What to see in Santander in 2 days. A very complete visit to the city

Santander is one of the most beautiful cities in the north of Spain, so having 2 days to visit it is ideal to get to know it in depth. There is much to see in Santander in two days and here we offer you a tour to visit it.

Strolling through Santander is one of the best things to do in Cantabria, both for its old town and for its maritime area and its beautiful beaches. Do not forget to visit the Magdalena Peninsula either.

Here you have a tour with the best things to visit in Santander in two days.

What to see in Santander in 2 days

First day in Santander

The tour of the first of our two days in Santander can begin in the Plaza del Ayuntamiento, a busy triangular square where the city hall is located. Behind it is the Mercado de la Esperanza.

A few meters away is the first great monument to see in Santander in two days, the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption, which is actually two superimposed temples. The crypt, in the lower part and in Romanesque style, dates from the year 1200 while the upper part was built between the 13th and 15th centuries. Santander Cathedral had to be rebuilt after a fire in the 20th century.

Walking we will arrive at the Pereda Gardens, one of the most interesting to visit in Santander. Around them are some of the best buildings in the city, such as Banco Santander or Centro Botín, a cultural landmark in the Cantabrian capital.

Now it is time to enter the oldest part of Santander and visit the Plaza del Pombo, where the buildings of the Real Club de Regatas or the Church of Santa Lucía are located, or the Plaza Porticada, where the Banesto Building is located.

The Plaza Porticada is the main square in this area, rebuilt in 1941 in the classic Herrerian style after the serious fire that affected a large part of the city.

From there we can take a long but very pleasant walk to the Magdalena Peninsula, another of the main places to visit in Santander in two days. Along the way, do not miss the famous Monument to the Raqueros that is next to the sea or the Cantabrian Maritime Museum.

In the Magdalena Peninsula we have different points of interest such as the Royal Palace, which dates from 1912 and was the residence of Alfonso XIII until 1930. It is currently the headquarters of the Menéndez Pelayo University. We can also admire the Monument to Félix Rodríguez de la Fuente. And the royal stables, which today is a student residence.

After these visits we can conclude our first day in Santander.

What to visit in Santander on the second day

The second of our days in Santander we can start again in the Plaza del Ayuntamiento, but to start visiting other places different from those already known the day before.

The first destination of the day is the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art of Santander, the MAS, the main art museum in Cantabria and where you can admire a large collection of Italian, Flemish and Spanish art that covers different periods from the fifteenth century to the twentieth century. His main work is the Portrait of Fernando VII, by Francisco de Goya.

Next to it is the Menéndez Pelayo House-Museum and his personal Library, with one of the most impressive bibliographical collections in Spain and a spectacular building from 1876.

From there we can walk towards the funicular, which would take us to the Mirador Río de la Pila, from which there are impressive views of the city and the Cantabrian Sea. One of the best things to see in Santander in two days.

The next destination will be the Gran Casino Sardinero, one of the symbols of the city, which dates back to 1916 and whose balcony, its towers and its domes should be highlighted. To get to it, we can walk on a long walk of more than half an hour along Calle del Sol and Paseo Menéndez Pelayo, admiring its mansions and stately homes.

Now it’s time to admire the El Sardinero Beaches and the Piquio Gardens, which separate the two beautiful beaches. At the end is the Parque de Mataleñas, where we can visit the peculiar and coquettish Playa de los Molinucos and the Mirador del Cabo Menor, from where there are beautiful views of the Cantabrian Sea.

This would end our two days in which you have been able to discover the best things to see in Santander in two days.

You can find more information about what to see in Santander on its official tourism page.