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    Cantabria
    Region

    Spain

    Cantabria

    Cantabria lies between Asturias and the Basque Country on the Bay of Biscay. The capital Santander with its bay, medieval Santillana del Mar, and the Modernisme buildings of Comillas are located close to each other.

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    7. Cantabria
    Cantabria lies between Asturias and the Basque Country on the Bay of Biscay. The capital Santander with its bay, medieval Santillana del Mar, and the Modernisme buildings of Comillas are located close to each other. Inland rise the Picos de Europa, and in caves like Altamira are found some of the most significant Paleolithic cave paintings.
    Cantabria is one of Spain's smallest regions, stretching from the Bay of Biscay to the peaks of the Cantabrian Mountains. The coast consists of sandy beaches, estuaries, and cliffs, while inland lie green valleys with pastures. In the southwest, the Liébana Valley belongs to the Picos de Europa. The capital, Santander, is the starting point for most trips; Santillana del Mar and Comillas are a half-hour drive west. The climate is Atlantic: mild, humid, and rarely hot, even in summer.
    Santander

    Place 1 of 3

    Santander

    Santander, the capital of Cantabria, is located on a wide bay of the Bay of Biscay.

    Santander has a population of approximately 170,000 and is located on the northern side of a large bay that opens eastward to the Bay of Biscay. Its center, featuring the Cathedral, the market hall, and the Paseo de Pereda waterfront promenade, is situated by the harbor; it was largely rebuilt after the 1941 fire.

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    Comillas

    Place 2 of 3

    Comillas

    The coastal town of Comillas became a hub for Catalan architects in the 19th century, thanks to the Marqués de Comillas. It is home to Gaudí's El Capricho, the Palacio de Sobrellano, and the former Pontifical University, plus a long sandy beach.

    Comillas is a town of just over 2,000 inhabitants on Cantabria's west coast, about 50 kilometers from Santander. Surrounding its small old town of squares and stone houses, palaces and buildings of Catalan Modernisme dot the hills, distinguishing it from other coastal villages.

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    Santillana del Mar

    Place 3 of 3

    Santillana del Mar

    Santillana del Mar is a medieval town with cobblestone streets, heraldic houses, and the Romanesque Collegiate Church of Santa Juliana.

    Santillana del Mar is a small town with around 4,000 inhabitants in the municipality, located about 30 kilometers west of Santander and approximately four kilometers from the coast. The car-free town center features a few cobbled streets with stone noble houses, wooden balconies, and coats of arms above the entrances.

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    Sights in Cantabria

    Discover the most important sights and attractions

    Historic Landmark

    Cave of El Castillo

    The cave near Puente Viesgo displays Paleolithic handprints, dots, and animal figures, some of Europe's oldest known cave paintings. It's a UNESCO World Heritage site, accessible only by guided small group tours; reservation recommended.
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    Attraction

    Cable Car Fuente Dé

    At the end of the Liébana Valley, the cable car covers about 750 vertical meters in minutes to the mountain station, over 1,800m high in the Picos de Europa's Central Massif. Up top, hiking trails wind through the rocky landscape. In summer, long queues form.
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    Attraction

    The Park of Nature of Cabárceno

    In einem ehemaligen Eisenerz-Tagebau südlich von Santander leben Elefanten, Bären, Giraffen und viele andere Tierarten in weitläufigen Gehegen zwischen Karstfelsen. Du fährst mit dem Auto von Gehege zu Gehege, eine Seilbahn verbindet mehrere Bereiche.
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    Food & Beverages

    Cocido montañés

    Hearty stew with white beans, kale, chorizo, blood sausage, and pork from the mountain valleys.

    Anchovies from Santoña

    Hand-cleaned, oil-marinated anchovy fillets from the port city of Santoña.

    Sobaos and Quesada pasiega

    Butter cake and cheesecake from the Pas Valleys, a typical souvenir from Cantabria.

    Cheese from Liébana

    The Liébana Valley is home to Quesucos de Liébana and the strong blue cheese Picón Bejes-Tresviso.

    Spirit

    Cave Paintings and Summer RetreatsCantabria is home to numerous caves with Stone Age paintings; ten of them are UNESCO World Heritage sites. The most famous is Altamira near Santillana del Mar. To protect the paintings, the original cave is almost entirely closed, but an accurate replica in the adjacent museum showcases the ceiling paintings. Other caves, such as El Castillo in Puente Viesgo, can be visited on guided tours.In the 19th century, Santander became the summer residence of the royal court. In Comillas, the Marqués de Comillas commissioned Catalan architects like Gaudí and Domènech i Montaner to build.

    Exploring locally

    Santander has an airport and ferry links to Great Britain. Long-distance trains serve Madrid; along the coast, Renfe's narrow-gauge line runs to Bilbao and Oviedo. For caves, mountain valleys, and smaller towns, a rental car is practical; the A-8 motorway parallels the coast. ALSA buses connect Santander with Santillana, Comillas, and Potes in the Liébana Valley.

    Nearby

    Santillana del Mar

    Santillana del Mar

    Santillana del Mar is a medieval town with cobblestone streets, heraldic houses, and the Romanesque Collegiate Church of Santa Juliana. About two kilometers away is the Altamira Cave, whose Stone Age paintings can be seen in the museum with a faithful replica.
    Comillas

    Comillas

    The coastal town of Comillas became a hub for Catalan architects in the 19th century, thanks to the Marqués de Comillas. It is home to Gaudí's El Capricho, the Palacio de Sobrellano, and the former Pontifical University, plus a long sandy beach.
    Santander

    Santander

    Santander, the capital of Cantabria, is located on a wide bay of the Bay of Biscay. Largely rebuilt after the city fire of 1941, today the cityscape is shaped by the La Magdalena peninsula with its palace, the beaches of Sardinero, and the Centro Botín at the harbour.
    Llanes

    Llanes

    Llanes, a charming coastal town in Asturias, combines maritime history with impressive nature. Here you'll find a well-preserved old town with medieval walls and the historic Torreón. The lively harbour is the heart of the town, where fishing boats and Agustín Ibarrola's colourful art installation Cubos de la Memoria define the scene. Along the coast, you'll discover unique beaches like Playa de Toró with its striking rock formations or the bizarre Playa de Gulpiyuri, a small saltwater inland lake. The Paseo de San Pedro offers spectacular views of the Cantabrian Sea and the Picos de Europa in the background. It's best to visit Llanes in late spring or early autumn to enjoy mild temperatures and fewer visitors. A stroll through the old town's alleys reveals traditional Asturian architecture and cozy Sidrerías.
    Bilbao

    Bilbao

    As the largest city in the Basque Country, Bilbao is an impressive example of successful urban regeneration and famous for the iconic Guggenheim Museum, which has transformed the city into a centre for art and culture.