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 New York and takes around 10h 35m.

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 Alamo, 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 New York and takes around 10h 35m.

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 Alamo, among others, in Bilbao.

Airports near Santander

SDRSantander
VITVitoria-Gasteiz
BIOBilbao

Airlines serving Santander

Lufthansa
Good (8,069 reviews)
KLM
Good (1,530 reviews)
British Airways
Good (8,054 reviews)
Delta
Good (8,409 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (4,410 reviews)
SWISS
Good (1,971 reviews)
Iberia
Good (3,238 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,608 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (9,855 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (936 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,727 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,830 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (11,209 reviews)
LOT
Good (1,201 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,412 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (412 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,453 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (1,380 reviews)
TAP AIR PORTUGAL
Good (2,282 reviews)
ITA Airways
Good (1,261 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 Abba Santander, Santander offers a range of accommodations for every taste. Average rates range from around $109 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $223 and up for a 5-star experience. If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include Hotel Picos De Europa and Hotel Antoyana.

Where to stay in popular areas of Santander

Most booked hotels in Santander

See all
Hotel Bahía
4 stars
Excellent (8.9, 7516 reviews)
$163+
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Santemar
4 stars
Excellent (8.9, 6515 reviews)
$136+
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Gran Hotel Victoria
4 stars
Excellent (8.7, 2984 reviews)
$140+
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Château La Roca
3 stars
Excellent (8.6, 1229 reviews)
$74+
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Torres de Somo
4 stars
Excellent (8.6, 1093 reviews)
$92+
View
ibis Styles Santander
3 stars
Excellent (8.5, 2327 reviews)
$105+
View

Renting a car in Santander

Renting a car in Santander costs $46 per day, on average, or $137 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, 19% more expensive than at Santander.

Expect to pay $6.62 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 $79.49 and $105.99. Compact (Peugeot 208 or similar) is the most popular car type to rent in Santander, while also 42% cheaper than other types, on average.

Renting a car in Santander costs $46 per day, on average, or $137 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, 19% more expensive than at Santander.

Expect to pay $6.62 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 $79.49 and $105.99. Compact (Peugeot 208 or similar) is the most popular car type to rent in Santander, while also 42% cheaper than other types, on average.

Find car rentals in Santander