What to do in Santander

Activities, attractions and tours
Santander showing a beach, general coastal views and rugged coastline
Palacio de la Magdalena showing a park and heritage architecture
Santander
Santander
Banco Santander featuring heritage architecture

Places to Visit in Santander

Ready for the adventure of a lifetime? Let Expedia.co.nz help you find the most exciting and fun things to do in Santander, Cantabria while also allowing you to save a ton on travel arrangements. Regardless of whether you’re an urban explorer or an intrepid outdoor enthusiast, we can help you decide exactly what to do and see during your time in town.

Our thorough travel guides offer you an insider’s perspective on all of the best Santander attractions from NZ$24, making it easy for you to decide which places to visit and when. And by using Expedia.co.nz to set your sightseeing schedule, you can take in more of the enchanting attractions this area is famous for.

From group Santander tours and must-see landmarks to personal guides who take you off-the-beaten track, Expedia.co.nz offers you over 17 of the most popular events, activities, and attractions in this corner of the world. So whether you’re travelling alone, alongside a loved one, or with the whole family in tow, be sure to browse through our extensive travel guides prior to your plane touching down in this spectacular Santander. We even have a massive selection of flights, car hires, and accommodation for you to choose from. So what are you waiting for? Start your search today, and you’ll be having the time of your life before you know it.

Explore thousands of activities with free cancellation and no added fees.

Design your experience with airport transfers, excursions, day tours & more.

Get an insider's look in what to book before you travel.

Top places to visit

1. Palacio de la Magdalena

Enter the richly decorated rooms and salons of the Palacio de la Magdalena where Spanish royals used to enjoy their vacations. This magnificent early 20th-century building was the summer residence of King Alfonso XIII and Queen Victoria Eugenia de Battenberg for 18 years. They ruled Spain until the country became a republic for the second time, in 1931.
Learn more
Palacio de la Magdalena which includes a house, heritage architecture and a park

2. El Sardinero Beach

El Sardinero Beach is one of the most popular and lively strands in Santander. Surrounded by scenic verdant gardens and jagged bluffs, the beach offers stunning views in all directions. Take your whole family for a swim in the calm and shallow waters of the Bay of Biscay.
Learn more
El Sardinero Beach featuring a coastal town, general coastal views and a sandy beach

3. Banco Santander

Banco Santander is the headquarters of the multinational bank of worldwide renown. As the location of the bank’s founding, its neoclassical building is suitably majestic, featuring a large burrowed arch at its center and a rectangular pediment on its roof with a Spanish flag flying in the breeze. Pass through the central arch and gaze up at the enormous building as you consider its rich history.
Learn more
Banco Santander featuring heritage architecture

4. Santander Cathedral

Santander Cathedral has been a dominant presence since the 13th century, an austere Gothic structure on the incline of a hill. Explore this grandiose medieval church which occupies a site that once housed Roman baths and later an abbey.
Learn more
Santander Cathedral which includes heritage architecture

5. Magdalena Peninsula

Magdalena Peninsula features scenic terrain, made up of emerald bluffs, pine woodland and golden sandy beaches. Adorning this serene landscape are some of Santander’s best attractions, including three galleons, a marine zoo and a majestic palace. Snap photos of the rugged coastline and the nearby islands rising from picturesque Santander Bay.
Learn more
Magdalena Peninsula showing general coastal views, rugged coastline and a beach

6. Cabo Mayor Lighthouse

The Cabo Mayor Lighthouse has been watching over the entrance to Santander Bay since 1839. Although still used as a navigational aid, parts of the ash-colored cylindrical tower and attached buildings have been transformed into an arts center. Peruse artistic interpretations of the lighthouse and coastal landscape and appreciate the views from the cliff the landmark structure stands on.
Learn more
Cabo Mayor Lighthouse which includes general coastal views, a lighthouse and rocky coastline

Recommended things to do in Santander

Number of things to do
17
Cheapest thing to do on Expedia
Santona: Caracterized Napoleonic Tour: NZ$24
Top 5 things to do
Half-day tours
With kids

What to do in Santander

Discover the most popular places to visit in Santander

Palacio de la Magdalena which includes a house, heritage architecture and a park

Palacio de la Magdalena

Experience the ostentatious splendor of a palatial home where members of the Spanish royal family used to take their summer vacations.

Palacio de la Magdalena
Banco Santander featuring heritage architecture

Banco Santander

Consider the importance of this institution in the banking world while you marvel at the building’s vast hole through which vehicles pass.

Banco Santander
Gran Casino del Sardinero

Gran Casino del Sardinero

Why not roll the dice with a visit to Gran Casino del Sardinero during your travels in Santander? Wander the beautiful beaches and waterfront in the area.

Gran Casino del Sardinero
Santander Cathedral which includes heritage architecture

Santander Cathedral

4/5(1 review)

This fortress-like building is actually two churches combined and stands on a pile of Roman ruins. Inside, see religious works of art and sacred relics.

Santander Cathedral
Cabo Mayor Lighthouse which includes general coastal views, a lighthouse and rocky coastline

Cabo Mayor Lighthouse

Go up to a 19th-century cliff top lighthouse for fabulous sea views and to study its rich collection of art.

Cabo Mayor Lighthouse
Centro Botín

Centro Botín

You can browse the exhibits at Centro Botín, a museum with a story of its own, during your holiday in Santander. Visit the area's shops or amble around its beautiful beaches.

Centro Botín
Mercado La Esperanza which includes interior views, markets and food

Mercado La Esperanza

Browse the eclectic range of Cantabrian food at the stalls spread across the two floors of this iconic market hall.

Mercado La Esperanza
Cantabria Maritime Museum showing marine life and interior views

Cantabria Maritime Museum

Come face to face with undersea creatures and learn about the local fishing industry and its traditions at this fascinating museum.

Cantabria Maritime Museum
Jardines de Piquio showing general coastal views and a coastal town

Jardines de Piquio

Delight in the colors and scents of a public garden that sits above two beaches. Enjoy the stellar views of the Atlantic Ocean.

Jardines de Piquio

Explore areas of Santander

Banco Santander showing heritage architecture

Santander City Centre

Travellers come to Santander City Centre for its abundant dining options, and you can see top attractions like Plaza Porticada and Plaza de Pombo while you're in town.

Santander City Centre
Default Image

Puertochico

The pristine beaches and captivating waterfront views are top of the list for many visitors to Puertochico. A stop by Chico Port or Bay of Biscay might round out your trip.

Puertochico
Default Image

Cabildo de Arriba

The beaches and waterfront views are top of the list for many visitors to Cabildo de Arriba. A stop by Iglesia de Nuestra Senora de la Consolacion or Sotileza Mural might round out your trip.

Cabildo de Arriba
Default Image

Castilla-Hermida

Beaches and waterfront views are well-reviewed features of Castilla-Hermida. Make a stop by top sights like La Marga Park while you're exploring the area.

Castilla-Hermida
Default Image

Tetuán

Pristine beaches and captivating waterfront views are well-reviewed features of Tetuán. Make a stop by top sights like The Cathedral while you're exploring the area.

Tetuán
Default Image

Cazoña

Beaches and waterfront views are well-reviewed features of Cazoña. Make a stop by top sights like Parque del Doctor Morales while you're exploring the area.

Cazoña

 

Looking for fun things to do nearby? Check things to do near me to find and book the best things to do, fun activities, and top attractions wherever you happen to be.