Spain · 9 destinations

What to see in Cantabria

City beaches like El Sardinero, stone villages like Santillana del Mar, the modernisme of Comillas, the Liébana valley with Potes and the Picos de Europa, and caves with rock art like Altamira.

Updated 20 October 2026 · How we make our guides

Cities, villages and nature

Open each one to see all its sights, where to stay, day trips and when to go.

Cantabria
Santander

The Magdalena Palace, the Sardinero beaches and the Centro Botín: Cantabria’s capital faces the sea.
- Magdalena Palace
- Sardinero Beach
- Centro Botín
- Mercado del Este
What to see in Santander
Cantabria
Santillana del Mar

The best-preserved medieval stone town in Cantabria, with a Romanesque collegiate church and the Altamira cave next door.
- Collegiate Church of Santa Juliana
- Medieval streets
- Altamira Museum
- Plaza Mayor
What to see in Santillana del Mar
Cantabria
Comillas

Gaudí’s El Capricho, the Sobrellano Palace and a beach a few steps from the centre.
- Gaudí’s El Capricho
- Sobrellano Palace
- Comillas Beach
What to see in Comillas
Cantabria
San Vicente de la Barquera

A harbour with a castle and the La Maza bridge, with the snow-capped Picos de Europa behind.
- Castillo del Rey
- La Maza Bridge
- Oyambre
What to see in San Vicente de la Barquera
Cantabria
Potes

The heart of Liébana, with the Infantado Tower, the Monastery of Santo Toribio and the Picos de Europa.
- Infantado Tower
- Monastery of Santo Toribio
- Fuente Dé Cable Car
What to see in Potes
Cantabria
Picos de Europa

Limestone mountains between Asturias, Cantabria and León: the lakes of Covadonga, the Cares gorge trail and the Naranjo de Bulnes.
- Lakes of Covadonga
- Cares Trail
- Naranjo de Bulnes
- Fuente Dé
What to see in Picos de Europa
Cantabria
Castro Urdiales

A Gothic church and a castle-lighthouse above the harbour, with beaches between Bilbao and Santander.
- Church of Santa María
- Santa Ana Castle
- Fishing harbour
What to see in Castro Urdiales
Cantabria
Santoña

The anchovy town, with Monte Buciero, lighthouses above the sea and the marshes, one of the great wetlands of the north.
- Faro del Caballo
- Monte Buciero
- Marshes
- Canneries
What to see in Santoña
Cantabria
Liérganes

A village of mountain manor houses beside the Miera river, with a stone bridge and the legend of the Fish Man.
- Puente Mayor
- Manor houses
- Spa
- Picos Pando
What to see in Liérganes

When to go

June to September for beaches and mountains; spring and autumn are greener and quieter. Santillana and Comillas fill up in August.

What to eat

Cocido montañés (bean stew)
Santoña anchovies
Sobaos pasiegos
Quesada pasiega
Rabas

Recipes to make at home

Frequently asked questions

What is there to see in Cantabria?

The must-sees: Santander, Santillana del Mar, Comillas, San Vicente de la Barquera, Potes, Picos de Europa, Castro Urdiales, Santoña and Liérganes. Each guide has its sights, where to stay, day trips and when to go.

When is the best time to visit Cantabria?

June to September for beaches and mountains; spring and autumn are greener and quieter. Santillana and Comillas fill up in August.

What to eat in Cantabria?

Cocido montañés (bean stew), Santoña anchovies, Sobaos pasiegos, Quesada pasiega and Rabas. You’ll find the recipe for rabas and cocido lebaniego in their guides.

Which villages to see in Cantabria?

Santillana del Mar, Comillas, San Vicente de la Barquera, Potes and Castro Urdiales; and inland, Bárcena Mayor and Liérganes.

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Reviewed 20 October 2026. Places and areas: the same data the Bagintravel app uses. Sources and method.

Cover photo: Fernandopascullo (CC BY 3.0), Wikimedia Commons.