9 Best Things to Do in Santander

Paseo de Pereda is an 800-meter waterfront walkway that stretches between Puertochico and Santander Cathedral. The promenade is lined with classy 19th-century apartment buildings that house bars and restaurants with terraces. The walkway is famous for its garden – Jardines de Pereda. Here, you’ll find the Centro Botín, a cultural and exhibition center designed in a stunning modern style. Taking a stroll on this popular walkway is a good way to get into the mood of Santander.

Built for the Spanish Royal Family between 1908 and 1912, Magdalena Palace made Santander’s reputation as a vacation destination. The T-shaped palace covers 2,500 sq m and is built in a classic style that blends French, English and local influences. Today, it’s the most visited place in Santander. Its position towards the tip of Santander Peninsula makes it a great spot for pleasant strolls with beautiful ocean vistas along the coast.

La Magdalena Park covers over 300,000 sq m of the tip of the Santander Peninsula. It’s bordered by Playa de los Bikinis (Bikinis Beach) to the south, while its northern and western coasts are rugged and rocky. In the park, you’ll find a large kids’ playground, a zoo and a museum housing full-size replicas of Christopher Columbus’ 3 caravels. Toilets are also available in the park. La Magdalena Park hosts the Santander Music Festival every August.

El Sardinero is a 1,300-meters spotless strip of golden sand, divided in 2 sections by a rocky headland that hosts Piquío Park. You’ll find restaurants, ice cream shops, surf schools and public baths all along the beach. A pedestrian promenade runs along its length, offering a great strolling and jogging path. Facing the east, El Sardinero is sheltered by the Cabo Menor and La Magdalena peninsulas, making the sea calm and safe for small children to swim in.

Puertochico is a neighborhood located near Santander city center, just north of the marina. This district used to be the original fishing pier of the city before the boats moved to Barrio Pesquero. Puertochico is effectively the Old Town of Santander. Despite the fact most of the city was reconstructed after the great fire of 1941, you can still find a few 18th- and 19th-century buildings here. Filled with tapas bars and restaurants, Puertochico is a pleasant area to stroll around.

Mercado de la Esperanza (Hope Market) is a large covered market built at the end of the 19th century. Featuring splendid cast-iron architecture, Mercado de la Esperanza is a nice place to get a glimpse of local life. You’ll find a large variety of fresh produce here, obviously including fish and seafood, but also a good choice of transportation-friendly goods like honey, cheese, anchovies and many more treats to take back home with you.

A great choice of boat trips are available for you around the Bay of Santander. Lined with beaches and dunes, the bay features sandbanks and islands. Run by several companies that can be found along Paseo de Pereda and around Santander Marina, you can join half- and full-day trips along the beautiful Cantabrian coast. You also can get on board one of the Los Reginas ferries. A return ticket to Somo or Pedreña costs just a few Euros and the trip, if you stay on the boat at the stops, lasts only 45 minutes.

Covering 750 hectares of karst landscape reclaimed from the former open-pit iron mine, Cabárceno Natural Park is a stunning place to see animals such as European bison, jaguars and white rhinoceroses living like they would in their natural habitats. Follow the designated routes with your own car to go from station to station and safely spot the animals roaming free in the park. The entrance fee includes a ride in a cable car that goes all around the park. Restaurant, cafeteria, gift shop and first aid center are available in the park.

Plaza de Cañadío is the place to go for a festive night in Santander. Located in the city center, 200 meters north of Paseo de Pereda, this square is packed with cool bars and restaurants. Canela, Bogart and Ventilador are just a few of the watering holes at hand in this lively square. Most of them set up tables and chairs al fresco, so you can enjoy the warmth of the Spanish nights until the wee hours (at least in summer).