Things to See and Do in Cantabria

At the heart of Cantabria and, for many, the entry point to northern Spain, the beautiful bay of Santander not only offers a natural harbour but lovely sheltered beaches right beside the city centre. Favoured by the royals at the turn of the century the city centre has a definite Belle Epoque feel to it and the royal Palacio de la Magdalena stands proud on the headland which all but closes the bay as testament to those days. Often overlooked or thought of as ust a port of entry, Santander is a beautiful, lively city, steeped in history and with plenty of great restaurants and tapas bars, a fine maritime museum, sandy beaches - and great shopping too!

If staying east of the city take the little ferry from Somo into the heart of Santander - an experience to remember!

The city of Santander, set on the beautiful bay of the same name, boasts 10 city beaches, perhaps the most famous of which is El Sardinero - pictured here.  There are plenty more beaches around the bay, including Somo, across the way, to which you can take a foot-ferry.

When visiting Santander be sure to pack your cozzie! 

Designed by the architect Renzo Piano, this spectacular modern building sits in an enviable position on the quay near the ferry port in Santander. Opened in 2017, it  has the most splendid views of the bay and is backed by the lovely 'Jardines de Pereda'. 

With permanent and temporary art exhibitions, musical events and other cultural activities in the stunning auditorium, it is well worth a visit.

There is a stylish cafeteria and restaurant too, serving snacks throughout the day and full meals.

MUPAC, Museo de Prehistoria y Arqueologia de Cantabria changed location in 201 and is now in a new modern building under the Mercado del Este, just behind the main Paseo de Pereda in Santander.

The Museum covers the history of Cantabria from the first humans to the present day in a well thought out and easily flowing visit. In English and French, the museum is full of interactive displays using the latest technology, it is a fascinating insight into the region.

The most interesting of Cantabrias huge range of archaeological treasures are on display, including incredibly detailed pieces found in Cantabria's many prehistoric caves, some of the oldest in the world, and the most important of the many Roman, Celtic and Visigothic relics found in the region. Treat for kids and adults alike, the MUPAC is a must for history lovers when visiting Cantabria and will put everything you see around the region into perspective.

There's plenty to see so allow 2 or 3 hours for the visit.

Cabarceno wildlife park should be an essential part of any family holiday in Cantabria. Set in the most dramatic scenery where startling red rock formations contrast with the rich green of Cantabria, here the animals all have lots of space to wander freely whilst being easy to observe.

DON'T MISS - There are several shows every day including sea-lions and birds of prey. In 2014 two baby gorillas were the stars of the show. You can tour Cabarceno wildlife park in the car (recommended), by foot or by bicycle (not for the faint hearted). There is now a cable-car going 6kms round the park, a wonderful way of seeing all the animals in their habitats. Cabarceno is the largest park of its kind in Europe. And get this - the whole of Madrid zoo would fit in the elephant enclosure!

Rising dramatically straight from the rugged coastline to a height of over 2600m (very nearly twice Ben Nevis), the spectacular Picos de Europa form the rocky heart of northern Spain. The Picos, as they are commonly known, are divided into three massifs, in Asturias the Central and Western, which are dramatically divided by the mile-deep Cares gorge - providing one of the region’s most famous walking routes - and the Eastern, which sits above the Valle de Liébana on the Cantabrian side, centred on the town of Potes.

Home to bears and wolves as well as a host of birds of prey, vultures and other bird life as well as a myriad of butterflies, this is a nature lover’s dream and a paradise for walkers of all abilities, mountaineers, cyclists and all who enjoy adventure sports.

For walking routes there's an excellent visitor centre in Tama, the Casa de la Naturaleza in Pesaguero and the Tourist office in Potes - and your hotel owners are a mine of information. The Sunflower Guide to the Picos de Europa is also an excellent source for this area in particular.

For route planning ahead of time as well as on-the-ground navigation Wikiloc is an excellent resource. Founded in Spain, the platform features a wealth of well-documented routes throughout the Peninsula.

At the heart of the Valle de Liebana, Picos de Europa, lies medieval Potes which, to this day, serves as the cultural and commercial centre for the area.

The picturesque town lies at the crossroads of the three natural routes in and out of the valley; to the coast, to León and to Palencia and as such is steeped in history, of particular interest being nearby Santo Toribio de Liebana which is said to house a piece of the holy cross. 

Lively with Spanish mountain lovers, and lively at the weekends and in the summer, Potes has plenty of bars and restaurants in which to sample the hearty local fare, but the main attraction is the fantastic scenery and the walking in this unspoilt rural valley which at times appears lost in time.

A trip to the stunning Picos de Europa mountains should always include the epperience of taking the cable car on the awesome and, for some, vertigo-inducing ride up the sheer cliff from Fuente Dé to the Mirador del Cable 1800 metres above.

