Introduction
When to visit
How to get there
Where to stay
Hiring a car

Santander travel guide

Santander Tourism | Santander Guide

You're Going to Love Santander

With a population of 182,700, Santander is the largest city in Cantabria, Spain by the number of inhabitants. It is one of the most popular cities to visit in the country. We recommend you stay at least 6 days in order to fully appreciate everything Santander has to offer.

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When to visit Santander

Santander in November
Estimated hotel price
$131
1 night at 3-star hotel
Santander in November
Estimated hotel price
$131
1 night at 3-star hotel

Looking for warm weather? Then head to Santander in August, when the average temperature is 20 °C, and the highest can go up to 24 °C. The coldest month, on the other hand, is January, when it can get as cold as 6 °C, with an average temperature of 10 °C. You’re likely to see more rain in November, when precipitation is around 130 mm. In contrast, July is usually the driest month of the year in Santander, with an average rainfall of 40 mm.

Data provided by weatherbase
Temperatures
Temperatures
Data provided by weatherbase

How to Get to Santander

Plane

When flying to Santander, you’ll arrive at Santander Airport (SDR), which is located 4 km from the city centre.

Train

Renfe is the most popular train carrier serving Santander, followed by Train. The train journey from Santander to Bilbao takes 3h 30m and costs around $19 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Madrid, expect to pay about $58 for a 4h 20m trip. Located 0.5 km from the city centre, Santander is the busiest station in Santander. Another popular train station is Santander Valdecilla, located 1.8 km from the centre.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Santander, including ALSA, Bilman Bus and Bus. From Bilbao, the bus ride to Santander takes 105 km and will cost you around $31. From Oviedo, the ticket costs about $60 for a journey of 217 km. The most popular bus station is Santander, located 0.3 km from the city centre of Santander. Santander Peñacastillo is also a commonly used station, and is 5 km from the city centre.

Plane

When flying to Santander, you’ll arrive at Santander Airport (SDR), which is located 4 km from the city centre.

Train

Renfe is the most popular train carrier serving Santander, followed by Train. The train journey from Santander to Bilbao takes 3h 30m and costs around $19 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Madrid, expect to pay about $58 for a 4h 20m trip. Located 0.5 km from the city centre, Santander is the busiest station in Santander. Another popular train station is Santander Valdecilla, located 1.8 km from the centre.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Santander, including ALSA, Bilman Bus and Bus. From Bilbao, the bus ride to Santander takes 105 km and will cost you around $31. From Oviedo, the ticket costs about $60 for a journey of 217 km. The most popular bus station is Santander, located 0.3 km from the city centre of Santander. Santander Peñacastillo is also a commonly used station, and is 5 km from the city centre.

Airports near Santander

SDRSantander
VITVitoria-Gasteiz
BIOBilbao

Airlines serving Santander

KLM
Good (1,442 reviews)
Lufthansa
Good (7,738 reviews)
British Airways
Good (7,689 reviews)
Delta
Good (8,088 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (4,200 reviews)
SWISS
Good (1,855 reviews)
Iberia
Good (3,094 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (9,191 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,718 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,523 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (894 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (10,646 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,660 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,374 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (1,140 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,353 reviews)
LOT
Good (1,174 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (382 reviews)
TAP AIR PORTUGAL
Good (2,124 reviews)
China Eastern
Good (191 reviews)
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Where to stay in Santander

From 5-star hotels such as the Eurostars Hotel Real to great affordable options like the Las Carolinas Garden, Santander offers a range of accommodations for every taste. Average rates range from around $114 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $219 and up for a 5-star experience. If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include Hospedaje Magallanes and Hotel Picos De Europa.

Where to stay in popular areas of Santander

Most booked hotels in Santander

See all
Hotel Bahía
4 stars
Excellent (8.9, Excellent reviews)
$137+
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Eurostars Hotel Real
5 stars
Excellent (8.9, Excellent reviews)
$219+
View
Santemar
4 stars
Excellent (8.8, Excellent reviews)
$116+
View
Hotel Palacio del Mar
4 stars
Excellent (8.6, Excellent reviews)
$111+
View

Hiring a car in Santander

Expect to pay $2.86 per litre in Santander (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your car hire, filling up the tank will cost between $34.30 and $45.73. The most frequently booked car type in Santander is Full-size (Renault Scénic or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Mini car hire (Fiat 500 or similar) is, on average, 90% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.

Expect to pay $2.86 per litre in Santander (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your car hire, filling up the tank will cost between $34.30 and $45.73. The most frequently booked car type in Santander is Full-size (Renault Scénic or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Mini car hire (Fiat 500 or similar) is, on average, 90% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.

Find car hire in Santander