Santillana del Mar

Santillana del Mar is a picturesque town of 4200 people (2018) in Cantabria, Spain, renowned for its medieval architecture. The village is a bit of a tourist trap, and is so swamped with new developments around the outskirts, that on arrival you might be forgiven for wondering what all the fuss is about.

However, the original kernel of the medieval village survives in the centre, although the beauty of the winding streets and yellow sandstone buildings is rather marred by the abundance of shops selling tourist nick-nacks that have proliferated into almost every doorway.

For the more adventurous, there are some lovely walks in the small hills around the town that afford stunning views of the Picos de Europa, the mountain ranges, and the coast of the Bay of Biscay.

Understand
The area around Santillana del Mar has been populated for thousands of years and there are traces of some of the earliest inhabitants at the Altamira Caves about 2 km from the town.

There is a very modern and helpful tourist office in the town that provides lots of useful information.

Get in
Santillana is 24 km (15 miles) from Santander.

By plane
The next airport is

By train
The next FEVE railway station is Puente San Miguel, about from Santillana-del-Mar.

The next RENFE railway station is Torrelavega, about from Santillana-del-Mar. Autobuses Garcia operate bus services from Torrevelaga to Santillana del Mar and back.

By bus
There are buses to Santillana del Mar from Santander, with the journey taking about half an hour. There are up to seven buses a day in July and August, although fewer outside of these months.


 * La Cantabrica, Nav 5, El Campon, Penacastillo, tel 42342701, 942720822 fax 942346988 operates bus services from Santander Bus Station (estación de Autobuses de Santander)  to Santillana del Mar from Sep 1 until Jun 30 at 10:30 and 11:30, 13:05, 17:00, 18:15, 19:15 and 20:30. Journey time: 40 minutes, price: €2.25 single (December 2009).

The bus from Santander drops you just outside of the town. When leaving beware that, although there is a bus shelter just outside the town where you will be dropped off on your way in, the bus back departs from the steps in front of the town hall, about 50 m closer to town.

The bus station is at Av, Cantabric s/n,.


 * Autobuses Garcia operate services to and from Altamira and Torrevelaga.

By car

 * from Santander: take the highway to Torrelavega - exit “Requejada”, go ahead to Barreda, turn right on road CA-131 to Santillana del Mar, or exit “Puente San Miguel” and take the CA-133 road to Santillana del Mar.
 * from Asturias: take the “Autovía del Cantábrico” (Cantabrian Highway) or N-634 to Puente San Miguel, then the CA-133 road to Santillana del Mar.
 * from Madrid, Bilbao, Burgos, Palencia or Valladolid: take the highway to Torrelavega, then as above
 * from Comillas: take the CA-131 road.

Distances from Santillana del Mar:
 * Suances 6 km
 * Torrelavega 6 km
 * Comillas 16 km
 * Santander 30 km
 * San Vicente de la Barquera 30 km
 * Parque de Cabárceno 30 km
 * Picos de Europa 70 km

See
The whole town, old and well-preserved, is worth visiting.

Museums

 * El Museo de la Tortura or Torture Museum contains an impressive collection of instruments of torture from around Europe, including those used in the Spanish Inquisition. The museum is interesting and rich in history, but be warned that it is not for the faint of heart!
 * El Museo de la Tortura or Torture Museum contains an impressive collection of instruments of torture from around Europe, including those used in the Spanish Inquisition. The museum is interesting and rich in history, but be warned that it is not for the faint of heart!
 * El Museo de la Tortura or Torture Museum contains an impressive collection of instruments of torture from around Europe, including those used in the Spanish Inquisition. The museum is interesting and rich in history, but be warned that it is not for the faint of heart!
 * El Museo de la Tortura or Torture Museum contains an impressive collection of instruments of torture from around Europe, including those used in the Spanish Inquisition. The museum is interesting and rich in history, but be warned that it is not for the faint of heart!
 * El Museo de la Tortura or Torture Museum contains an impressive collection of instruments of torture from around Europe, including those used in the Spanish Inquisition. The museum is interesting and rich in history, but be warned that it is not for the faint of heart!

Local festivals

 * Epiphany: Santillana, 5 January.
 * Medieval Festival: June.
 * Folia: Variable, San Vicente de la Barquera, 30 km.
 * Procession for Santa Juliana: 28 June, Santillana del Mar. San Roque: 16 August.

Swimming
There are beaches at
 * Ubiarco (5 km),
 * Cobreces (10 km),
 * Comillas (17 km),
 * Oyambre (20 km) and
 * Suances (10 km)

Eat
Typical pastries include sobao pasiego and quesadas (a light sort of cheesecake).

Drink
A trip to northern Spain must include a sampling of sidra, or hard cider, which is typical of Cantabria as well as Asturias and Basque Country. It is traditional to pour the cider into the glass from a height of about 1 m (3 ft). Your bartender will know how if you are hesitant to try the feat yourself.

Connect

 * Tourist Information (Oficina de Turismo) Calle Jesus Otero 26,.

Go next
The bus to Santander departs from the steps in front of the town hall.


 * La Cantabrica operates bus services from Santillana del Mar to Santander Bus Station (estación de Autobuses de Santander) from Sep 1 until Jun 30 M-F at 07:15, daily at 10:15 and 15:45, M-F at 18:00, Sa Su at 1930. Journey time: 40 minutes, price: €2.25 single (December 2009).
 * Autobuses Garcia C/H.Alcalde del Rio, 2 Bajo, Torrelavega,, operate bus services from Santillana del Mar to Torrelavega.