Santillana Del Mar: The Perfect Cantabrian Day Trip

I was compelled to take a day trip to the quaint town of Santillana del Mar after finding out about its unique nickname. Legend knows Santillana del Mar as the ‘Town of Three Lies’. Its name forms parts of three different Spanish words: “Santo”, meaning saint; “llana”, meaning flat, and “mar”, meaning sea. The little Cantabrian town doesn’t fit any of these characteristics, leading to the infamous nickname. The town is also widely recognised as one of the most beautiful towns in Spain, and boats a world heritage site!

Santillana del Mar makes the perfect day trip when visiting Cantabria. This guide will take you through everything you need to know about visiting, including how to get there, where to eat and all the best things to do.

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How to get to Santillana del Mar

Santillana del Mar is situated in Cantabria, in the north of Spain. It lies just 30km outside of Santander.

The easiest way to get to Santillana del Mar is by car, but it is easily accessible by bus as well.

By Bus

You can take a direct bus from Santander bus station to Santillana del Mar. Make sure you plan ahead as the times are irregular. There are other bus routes you can take if you get caught out, but the direct route is the easiest, quickest and cheapest so preparing in advance is smart.

Their website has a detailed timetable. Read it carefully as some buses only run during the summer. The buses run around every 2 hours in July and August, and around every 4 hours outwith these months.

What to do on a Day Trip to Santillana del Mar

Cuevas de Altamira

Awarded UNESCO world heritage status, the Cave of Altamira is one of the best things to do in Santillana del Mar. Here you can see and learn about prehistoric cave art inside the caves. It’s incredibly interesting to see the evolution of skills and materials from such a long time ago.

The cave and the paintings are replicas of the originals, which has been closed since the 1970s due to damage caused by over tourism. However, the paintings on display are still very impressive and you wouldn’t know the difference!

Opening Hours (May-October): Daily 9:30am-8pm (closes at 3pm on Sundays)

Opening Hours (November-April): Daily 9:30am-6pm (closes at 3pm on Sundays) 

Address: Avenida Marcelino Sanz de Sautuola, s/n, 39330, Cantabria

Ticket Prices: €3 | Free for concessions and students | Free entry on Sundays and after 2pm on Saturdays 

Website (Spanish): www.culturaydeporte.gob.es/

Visit a Museum

Santillana del Mar is home to a few weird and wonderful museums.

If you have a strong stomach, check out the Museo de la Tortura to learn more about the torture methods used by the Spanish Inquisition. Be warned, this one is not for the faint hearted!

Opening Hours: Daily 10am-8pm

Address: Calle de Bertrand Clisson, 1, 39330 Santillana del Mar

Ticket Prices: €4 | €2,80 concessions 

If art is more your thing, head to the Jesús Otero Museum, a space dedicated to the Cantabrian sculptor and his works.

Opening Hours: Daily 10am-1:30pm, 4pm-8pm (Opens 11:30am on Tuesdays)

Address: Plaza Abad Francisco Navarro, S/N, 39330 Santillana del Mar

Ticket Prices: Free

By wandering around the streets you’re sure to find a few other museums to spark your interest.

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Wander the streets

The main attraction in Santillana del Mar is the picturesque streets. With cobbled streets and stone buildings, wandering around is like being transported back in time, and it’s easy to see why it is known as one of the prettiest towns in Spain. The entire centre of the town is pedestrianised, leaving you with plenty of space to properly explore.

Santillana del Mar is pretty small so it’s nearly impossible to get lost, and the best way to explore is just to switch off Google Maps and see what you stumble upon.

That being said, there are some beautiful medieval buildings to spot. Make sure you look out for the Collegiate Church of Santillana, and the Casas de los Quevedo y Cossío.

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Where to Eat

Churros on Calle Río

I stopped at a little café with a quaint terrace to eat some churros and people watch, and it couldn’t have been more picturesque. I couldn’t spot the name of the café but click here for the google maps location so you know what to look for. Both the churros and crêpes were fantastic and I definitely recommend it.

Menu del Día

In many restaurants around Spain, you’ll find a great lunchtime offer called the Menu del Día. You can get a three-course lunch meal from a set menu, plus bread, water, and house wine, all for less than €20. Santillana del Mar certainly has its fair share. I dined at El Jardín, but you can find several great options around the town.

You’ll often find some traditional meals on the menu, so take the opportunity to try out some Cantabrian specialties, such as Cocido Montañés, a meat and bean stew, or finish up your meal with some Quesada pasiega for dessert.

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