Introduction
When to visit
How to get there
Where to stay
Renting a car

Santander travel guide

Santander Tourism | Santander Guide

You're Going to Love Santander

With a population of 182,700, Santander is the largest city in Cantabria, Spain by the number of inhabitants. It is one of the most popular cities to visit in the country. We recommend you stay at least 3 days in order to fully appreciate everything Santander has to offer.

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When to visit Santander

Santander in February
Estimated hotel price
$70
1 night at 3-star hotel
Santander in February
Estimated hotel price
$70
1 night at 3-star hotel

Looking for warm weather? Then head to Santander in August, when the average temperature is 68 °F, and the highest can go up to 75.2 °F. The coldest month, on the other hand, is January, when it can get as cold as 42.8 °F, with an average temperature of 50 °F. You’re likely to see more rain in November, when precipitation is around 5.1″. In contrast, July is usually the driest month of the year in Santander, with an average rainfall of 1.6″.

Data provided by weatherbase
Temperatures
Temperatures
Data provided by weatherbase

How to Get to Santander

Plane

When flying to Santander, you’ll arrive at Santander Airport (SDR), which is located 2 miles from the city center. The shortest flight to Santander from the United States departs from Dallas and takes around 12h 15m.

Car

Another option to get to Santander is to pick up a car rental from Bilbao, which is about 46 miles from Santander. You’ll find branches of Record go and Go By Car, among others, in Bilbao.

Plane

When flying to Santander, you’ll arrive at Santander Airport (SDR), which is located 2 miles from the city center. The shortest flight to Santander from the United States departs from Dallas and takes around 12h 15m.

Car

Another option to get to Santander is to pick up a car rental from Bilbao, which is about 46 miles from Santander. You’ll find branches of Record go and Go By Car, among others, in Bilbao.

Airports near Santander

SDRSantander
VITVitoria-Gasteiz
BIOBilbao

Airlines serving Santander

Lufthansa
Good (8,177 reviews)
KLM
Good (1,553 reviews)
British Airways
Good (8,147 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (4,465 reviews)
SWISS
Good (2,025 reviews)
Delta
Good (8,484 reviews)
Iberia
Good (3,267 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,634 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (951 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,736 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (10,059 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,923 reviews)
LOT
Good (1,212 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (11,427 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,498 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,425 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (431 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (1,436 reviews)
TAP AIR PORTUGAL
Good (2,357 reviews)
ITA Airways
Good (1,308 reviews)
Show more
Find flights to Santander

Where to stay in Santander

From 5-star hotels such as the Eurostars Hotel Real to great affordable options like the Suite Home Sardinero, Santander offers a range of accommodations for every taste. Average rates range from around $98 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $196 and up for a 5-star experience. If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include Hotel Picos De Europa and Antoyana.

Where to stay in popular areas of Santander

Most booked hotels in Santander

See all
Hotel Bahía
4 stars
Excellent (8.9, 7641 reviews)
$144+
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Santemar
4 stars
Excellent (8.9, 6609 reviews)
$104+
View
Hotel Chiqui
3 stars
Excellent (8.8, 6281 reviews)
$108+
View
Hotel Palacio del Mar
4 stars
Excellent (8.6, 2581 reviews)
$116+
View
Château La Roca
3 stars
Excellent (8.6, 1261 reviews)
$68+
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Torres de Somo
4 stars
Excellent (8.6, 1096 reviews)
$110+
View

Renting a car in Santander

Renting a car in Santander costs $41 per day, on average, or $122 if you want to rent if for 3 days.

It’s generally cheaper to rent your vehicle outside the airport: locations in the city are around 139% cheaper than airport locations in Santander.

Expect to pay $7.15 per gallon in Santander (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $85.85 and $114.47. The most frequently booked car type in Santander is Economy (Opel Corsa or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Compact rental cars (Volkswagen T-Cross or similar) are, on average, 70% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Renting a car in Santander costs $41 per day, on average, or $122 if you want to rent if for 3 days.

It’s generally cheaper to rent your vehicle outside the airport: locations in the city are around 139% cheaper than airport locations in Santander.

Expect to pay $7.15 per gallon in Santander (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $85.85 and $114.47. The most frequently booked car type in Santander is Economy (Opel Corsa or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Compact rental cars (Volkswagen T-Cross or similar) are, on average, 70% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Find car rentals in Santander