Once at the top you can continue for 4km to the Refugio de Aliva, a popular modern version of the old mountain refuge where you can have a refreshment before taking the path that leads you down to Espinama below, not far from Fuente De - a very pleasant and exciting days outing.

For the less energetic there are jeep rides too, or just go up and wander about a bit - you won’t be disappointed. Be warned, it's advisable to book ahead - click here - and there are often queues for the cable car in the high season and at weekends, go early or at Spanish lunchtime (13.30 - 16.30).

At the eastern end of the Picos de Europa, in the province of Cantabria, lies the beautiful Valle de Liébana. Accessed by way of the vertiginous gorge of La Hermida and protected on all sides by towering, rocky mountains which ensure the valley a benign micro-climate, this is the perfect base from which to explore the Picos de Europa.

At the centre of the valley is the medieval town of Potes which, though busy in the summer, is well preserved and retains its authentic character. Here, as well as the excellent cheeses, pastries and liqueurs, you’ll find all finds of mountain activities on offer. Dotted around the valley are countless tiny villages and hamlets - head up to Cahecho for spectacular views, Mogrovejo where they made a film version of Heidi or Pendes to marvel at the awesome 1000-year-old chestnut trees.

Other attractions include the monastery of Santo Toribio, a major pilgrimage destination, said to house a piece of the True Cross and no visit would be complete without a ride up to the giddying heights in the cable car at Fuente Dé.

Tucked into a hollow by the river Deva in the sleepy village of Lebeña, you couldn’t ask for a more idyllic setting for this most exquisite, little, Pre-Romanesque (Mozarabic) church.

Built in 925, and flanked by an olive tree and stub of a yew tree of the same age, it is as impressive as any of the more famous churches in the region. Though restored little over a century ago, Mozarabic elements remain along with Visigothic and Celtic features. A true delight.

The little village of Mogrovejo, between Potes and Fuente De, must be one of Cantabria's prettiest. Its location alone, with the dramatic Andara massif as a backdrop and the craggy Monte Subiedes with its colony of vultures at the fore, is stunning. With its imposing medieval tower, charming C17th church and handsome traditional houses, it is not surprising that it was chosen as the location for the unfortunately never-released "Heidi".

Enjoy a drink and a tapa at one its family run bars and soak in the atmosphere and the panoramic views.

The Monastery of Santo Toribio of Liebana (near to Potes in the Cantabrian mountains) stands alongside Jerusalem, Rome, Santiago de Compostela and Caravaca de la Cruz as one of only five places with the privilege to celebrate a Holy Year, granted by a Papal Bull from Julius II in 1512.

The privilege was granted as Santo Toribio guards the largest piece of the holy cross - the Lignum Crucis - brought here in the 7th century to protect it from the Moors.

Santillana del Mar, one of the highlights of any visit to Cantabria, is a beautiful village of grand old mansions the highlight being the Colegiata de Santillana del Mar at the top of the town. A short walk from the town centre lie the caves of Altamira, the 'Sistine chapel' of cave painting and there is a zoo with a particularly interesting butterfly house.

Historic Comillas, set on a lovely bay with a nice sandy beach and little, protected fishing harbour is surely one of Cantabria´s most beautiful towns.

Favoured by royalty in the 'Belle Epoque' Comillas boasts a fine collection of Modernist architecture including Gaudi's Capricho and the Palacio de Sobrellano as well as a lovely old town.

Northern Spain's magnificent collection of 17 caves with Cro-Magnon artworks have recently awarded the status of Unesco World Heritage Site, in fact Altamira, the jewel in the crown, has enjoyed this status for some years .

The caves are spread along the coast from the Basque country, through Cantabria, where the highest concentration is to be found, to Asturias and they lie mostly between the Cordillera Cantabrica and the sea, making a visit easy to combine with a great seaside holiday.

Oyambre beach set in the beautiful protected nature park of Oyambre with the snow capped Picos mountains as a backdrop, situated between the delightful historic seaside towns of Comillas and San Vicente de La Barquera must be one of the finest, unspoilt stretches of golden sand backed by dunes anywhere.

With its totally sheltered estuary to one side, ideal for young families, the main beach washed by the ocean surf is great for jumping in and out of the waves, surfing when the wind is right or just enjoying a good swim. Plenty of space for all with only a couple of beach bars, the natural beauty of this place is unique.

El Soplao cave, considered as one of the great treasures of world geology was once a mine, but in 1975 when that was closed speleological exploration began to reveal a unique and spectacular crystallographic content.

Situated 62 kms from Santander in beautiful natural surroundings, this is a visit not to be missed.

