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TOP 10 REASONS
TOP 10 REASONS
TOP 10 REASONS
Why travel to Santander: Find out the top 10 reasons to visit
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01
A SNEAK PEAK
A SNEAK PEAK
A SNEAK PEAK
A Sneak Peek into Santander
- In northern Spain's Cantabria province, Santander is best described by the image of golden-sand beaches with sunbathers relaxing under colourful parasols.
- Many fun-loving visitors flock to the area throughout the summer because of the picturesque shoreline, turquoise oceans, and sunshine.
- The city features many superb museums and other tourist attractions to keep visitors occupied.
- Tourists can go from prehistoric art to current and contemporary marvels in minutes.
- The ancient Gothic cathedral is Santander's most remarkable historic monument, but it was primarily renovated following the 1941 fire that destroyed much of the city.
- Since then, Santander has been restored in an exquisite modern style, with wide streets perfect for strolls.
- Capital: Cantabria provincia
- International Airport: Santander Airport
- Population: 172,000
- Currency: Euro
- Time: UTC/GMT +1 hour
- Driving side: Right
- Main Electricity: 230 V
- Official Language: Spanish
- Religion: Roman Catholic
02
HIGHLIGHTS
HIGHLIGHTS
HIGHLIGHTS
Top Tourist Attractions in Santander
- The sumptuous Palacio de la Magdalena is a must-see.
- The Museo Martimo del Cantábrico is a must-see in Cantábrico.
- Take a look at the new Botn Centro.
- The Cantabria Museum of Prehistory and Archaeology is a great place to learn about the past.
- Take a photo of the Santander Cathedral.
03
SEASONS TO TRAVEL
SEASONS TO TRAVEL
SEASONS TO TRAVEL
Best Months to Visit Santander
- Temperatures are pleasant most of the year, except for a few frigid weeks in the winter, and there is a probability of rain or snow for most of the year.
- The climate in the area is moderate, ranking in the 47th percentile for pleasant weather among tourist locations globally.
- If you're looking for the hottest months to visit Santander, August, July, and September are your best bets.
04
WORTH A VISIT
WORTH A VISIT
WORTH A VISIT
The Best Places to Visit in Santander
Real Palacio de La Magdelena
- The Real Palacio de La Magdelena (Royal Palace of La Magdelena) was built for the Spanish royal family between 1908 and 1912 and sat on the point of a peninsula with beautiful sea views.
- It has served as the monarchy's summer house, a home for the International University, and a public park.
- The public is welcome to explore the palace grounds' various trails.
- Visitors may observe the spectacular coastal views and the palace architecture, which features storybook gables and flagged turrets, by taking a stroll around the grounds.
- The palace interior is furnished in excellent French Neoclassical style with traditional Spanish features such as wood panelling and vaulted ceilings.
- Visitors can take a guided tour to see it.
- The palace is only open to the public on weekends throughout the summer (June through September).
- The Real Palacio de La Magdelena is one of the ten sites on the Santander Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour.
- The tour includes unlimited bus rides for an entire day, making it an excellent choice for first-time visitors to Santander.
- The cathedral, the Museo Martimo, the Playa del Sardinero, and the Parque de Mataleas are all stops on the double-decker bus.
Playa del Sardinero
- The Playa del Sardinero is nestled between the Cabo Menor and the Peninsula of La Magdalena on the Bay of Biscay.
- This long stretch of golden sand beach is surrounded by crystal-clear blue seas, earning the beach the Blue Flag for cleanliness.
- This beach has been a popular tourist destination since the nineteenth century.
- Elegant seaside terraces, gorgeous promenades, big hotels, and superb restaurants demonstrate the Belle Epoque era's legacy.
- Summertime draws a large number of people to the Playa del Sardinero for coastal dining, sunbathing, and outdoor enjoyment.
- The beach is filled with holiday travellers and colourful beach umbrellas between July and August.
