contains works by Goya and Miró.
Maritime Museum
Most likely Santander’s most well-known museum, the Maritime Museum a large whale skeleton, reveals that discover maritime historical past, and an aquarium.
Museum of Prehistory and Archaeology of Cantabria
Positioned beside Mercado de Este, Santander’s Museum of Prehistory and Archaeology of Cantabria shows artifacts from prehistoric days by way of the Center Ages. Guests can simply work their method by way of the gathering in a few hours.
Kids may discover the subject material dry for the reason that reveals aren’t significantly interactive and consist principally of shows of historical instruments.
The Museum of Man and the Sea
An open-air museum on the Magdalena Peninsula, a brief stroll from Palacio de la Magdalena, that may be a tribute to the 9 expeditions made by scientist and sailor Very important Alsar Ramirez between 1966 and 1992. The exhibit contains three galleons and a raft that he utilized in his ocean explorations. The raft was what Alsar used to cross the Pacific in 1970.
Santander Markets
Santander has two giant markets, one is extra centered on ready meals whereas the opposite sells produce, fish, meat, and different gadgets.
Mercado del Este
This market is open on a regular basis from 8 am till 11:30 pm and focuses on ready meals. It is excellent spot to strive pinchos.
Mercado de la Esperanza
This huge market has three areas: the downstairs fish market, the upstairs market with cheese, produce, meats, and a few stalls with ready meals, and an outside market with clothes and different gadgets.
The second-floor market is to not be missed. Benefit from the uncommon alternative to have an iced espresso at Kafeteros, after which wander round. Excursions of this market obtainable. Mercado de la Esperanza is open from 8 am – 2 pm Monday by way of Saturday. On Thursdays and Fridays the market can also be open type 5 pm till 7:30 pm.
Santander Playgrounds
We visited two playgrounds throughout our time in Santander.
Pereda Gardens Park
This playground subsequent to Centro Botin was my daughter’s favourite – most likely as a result of it has a large two-story carousel.
Positioned in a touristy a part of city, this playground had plenty of kids talking quite a lot of languages enjoying collectively. Beside the playground is a restaurant that serves espresso, beer, and light-weight meals.
Parque Juegos Magdalena
Positioned simply down the hill from the Palacio de la Magdalena, this playground wasn’t very busy and had plenty of areas for climbing.
Coastal Stroll
Strolling alongside the coast is likely one of the greatest issues to do in Santander. There are a number of trails to discover.
Magdalena Peninsula
Admire the view of the Mouro Island lighthouse from Magdalena Peninsula – there’s a nice view from Palacio de la Magdalena. For those who do not need to stroll up the hill, you may take a small practice to the highest after which stroll down.
The Mataleñas
The Mataleñas is a strolling path that runs alongside the coast from Sardinero Seaside to the Cabo Mayor Lighthouse. The Cabo Mayor Lighthouse is likely one of the greatest locations to look at the sundown in Santander. Heads up – in June and July the sundown is often after 10 pm!
Santander’s metropolis middle has some nice procuring. A few of the greatest streets to go to are Calle Jesús de Monasterio, Calle Lealtad, Calle San Francisco, Calle Juan de Herrera, and Calle Calvo Sotelo.
A Uniquely Spanish Annual Occasion: La Noche de San Juan
This annual occasion takes place all through Spain (extra so in seaside cities) and includes celebrating the shortest evening of the yr by lighting small fires on the seaside and leaping over them. In Santander, the occasion options music, dancing, meals, drinks, and a large bonfire. The festivities get going round 11 pm – the sundown on the solistice is not till round 10:30 pm.
An Important Facet Journey: Santillana del Mar
This medieval metropolis is nearly a 25-minute drive from Santander – it’s the best exercise for a day that isn’t a seaside day. Santillana del Mar is legendary for 2 issues: its location on the Camino de Santiago, a well-liked pilgrimage route that ends in Santiago de Compostela, and its well-preserved medieval structure.
The city, with its flower-filled balconies, stone buildings, and cobblestone streets, is really charming. There are many pretty eating places with out of doors seating; we had a leisurely lunch at a restaurant with a menu of the day earlier than exploring the village.
Keep tuned for extra articles about Santander’s meals and eating places.
