Two of the best beaches in Santander
If you are going on holiday with your own car to Galicia, Northern Portugal, Andalucia, Catalonia or anywhere in Spain or Portugal for that matter, you may well be taking the ferry to Santander. Some ferry port cities are worth little more than driving away from but some are worth a bit of a mosey and Santander is certainly the latter. This elegant and historical city extends the whole of the bay providing stunning views of the Cantabrian Sea and is worth some of your time.
What makes this coastal city particularly attractive is its backdrop. Old, distinct architecture lining cobbled streets that lead to quaint and thriving squares is enhanced by a milieu of mountains and sea. Plenty of reasonably priced restaurants and bars can be found in Santander offering fresh local produce – a welcome change after 24 hours on the boat and its notoriously high prices.
Taking a refreshing dip in the exhilarating Atlantic would be just the ticket to freshen you up after the ferry journey, although this pleasure is likely to be confined to the summer months. There are many great beaches in Santander and its vicinity so finding a sandy spot to get into the holiday spirit shouldn’t be too difficult.
Here’s two of the best beaches in Santander:
Matalenas Beach
Matalenas is one of the most beautiful beaches in Santander. The water is crystal clear here and the sand dazzling white. From Matalenas you can see Cape Ajo. You gain access to the beach via some fairly steps off a long promenade that runs the whole length of the beach, the adjacent golf course, ending up in El Sardinero, which is Santander’s most popular beach.
Magdalena Peninsula
If you’ve got time, exploring the Magdalena Peninsula is likely to be the highlight of your time in Santander and possibly one of your holiday highlights. This stunning peninsula makes the perfect family trip with its own palace, a zoo, two beaches and three galleons used by the famous Cantabrian seafarer, Vital Alsar Ramirez.
The parkland here is simply wonderful attracting walkers, runners and people having picnics all year round – the perfect place to relax before jumping back in the car and heading south to your villa.