Things to Do in Santander

Experience the ostentatious splendor of a palatial home where members of the Spanish royal family used to take their summer vacations.

Treat yourself to a day out at the seaside at a popular beach that lies next to a vast coastal park filled with sights and attractions.

Make your way to a delightful spot on Santander's coastline to swim, stroll, relax and enjoy stunning views out to sea.

This fortress-like building is actually two churches combined and stands on a pile of Roman ruins. Inside, see religious works of art and sacred relics.

In the heart of the city’s commercial area is a beautiful square surrounded by a collection of grand arcaded buildings.

Explore the casino, international restaurants and many quaint cafés that adorn the charming promenade that overlooks this picturesque sandy haven.

Relax on the beaches at the base of the bluffs and ride the little train to observe sea lions and penguins.

Ignore the Spanish name’s warning and relax on the golden sand of one of the calmest beaches in the city.

Take it easy or get active on an attractive beach that is surrounded by gorgeous cliff-top scenery waiting to be explored.

Examine religious works of art beneath the low vaulted ceiling of a church that makes up the lower section of Santander Cathedral.

Learn of the talented diving children who were forced to work and catch tips in their teeth in Santander Bay.

Inspect the intriguing ancient objects excavated from several archaeological digs of prehistoric and medieval sites dotted around the Cantabria region.

Come face to face with undersea creatures and learn about the local fishing industry and its traditions at this fascinating museum.

Delight in the colors and scents of a public garden that sits above two beaches. Enjoy the stellar views of the Atlantic Ocean.

Appreciate public art, play some golf, exercise your body and revel in the delightful scenery of the second-largest park in the city.

Go up to a 19th-century cliff top lighthouse for fabulous sea views and to study its rich collection of art.

Find some seclusion and get away from the hubbub of Santander’s main beaches at this peaceful spot near a former royal residence.

Wander along the charming promenade and inspect the wonderful statues and fountain in gardens built on the city’s old port.

Browse the eclectic range of Cantabrian food at the stalls spread across the two floors of this iconic market hall.

Consider the importance of this institution in the banking world while you marvel at the building’s vast hole through which vehicles pass.

For almost 200 years this rocky outcrop has been home to Santander’s lighthouse, where there’s now an art gallery, café and monuments to the area’s history.