Cantabria Tourism
Getting There
The only International Airport in Cantabria is at Santander which has a
limited number of incoming flights from the UK and Ireland. However, there are
many connecting flights with Barcelona and Madrid for those wanting to fly from
other parts of Spain, perhaps as a two-centre holiday. Since the dramatic
improvement in the road system across the north of Spain in the last five years,
it is now quite a straightforward journey from the airport at Bilbao, which is
only an hour’s drive away to the west. Similarly, the journey to Asturias
International Airport is quite straightforward.
The improvement in road links has meant that many more people are now driving to
the region having taken a ferry to Santander, Bilbao or even after driving along
the western coast of France. Britanny Ferries provide services between Santander
and both Portsmouth and Plymouth in the UK whilst there are P&O Ferries
operating between Bilbao and Portsmouth.
RENFE, the Spanish rail provider, provides daily trains from Santander to
Madrid, Oviedo and Bilbao and FEVE runs connections between Santander and some
of the smaller regional towns. There is also a picturesque tourist train running
along the Cantabrian coast – in fact, it is possible to travel by train all the
way from San Sebastian right the way across to Santiago de Compostela. As with
most parts of Spain, there are frequent, efficient bus services between the
major towns – and slower slightly less efficient services linking some of the
more remote parts of the region.
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Main Tourist Destinations in Cantabria
Santander is not only the capital of Cantabria but by far its largest town,
with about 200,000 inhabitants. Although quite a modern city – an explosion in
the 1890s and a fire in 1941 destroyed substantial areas – it has a pleasing
atmosphere, best captured around its main beach, El Sardinero, and in some of
the atmospheric restaurants in the centre.
The other main place for visitors is at Altamira, to see the world famous cave
paintings. To protect the cave from damage, however, there is very little chance
of getting very close to the paintings themselves; think of Stonehenge and
you’ll have an idea of how well protected they are. However, there is a very
impressive museum which includes an authentic re-creation of the caves which,
apparently, is identical to the real thing. Altamira, though, is so close to the
wonderful cobbled town of Santillana del Mar, that the very least you can do is
to visit both places in the same day. Perversely, locals say that Santillana del
Mar is not religious, is not flat and is not near the sea, despite its name, but
it does possess some truly impressive buildings and a film set like quality.
Fans of the London Dungeon and similar places might like to visit the museum
devoted to the Inquisition in Santillana – it is full of the stuff of
nightmares.
The Cantabrian coastline is full of good beaches, small fishing harbours and
some impressive sea scenery. Especially popular places to visit include Comillas
(with its very own Gaudi building) and Santoña – but there are many less
well-known gems that can be quite empty even during the peak season.
A drive or walk through inland Cantabria will illustrate why this is Green
Spain. Reinosa is a good base to start from but, whether you are going along the
road beside the Ebro or westwards into the interior, you will find some unspoilt
villages and isolated hamlets along with some magnificent views.
Tourist Activities
The lure of the natural world is what draws people to Cantabria – walking,
climbing, pot holing or simply revelling in the peacefulness that you can
experience even during the summer. More activity sports are being developed to
attract a different kind of traveller. Golf in Cantabria, whilst not as
ubiquitous as in the Costas of the south, is a fabulous experience. The courses
are mainly around Santander and the pick of them is definitely the Real Golf de
Pedeña, a demanding course partially designed by Seve Ballasteros.
Local Cantabrian Festivals
Santander is the venue for northern Spain’s equivalent of the Granada
International Festival. Every August all the venues in the city seem to be taken
over for musical events of various kinds, from classical to jazz and flamenco to
opera. The same city has the rather different Festival of Sports Films every
June.
The night of San Juan is popular in many places throughout the country, but
there is a special feeling to the event at Castro Urdiales – it’s another one of
those fiestas that are not for the faint-hearted as one of the highlights is
jumping over fires on the beach in order to burn away your problems!
Santoña, in February, has the bizarre spectacle of the Carnaval Marinero, where
most people wander around dressed up as fish, for reasons probably lost in the
mists of time.
Food and Drink in Cantabria
With a coastline facing the Bay of Biscay, clearly fish is important in the
culinary life of Cantabria but particular regional favourites are crabs, prawns,
clams, crayfish and lobster. There is very good sea bass here and the locals
love an anchovy sauce they make with olive oil and lemon juice and add to almost
anything. They like their stews here, especially Sorropotún, a stew of potatoes
and tuna, and Cocido Montañés, a white bean, cabbage and meat stew. With fresh
water fishing being popular, salmon, trout and, especially, eels are very common
and tasty.
There are also some excellent Cantabrian cheeses to enjoy.
The traditional drink of the region is orujo, a particularly potent spirit. |