- There are public restrooms, showers, and a children's play area.
Museo Marítimo del Cantábrico
- The Maritime Museum at Santander Bay is a monument to the Cantabria region's maritime culture, with museum displays and an excellent aquarium.
- The museum gives unique insights into the aquatic and maritime environment in its stunning 3,000 square metres of display space.
- Objects from the water, ship models, and documentation about fishers' lives are on display.
- Visitors acquire a comprehensive grasp of the human-sea link throughout history.
- Marine biology, maritime history, and fishing technique are all represented at the museum.
- This famous tourist destination features a gift shop and a restaurant/café with stunning sea views.
- There are tours offered with a guide.
05
DISCOVER MORE
DISCOVER MORE
DISCOVER MORE
Santander Off the Beaten Track
Parque de Mataleñas
- The Cabo Mayor (Cape Mayor), located three kilometres north of El Sardinero Beach, is home to the Parque de Mataleas and a 19th-century lighthouse.
- The Parque de Mataleas is a seashore park with some different recreational sections.
- The Mataleas Golf Course (a public course), camping, a children's playground, and the Playa de Mataleas, a little beach in a sheltered cove excellent for swimming, are among the attractions.
- El Faro de Cabo Mayor, a lighthouse on the point of Cabo Mayor, has been greeting sailors approaching the Bay of Santander since 1839.
- The Centro de Arte Faro de Cabo Mayor is a museum that shows paintings and other depictions of Spanish lighthouses inside the ancient lighthouse keeper's residence.
Centro Botín
- The Centro Botn is a massive arts facility on Santander's southern side that sits right on the lake.
- The structure is a stunning example of modern architecture constructed by Pritzker Prize winner Renzo Piano.
- The Centro Botn offers visitors all facets of contemporary art through its displays and educational programmes (late 20th century to 21st century).
- The centre's permanent collection of modern photography, paintings, sculptures, and rotating temporary exhibitions are noteworthy.
- There are also film screenings, music concerts, and dance acts.
- Visitors can stop by the Café Centro Botn, which is handled by two well-known local chefs, for refreshments or a gourmet meal.
06
CULTURE & TRADITIONS
CULTURE & TRADITIONS
CULTURE & TRADITIONS
Santander Culture and Traditions
- Santander, a prominent beach town, has an exciting entertainment schedule for its visitors.
- Various museums and natural attractions, architectural monuments and landmarks, and outstanding architectural regions are among the city's sights and landmarks.
- The Santander Cathedral, which is designated as a monument, is the most important historical landmark of the tourist destination and the most attractive architectural structure in the city.
- The cathedral was built on the foundations of a Roman temple.
- The cathedral was built during the 12th century.
- The religious landmark's structure was severely damaged after a big earthquake and was restored thanks to the combined efforts of professional architects.
- Guests to the city can now see the cathedral in all of its splendour. Several rare objects can be found within the cathedral's walls.
- The crypt from the 12th century is the jewel in the crown of the religious landmark collection.
- Some of the Ancient Roman temple settings have been maintained in the cathedral.
07
FOOD FUN FASHION
FOOD FUN FASHION
FOOD FUN FASHION
Santander: Food, Fun & Fashion Guide
Rabas
#Food
- Rabas, or fried squid, is the typical Cantabrian seafood tapa.
- This dish is best enjoyed when lightly seasoned with salt and drizzled with fresh lemon juice.
- It's made with sliced squid strips or rings lightly battered or breaded before being fried to crispy perfection.
- Depending on the type of squid, flour, or oil used in the preparation and the chosen method of cutting the squid, there are different variations in the dish (strips, rings, or other shapes).
- However, those cooked using fresh squid are the tastiest, with a solid firmness, thin coating, sensitive bite, and natural seawater flavour.
Queso Nata de Cantabria
#Food
- Queso Nata de Cantabria is a hard cheese made in the Cantabria region and the Urdón and Cervera river basins.
