Cantabria is a small region on the Bay of Biscay where the mountains come down to the sea. With about 590,000 people and its capital in Santander, it packs beaches, medieval villages, prehistoric caves and the high peaks of the Picos de Europa into a short drive.
Why visit Cantabria
For nature and history together: the cave art of Altamira, one of the world’s great prehistoric treasures, villages of stone and wooden balconies, surf beaches and green valleys with a strong rural culture. Summers are mild compared with the rest of Spain.
Top places in Cantabria
Santander
An elegant seaside city on a wide bay, with the Magdalena Palace, the beaches of El Sardinero and the modern Centro Botín arts centre.
Altamira and Santillana del Mar
The Altamira cave, with its painted bison, is listed by UNESCO; visitors see a faithful replica at the museum. Nearby, Santillana del Mar is a beautifully preserved medieval village.
Comillas
A seaside town with modernist buildings, including El Capricho, one of Gaudí’s few works outside Catalonia.
The Picos de Europa
At Fuente Dé, a cable car rises to the high mountains of the national park; the Liébana valley and the monastery of Santo Toribio lie below.
The Pas valleys
Green valleys of stone huts and meadows, home of the pasiego cattle-herding culture and its sweets, sobaos and quesada.
San Vicente de la Barquera
A fishing village with a castle and long bridges, with the Picos de Europa as a backdrop.
Best time to visit Cantabria
Summer is the best season for beaches. Spring and autumn are green and quiet but rainier. Winter is mild on the coast and snowy in the mountains.
Getting to and around Cantabria
Santander airport is close to the city, and ferries arrive from Britain. Trains and buses link the main towns, but a car is the best way to explore villages and valleys.
What to eat in Cantabria
Anchovies from Santoña, cocido montañés (bean stew), fresh fish, sobaos and quesada pasiega, and local cheeses.
Cantabria FAQ
Can you visit the Altamira cave?
The original cave is protected; visitors see the Neocueva, an exact replica, at the Altamira museum.
Is Cantabria good for a road trip?
Yes: distances are short, and you can combine coast, villages and mountains in a few days.