Apart from stalactites and stalagmites. the helictites formations are truly exceptional.

The Soplao caves are reached by a mining train which is great fun for the kids (of all ages) and there is a tour on foot through the tunnels and rooms of La Gorda, Los Fantasmas, Mirador de Lacuerre, Centinelas and Ópera lasting about an hour. For the more adventurous there are longer tours of two and a half hours covering 6 kms.

A little gem of a village, beautifully preserved and a great place to stop off for lunch or just a wander about.

Carmona is strategically placed halfway round the Saja - Nansa route, a circular route, starting from the coast and exploring two of Cantabria's loveliest valleys.

The active fishing port of San Vicente de la Barquera sits at the gateway to the Oyambre Nature Park and with the Picos de Europa as a backdrop.

For centuries San Vicente de la Barquera has been an important staging post on the Camino de Santiago and so there are plenty of historic monuments to visit as well as plenty of fishy treats to savour.

Cantabria is defined by its valleys and in the east there are two little known gems in the Ason and Miera valleys which head inland from Laredo and Lierganes respectively.

Dramatic sparsely populated glacial valleys, which run parallel to each other make an ideal circular tour. Don't miss the source of the Rio Asón or cave-trekking or walking in the Collados de Asón nature park - there is a great Visitor's Centre in La Gandara, the lovely spa town of Lierganes is worth a visit and finish off the day with Chocolate y Picatostes down in Limpias.

One of the smallest visitable caves but a real favourite with paintings of red hind and occupation dating back 45,000 years - limited to 6 people at a time & advance booking essential.

Not strictly Cantabria (it's just over the border into Biscaya) but an absolute must-see whilst in the Eastern valleys.

The largest collection of classic & vintage Rolls Royce cars in Europe, possibly the world in a stunning hill-top castle setting.

Open to the public Sundays only 10.00 to 15.00 (private guided tours available for groups at any time).

In the rolling hills of Eastern Cantabria the Valle de Pas has been inhabited by humans since the Palaeolithic age, evidence of which can be seen in the fine cave paintings at Puente Viesgo.

More recently the Pasiego people have dedicated themselves to farming and herding cattle and have developed their own distinct culture in these isolated valleys.

There is a fine heritage of monasteries and Romanesque temples to visit as well as some fantastic walking and one of northern Spain's best Spas at Puente Viesgo.

At the gateway to the Valle de Pas, Puente Viesgo is a pretty village set right on the river, famous for its elegant spa. don't miss a visit to the caves here. Whilst not as grandiose as the Altamira Cave you can still see the original paintings and get a better feeling of how the Cro-Magnon people lived - truly fascinating.

Although only half an hour from Santander (there's a 'Via Verde' cycle path right from the city centre) you can already feel a change of pace here and there are some great little bars and restaurants. And make sure to sample the local produce made with the unusually creamy local milk - a packet of buttery 'Sobaos' should last you a week - bet they don't though!

There are two caves in Puente Viesgo: La Cueva de El Castillo and La Cueva de Las Monedas. Pre-historic art can be seen in both caves. For more information and booking visit Cultura de Cantabria website.

Containing the oldest known cave-art in the world (dating back to at least 0,800 years) a visit to the Cueva del Castillo in Puente Viesgo is highly recommended.

The caves are quite small and the artwork simple (in comparison with Altamira certainly) but well worth the visit as you not only see the original art (as opposed to a replica) but also the distribution of the cave, with living quarters near the entrance and the sacred parts, dedicated to worship, in the deeper recesses - makes the visit really quite special.

Called Flaviobriga by the Romans, Castro Urdiales is set on a cliff between Bilbao and Santander, and preserves a fine old quarter with a lovely harbour. The town is dominated by the ruined Templar castle and the fortress-like Gothic Church of Santa Maria constructed almost entirely in the 12th century and is full of all sorts of curious details like rabbits kissing oxen, dragons devouring servants. 

If hunger sets in you are spoilt for choice for bars serving the most tempting, mouth watering pintxos - little snacks which make a meal in themselves - Basque-style snacks at Cantabrian prices!

The path around Monte Buceiro offers a lovely, fairly gentle, walk with fantastic views of the bay of Laredo and the coast beyond towards Viscaya. There are several options, all the way round (views over Playa Berria and the marshes of Santoña) half way round and over the top (through the holm oak forest) or out and back as far as you fancy.

For those who like a challenge there's a nice one awaiting at roughly the half way point - the steps of the Faro del Caballo lighthouse. 760 very steep double-depth steps take you right back down to sea level and you could even swim back, back to where you started from. The views are fantastic and well worth the effort but it's really not for the faint hearted!

