Santander

Santander, capital of Cantabria, overlooks the Cantabrian Sea with a sheltered bay, urban beaches and a heritage that evokes its past as a summer destination for Spanish royalty. The Magdalena Palace, a gift from the city to King Alfonso XIII and Queen Victoria Eugenia, crowns the peninsula of the same name and is now home to summer courses and visits. The city combines discreet elegance, nearby nature and a gastronomy that draws on the sea and the mountains.

The Sardinero beaches —First and Second beach— are the main seafront, with promenade, Piquío gardens and summer atmosphere. El Sardinero and La Magdalena beaches attract swimmers and strollers. The historic centre, partly rebuilt after the 1941 fire, concentrates shops, bars and the Mercado del Este. The Museum of Prehistory and Archaeology of Cantabria and the Centro Botín —designed by Renzo Piano— add culture by the bay.

Cantabrian gastronomy: rabas (fried squid), cocido montañés, quesada pasiega, sobaos pasiegos, Santoña anchovies and orujo. The El Sardinero and centre neighbourhoods offer good restaurants and seafood places. Santander has an oceanic climate: frequent rain and mild temperatures; summer is the driest and liveliest season. The city has an airport and is connected by high-speed rail to Madrid; from here you can easily reach Santillana del Mar, Comillas, Altamira caves and the Picos de Europa.

Santander is an ideal base for exploring Cantabria: prehistoric caves, charming villages, green coast and mountains. Two or three days in the city are enough for the Magdalena, Sardinero, Centro Botín and tapas; the rest can be spent on day trips. Avoid winter if you want sun; spring and summer offer better weather although rain can appear at any time.