Santander is a straightforward city to navigate: compact, walkable, and well-connected to the rest of Spain. This guide covers practical travel tips for Santander including airport transfers, getting around the city, safety, money, language, and answers to the most common questions travellers ask before visiting. For a complete overview, see our Santander travel guide.
Santander Travel Tips: Airport and Arrival
Santander Airport (SDR, also called Aeropuerto Seve Ballesteros) is 5km south of the city centre in the town of Camargo. It’s a small single-terminal airport served by Ryanair (flights from London Stansted, Dublin, Edinburgh, Manchester, Brussels Charleroi, Milan Bergamo, Rome Ciampino, and several Spanish cities including Madrid, Barcelona, and Malaga) and Iberia (Madrid). There’s no train connection from the airport. The airport bus (line S4, operated by ALSA) runs every 30-60 minutes depending on the time of day, takes about 15 minutes to reach the city centre bus station (Estacion de Autobuses on Calle Navas de Tolosa), and costs 2.90 EUR one-way. Buy your ticket from the driver in cash or card. A taxi from the airport to the centre costs 15-18 EUR and takes 10 minutes. Uber and Cabify operate in Santander but have limited availability; local taxi ranks are more reliable. See our best time to visit Santander for more details.
If you’re arriving by train, Santander’s RENFE station is on Plaza de las Estaciones near the waterfront. Direct trains connect to Madrid (4 hours 30 minutes on Alvia high-speed services, about 45 EUR one-way), Bilbao (3 hours on FEVE narrow-gauge, about 12 EUR), and Oviedo. The FEVE and RENFE stations are adjacent to each other and a 10-minute walk from the city centre along the waterfront. See our things to do in Santander for more details.
Santander Travel Tips: Getting Around the City
Santander is a walkable city. The main sights from the ferry terminal to the Sardinero beaches span about 3km along the bay, and you can walk the full stretch in 40 minutes at a leisurely pace. The city’s municipal bus network (TUS, Transportes Urbanos de Santander) covers the areas beyond walking distance including Cueto, Monte, and the suburbs. A single bus ticket costs 1.30 EUR (buy from the driver). If you’re using buses more than a few times, get a recargable card from any estanco (tobacconist) for 2 EUR and load it with credit; each trip then costs 0.72 EUR. The most useful bus lines for visitors are line 1 (centre to Sardinero to Cabo Mayor), line 2 (centre to Sardinero via a slightly different route), and line 7 (centre to Sardinero to the university). Buses run from about 07:00 to 23:00. Night buses (buhos, lines N1-N3) run Friday and Saturday nights until about 03:00. See our Santander events and festivals for more details.
Santander’s public bike scheme, TusBic, has docking stations around the city. A day pass costs 5 EUR; the first 30 minutes of each ride are free, after which you pay 0.50 EUR per additional 30 minutes. Stations are located at the ferry terminal, the Centro Botin, Plaza de Italia, and along the Sardinero. The flat waterfront promenade is ideal for cycling. See our Santander neighborhoods guide for more details.
Santander Travel Tips: Money, Tipping, and Costs
Spain uses the Euro (EUR). Credit and debit cards are accepted nearly everywhere in Santander, including taxis, though some smaller tapas bars may have a minimum card spend of 5-10 EUR. ATMs are plentiful in the city centre and along the Sardinero. Avoid Euronet ATMs (blue and yellow) which charge high fees; use bank ATMs from Santander, BBVA, or CaixaBank instead. See our where to stay in Santander for more details.
Tipping is not expected in Spain. In restaurants, locals typically leave small change (5-10% maximum, rounding up to the nearest euro). For a 15 EUR meal, leaving 1 EUR is standard. No tip is expected in bars or for coffee. Taxi drivers don’t expect tips but rounding up to the nearest euro is appreciated. In hotels, 1-2 EUR for porters or housekeeping is polite but not required. See our Santander weather by month for more information.
Santander Travel Tips: Safety and Practical Information
Santander is one of Spain’s safest cities. Violent crime is rare, and the main risk for visitors is pickpocketing in crowded areas during festivals (Semana Grande particularly). Keep your phone and wallet in front pockets during the evening fireworks and street concerts. The area around the bus station can feel sketchy late at night, but it’s more run-down than dangerous. Tap water in Santander is safe to drink and tastes fine (it comes from mountain reservoirs, not desalination).
Spain’s emergency number is 112 (free, works with any phone, operators speak English). The nearest hospital with an emergency department is Hospital Universitario Marques de Valdecilla on Avenida de Valdecilla, about 2km from the centre. Pharmacies (farmacias) are marked with a green cross; the on-duty 24-hour pharmacy rotates nightly and is posted on the door of every pharmacy.
Santander Travel Tips: Language and Local Customs
Spanish (Castellano) is the primary language. English is less widely spoken in Santander than in Barcelona or Madrid, especially among older residents and in traditional restaurants. Learn a few phrases: “una cana, por favor” (a small beer, please), “la cuenta, por favor” (the bill, please), “donde esta la playa?” (where is the beach?). Restaurant staff at tourist-oriented places in the Sardinero usually speak some English.
Meal times are later than in northern Europe or North America. Lunch (la comida) runs from 13:30 to 15:30 and is the main meal of the day. Dinner (la cena) starts at 21:00 at the earliest; many restaurants don’t open their kitchens until 20:30. If you want to eat at 18:00 or 19:00, look for bars serving pintxos and raciones rather than full restaurants. Tipping is minimal (see above). The siesta is less observed in Santander than in southern Spain, but some smaller shops close between 14:00 and 17:00.
Santander Travel Tips: Beaches and Swimming
The Sardinero beaches have Blue Flag status and are safe for swimming. Lifeguards are on duty from late June to mid-September, typically 11:00 to 19:00. The water temperature peaks at 21°C (70°F) in August, which is cooler than the Mediterranean but swimmable. The bay beaches (Los Peligros, La Magdalena) are calmer and shallower, better for children. Beaches west of the city (Liencres, Somo across the bay) have stronger surf and are popular with surfers. Red flags mean no swimming; yellow means caution. Rip currents are rare on the Sardinero but can occur at the more exposed western beaches.
Suggested Hotels in Santander
Eurostars Hotel Real
A five-star historic hotel on a hilltop overlooking the bay, built in 1917 and hosting Spanish royalty ever since. Rooms combine period elegance with modern comfort, and the terrace restaurant offers panoramic views. Best for couples and special occasions. Check rates and availability
Gran Hotel Sardinero
A four-star beachfront hotel in a Belle Epoque building directly on Primera Playa del Sardinero. Upper-floor rooms have sea views, and you’re steps from the sand. Best for beach lovers and families. Check rates and availability
Hotel Bahia
A central four-star hotel facing the bay and Pereda Gardens, with a rooftop terrace and unbeatable location near the Centro Botin and ferry terminal. Best for city-break travellers who want convenience and water views. Check rates and availability
