In the morning stroll on El Sardinero and enjoy the views. Walk along La Primera and Segunda Beaches of El Sardinero and get your feet wet in the Cantabrian Sea. If you continue to walk you will come to the El Camello Beach, the name of which is due to the shape of one of its rocks: find out which!
If you continue along the path you will reach the Península de La Magdalena, a place full of history and curiosities. We encourage you to go up to the Palacio and go inside to get to know all the details of the former summer residence of King Alfonso XIII and Queen Victoria Eugenia. When you leave the park, continue the walk and enjoy the visits of the Avenida Reina Victoria, from where you can see the highly recommended Cantábrico Maritime Museum. When you leave the museum, don’t forget to go to the Gamazo Dock and in particular the Dune opposite the Palacio de Festivales, where time stands still. There you will enjoy an incredible view of the Bay of Santander: you’ll love it!
Lunch-time is now near, so if you continue along the Promenade you will not only contemplate the landscape but also enter one of the traditional restaurants and bars of Santander to get your strength back.
After lunch take a walk to the Plaza Alfonso XIII, where the historical buildings of the Post Office and the Bank of Spain are located. Take the opportunity also to stroll in the Jardines de Pereda Gardens and contemplate the Centro Botín; immediately opposite the Pereda Gardens you will see the Plaza Velarde, better known as the Plaza Porticada, which hosts a multitude of activities. If you have the chance, visit the Medieval Walls Archaeological Centre, but first don’t forget to visit the Cathedral of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción and its cloister.
The last stop is the Town Hall Square. If you still have time we suggest you stroll in the streets to get to know the essence of the city.
Day 2
Continue to discover the city:
We begin the day where we left off, at the Town Hall Square. Immediately behind it stands the La Esperanza Market, the most important of the city and an ideal place to get to know local produce at first hand. Our next stop is the Menéndez Pelayo Library and the Menéndez Pelayo House-Museum, which are located alongside the Contemporary Art Museum, better known as the MAS.
Leaving the museums behind, we come to the Del Este Market, the interior of which holds shops, bars, and exhibitions, so if you want to take a break this is the place. Now we suggest you make your way to Calle Río de la Pila and get on the funicular, from which you will contemplate a general view of the city that will not leave you indifferent. Now that you have seen the best views of Santander, go down again on the funicular and a few minutes from Calle Río de la Pila you will find the Church of Santa Lucía, situated alongside the Plaza Cañadío, which is one of the favourite areas where locals go to have a drink when night falls.
But let’s not stay here, because you can´t leave Santander without getting to know the Parque Atlántico de Las Llamas, the lung of the city, strolling in the Parque de Mataleñas, or enjoying the visits from the Cabo Mayor Lighthouse.
With more days
If you are lucky enough to spend more days in Santander, there are other places that you should visit before you leave.
Within the limits of the city there are three places you should visit:
- La Alameda, over 700 metres in which are concentrated many leisure, shopping and dining establishments.
- El Barrio Pesquero, if you want to enjoy top-quality sea produce, this is the place for you.
- Of the outskirts of the city you can visit the Litoral Interpretation Centre at La Maruca, or perhaps you prefer to go as far as La Virgen del Mar,known as the Wild Coast of Santander. Alongside the Virgen del Mar we find the Ciriego Cemetery, one of the pretties cemeteries in Spain with its important historical and artistic monuments.
If you want to get to know Santander as well as the locals, don’t miss the itineraries that we propose.
