Comillas
Comillas, a small coastal town on Cantabria's Bay of Biscay coast, is known for its Gaudí buildings, a sandy beach and an old centre of noble mansions.
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Comillas is a small coastal town in Cantabria, northern Spain, facing the Bay of Biscay about 48 km west of Santander. Its medieval and baroque buildings are joined by many Modernista works, mainly by Gaudí and Domènech i Montaner. The main sights are El Capricho, with its sunflower mosaics, and the Sobrellano Palace, built for the Marquess of Comillas. The old centre's Plaza del Corro de Campíos is lined with noble mansions.
The town has a fine sandy beach, with the Oyambre natural park and its dunes to the west. Comillas was a whaling port from the 16th to the 18th century. After Antonio López y López, the first Marquess of Comillas, invited King Alfonso XII to his native town in 1881, royal summers made it a fashionable resort. Summer is the busiest season, especially August. Many restaurants and hotels open only in summer, so check before you visit in the off-season.
Comillas in five
- See Gaudí's El CaprichoA small early Gaudí villa on the edge of town, with sunflower tiles and a tower. Check the current opening hours and ticket rules before you go.
- Walk up to Sobrellano and the universityPalacio de Sobrellano and the Comillas hilltop buildings form a modernist group within a short walk. Wear sturdy shoes, since the path is steep and cobbled.
- Use Comillas as a coast baseThe town sits between Santander and San Vicente de la Barquera and is a common stop on a north-coast loop. Buses run from Santander, but a car helps for nearby villages.Cantabria
- Pair it with Santillana del MarThe medieval village and the Altamira replica cave are about a 20-minute drive inland. Do them on the same day if you have a car.Santillana del Mar
- Bring a jacket to the beachAtlantic wind and cloud can arrive in any month. The beach is calm and good for families, but swimming days are mainly June to September.
Things to do in Comillas
See all attractions in Comillas
Need to know
- Airport
- Santander (SDR), about 50 minutes by car
- Getting there
- ALSA bus from Santander, or drive about 45 minutes
- Getting around
- Walk; a car for neighboring villages
- Best base
- Near the old center or the beach
- Time needed
- Half a day; 2 nights for a slow stay
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- 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°GreenMayRain
Good
- High
- 18°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 103 mm
- Rainy days
- 16
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Green
- 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, warmJulyRain
Best
- High
- 23°
- Low
- 17°
- Precipitation
- 73 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Beach, warm
- AugustClear12 rainy daysHigh24°Low17°Busy, warmAugustClear
Best
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 17°
- Precipitation
- 78 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Busy, warm
- SeptemberRain14 rainy daysHigh22°Low15°Calm, warmSeptemberRain
Best
- High
- 22°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 120 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Calm, warm
- OctoberPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh20°Low13°MildOctoberPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 115 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild
- 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 Comillas, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Comillas
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
10
- Feels like
- 10°
- Humidity
- 86%
- Wind
- 6 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 20%
Comillas
09:46 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today15°8°20%Monday: Drizzle. High 15°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 20%.
- Tue14°8°55%Tuesday: Rain. High 14°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 55%.
- Wed13°7°8%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 13°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 8%.
- Thu15°8°3%Thursday: Clear. High 15°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 3%.
- Fri16°7°5%Friday: Clear. High 16°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 5%.
- Sat15°7°16%Saturday: Drizzle. High 15°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 16%.
- Sun23°12°35%Sunday: Cloudy. High 23°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 35%.
Updated 07:20 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Every year
- JanLa VijaneraCantabria, a day trip
- Jul–AugFestival Internacional de SantanderSantander, a day trip
Day trips by train
Before you go to Comillas
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Rules for Comillas, checked
- Spain applies the Schengen rules, so check your passport and visa needs on the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs site (exteriores.gob.es) before you book.
- Non-EU visitors are registered under the EU Entry/Exit System at the border; check the European Commission's EES page for the current process.
- Oyambre is a natural park with dunes and wetland; check the Cantabria regional government's rules on dune access and camping before you go.
- Many restaurants and hotels in Comillas open only in summer, so confirm they are open before you plan a meal or a night.
Plan around Comillas
Entry rules, trains and regions across the country
Read the guideCantabria travel guideThe region around Comillas
Read the guideSan Vicente de la BarqueraFishing port and long beach to the west
Read the guideSantillana del MarStone village inland, with Altamira nearby
Read the guideSantanderCity base with a larger beach and more choice
Read the guideComillas FAQ
Is Comillas worth a visit?
Yes for architecture and a calm coast. It is small, so half a day covers the main buildings, and two nights makes sense if you want a slow beach stay.
How do you get to Comillas from Santander?
ALSA buses run the coast road in about 45 minutes. A rental car takes a similar time and is better if you want to add Santillana del Mar or San Vicente de la Barquera.
Is Comillas a good base for Cantabria?
A good quiet base between Santander and the Asturian border. It has fewer restaurants and evening options than Santander, so choose it for calm, not nightlife.
How long do you need in Comillas?
Half a day for El Capricho, Sobrellano and the beach. Add a night if you plan to hike nearby cliffs or use the town as a base for the coast.
Can you see Comillas and Santillana del Mar in one day?
Yes, with a car. They are about 20 minutes apart. Start in Santillana in the morning, then spend the afternoon and sunset in Comillas.