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 2 miles from the city center. The shortest flight to Santander from the United States departs from Seattle and takes around 18h 30m.

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 CLICK RENT , 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 Seattle and takes around 18h 30m.

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 CLICK RENT , among others, in Bilbao.

Airports near Santander

Airlines serving Santander

Lufthansa
Good (8,217 reviews)
KLM
Good (1,573 reviews)
British Airways
Good (8,211 reviews)
SWISS
Good (2,065 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (4,475 reviews)
Delta
Good (8,550 reviews)
Iberia
Good (3,249 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,649 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,734 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (954 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (10,188 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,982 reviews)
LOT
Good (1,200 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (11,601 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,533 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,432 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (430 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (1,477 reviews)
Ryanair
Good (5,488 reviews)
TAP AIR PORTUGAL
Good (2,386 reviews)
Show more

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 $81 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $168 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

Hotel Bahía
4 stars
Excellent (8.9, 7708 reviews)
$91+
Hotel Santemar
4 stars
Excellent (8.8, 6652 reviews)
$80+
Dorma Coliseum
4 stars
Excellent (8.6, 4286 reviews)
$60+
Hotel Palacio del Mar
4 stars
Excellent (8.5, 2600 reviews)
$84+
Torres de Somo
4 stars
Excellent (8.5, 1099 reviews)
$105+
ibis Styles Santander
3 stars
Excellent (8.4, 2519 reviews)
$59+

Renting a car in Santander

Renting a car in Santander costs $49 per day, on average, or $147 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 52% cheaper than airport locations in Santander.

Expect to pay $7.80 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 $93.58 and $124.77. The most frequently booked car type in Santander is Economy (Citroen C3 or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Mini rental cars (Class Mini Car or similar) are, on average, 81% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Renting a car in Santander costs $49 per day, on average, or $147 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 52% cheaper than airport locations in Santander.

Expect to pay $7.80 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 $93.58 and $124.77. The most frequently booked car type in Santander is Economy (Citroen C3 or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Mini rental cars (Class Mini Car or similar) are, on average, 81% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.