San Vicente de la Barquera
A coastal town in Cantabria with a walled old quarter, a fishing quarter and wide beaches, in a municipality largely inside Oyambre Natural Park.
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
San Vicente de la Barquera is a coastal town on the Cantabrian Sea, in the Costa Occidental area of Cantabria in northern Spain. It sits between two estuaries, the ría de San Vicente and the ría de La Rabia. Most of the municipality lies within Oyambre Natural Park, so cliffs, beaches, estuaries and salt marshes surround the town, and the estuaries and marshes are rich in birdlife. The town is about 58 km from Santander, the regional capital, and tourism is its main economic activity.
The walled Puebla Vieja is a protected historic group, and the castle and the Gothic Iglesia de Santa María de los Ángeles stand on the high ground. Oyambre beach lies east of the town, and Merón beach runs over 3 km toward Cabo de Oyambre. Summer is the busiest season, when the town's beaches are very busy. The nearest airport is Santander, about 60 km away, and the nearest railway station is La Acebosa on the FEVE line. Buses from the town's bus station reach many towns across northern Spain.
San Vicente de la Barquera in five
- Walk up to the old quarter at low lightThe castle and church sit above the harbor, with views over the bridge and the estuary. Evening light shows the Picos de Europa behind the town on clear days.
- Eat seafood at the harbor, not by the roadFish and shellfish restaurants line the quay. Ask what came in that day and order from the daily board where available.
- Combine it with Comillas and SantillanaBoth are short drives along the coast, and together they make a strong day.Comillas
- Use the beaches inside Oyambre Natural ParkWide, wild beaches sit west and east of town. Check surf and tide conditions before swimming, and use lifeguarded areas where possible.
- Hire a car or plan around the busBuses run along the Cantabrian coast, but a car helps for beaches and villages. Check the current timetable before you plan a day without wheels.
Things to do in San Vicente de la Barquera
See all attractions in San Vicente de la Barquera
Need to know
- Airport
- Santander (SDR), about 1 hour by road
- Getting there
- Car or bus from Santander and Oviedo
- Getting around
- Walk in town; car for beaches and villages
- Best base
- The old quarter or the harbor
- Time needed
- 1–2 days
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryRain16 rainy daysHigh12°Low6°Cool, wetJanuaryRain
Poor
- High
- 12°
- Low
- 6°
- Precipitation
- 151 mm
- Rainy days
- 16
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, wet
- FebruaryRain13 rainy daysHigh14°Low7°CoolFebruaryRain
Mixed
- High
- 14°
- Low
- 7°
- Precipitation
- 118 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool
- MarchRain17 rainy daysHigh14°Low8°MildMarchRain
Mixed
- High
- 14°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 126 mm
- Rainy days
- 17
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild
- AprilRain15 rainy daysHigh16°Low9°SpringAprilRain
Good
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 101 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring
- MayRain16 rainy daysHigh18°Low11°Mild, greenMayRain
Good
- High
- 18°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 103 mm
- Rainy days
- 16
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, green
- JuneRain16 rainy daysHigh21°Low15°WarmJuneRain
Best
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 105 mm
- Rainy days
- 16
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm
- 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°Warm, busyAugustClear
Best
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 17°
- Precipitation
- 78 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, busy
- SeptemberRain14 rainy daysHigh22°Low15°Warm seaSeptemberRain
Best
- High
- 22°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 120 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm sea
- 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°WetNovemberRain
Poor
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 181 mm
- Rainy days
- 17
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
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 San Vicente de la Barquera, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in San Vicente de la Barquera
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
14
- Feels like
- 10°
- Humidity
- 69%
- Wind
- 19 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 20%
San Vicente de la Barquera
09:48 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today15°9°20%Monday: Drizzle. High 15°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 20%.
- Tue13°9°55%Tuesday: Rain. High 13°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 55%.
- Wed13°8°8%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 13°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 8%.
- Thu15°8°3%Thursday: Clear. High 15°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 3%.
- Fri16°4°5%Friday: Cloudy. High 16°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 5%.
- Sat15°8°16%Saturday: Drizzle. High 15°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 16%.
- Sun22°9°35%Sunday: Fog. High 22°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 35%.
Updated 09:16 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
What's on in San Vicente de la Barquera
Concerts, festivals and big events in and around the city
Events calendarEvery year
- JanLa VijaneraCantabria, a day trip
- Jul–AugFestival Internacional de SantanderSantander, a day trip
Day trips by train
Before you go to San Vicente de la Barquera
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Rules for San Vicente de la Barquera, checked
- Spain is in the Schengen Area, so entry follows Schengen rules. Check your requirements on the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs site before you fly.Source
- Non-EU visitors may have fingerprints and a photo taken at the border under the EU Entry/Exit System. Confirm current rules with the European Commission.
- Oyambre Natural Park covers most of the municipal area. Its beaches, cliffs and marshes are protected, so follow the posted park rules.
Plan around San Vicente de la Barquera
Regions, trains, entry rules and money for the whole country
Read the guideComillasA modernist town with a Gaudí villa, a short drive east
Read the guideSantillana del MarA medieval village a few minutes inland
Read the guidePicos de EuropaThe peaks behind the coast, about an hour away
Read the guideCantabriaCoast, beaches and mountain valleys
Read the guideSan Vicente de la Barquera FAQ
Is San Vicente de la Barquera worth visiting?
Yes, for a small working harbor, a medieval old quarter and long beaches. It is calmer than Santander and easier to combine with Comillas and Santillana.
How far is San Vicente de la Barquera from Santander?
About 1 hour by road, depending on traffic. Buses run along the coast, but a car gives you more flexibility for beaches and villages.
Can you swim at San Vicente de la Barquera?
Yes, at the beaches near town, but the Atlantic currents and tides can be strong. Use lifeguarded beaches in summer and follow local warnings.
Is San Vicente de la Barquera a good base for the Picos de Europa?
It works if you want a coast base and one mountain day. For longer hikes, sleep in Potes or Cangas de Onís instead, since the drive each way adds time.
What is the best time to visit San Vicente de la Barquera?
June and September give warm weather with fewer crowds. July and August are busiest and warmest. Spring and autumn are green and quieter, with a higher chance of rain.