Free walking tours in Santander and what to see

Must-sees

Santander is best explored by following the bay. Start in the centre, between the Jardines de Pereda and the Centro Botín, Renzo Piano’s building overlooking the water. The Paseo de Pereda, with its grand façades, leads to Puertochico, the old fishermen’s quarter. Close by are the cathedral, with its crypt of the Cristo, and the Mercado de la Esperanza, a good place to see local produce.

Following the coast you reach the Magdalena peninsula, a large park with the palace that was the royal family’s summer residence. From there you see Mouro island and the mouth of the bay. On the other side are the Sardinero beaches, with the Gran Casino and the Piquío gardens. If you have time, go out to the Cabo Mayor lighthouse, where the cliffs change the landscape completely.

Free tours and guided visits

Santander’s free tours usually focus on the centre and the bay. They tell how the great fire of 1941 changed the city, about life in the port and the era when the royal court spent its summers here. Some carry on to the Magdalena and the Sardinero. You tip what you like.

Among the paid options, the guided visit to the Magdalena Palace is the most common. Boat trips around the bay are also popular, as are day trips to Santillana del Mar, Comillas, with Gaudí’s El Capricho, and the Altamira Museum. Another frequent outing is the Cabárceno Nature Park, half an hour away by car.

How long to spend

Two days are enough to get to know the city. Spend the first on the centre, the cathedral, the Centro Botín and Puertochico. The second on the Magdalena, the Sardinero and Cabo Mayor, with time for the beach if the weather allows. If you add a third day, use it for a trip along the western coast of Cantabria or to Cabárceno.

Where to stay

The centre is the best base if you want to get around on foot and have stations, shops and tapas bars close by, especially around the Plaza de Cañadío and Puertochico. The Sardinero is quieter and has the beach on the doorstep, ideal in summer, although it’s about a twenty-minute walk from the centre or a short city bus ride. Both areas have a good choice of hotels.