Santander offers a city atmosphere combined with the very essence of Cantabria: beaches, countryside, nature, gastronomy and culture. The city is built around a natural port, which has been used since before the occupation of the Roman Empire. The surrounding countryside is stunning, with wide open verdant areas and beaches, particularly Mataleñas, Sardinero and La Magdalena, where Alfonso XIII had his summer residence. A short distance from the city are the bay's south shore and the coastal strip that stretches to the mouth of the river Pas, boasting some of the region's finest beaches, which are extremely popular in summer, but practically deserted for those who happen to be in the region during the first few days of the beach season (May and June).

The rocky and steep coast to the north of the city has recently been converted into a natural park. During migration season, many bird watchers gather there to observe the migratory birds. Just a few kilometres away is the Dunas Liencres Natural Park, the most extensive dune system in the whole of the Cantabrian coast. To the south of the bay is the Peña Cabarga Park, and from the summit of Peña Cabarga itself you are treated to an impressive view of practically the whole of Cantabria. At the foot of the mountain is the Carbárceno Natural Park, the biggest zoo in Europe, where you can see tigers, elephants, giraffes, hippos and much more. The enclosures are so big it is almost as if the animals were in the wild.

From http://english.turismodecantabria.com

Moving around
The city has a network of buses: check out the municipal website for routes and timetable. The taxi service is also good. Standard fares between any two points in the city are around 6 Euros.

Maps of Santander

Click for maps of Spain, Cantabria and the Santander city and campus. An interactive street guide is available.

Check out the municipal website for more maps and further information.

Banking in Santander

Two branches are located in the campus of the University of Cantabria:

Santander Gastronomic Guide for Visitors

Below yo can find a brief gastronomic guide of the town of Santander. It has been elaborated following the particular taste of some people of the local comitee rather than essence of usefulness. Nevertheless I hope it will be profitable. Restaurants are listed by alphabetical order. The (*) means about ten minutes walk from the University. Any case it takes about five minutes using either public transport from the Faculty or taxi to reach the furthest recommended restaurant enclosed in this selection.

Take into account that taxi is a cheap service in Santander.

Restaurants in the Neighborhood of the Faculty of Science

• BEDOYA 2, Los Castros 53f (In front of the University) Very near the Faculty of Science. Restaurant of menu of the day. Affordable prices for students and university professors. Wifi Free Zone.
• CAFETERIA PUNTA CANA, Avenida de Los Castros 83. Restaurant of menu of the day. Affordable prices for students and university professors.
• CERVECERIA ISAE, Fernando de los Ríos 56. Restaurant of menu of the day. Affordable prices for students and university professors. Very good "tapas".
• CERVECERIA KISS, Avda. de los Castros 81. Menu of the day. Affordable prices for students and university professors.
• CERVECERIA-MARISQUERIA ESCUDERO, Avda los Castros, 53d (opposite the University, and next to Bedoya2) Tel: 942 - 27 40 63, 28 07 15. Near the Faculty of Science. Restaurant of menu of the day. You can also order fish and shellfish not included in the menu.
• SANTANDER ANTIGUO, Avenida de los Castros, 65 (opposite the University, very near from the Faculty of Science) Very good “pinchos de tortilla”, they have a lot of different varieties of “tortilla española”.

Some good restaurants in Santander

The food and drinks in Spain are without a doubt a fantastic sensation for the taste buds. You can choose from cheeses, tapas, paellas and an abundance of sea food. Let's not forget the wines! We think they speak for themselves, however if so far you have not been fortunate enough to try one, then get down to one of the recommended restaurants on this page and ask the waiter to show you a good time. Enjoy with the next selection.

