Santander

  • The prehistoric cave paintings at Altamira, about 20 miles away. Though you only get to visit a facsimile of the cave, it is impressive. You can stay in the village of Santillana del Mar which is/was an artists’ colony.
  • The Guggenheim at Bilbao.
  • Catch a match at Athletic Bilbao.
  • Guernica, the heart of the Basque culture.
  • Shame you are a couple of months too late for the Feria at Pamplona.
  • El Cid’s medieval city of Burgos.
  • The wonderful beaches in bays all along the north coast, such as Llanes to Ribadesella. The modern seafood restaurant, Taberna Marinera El Bálamu, on Llanes jetty is supposed to be good.
  • If you have a car take a day’s drive through Los Picos de Europa mountains. If brave take a gorge walk.
  • Otherwise, you can get local trains along the north coast and south to Burgos.
Obviously a short break will not allow the latter few which require travel.
 
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Went to Santander about 40 years ago on a motorcycling holiday with Brittany ferries from Plymouth.
We only stayed the one night but as I recall it’s a lovely city plenty of bars restaurants and a lovely beach.
Much more laid back than the Costa’s of the east and south of Spain.
 
Very impressive part of Europe up in the Cantabrian Mountains (the region Santander is situated). I’d also head west towards Santiago De Compostela in Galicia. La Coruña is in Galicia too. Both interesting cities. Far more picturesque than the Basque Country but I’d still give it a whirl if I was you.
 
Only been to Santander once, on the ferry from Plymouth. Very underrated and undiscovered part of Spain for Brits. Well loved by the Spanish who prefer to keep away from the mad resorts in the South. If you're sailing, it's good to go in early October as the Bay of Biscay and the weather gets rougher in November. If you're flying, then your only worry is the French air traffic controllers who seem to strike more often than Swan Vestas.
 
tommytwojags said:
Only been to Santander once, on the ferry from Plymouth. Very underrated and undiscovered part of Spain for Brits. Well loved by the Spanish who prefer to keep away from the mad resorts in the South. If you're sailing, it's good to go in early October as the Bay of Biscay and the weather gets rougher in November. If you're flying, then your only worry is the French air traffic controllers who seem to strike more often than Swan Vestas.
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And we’re flying Ryanair but hopefully the most popular people in Europe will not be striking when we travel and return, l think l might need to cancel 🤣🤣🤣
 
Sailed back on Monday into Plymouth. Spent the night in Santander had a lovely meal by the harbout, seems a nice place but in all honesty never had a chance for a proper look round.
 
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