Cantabria district, Cantabria, Spain

Places to visit near Santander

Santander is a city in Cantabria district, Cantabria, Spain, home to about 182,700 people. Within 50 km by road there are 131 places to visit — 38 forts & heritage, 18 churches, 16 beaches & coast and 6 hill stations & viewpoints. The must-see places are Iglesia de Santa Lucía (1 km), Museo de Prehistoria y Arqueología de Cantabria (1 km) and Jardines de José María Pereda (1 km).

Updated · Distances are road estimates · Open Santander on the map

Santander, Cantabria
Santander, Cantabria district, Cantabria, Spain. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

Santander at a glance

Location
Cantabria district, Cantabria, Spain
Population
about 182,700
Coordinates
43.4647° N, 3.8044° W
Places within 50 km
131 (82 must-see)
Best time to visit
October to February for forts & heritage; October to March for beaches & coast; year-round for churches

Top places to visit near Santander

Ranked by how worth the drive they are from Santander: must-see places and the closest well-loved spots first. Open a place for photos, today’s visitor status, timings and directions.

More places near Santander

Things to see near Santander, by type

Forts & heritage near Santander

63 forts & heritage within 100 km of Santander. The closest is Monumento A Velarde (1 km); the best-known is Palacete del Embarcadero (1 km). Best time: october to february.

All forts & heritage in Cantabria →

Churches near Santander

38 churches within 100 km of Santander. The closest is Iglesia de Santa Lucía (1 km). Best time: year-round.

All churches in Cantabria →

Beaches & coast near Santander

22 beaches & coast within 100 km of Santander. The closest is Segunda Playa de El Sardinero (2 km); the best-known is Primera Playa de El Sardinero (3 km). Best time: october to march.

All beaches & coast in Cantabria →

Hill stations & viewpoints near Santander

20 hill stations & viewpoints within 100 km of Santander. The closest is Peña Castillo (6 km); the best-known is Pico Llen (12 km). Best time: october to february for cool, clear air.

  • Pico Llen · viewpoint · Cantabria · ~12 km · Must-see
  • Monte Picota · viewpoint · Cantabria · ~15 km · Must-see
  • Peña Castillo · viewpoint · Cantabria · ~6 km
  • Montehano · viewpoint · Cantabria · ~31 km · Must-see
  • Buciero · viewpoint · Cantabria · ~37 km · Must-see
  • Castro Valnera · viewpoint · Cantabria · ~46 km · Must-see

All hill stations & viewpoints in Cantabria →

Caves near Santander

16 caves within 100 km of Santander. The closest is Cueva de la Peña Oreo I (3 km); the best-known is Cueva de La Garma (15 km). Best time: year-round.

All caves in Cantabria →

Wildlife, forests & gardens near Santander

11 wildlife, forests & gardens within 100 km of Santander. The closest is Jardines del Palacio de la Magdalena (4 km); the best-known is Parque Natural Dunas de Liencres y Costa Quebrada (15 km). Best time: november to march for sightings.

All wildlife, forests & gardens in Cantabria →

A one-day trip from Santander

5 of the best places within 60 km, in driving order so you don’t double back: about 6 km on the road.

  1. Start in Santander
  2. 1 km Museo de Prehistoria y Arqueología de Cantabria · museum, Cantabria
  3. 1 km Jardines de José María Pereda · park, Cantabria
  4. 1 km Palacete del Embarcadero · heritage site, Cantabria
  5. 1 km Iglesia de Santa Lucía · church, Cantabria
  6. 1 km Parque de la Vaguada de Las Llamas · park, Cantabria
  7. 1 km Back to Santander

Plan a longer trip from Santander — the planner adds a place to stay each night and keeps the route to one loop.

From travellers near Santander

No traveller has reported from around Santander yet. Been to one of these places recently? Open it and post what you found — is the waterfall flowing, how crowded was the temple, is the beach safe — so the next visitor knows before they drive.

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How to reach Santander

    All places near Santander by distance

    Within 15 km of Santander

    15–50 km — half-day trips

    50–100 km — one-day trips

    Count by type (within 100 km)

    Places near Santander by type
    TypeWithin 50 kmWithin 100 kmNearest
    Forts & heritage3863Monumento A Velarde (1 km)
    Churches1838Iglesia de Santa Lucía (1 km)
    Beaches & coast1622Segunda Playa de El Sardinero (2 km)
    Hill stations & viewpoints620Peña Castillo (6 km)
    Other attractions1616Estatua del Cardenal Ángel Herrera Oria (1 km)
    Caves1216Cueva de la Peña Oreo I (3 km)
    Wildlife, forests & gardens711Jardines del Palacio de la Magdalena (4 km)
    Museums810Museo de Prehistoria y Arqueología de Cantabria (1 km)
    Parks610Jardines de José María Pereda (1 km)
    Lakes, dams & reservoirs14Fuente de Concha Espina (1 km)
    Rivers, islands & mangroves33Isla de la Torre (3 km)
    Treks01European Long Distance Path E9 East Asturies (96 km)

    Santander: questions travellers ask

    What are the best places to visit near Santander?

    Iglesia de Santa Lucía (church, about 1 km), Museo de Prehistoria y Arqueología de Cantabria (museum, about 1 km), Jardines de José María Pereda (park, about 1 km), Palacete del Embarcadero (heritage site, about 1 km), Parque de la Vaguada de Las Llamas (park, about 1 km), Jardines de Piquío (park, about 2 km).

    How many tourist places are there within 50 km of Santander?

    131 places on Spotwander: 38 forts & heritage, 18 churches, 16 beaches & coast, 6 hill stations & viewpoints, 16 other attractions.

    Which is the nearest fort to Santander?

    Monumento A Velarde, about 1 km by road; Alfonso XIII (1 km) is next.

    Which is the nearest church to Santander?

    Iglesia de Santa Lucía, about 1 km by road; Catedral de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción (1 km) is next.

    Which is the nearest beach to Santander?

    Segunda Playa de El Sardinero, about 2 km by road; Primera Playa de El Sardinero (3 km) is next.

    What is a good one-day trip from Santander?

    Start in Santander, visit Museo de Prehistoria y Arqueología de Cantabria, then Jardines de José María Pereda, then Palacete del Embarcadero, then Iglesia de Santa Lucía, then Parque de la Vaguada de Las Llamas, and drive back — about 6 km by road in all.

    What is the best time to visit places near Santander?

    October to February for forts & heritage; October to March for beaches & coast; year-round for churches.

    Towns near Santander

    Sources: places from OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata and GeoNames; Santander’s location and population from GeoNames; see also Santander on Wikipedia. Data sources & credits.