Two days in Santander

The tour starts in the Paseo de Pereda gardens, where you can pick up some information in the tourist office located there. A walk through the gardens to see the cedars and magnolia trees will bring you to the historic city centre. It is not very large, so the best way to explore it is to stroll around, seeing the sights at your own pace, and soaking up the elegant atmosphere. The first thing you’ll notice is the majestic façades of the banks, historically of great importance to Santander. Continue on down Calle Hernán Cortes to Plaza Porticada. This Neoclassical square is one of the liveliest places in the city, and also symbolic, as it was built to be the new city centre after Santander was devastated by fire in 1941.Next door, you’ll find the church of El Cristo and Santander Cathedral, opposite the church of La Compañía. This is a good place to take a few photos and discover some of the legends about the origins of the city. Continue along Calle Juan de Herrera to Plaza del Ayuntamiento and the Town Hall. There is always a lively atmosphere here, and there are sure to be groups of people relaxing on its benches. The next stop is the MAS - the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art of Santander and Cantabria, or the Menéndez Pelayo museum house and library, named after one of the area's most influential thinkers. But if you’re looking for a cheerful atmosphere and a chance to see the everyday life of the people of Santander, try a visit to the Esperanza market, where they sell some of the best fresh fish in Spain.

After a cultural morning, you can take a little time off for shopping. If you continue along Calle Jesús de Monasterio and Calle San Fernando, you’ll find yourself in Santander’s main shopping district, the ideal place to find a gift or a souvenir of your trip.Right in this area, and particularly in Calle Vargas (parallel to San Fernando) you’ll find several restaurants perfect for enjoying Santander’s traditional coastal cuisine. Local specialities include rabas (fried squid), caracolillos (whelks) and mejillones (mussels). Delicious.

Afternoon is the ideal time to explore maritime Santander, with a stroll along the attractive area beside the dock. When you come out of the Paseo de Pereda gardens, you’ll see the famous Stone Crane, which can lift 30 tonnes. You can enjoy a cup of coffee on Paseo de Pereda, an avenue full of charming cafés with a literary air. Just a few metres away is the Embarcadero Palace, where you might be tempted to take a ride. A boat trip starts here on a small boat that takes you around the bay. There is an incredible view of the city from the sea, which makes this one-hour trip a wonderful experience.

On your return, you could take the opportunity to visit what has become a new symbol of the city: the Centro Botín. This centre is a cultural space dedicated to contemporary art, music, film, theatre, and literature. The building, designed by the Pritzker Prize-winning architect Renzo Piano, is in an exceptional location overlooking the Bay of Santander.After that, a walk along the Calderón dock will bring you to the sculpture of “Los Raqueros”, which depicts a group of children diving into the water, created in memory of the children who years ago used to dive into the bay to pick up the coins thrown to them by tourists. The sculpture and its setting make for a fun, intriguing photo.

If you continue on your walk you’ll pass by the Puertochico Yacht Club, and eye-catching buildings such as the Planetarium and the Festival Centre. A walk along Avenida de Severiano Ballesteros will take you to the Cantabrian Maritime Museum, well worth a stop to see the modern aquariums and learn more about man’s relationship with the sea. After the museum you can cool off and spend the rest of the afternoon in the beach area (Los Peligros and La Magdalena are the first ones you will see).At dinner time, a good option is to return to the centre for tapas, going from one bar to another sampling the local specialities in the area around Plaza de Cañadío square. This is one of the best areas in the city if you feel like going clubbing or having a drink after dinner. If it’s summer, the square will be full of people out having fun.

The plan is to spend the morning exploring the Magdalena peninsula, one of the most interesting and beautiful areas in Santander. On the way, you can go down Calle Horadada to the seashore for a beautiful view of the islands of La Torre and Horadada. Now go on until you come to the entrance to this great park. This is a large area of around 25 hectares, so if you don’t feel like walking, you can always hop on the tourist train which runs all around the park. However, these tips are for exploring it on foot.

You’ll go past Bikini beach, arriving at the Embarcadero Real pier and then on to La Cerda lighthouse. If you carry on around the peninsula, you’ll come to an esplanade which will take you to Santander’s greatest treasure: the Magdalena Palace You’re now at the highest point of the peninsula, so this is the moment to take a photo of this majestic Royal Palace and the outstanding views of the city of Santander. On the way down you will come across the three original galleons used by Santander's very own explorer Vital Alsar on his expeditions across the ocean, and the replica of the raft he used to cross the Pacific Ocean in 1970. There is also a fun water park where you can see marine animals such as seals, penguins and sea lions in water that flows directly from the sea.

After a really great morning, it is now time to have lunch. If you go along Avenida de la Reina Victoria and cross the beautiful gardens of San Roque, you’ll come to Plaza de Italia. Here you’ll find the majestic and iconic Gran Casino, built in 1916, dominating the city skyline and adding to its fin-de-siecle atmosphere. Here, especially in summer, there are numerous terrace restaurants with views over the beach, ideal for having lunch while enjoying the salty tang of sea breezes.

You're now in the most popular part of Santander's seafront: El Sardinero, so after lunch you can’t possibly pass up the chance of a swim at any of its magnificent beaches. There are several to choose from including Camello (so-called because it has a rock in the shape of a camel), La Concha, and the Sardinero beaches (over a kilometre long). You’ll never forget the experience of sunbathing on fine golden sand and gazing at the views… or you can even try surfing.

After a refreshing dip, you can take a leisurely stroll along the seafront promenade and its parks, stopping at the spectacular viewing point in the Jardines de Piquío (a very romantic park for couples to enjoy) and continuing on until the end of Parque de Mesones. Along the way you’ll see some of the city’s most beautiful mansions and elegant houses in the city on one side, and sailboats on the other. What more could you ask?

If you prefer not to swim and you have a little extra time, you can continue on along the path that will take you to the other end of the city, the Cabo Mayor lighthouse, 30 metres tall. The walk along Avenida del Faro is perfect if you’re hoping for a much wilder natural landscape, with open sea and imposing cliffs.

To finish off your trip, you can’t miss one of the most special events in Santander: sunset. One of the best places in Santander to sit down and watch the sun setting over the Cantabrian Sea is from the Cabo Mayor area. Afterwards why not go to the Plaza de Italia area and dine at one of the most distinguished restaurants in the city, a perfect way to end the day. A perfect end to your visit to Santander, the city traditionally known as “the bride of the sea”.