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.

Article

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 4 km from the city center. The shortest flight to Santander from the United States departs from Washington, D.C. and takes around 9h 45m.

Car

Another option to get to Santander is to pick up a car rental from Bilbao, which is about 74 km 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 4 km from the city center. The shortest flight to Santander from the United States departs from Washington, D.C. and takes around 9h 45m.

Car

Another option to get to Santander is to pick up a car rental from Bilbao, which is about 74 km 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 (8,297 reviews)
KLM
Good (1,595 reviews)
British Airways
Good (8,275 reviews)
SWISS
Good (2,114 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (4,461 reviews)
Iberia
Good (3,242 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (984 reviews)
Delta
Good (8,693 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,653 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,712 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (2,031 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (10,454 reviews)
LOT
Good (1,190 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,549 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,417 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (438 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (11,832 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (1,533 reviews)
Ryanair
Good (5,454 reviews)
TAP AIR PORTUGAL
Good (2,388 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 Hotel Escuela Las Carolinas, Santander offers a range of accommodations for every taste. Average rates range from around $75 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $147 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, 7866 reviews)
$82+
View
Hotel Santemar
4 stars
Excellent (8.8, 6749 reviews)
$72+
View
Dorma Coliseum
4 stars
Excellent (8.7, 4329 reviews)
$64+
View
Dorma Sardinero
4 stars
Excellent (8.5, 4265 reviews)
$67+
View
ibis Styles Santander
3 stars
Excellent (8.4, 2603 reviews)
$56+
View
Torres de Somo
4 stars
Excellent (8.4, 1094 reviews)
$79+
View

Renting a car in Santander

Renting a car in Santander costs $36 per day, on average, or $108 if you want to rent if for 3 days.

You’re likely to save money by renting your car at the airport: locations in the city are, on average, 22% more expensive than at Santander.

Expect to pay $7.50 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 $89.94 and $119.92. The most frequently booked car type in Santander is Full-size (Opel Vivaro or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Compact rental cars (Skoda Fabia or similar) are, on average, 81% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Renting a car in Santander costs $36 per day, on average, or $108 if you want to rent if for 3 days.

You’re likely to save money by renting your car at the airport: locations in the city are, on average, 22% more expensive than at Santander.

Expect to pay $7.50 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 $89.94 and $119.92. The most frequently booked car type in Santander is Full-size (Opel Vivaro or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Compact rental cars (Skoda Fabia or similar) are, on average, 81% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Find car rentals in Santander