What to do in Santander

Activities, attractions and tours
Santander showing a sandy beach, general coastal views and rocky coastline
Palacio de la Magdalena showing a garden and heritage architecture
Santander
Santander
Banco Santander showing heritage architecture

Santander Attractions

Let Expedia help you experience the best that Santander has to offer! If you’re looking for fun itinerary ideas, we can provide you with a list of the top sightseeing attractions, as well as helping you to find unmissable activities. Whether you’re travelling with your family, planning a romantic trip with your loved one, or visiting on business, we’ll make it easy to plan an unforgettable holiday that checks all the boxes.

Activities and Tours

Santander is crammed with must-see places to visit and things to do. We can help you decide where to stay, and make it a breeze to explore the surrounding areas with our guides on where to go, what to see and when to see it. No matter how long your stay, it’s easy to find places of interest in Santander to make sure that you enjoy your experience to the fullest and don’t miss a thing. Leave the local knowledge to us and leave the hassle behind.

If you’re planning a visit, why not check out our handy guides to places of interest in the area? You can browse lists of things to do, learn about the most popular attractions, and get help with planning the details of your trip. Expedia makes it easy for you to check out all the top sights.

Santander Attractions

Expedia has something for everyone, so whether you’re planning to get active on a summer holiday, put a spring in your step with a romantic rendezvous, or pamper yourself with a leisurely winter trip, you’ll find plenty of attractions to keep you entertained. In addition to scheduling local tours, booking reservations and scoring advance event tickets, Expedia makes it easy to book your flight, hotel and rental car in advance, all on one consolidated travel itinerary, making for hassle-free travel and freeing you up to explore the sights of Santander.

Looking for things to do can be time consuming, but we can take the hassle out of planning your holiday. Whether you’re looking to get active in the great outdoors, sample the cuisine or catch up with the vibrant local culture, our guides to Santander attractions ensure that you’ll have a successful trip, whatever the season.


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Top places to visit

1. Palacio de la Magdalena

Enter the richly decorated rooms and salons of the Palacio de la Magdalena where Spanish royals used to enjoy their vacations. This magnificent early 20th-century building was the summer residence of King Alfonso XIII and Queen Victoria Eugenia de Battenberg for 18 years. They ruled Spain until the country became a republic for the second time, in 1931.
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Palacio de la Magdalena showing heritage architecture, a house and a park

2. El Sardinero Beach

El Sardinero Beach is one of the most popular and lively strands in Santander. Surrounded by scenic verdant gardens and jagged bluffs, the beach offers stunning views in all directions. Take your whole family for a swim in the calm and shallow waters of the Bay of Biscay.
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El Sardinero Beach featuring general coastal views, a coastal town and a beach

3. Santander Cathedral

Santander Cathedral has been a dominant presence since the 13th century, an austere Gothic structure on the incline of a hill. Explore this grandiose medieval church which occupies a site that once housed Roman baths and later an abbey.
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Santander Cathedral showing heritage architecture

4. Banco Santander

Banco Santander is the headquarters of the multinational bank of worldwide renown. As the location of the bank’s founding, its neoclassical building is suitably majestic, featuring a large burrowed arch at its center and a rectangular pediment on its roof with a Spanish flag flying in the breeze. Pass through the central arch and gaze up at the enormous building as you consider its rich history.
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Banco Santander showing heritage architecture

5. Magdalena Peninsula

Magdalena Peninsula features scenic terrain, made up of emerald bluffs, pine woodland and golden sandy beaches. Adorning this serene landscape are some of Santander’s best attractions, including three galleons, a marine zoo and a majestic palace. Snap photos of the rugged coastline and the nearby islands rising from picturesque Santander Bay.
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Magdalena Peninsula which includes a sandy beach, general coastal views and rocky coastline

What to do in Santander


Discover the most popular places to visit in Santander

Explore areas of Santander

Banco Santander featuring heritage architecture

Santander City Centre

5/5(1 area review)

Santander City Centre is popular for its abundant dining options, and if you're looking for more to see and do, you might think about a trip to Jardines de Pereda or Plaza Porticada.

Santander City Centre
Monumento a Los Raqueros showing a statue or sculpture, a bay or harbor and outdoor art

Puertochico

The beaches and waterfront views are top of the list for many visitors to Puertochico. A stop by Chico Port or Bay of Biscay might round out your trip.

Puertochico
This very high statue of a woman looking through a telescope in central Santander is called Into the future

Cabildo de Arriba

The pristine beaches and captivating waterfront views are top of the list for many visitors to Cabildo de Arriba. A stop by Iglesia de Nuestra Senora de la Consolacion or Sotileza Mural might round out your trip.

Cabildo de Arriba
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Castilla-Hermida

Pristine beaches and captivating waterfront views are well-reviewed features of Castilla-Hermida. Make a stop by top sights like La Marga Park while you're exploring the area.

Castilla-Hermida
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Cazoña

Beaches and waterfront views are well-reviewed features of Cazoña. Make a stop by top sights like Parque del Doctor Morales while you're exploring the area.

Cazoña
Cantabria Maritime Museum which includes marine life and interior views

San Martín

Notable for its beaches, shopping, and waterfront views, San Martín is a sought-after destination for many travelers visiting Santander. If you want to see some sights in the area, check out Palace of Festivals of Cantabria or Cantabria Maritime Museum.

San Martín

 

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Day trip destinations from Santander