Cantabria
Cantabria pairs Paleolithic cave paintings at Altamira with fishing ports on the Bay of Biscay and the limestone peaks of the Picos de Europa.
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Cantabria is a small region on Spain's Bay of Biscay coast, between the Basque Country to the east and Asturias to the west. Its capital, Santander, is a port city with long beaches and a waterfront promenade. Inland, limestone peaks of the Picos de Europa rise above river valleys, dairy farms and forest that run down to the sea.
The region is best known for prehistoric art. The original Altamira cave, with its Paleolithic paintings of bison and other animals, is closed to protect them, but a replica nearby lets you see the art. Medieval Santillana del Mar, with its stone houses, and the fishing port of San Vicente de la Barquera give the coast its character, and the region is known for Cantabrian anchovies and seafood. This suits travelers who want beaches, walking and small towns, and a car makes getting around much easier. Late spring through early autumn is the best season for the coast. A week gives room for both the coast and the mountains.
Cantabria in five
- Rent a car for the villagesBuses link Santander with Comillas, Santillana del Mar and San Vicente de la Barquera, but the valleys and mountain villages are far easier with your own wheels.Compare rental cars
- Book the Altamira replica, not the caveThe original Altamira cave is closed to regular visitors to protect the paintings. The museum next to it has a full-size replica cave and is the visit to plan around.Santillana del Mar
- Pick one base on the coastSantander suits beaches and city evenings, Comillas and San Vicente de la Barquera suit quieter stays. Sleeping in the mountains adds long drives each day.Comillas
- Pack for rain in any monthAtlantic weather brings showers all year, which is why the hills stay green. A light waterproof matters more than a second pair of shorts, even in August.
- Plan Picos de Europa on a clear dayThe high viewpoints and cable car are only worth it when the cloud lifts, so keep one flexible day and check the forecast the night before.Picos de Europa
Neighborhoods
Santander
- Price band: $$
Santillana del Mar
- Price band: $$
Comillas
- Price band: $$
San Vicente de la Barquera
- Price band: $
Things to do in Cantabria
See all attractions in Cantabria
Need to know
- Airport
- Santander (SDR); Bilbao (BIO) is about 1 hour from the eastern coast
- Getting there
- Fly to Santander or Bilbao, or take a long train or bus from Madrid
- Getting around
- Car for villages and mountains; ALSA buses along the coast
- Best base
- Santander for beaches and nightlife; Comillas for a quiet coast base
- Time needed
- 4 to 6 days for coast, caves and one mountain day
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Festival
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryRain16 rainy daysHigh12°Low6°Mild, wetJanuaryRain
Poor
- High
- 12°
- Low
- 6°
- Precipitation
- 151 mm
- Rainy days
- 16
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, wet
- FebruaryRain13 rainy daysHigh14°Low7°Mild, wetFebruaryRain
Mixed
- High
- 14°
- Low
- 7°
- Precipitation
- 118 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, wet
- MarchRain17 rainy daysHigh14°Low8°Spring, showersMarchRain
Mixed
- High
- 14°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 126 mm
- Rainy days
- 17
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring, showers
- AprilRain15 rainy daysHigh16°Low9°Green, showersAprilRain
Good
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 101 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Green, showers
- MayRain16 rainy daysHigh18°Low11°Green, mildMayRain
Good
- High
- 18°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 103 mm
- Rainy days
- 16
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Green, mild
- JuneRain16 rainy daysHigh21°Low15°Beach seasonJuneRain
Best
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 105 mm
- Rainy days
- 16
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Beach season
- JulyRain14 rainy daysHigh23°Low17°Beach seasonJulyRain
Best
- High
- 23°
- Low
- 17°
- Precipitation
- 73 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Beach season
- AugustClear12 rainy daysHigh24°Low17°Beach, busyAugustClear
Best
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 17°
- Precipitation
- 78 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Beach, busy
- SeptemberRain14 rainy daysHigh22°Low15°Warm, calmSeptemberRain
Best
- High
- 22°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 120 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, calm
- OctoberPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh20°Low13°Mild, showersOctoberPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 115 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, showers
- NovemberRain17 rainy daysHigh15°Low10°Cool, wetNovemberRain
Poor
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 181 mm
- Rainy days
- 17
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, wet
- DecemberRain15 rainy daysHigh13°Low8°Cool, wetDecemberRain
Poor
- High
- 13°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 142 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, wet
Average daily high and low in Santander, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Festivals: Jan La Vijanera
Right now in Cantabria
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
6
- Feels like
- 5°
- Humidity
- 84%
- Wind
- 5 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 40%
Cantabria
09:40 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today11°5°40%Monday: Drizzle. High 11°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 40%.
- Tue6°2°63%Tuesday: Rain. High 6°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 63%.
- Wed9°2°15%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 9°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 15%.
- Thu10°1°3%Thursday: Clear. High 10°, Low 1°. Chance of rain 3%.
- Fri13°2°10%Friday: Partly cloudy. High 13°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 10%.
- Sat14°2°25%Saturday: Drizzle. High 14°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 25%.
- Sun17°9°45%Sunday: Drizzle. High 17°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 45%.
Updated 06:05 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Every year
- JanLa VijaneraCantabria
- Jul–AugFestival Internacional de SantanderSantander, a day trip
Day trips by train
- Santillana del Marabout 30 min by car from SantanderStone lanes and the Altamira replica museum nearby.Read the guide
- Comillasabout 45 min by car or busModernist palaces and a quiet beach.Read the guide
- Picos de Europaabout 1.5 to 2 hours by carCable car and viewpoints, best on a clear day.Read the guide
Before you go to Cantabria
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Rules for Cantabria, checked
- Spain is in the Schengen Area. Check your entry requirements on the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs site (exteriores.gob.es) before you fly.
- Non-EU travelers may be fingerprinted and photographed at the border under the EU Entry/Exit System. Check the European Commission's EES page for current rules.
- Spanish law requires you to carry your passport or another valid identity document at all times. Keep a photo or a copy in your bag when you walk around town.
- Spain uses 230 V and Type C or F plugs. Bring an adapter if your devices use a different plug.
Plan around Cantabria
Entry rules, trains and regions across the country
Read the guideSantander travel guideThe regional capital with city beaches
Read the guideSantillana del MarMedieval village beside the Altamira museum
Read the guidePicos de EuropaHigh limestone peaks on the Cantabria border
Read the guideEES at Spanish airportsWhat first-time arrivals at Santander or Bilbao go through
Read the guideCantabria FAQ
Is Cantabria worth visiting?
Yes if you like green mountains, small fishing ports and cooler summers. It has fewer crowds than the Mediterranean coast, and the cave art, Santander beaches and Picos de Europa fit into a few days.
How many days do you need in Cantabria?
Four days covers Santander, Santillana del Mar and Comillas. Add two more for Picos de Europa and San Vicente de la Barquera, and a third beach day if the weather is good.
Do you need a car in Cantabria?
For the coast towns, no: buses run along the shore from Santander. For the Picos de Europa, mountain villages and flexible timing, a car saves a lot of waiting.
Is Cantabria or Asturias better for a first trip?
Cantabria is smaller and easier to cover in a few days, with the Altamira replica and Santander beaches. Asturias has more mountain and coastal scenery spread over longer drives. Many trips combine the two.
When is the best time to visit Cantabria?
June to September for beaches and the driest, warmest weather. May and early October are quieter and still pleasant. Winter is mild but rainy, and some seaside places run reduced hours.