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 December
Estimated hotel price
$71
1 night at 3-star hotel
Santander in December
Estimated hotel price
$71
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 9h 25m.

Train

Renfe is the most popular train carrier serving Santander, followed by Train. The train journey from Santander to Madrid takes 4h 20m and costs around $40 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Alicante, expect to pay about $88 for a 7h 38m trip. Located 0.5 km from the city center, Santander is the busiest station in Santander. Another popular train station is Santander Valdecilla, located 1.8 km from the center.

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 Budget, among others, in Bilbao.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Santander, including ALSA, FlixBus and Bus. From Oviedo, the bus ride to Santander takes 217 km and will cost you around $35. From San Sebastian, the ticket costs about $20 for a journey of 346 km. The most popular bus station is Santander, located 0.3 km from downtown Santander. Santander Peñacastillo is also a commonly used station, and is 5 km from the city center.

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 9h 25m.

Train

Renfe is the most popular train carrier serving Santander, followed by Train. The train journey from Santander to Madrid takes 4h 20m and costs around $40 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Alicante, expect to pay about $88 for a 7h 38m trip. Located 0.5 km from the city center, Santander is the busiest station in Santander. Another popular train station is Santander Valdecilla, located 1.8 km from the center.

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 Budget, among others, in Bilbao.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Santander, including ALSA, FlixBus and Bus. From Oviedo, the bus ride to Santander takes 217 km and will cost you around $35. From San Sebastian, the ticket costs about $20 for a journey of 346 km. The most popular bus station is Santander, located 0.3 km from downtown Santander. Santander Peñacastillo is also a commonly used station, and is 5 km from the city center.

Airports near Santander

SDRSantander
VITVitoria-Gasteiz
BIOBilbao

Airlines serving Santander

KLM
Good (1,431 reviews)
Lufthansa
Good (7,619 reviews)
Delta
Good (8,007 reviews)
British Airways
Good (7,573 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (4,088 reviews)
SWISS
Good (1,808 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (9,092 reviews)
Iberia
Good (3,045 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,676 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,502 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (10,513 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (879 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,330 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,603 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (1,093 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,334 reviews)
LOT
Good (1,146 reviews)
TAP AIR PORTUGAL
Good (2,086 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (375 reviews)
SAUDIA
Good (648 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 Millan, Santander offers a range of accommodations for every taste. Average rates range from around $65 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $134 and up for a 5-star experience. If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include Hotel Picos De Europa and Hotel San Glorio.

Where to stay in popular areas of Santander

Most booked hotels in Santander

See all
Hotel Bahía
4 stars
Excellent (8.9, 6776 reviews)
$81+
View
Santemar
4 stars
Excellent (8.8, 5455 reviews)
$63+
View
Dorma Coliseum
4 stars
Excellent (8.6, 3778 reviews)
$71+
View
Hotel Palacio del Mar
4 stars
Excellent (8.6, 2348 reviews)
$65+
View
ibis Styles Santander
3 stars
Excellent (8.5, 1576 reviews)
$58+
View
NH Ciudad de Santander
3 stars
Excellent (8.3, 1706 reviews)
$60+
View

Renting a car in Santander

Renting a car in Santander costs $21 per day, on average, or $64 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, 16% more expensive than at Santander.

Expect to pay $6.47 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 $77.68 and $103.57. The most frequently booked car type in Santander is Compact (Volkswagen T-ROC or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Mini rental cars (Toyota Aygo or similar) are, on average, 82% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Renting a car in Santander costs $21 per day, on average, or $64 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, 16% more expensive than at Santander.

Expect to pay $6.47 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 $77.68 and $103.57. The most frequently booked car type in Santander is Compact (Volkswagen T-ROC or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Mini rental cars (Toyota Aygo or similar) are, on average, 82% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Find car rentals in Santander