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 11h 05m.

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 Goldcar Rental SP, 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 11h 05m.

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 Goldcar Rental SP, among others, in Bilbao.

Airports near Santander

SDRSantander
BIOBilbao
RGSBurgos

Airlines serving Santander

Lufthansa
Good (8,107 reviews)
KLM
Good (1,532 reviews)
British Airways
Good (8,088 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (4,438 reviews)
Delta
Good (8,452 reviews)
SWISS
Good (1,985 reviews)
Iberia
Good (3,250 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,616 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (938 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (9,926 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,737 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,861 reviews)
LOT
Good (1,211 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (11,287 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,418 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,471 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (418 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (1,402 reviews)
TAP AIR PORTUGAL
Good (2,311 reviews)
ITA Airways
Good (1,271 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 $113 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $227 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, 7557 reviews)
$163+
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Santemar
4 stars
Excellent (8.9, 6542 reviews)
$142+
View
Gran Hotel Victoria
4 stars
Excellent (8.7, 3003 reviews)
$172+
View
Château La Roca
3 stars
Excellent (8.6, 1234 reviews)
$89+
View
Torres de Somo
4 stars
Excellent (8.6, 1090 reviews)
$114+
View
ibis Styles Santander
3 stars
Excellent (8.5, 2349 reviews)
$112+
View

Renting a car in Santander

Renting a car in Santander costs $38 per day, on average, or $115 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, 13% more expensive than at Santander.

Expect to pay $6.25 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 $74.95 and $99.93. 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 Compact rental cars (Peugeot 208 or similar) are, on average, 46% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Renting a car in Santander costs $38 per day, on average, or $115 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, 13% more expensive than at Santander.

Expect to pay $6.25 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 $74.95 and $99.93. 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 Compact rental cars (Peugeot 208 or similar) are, on average, 46% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Find car rentals in Santander