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 4 km 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 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 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 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 (8,024 reviews)
KLM
Good (1,522 reviews)
British Airways
Good (8,004 reviews)
Delta
Good (8,434 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (4,396 reviews)
SWISS
Good (1,955 reviews)
Iberia
Good (3,219 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,591 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (9,747 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (920 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,727 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,790 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (11,083 reviews)
LOT
Good (1,195 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,399 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (409 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (1,344 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,441 reviews)
TAP AIR PORTUGAL
Good (2,259 reviews)
ITA Airways
Good (1,225 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 San Millán, Santander offers a range of accommodations for every taste. Average rates range from around $88 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $193 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
Santemar
4 stars
Excellent (8.9, 6521 reviews)
$107+
View
Hotel Chiqui
3 stars
Excellent (8.8, 6164 reviews)
$123+
View
Gran Hotel Victoria
4 stars
Excellent (8.7, 2986 reviews)
$128+
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ibis Styles Santander
3 stars
Excellent (8.6, 2323 reviews)
$86+
View
Château La Roca
3 stars
Excellent (8.6, 1231 reviews)
$68+
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Hotel Torres de Somo
4 stars
Excellent (8.6, 1079 reviews)
$81+
View

Renting a car in Santander

Renting a car in Santander costs $46 per day, on average, or $138 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 $6.85 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 $82.22 and $109.63. Compact (Peugeot 208 or similar) is the most popular car type to rent in Santander, while also 65% cheaper than other types, on average.

Renting a car in Santander costs $46 per day, on average, or $138 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 $6.85 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 $82.22 and $109.63. Compact (Peugeot 208 or similar) is the most popular car type to rent in Santander, while also 65% cheaper than other types, on average.

Find car rentals in Santander