Santander packs a lot into its compact bayfront setting: a royal palace on a peninsula, two long sandy beaches, a striking modern art centre, and one of Spain’s best fresh seafood scenes. Most attractions cluster around the bay, so you can walk between them or hop on the city’s efficient bus network. Here are the top things to do in Santander, from cultural landmarks to beach days and waterfront walks. For a complete overview, see our Santander travel guide.
Things to Do in Santander: Cultural Landmarks
Palacio de la Magdalena
The Magdalena Palace sits on a small peninsula at the western end of the Sardinero beaches, surrounded by 28 hectares of public parkland with views across the bay. Built between 1909 and 1912 as a summer residence for the Spanish royal family, it’s now open for guided tours (5 EUR, about 45 minutes) that take you through the royal bedrooms, stables, and reception halls. The palace grounds are free to explore: walk the coastal path around the peninsula for views back toward the city skyline and out to the Cantabrian Sea. There’s a small beach (Playa de la Magdalena) on the southern side of the peninsula, sheltered and good for families. Getting there: bus lines 1, 2, and 7 stop at the palace entrance on Avenida de la Magdalena. Open daily 10:00 to 19:00 (winter hours 10:00 to 18:00). See our best time to visit Santander for more details.
Centro BotÃn
The Centro BotÃn is Santander’s most striking modern building, designed by Renzo Piano and opened in 2017. It hangs over the bay on the Pereda Gardens waterfront with two white concrete volumes connected by a raised walkway. Inside you’ll find rotating contemporary art exhibitions (8 EUR general admission, free on Tuesdays after 16:00). The ground-floor café has floor-to-ceiling glass facing the water, and the rooftop viewing platform is free to access without a ticket. The centro runs free outdoor film screenings and concerts on the waterfront plaza during summer. Open Tuesday to Sunday 10:00 to 21:00 (until 20:00 in winter). Closed Mondays. See our Santander events and festivals for more details.
Catedral de Santander
Santander’s cathedral is actually two churches stacked on top of each other: the 13th-century lower church (Iglesia del Cristo) and the 14th-century upper church, both rebuilt after the devastating 1941 fire that gutted the city centre. The lower church is the more atmospheric of the two, with Romanesque stone vaulting and archaeological remains from the Roman settlement of Portus Victoriae underneath. Entry to the lower church and cloister costs 2 EUR. The cathedral is on Calle Somorrostro in the old town, a 5-minute walk from the waterfront. Morning visits (10:00-13:00) are quieter. See our Santander neighborhoods guide for more details.
Things to Do in Santander: Beaches and Waterfront
Playa del Sardinero
The Sardinero is actually two connected beaches (Primera and Segunda) stretching 1.3km along the city’s eastern edge. Both have fine golden sand, lifeguards in summer, showers, and rental sunbeds (6 EUR per day). The water is cleaner than most Mediterranean city beaches, with Blue Flag status, though it’s cooler at 20-21°C even in August. Primera Sardinero (closer to the city centre) has more facilities including beach bars, while Segunda (further east) is slightly quieter. The promenade behind the beach, Avenida de la Reina Victoria, is lined with Belle Epoque hotels and restaurants. Bus lines 1, 2, and 7 run along the Sardinero from the city centre. Parking near the beach is difficult in July and August; use the underground car park on Calle de Joaquin Costa. See our where to stay in Santander for more details.
Playa de los Peligros
A smaller beach between the city centre and the Sardinero, Los Peligros has shallow, calm water that’s good for families with young children. The beach faces south into the sheltered bay rather than the open sea, so waves are minimal. It’s a 10-minute walk from the ferry terminal and around the corner from the Palacio de Festivales. There’s a chiringuito (beach bar) open June through September serving grilled sardines and cold drinks. No sunbed rental here, so bring your own towel. See our Santander travel tips for more details.
Paseo MarÃtimo (Bay Promenade)
The 4km waterfront promenade runs from the ferry terminal past the Centro Botin, around the Magdalena peninsula, and along the Sardinero beaches to the Cabo Mayor lighthouse. The full walk takes 90 minutes at a steady pace. The section between the Centro Botin and the Sardinero is the most popular, with benches facing the bay and several seafood terraces. Rent a city bike (Santander has a public bike scheme called TusBic with stations along the route; 5 EUR for a day pass) to cover the full distance. The path is flat, paved, and wheelchair accessible throughout. See our Santander weather by month for more information.
Things to Do in Santander: Museums and Indoor Activities
Museo Maritimo del Cantabrico
This maritime museum sits on the bayfront near the Sardinero, with four floors covering Cantabrian fishing history, marine biology, and naval history. The standout exhibit is the 22-metre sperm whale skeleton suspended in the central atrium. There are live tanks with local Bay of Biscay species including octopus, rays, and conger eels. Entry costs 8 EUR (5 EUR reduced). The top-floor cafe has balcony views over the bay. Open Tuesday to Sunday 10:00 to 19:30 (until 20:30 in summer). A good rainy-day option given Santander’s frequent precipitation.
Museo de Prehistoria y Arqueologia de Cantabria
Located under the Mercado del Este in the city centre, this museum covers human habitation in Cantabria from the Paleolithic to the Roman period. The highlight is the collection of Upper Paleolithic art and tools from the caves of Altamira, El Castillo, and other Cantabrian sites. If you can’t get tickets to the actual Altamira cave (limited to 5 visitors per week), this museum is the next best thing. Entry is 5 EUR, free on Sundays. Open Tuesday to Saturday 10:00 to 14:00 and 17:00 to 20:00, Sundays 10:00 to 14:00.
Mercado de la Esperanza
Santander’s main food market is a 19th-century iron-and-glass structure a block back from the waterfront. Come here in the morning (08:00-14:00, Monday to Saturday) to see the fishmongers selling today’s Bay of Biscay catch: anchovies from Santona, hake, monkfish, and the prized percebes (goose barnacles) when in season. The ground-floor fish stalls are the spectacle; the upstairs has fruit, vegetables, and butchers. Several tapas bars inside the market serve seafood straight from the surrounding stalls. Try the rabas (fried squid rings) at Bar El Puerto on the ground floor, about 8 EUR for a generous plate.
Things to Do in Santander: Parks and Outdoor Activities
Parque de Matalenas and Cabo Mayor Lighthouse
At the eastern end of the Sardinero, Matalenas Park climbs a wooded hillside to the Cabo Mayor lighthouse, which has stood since 1839. The climb takes about 20 minutes from the beach and rewards you with panoramic views across the bay, the Cantabrian Sea, and on clear days, the Picos de Europa mountains 60km inland. The lighthouse itself houses a small art gallery (free entry, open Wednesday to Sunday 11:00 to 14:00 and 17:00 to 20:00). Below the lighthouse, a steep staircase leads down to Playa de Matalenas, a tiny secluded cove popular with nudists and locals who prefer to avoid the Sardinero crowds.
Ferry Rides on the Bay
Three ferry services leave from the Santander waterfront. The Los Reginas ferry crosses the bay to Pedrena and Somo (2.50 EUR one-way, 15 minutes), giving you a cheap boat trip with city views. Pedrena is known for its golf course (designed by Seve Ballesteros) and seafood restaurants. The tourist ferry (May to September) runs 45-minute bay tours with commentary in Spanish and English, departing from the Palacete del Embarcadero near the Centro Botin. Tickets are 8 EUR at the kiosk on the pier.
