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Santander

Spain travel guide

What to see in Santander

The Magdalena Palace, the Sardinero beaches and the Centro Botín: Cantabria’s capital faces the sea.

Updated 19 October 2026 · How we make our guides

  • 4 must-see places
  • Stay in Centre
  • Typical food: Rabas
Photo: Fernandopascullo · CC BY 3.0

Santander highlights

The places you can’t miss. In the app we sort them by day and close to each other.

  1. Magdalena Palace

    A royal residence on the peninsula.

  2. Sardinero Beach

    Fine sand and the Paseo de Pereda.

  3. Centro Botín

    Contemporary art on the waterfront.

  4. Mercado del Este

    Cantabrian food.

Where to stay in Santander

The handiest areas for getting around and going out.

  • Recommended areas

    Centre · Sardinero · Cueto

Day trips from Santander

We take you straight to the best-rated tour on GetYourGuide, with its reviews and dates.

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When to travel to Santander

Any time of year is good to travel to Santander: our data shows no months with weather, closure or crowd warnings.

  1. Jan no warnings
  2. Feb no warnings
  3. Mar no warnings
  4. Apr no warnings
  5. May no warnings
  6. Jun no warnings
  7. Jul no warnings
  8. Aug no warnings
  9. Sep no warnings
  10. Oct no warnings
  11. Nov no warnings
  12. Dec no warnings

Typical food of Santander

The dish you have to try there and how to make it at home, to whet your appetite before the trip (or to go back to Santander from your kitchen).

Rabas
Photo: Emilio Gómez Fernández · CC BY-SA 4.0

Rabas

Strips of squid coated in flour and fried, Santander’s quintessential tapa. You can order them in any bar in the centre or by the harbour, with a squeeze of lemon.

  • Serves 4
  • 30 min

Ingredients

  • 600 g cleaned squid
  • 150 g plain flour
  • 1 egg (optional)
  • Olive or sunflower oil for frying
  • Salt
  • 1 lemon

How to make it at home

  1. Cut the squid into finger-wide strips and dry them very well with kitchen paper.
  2. Salt them and dredge them in flour (if you want a thicker coating, dip them in beaten egg first). Shake off the excess.
  3. Fry in small batches in very hot oil (180 °C) for 1 or 2 minutes, until golden.
  4. Drain them on paper and serve straight away with lemon.

The trick: Fry only a few at a time: if the oil cools down, they turn out soft and greasy.

Where and what to eat

To eat like a local: the neighbourhood taberna. The dishes you can’t miss are in the Spain guide.

Frequently asked questions about Santander

What to see in Santander?

Magdalena Palace, Sardinero Beach, Centro Botín and Mercado del Este.

What to see in Santander in one day?

Don’t miss Magdalena Palace, Sardinero Beach, Centro Botín and Mercado del Este. To split it into days and areas without crossing the city back and forth, the Bagintravel app plans your trip in a minute.

Where to stay in Santander?

The handiest areas to stay are Centre, Sardinero and Cueto.

What’s the best time to travel to Santander?

Any time of year is good to travel to Santander: our data shows no months with weather, closure or crowd warnings.

What day trips can you take from Santander?

Santillana del Mar, El Castillo Cave and Altamira and Picos de Europa.

What is the typical food of Santander?

Rabas. Strips of squid coated in flour and fried, Santander’s quintessential tapa. You can order them in any bar in the centre or by the harbour, with a squeeze of lemon.

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Guide reviewed 19 October 2026. Places, areas and seasons: the same data the Bagintravel app uses. Sources and method.