Oyambre beach set in the beautiful protected nature park of Oyambre with the snow capped Picos mountains as a backdrop,- see 'highlights' above...

Comillas beach, a perfect stretch of golden sand set on a lovely bay with a small fishing harbour at one end is surely one of Cantabria's most beautiful.

Favoured by royalty from the 'Belle Epoque' through to the present day, the town of Comillas boasts a fine collection of Modernist architecture including Gaudi's Capricho as well as a lovely old town.

All this provides the perfect backdrop to the bay where the sea invites to swim in at any time. The little fishing harbour still sees the colourful fishing boats come and go and in the two typical bars there you can get the real taste of the sea even on Christmas Day.

The beach gets quite busy in the summer, but is one of the best beaches for swimming (as it has a protected orientation) - go there in the morning before the Spaniards get out of bed!

At one time our 'little secret', but now becoming better known. Prellezo beach, just west of San Vicente de La Barquera, a sandy, secret cove at one time, now more popular in the summer, might be difficult to find but it's well worth the effort.

This is a very special place with fantastic, theatrical rock formations and imposing archways reaching from the fine sand into the sea.

It's just a little cove- rocks, sand, rock pools and no scary surf. Great for swimming, crabbing - but do beware when the tide comes rushing in though, especially if the sea is rough!

The main beach of San Vicente de la Barquera and the other 'face' of Oyambre.

Popular with surfers and in the summer months with families the beach is big enough to never feel too crowded.

Those looking for the waves can usually find what they want either here or on Oyambre beach next door as their differing orientations mean that one or the other gets the surf, whichever direction it's coming from.

A long beach (1400 m) Merón is also great for walking whatever the weather.

This is an unspoilt, country beach with fine, white sand. There are no lifeguards here so you must take great care at all times.

Beautiful Cobreces beach, where the lush green grass meets the sea, a shell-like bay flanked by cliffs on either side of its firm golden sands is ideal for all the family.

Children can be amused for hours jumping in and out of the waves, playing bat and ball or shrimping in the fascinating rock pools. Adults can just lie back and enjoy the sun and the sea breeze, stroll along the shore or take a refreshing dip in the sea.

And if hunger strikes there are two good bars with restaurants serving tasty fishy delights and crisply roasted chicken, there's even an ice-cream van for the little ones. Paradise.

Popular with surfers, you might be forgiven for thinking that it was they who gave their name to this somewhat wild beach but in fact it got its name from the local psychiatric hospital in Suances.

For those wanting calmer waters the town's main beach, on the other side of the headland, is more protected - and there's even a small beach further into the estuary which is great for younger kids.

One of our favourites Galizano is a nice family beach with fine golden sand in a country setting. There are plenty of little coves and rock pools to explore and the beach is big enough that there's room for everyone. It can be quite surfy so take care. There's a small snack bar (a hut) right on the beach and bars & restaurants in the village nearby.

The parking is about 500 metres from the beach itself which is reached by a sloping track (well surfaced and wide).

A popular beach with surfers (there are a couple of schools here), kite surfers and parapenters (who fly from the hill at the western end).

Dune-backed, this beach has lovely golden sand and is large enough that it never feels very crowded. Backed by the nature park of the Santoña wetlands and with Santoña nearby there is plenty to do in the local area. 

Beautiful cliff backed beach popular with surfers and some naturists. There are actually two beaches here, the big and the small. Check the tides before you go as the beach is quite small at high tide.

Great for those wanting to get away from it all but please take care, the waves can be strong and there is no lifeguard here.

If you arrive by ferry from England you'll see this beautiful beach on the port side as you approach Santander. Somo beach, a long sweep of fine golden sand terminates at its western extreme, El Puntal, in the dunes which form the opening of the Santander bay.

Very popular with surfers, there are some schools here who specialise in English clients, the outer beach is quite wild and exposed. There are great views of the city and the Palacio de la Magdelena from here or you can just watch the shipping come and go from the bay.

At low tide there's a shipwreck just under the water in the middle of the beach. Popular with Santandereños, there's a small foot-ferry which goes from Somo right into the city centre - ideal to combine a beach day with a city visit.  

Loredo is a huge expanse of fine, golden sand, dune-backed, just to the east of Somo beach. Great for surfing and kiting. 

To the east of Santander you are spoilt for dramatic, golden sandy beaches and the Playa de Ajo, with its cape and lighthouse, is one of them.

Backed by hills and fields where traditional farming still carries on, the beach at Ajo is a deep bay flanked by cliffs with plenty of room for all. Great for surfing when the wind permits, but also a real family beach where you can have fun exploring the rock pools, dipping in and out of the sea or playing bat and ball.

For lunch there are a couple of beach bars and restaurants where you can order a paella to make a really special day.