• LA BOMBI, Casimiro Sainz, 15 - 39003 SANTANDER Tel: 942 21 30 28. Located in the neighborhood of Puerto Chico, crossing the tunnel conecting Avenida de los Castros with downtown. It is specialized in meats, fish and sea food. The relationship price/quality is quite correct. Careful service.
• BODEGA CIGALEÑA, Daoíz y Velarde, 19 - 39003 SANTANDER Tel.: 942 21 30 62. Located in downtown near the Paseo Pereda. Excellent Iberian ham (jamón ibérico) and very wide cellar. Good roasted meets and fish. Spanish atmosphere.
• LA FLOR DE MIRANDA, Avda. de los Infantes, 1 39005 SANTANDER Tel.: 942 27 10 56. Classical restaurant in the city. Good hake and other fish from the Cantabrian sea. Also meats and seafood.
• RESTAURANTE GELE, Eduardo Benot, 4 - 39003 SANTANDER Tel: 942 22 10 21. Located in downtown in the vicinities of the Paseo Pereda. Excellent quality in meats, fish and Iberian ham. Spanish atmosphere.
• PUERTA 23, Tetuán, 23 - 39004 SANTANDER Tel: 942 31 05 73. A mix between a classical restaurant and a modern one in the gastronomically popular neighborhood of Tetuán. Fish and sea food. Reasonable prices. Very high quality cuisine. It can be easily reached crossing the tunnel connecting Avenida de los Castros with downtown.
• LAURY, Avda. Pedro San Martín, 4 - 39010 SANTANDER Tel: 942 33 01 09. Sea food, shellfish and meats of excellent quality. Specialty in oysters, clams to the pan,and grilled fish or prepared in the oven.
• EL LLAR, Corbán, 62 - Ctra Virgen del Mar - 39012 SANTANDER Tel: 942 34 70 35. Located in the surroundings of the city it is particularly suitable to tastespecialties of the Cantabrian cuisine, particularly sausage (spanish ham), pudding,"torreznos", stews and roasted. Excellent relationship prices/quality. Car should be used to reach this restaurant.
• LOS PEÑUCAS, Barrio Pesquero - 39009 SANTANDER Tel: 942 - 22 94 45. One of the most typical in the fishing neighborhood (Barrio Pesquero). In this whole area you can enjoy half quality fish and shellfish at low prices. Very valuated by tourism due to some kind of underground spanish typism.
• LA POSADA DEL MAR, Castelar, 21 - 39004 SANTANDER Tel: 942 21 56 56. One of the best restaurants in the city. Reservation required. High prices.
• BAR DEL PUERTO, Hernán Cortés, 63 - 39003 SANTANDER Tel: 942 21 30 01. Again, one of the best restaurants in the city. Reservation required. High prices.
• RHIN, Plaza de Italia, s/n - 39005 SANTANDER Tel :942 27 08 68. It is advisable for the good views that one enjoys from their dining room.
• BODEGA EL RIOJANO, Calle Rio de la Pila 5 (Cantabria) Tel: 942 21 67 50. This colorful bodega is as famous for it's decorative wine barrels, painted by Cantabrian artists, as it is for its food. The stuffed red peppers are said to be the best in the world. Good selection of tapas.
• LA SARDINA, Glorieta del Dr. Fleming - 39005 SANTANDER Tel: 942 27 10 35. Famous in the Sardinero. Good quality fish and shellfish.
• MESON SEGOVIANO, Menéndez Pelayo, 49 - 39006 SANTANDER Tel: 942 21 75 03. Excellent quality in regional and Castilian dishes.
• ZACARIAS, Hernán Cortés, 38 39003 SANTANDER Tel: 942 21 06 88. Featuring authentic Cantabrian dishes, this popular restaurant and lively tapas bar will give you a complete taste of regional specialitities. I recommend squids, tomatoes of Liendo, clams, oysters,...
• RESTAURANTE CAÑADÍO, Calle de Gómez Oreña, 15, 39003 SANTANDER Tel: 942 31 41 49. Not cheap but worth every penny. Fantastic food, very good wine list.
• BODEGAS LA CONVENIENTE‎, Calle de Gómez Oreña, 9, 39003 Santander, Spain 942 21 28 87‎. Very typical, it’s one of the oldest in Santander. Very famous “tapas” and “raciones”.
• BALNEARIO LA MAGDALENA, Calle de la Horadada, 39005 SANTANDER 942 03 21 08. Very beautiful sightseeing. The food is also good. If the weather is good I strongly recommend you to eat in its great terrace. It’s also very cheap.