© ParadoresHotelParador de Santillana Gil Blas
Why we like it: A 17th-century Baroque mansion on Santillana's main square, with wooden floors, rooms in the Cantabrian mountain style, some with a fireplace, and a restaurant.
Duration2 nights
From Santander30 min
From Bilbao1 h 45
Best timeApril – June · September – October
Budget€180–300 pp
The plan
The plan, hour by hour
Designed for arriving on Friday evening and sleeping two nights inside the town of Santillana, with the car parked. Saturday is for Comillas; Sunday, for free Altamira and the collegiate church.
Friday
- 119:30Arrival in Santillana
Park at the entrance to the town and stroll at night through Plaza de Ramón Pelayo and Calle del Río, with no visitors by now. Sleep at the Hotel Altamira, on the Cantón, or at the Posada La Casa del Organista.
Saturday
- 110:00Gaudí's El Capricho
In Comillas, twenty minutes away. A 45-minute guided visit, €10. Book.
- 211:30Palacio de Sobrellano
A few steps away, with a guide, €7.
- 313:45Lunch at El Remedio
In Ruiloba, above the cliffs, on the way back. Cooking with seasonal produce. Book.
- 417:00Oyambre
A walk along the sands and dunes before returning to Santillana.
Sunday
- 19:30Altamira Neocave, free
Arrive at opening: free tickets are given out at the ticket office on a first-come basis.
- 212:30Collegiate church and lunch in the town
The Collegiate Church of Santa Juliana and its cloister, and lunch at Celina Bonita, open on Sunday from 13:30 to 16:00.
Santillana del Mar and Comillas are twenty minutes from each other and half an hour from Santander. Together they make the best short weekend in Cantabria: a pedestrian medieval town to sleep in and stroll at night, the Altamira Neocave, free on Sunday, and in Comillas the summer house Gaudí designed, the marquis's palace and the Oyambre sands.
When to go?
All year: El Capricho is open daily except Christmas and Epiphany, and Altamira, Tuesday to Sunday. In spring and autumn the towns are quiet; in July and August, do Santillana early. The Altamira Museum is free on Saturday from 14:00 and on Sunday.
| What | How much | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Altamira Neocave and Museum | €3 | Free Saturday afternoon and Sunday |
| Gaudí's El Capricho | €7 self-guided, €10 guided | Under-7s free |
| Palacio de Sobrellano | €7 | Guided only; closed on Mondays |
| Collegiate church, town, Oyambre | — | Confirm the collegiate church's hours |
Where to sleep?
Inside the town, so you don't have to take the car again: the Parador Gil Blas, in a Baroque manor house on the main square; the Hotel Altamira, in a 16th-century manor house on the Cantón, with rooms for families; or the Posada La Casa del Organista, an 18th-century manor house with parking, from €54 a night.
With children
The Santillana zoo is a good substitute for Sobrellano with small children, and in summer Comillas beach has lifeguards. El Capricho has a family visit with a workshop for ages 6 to 10.
Map
The stops, in order
What to do
Eat
88 €Stay
Services
Plan the trip
Santillana del Mar and Altamira, step by step
Each choice narrows the next: the season shapes how best to travel, and how you travel decides where you stay and where you eat.
When to go
When to go to Santillana del Mar and Altamira
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Best timeGood timeLow season
How you travel
The same break, your way
The plan stays the same. What changes is where you sleep, how you get there and how much you spend.
By car, parking outside
Santillana is half an hour from Santander. The car stays in the car parks at the entrance and everything is done on foot; for Altamira, Santa Justa beach or Comillas you pick it up again.
70–130 €per person per day, approximate
- SleepParador Gil Blas, on the…
- Getting aroundA-67 and CA-131 from Santander…
- EatCelina Bonita, open on Sunday…
- ServicesTwo large car parks at…
Sleep
- Parador Gil Blas, on the main square, paid parking
- Hotel Altamira, on the Cantón, parking 200 m away
- Casa del Organista, inn with parking, from €54
Getting around
- A-67 and CA-131 from Santander; A-8 exit 234 from Asturias and the Basque Country
- Altamira Museum 2 km away, with free parking
Eat
- Celina Bonita, open on Sunday at midday
- Portions at the Sidrería Casa Miguel
Services
- Two large car parks at the entrance
- Municipal tourist office
Without a car, by bus from Santander
The town is pedestrianised, and you reach it by bus from Santander or Torrelavega. Altamira is 2 km away: you can walk there along one of the municipality's waymarked routes.
60–110 €per person per day, approximate
- SleepHotel Altamira or Parador Gil…
- Getting aroundLa Cantábrica bus from Santander…
- EatAll on foot: Celina Bonita…
- ServicesMunicipal tourist office, with map…
Sleep
- Hotel Altamira or Parador Gil Blas, in the centre
- Casa del Organista, inside the town
Getting around
- La Cantábrica bus from Santander or Torrelavega
- On foot to the Altamira Museum, 2 km
- Commuter rail to Puente San Miguel, 6 km away
Eat
- All on foot: Celina Bonita, Casa Miguel, the parador
Services
- Municipal tourist office, with map and routes
How much does it cost?
People2
Nights2
Where to stay
Where to stay if you're drivingwithout a car
We show you what suits the way you travel.Change how you travel
© ParadoresHotel
Hotel Altamira
Why we like it: Family-run hotel with 32 rooms in a 16th-century manor house on calle del Cantón, with restaurant and terrace. Rural-style rooms, some triples.
Posada La Casa del Organista
Why we like it: An 18th-century mountain manor house, once the home of the collegiate church's organist, turned into a quiet inn inside the town. From €54 a night.
From €54
View details
Services for this trip
Areas, for any way of travelling
| Area | Who it's for | Average night |
|---|---|---|
| The village | Sleep inside, everything on foot | |
| Surroundings | Inns with parking |
Where to eat
Where to eat in Santillana del Mar and Altamira
Celina Bonita
What to order: something to share from the nibbles section, such as the potatoes a la importancia with baby squid, and whatever the kitchen suggests off the menu; the sobao torrija for dessert
© ParadoresRestaurant at the Parador de Santillana Gil Blas
What to order: cocido montañés in winter; otherwise fried squid, Santoña anchovies and quesada pasiega for dessert
Hotel Altamira restaurant
What to order: the set menu, and if the weather is good, a table on the terrace
Sidrería Casa Miguel
What to order: baby squid or black rice to share, and a cured meat board
Tips
Worth knowing first
Local tip
Book the whole of Saturday before you leave: the guided El Capricho, Sobrellano and El Remedio fill up at weekends.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take from Bilbao?
An hour and three quarters on the A-8.
Can I enter the original Altamira cave?
No: you visit the Neocave, an exact replica.
Where is it better to sleep, in Santillana or Comillas?
In Santillana, inside the town: at night it is empty and Comillas is twenty minutes away.
Can I bring a dog?
Around the towns and the El Capricho gardens, yes, on a lead. The Hotel Joseín, in Comillas, admits pets in season.