- It's created from raw, unpasteurised milk from local Friesian cows.
- The cheese is matured for at least seven days, more commonly for 14 to two months.
- During the maturing process, it is turned and cleaned regularly. Queso Nata de Cantabria has a modest flavour with a good combination of bitter and sweet.
- It has a firm, smooth, and buttery texture that allows it to melt in the mouth simply.
Sobao pasiego
#Food
- Sobao pasiego, a classic Cantabrian sponge cake, is created from yeasted dough with lemon zest and either anise liquor or rum.
- The cake was initially fashioned from leftover bread dough, but it was transformed into its current form near the end of the nineteenth century.
- Sobao pasiego was designated as a PGI in 2004 due to its long preparation history and the simplicity of the materials used.
El Corte Inglés
#Fashion
- This is another large shopping centre located just outside of town.
- From gadgets to sports equipment, you'll find everything you need here.
- It's a fantastic idea to visit during the Christmas season when the mall transforms into a magical place with its massive Christmas tree and decorations.
- Here you can buy a souvenir to take home.
Cantabria en tu Boca
#Fashion
- There's no reason to be sad when you can carry a piece of Cantabria with you!
- Visit this gourmet boutique that specialises in local products and cuisine instead of buying uninteresting souvenirs.
- Take whatever you want from Cantabrian cuisine home with you to create your Spanish masterpiece. GourmetBox sets are now available to give to your friends.
- Take pleasure in all of your excellent purchases! Also, carry some of them home with you to give as gifts or enjoy with your family and friends.
- After all, no matter how far we travel, we always look forward to returning home and sharing our experiences with our loved ones.
Calle Burgos
#Fashion
- This isn't just one store; it's an entire street of little businesses.
- Come here for a morning stroll to explore one of Santander's most important streets.
- It serves as both a historical and a commercial hub.
- The best thing is to grab a glass of juice and a good pastry and sit in the shade, watching the passers-by and observing the scenery.
Adventure Park
#Fun
- With fascinating courses, cable cars, and challenging obstacles, this fantastic adventure theme park in the Cantabrian capital of Santander welcomes you.
- There are tours for people of all ages so that you can bring the whole family to Tirolinas Park in Santander.
- You will have a great time on the high ropes course if you take the appropriate safety procedures.
08
NATURE & SAFARI
NATURE & SAFARI
NATURE & SAFARI
Santander: Natural Beauty & Safari Adventures
- Chicamocha National Park, commonly known as PANACHI, protects one of Colombia's natural wonders: the Chicamocha Canyon, the world's second-largest geological catastrophe and even more profound than the world's famed Colorado Canyon the United States.
- You might be interested in: The nine most incredible and unforgettable Colombian experiences you must have.
- The Chicamocha Canyon is incredible, majestic, spectacular, and everything else you might imagine, and it's possible that no adjectives can adequately describe it.
- It is so spectacular that the Chicamocha was once included in a group that chose the world's seven natural marvels.
- Although the Chicamocha Canyon is the major attraction of PANACHI and the entire department of Santander, there are many other activities that you can enjoy with this stunning natural setting in the background, making your visit to the Chicamocha National Park one to remember.
09
EVENTS & FIESTAS
EVENTS & FIESTAS
EVENTS & FIESTAS
Santander Must-Attend Festivals and Events
- The Santander International Festival brings music, theatre, and art to Cantabria.
- Throughout August, the cultural plan for this big festival, which has been conducted since 1948, is hosted by several historic locations in this northern Spanish province and the Cantabria Festival Centre.
- The programme includes dance, theatre, music, ballet, opera, and recitals in their most classic and most avant-garde and original forms.
- Thirty days in which some of the essential performers from various fields of the performing arts from across the world perform in cathedrals, gardens, palaces, and even caverns.
FAQs to Plan Your Best Santander Holiday
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Places similar to Santander to visit
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