Santander is the capital and also the largest city of the province of Cantabria in Spain. Santander has some 180,000 inhabitants and is located on the ocean. It features a small historic center and a handful of beaches. Its most famous tourist attraction is the Magdalena Palace which was used as a summer getaway of Spanish royalty.

Get in

You can arrive in Santander via plane (mostly domestic and charter flights; international flights frequently use the Bilbao airport), ferry from the UK, public bus, or car (A8 freeway from Bilbao). Distance to Bilbao is some 100km (60m).

Ryanair flies from London Stansted directly to Santander Airport.

Get around

Santander is reasonably small. The distance from one end of town to the other are some 6km (4m) and can be walked in 2 hours along the coast road. Within the city center everything is within walking distance (15min walking). Public buses are available at reasonable prices. Specifically, buses can take you to the main beaches some 2-4km (2m) from the city center.

See

• Prehistoric and Archaeological Museum of Cantabria (Museo de Prehistoria y Arqueología de Cantabria), Casimiro Sainz 4, Tel.: +34 942 207 109, Tue-Sat 9:00-13:00 / 16:00-19:00, Sun 11:00-14:00
• Maritime Museum of Cantabria (Museo Marítimo del Cantábrico)
• Magdalena Beach (Playa de Magdalena)
• Sardinero Beaches (Playa del Sardinero)
• Camel Beach (Playa del Camello)
• Mataleñas Beach (Playa de Mataleñas)
• Magdalena Peninsula (see the penguins in the 'mini-Zoo') & Magdalena Palace (Palacio de Magdalena)
• Cathedral
• Light house at Cabo Mayor (faro de Cabo Mayor), and the "devil's bridge" (puente del diablo), a bizarre rock formation.

Do

• Picnic on Magdalena Peninsula
• Learn how to sail
• Enjoy the beaches
• 5 city walks: go to the Santander Tourist Office in the city center (Old Market, near the Old Banco Santander) and get a free city guide; the free city guide describes these 5 itineraries; alternatively you can find them on http://www.ayto-santander.es/Concejalias/Turismo/Turismo_itinerarios1.htm; these 5 itineraries are enough to keep you busy for 1-2 days.

Buy

Eat

• The best area to eat fish is the district close to fishing harbour (Barrio Pesquero).
• Seafood:

Drink

Sleep

Learn

The Universidad Internacional Menéndez de Pelayo (http://www.uimp.es/) offers summer courses for university students, including Spanish language courses for foreigners, that take place both at the Magdalena Palace and at Residencia Las Llamas.

Get out

Santillana del Mar - Picturesque stone village 1 hour away by bus visit the famous cave of Altamira.

Bilbao - Lively home of the famous Guggenheim

San Vicente de la Barquera - Sea-side fishing village,about 30 minutes by bus. See the fishing vessels unload what Madrid will be eating tomorrow. Fantastic tides, so stay for at least 6 hours. Nice roman bridge.