Santander, Spain: A Sweet, Surprising Destination
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When people talk about the north of Spain, usually it’s the jewel, San Sebastián, which gets the most visits and attention — and for good reason. However, just a couple of hours west lies another wonderful city, Santander, the capital of the Cantabria region.
I was awestruck by Cantabria’s lush green mountains and endless coastline on the bus ride into the city but had no idea what to expect from Santander itself.
I knew it was a port town and that the passenger ferries from England arrive there. I also know that port towns come with a certain grit, so if I’m honest, I wasn’t expecting too much. To me, this was just a quick stop on the way to Bilbao to visit the Guggenheim, which is what I was most excited to see on this trip.
As I got off the bus, I was caught off guard by a sense that, immediately, I was kind of digging this place. The station area was nicer than many I’ve encountered. I had a pleasant walk up a hill and through a quiet park to reach my Airbnb, which overlooked the port and was within walking distance to the old town and beach. It was lovely.
