{"id":1064,"count":2,"description":"","link":"https:\/\/www.winalist.com\/blog\/spain\/cantabria","name":"Cantabria wine region","slug":"cantabria","taxonomy":"category","parent":826,"meta":{"winalist_lat":"43.4623","winalist_lng":"-3.81"},"acf":{"short_region_name":"Cantabria","region_id":163,"h1":"Things to Do in Cantabria, Spain: 14 Best Places to Visit","subtitle":"","term_author":null,"term_co_authors":null,"term_published":null,"term_last_updated":null,"tldr_title":"The essentials for visiting Cantabria","tldr_content":"<ul>\r\n<li>Santander's beaches sit a 10-minute walk from the old town \u2014 no need to choose between city and coast.<\/li>\r\n<li>The original Altamira cave is closed, but the on-site Neocave replica recreates the paintings down to the pigment.<\/li>\r\n<li>Fuente D\u00e9's cable car climbs over 700 metres in under four minutes, dropping you straight into Picos de Europa hiking country.<\/li>\r\n<li>Comillas hides a Gaud\u00ed building most visitors never expect to find outside Barcelona.<\/li>\r\n<li>Inland Li\u00e9bana pairs a major pilgrimage site with small vineyards worth a detour after the mountains.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>","link_to_wl_landing_page":"https:\/\/www.winalist.com\/regions\/cantabria","override_cta_in_quick_access":"Best wine tours in Cantabria","intro":"<p>Picture a coastline of surf beaches and limestone cliffs giving way, within an hour's drive, to 2,600-metre peaks and a valley where pilgrims have walked for centuries. That's Cantabria: Atlantic beaches, Altamira's prehistoric cave art, the Picos de Europa, Gaud\u00ed's El Capricho in Comillas and villages like Santillana del Mar, all packed into one small region of northern Spain. Base yourself in Santander or Potes, and a few well-planned days cover the coast, the caves and the mountains.<\/p>","best_hosts_title":"Cantabria's wine-tourism layer: the Li\u00e9bana vineyards","best_hosts_content":"<p>Cantabria isn't a wine region on the scale of Rioja, but the Li\u00e9bana valley, sheltered by the Picos de Europa, has revived a small vineyard tradition that goes back to the monks of Santo Toribio. Plantings here sit at altitude, on steep, sun-facing slopes, with grape varieties suited to the cooler, wetter Cantabrian climate compared to Spain's central plateau. Tastings at the estates that welcome visitors typically combine a walk through the rows with an explanation of how mountain viticulture differs from the Rioja or Ribera del Duero model most travelers already know. For anyone routing through Potes, it's worth building in an afternoon among the cantabria wineries before heading back to the coast.<\/p>","things_to_do_content":"<h2>Top 14 things to do in Cantabria<\/h2>\r\n<p>The list below follows the shape of the region itself: start on the Cantabrian coast, move through the prehistoric and heritage sites just inland, then finish in the Picos de Europa and the Li\u00e9bana valley. Read in order, it works as a loose route rather than a random checklist.<\/p>\r\n<h3>1. Santander and El Sardinero beach<\/h3>\r\n<p>Santander is the natural base for the coast. The Palacio de la Magdalena sits on its own peninsula overlooking the bay, and a short walk away, El Sardinero beach draws swimmers and surfers along a wide stretch of Atlantic sand. The old town, the harbor, and the Bay of Santander give the city a compact, walkable center that works well as a first or last stop.<\/p>\r\n<h3>2. Castro Urdiales<\/h3>\r\n<p>West toward the Basque Country, Castro Urdiales pairs a working fishing harbor with the Gothic church of Santa Mar\u00eda and the Castle of Santa Ana standing guard over the water. It's a smaller, quieter alternative to Santander, with the same Cantabrian Sea backdrop.<\/p>\r\n<h3>3. Comillas and El Capricho<\/h3>\r\n<p>Comillas is best known for El Capricho, a Gaud\u00ed building with the same playful tilework and organic lines found in his Barcelona work, but on a domestic scale. The town itself, with its Pontifical University and seafront promenade, ranks among the prettiest villages in Spain that most visitors don't expect to find this far north.<\/p>\r\n<h3>4. San Vicente de la Barquera<\/h3>\r\n<p>San Vicente de la Barquera sits where a long footbridge crosses the estuary into a town crowned by a medieval castle and the collegiate church of Santa Mar\u00eda de los \u00c1ngeles. It's one of the most photographed spots on the Cantabrian coast, especially at low tide when the sandbanks show through the water.<\/p>\r\n<h3>5. Santillana del Mar<\/h3>\r\n<p>Santillana del Mar is routinely named among the prettiest villages in Spain, and walking its cobbled main street between stone manor houses and the Romanesque collegiate church explains why. It also happens to sit right next to Cantabria's most famous archaeological site \u2014 see below.<\/p>\r\n<h3>6. The Altamira cave and its Neocave replica<\/h3>\r\n<p>The original Altamira cave, discovered in the 19th century and holding some of the finest Paleolithic cave art in Europe, is closed to the public to protect the paintings \u2014 a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1985. The National Museum and Research Centre of Altamira now houses the Neocave, a precise replica of the painted chamber, alongside exhibits on prehistoric life in the region.<\/p>\r\n<h3>7. El Soplao cave<\/h3>\r\n<p>Further west, El Soplao cave is one of Europe's better-preserved karst caves, with guided visits through chambers of stalactites and unusual eccentric formations. Unlike Altamira, this one can be walked through in person, making it a good complement to the prehistoric-art stop at Santillana del Mar.<\/p>\r\n<h3>8. Cab\u00e1rceno Nature Park<\/h3>\r\n<p>Built into a former open-pit mine near Santander, Cab\u00e1rceno lets animals roam semi-free across a landscape of quarried cliffs and green valleys. It's an easy half-day addition for families traveling with kids, and it sits close enough to the capital of Cantabria to slot into a coastal itinerary.<\/p>\r\n<h3>9. Laredo<\/h3>\r\n<p>Laredo's old town climbs toward the Church of Santa Mar\u00eda, while its beach, one of the longest on the Cantabrian coast, stays popular with surfers thanks to consistent Atlantic swell. It makes a good stop between Santander and Castro Urdiales.<\/p>\r\n<h3>10. Potes and the Li\u00e9bana valley<\/h3>\r\n<p>Potes is the gateway to Li\u00e9bana, a valley boxed in by the Picos de Europa on nearly every side. Stone bridges cross the Deva river through the center of town, and the surrounding slopes hold both orchards and the small vineyards that give this corner of Cantabria its wine-tourism layer \u2014 explore the cantabria wineries nearby before continuing into the mountains.<\/p>\r\n<h3>11. Monastery of Santo Toribio de Li\u00e9bana<\/h3>\r\n<p>A short drive from Potes, the Monastery of Santo Toribio de Li\u00e9bana holds what's venerated as the largest surviving relic of the Cross, making it one of only a handful of Lignum Crucis sites recognized within Catholic tradition. It's also a stop on the Camino Lebaniego, a pilgrim route that connects to the wider Camino de Santiago network leading to Santiago de Compostela.<\/p>\r\n<h3>12. Fuente D\u00e9 and the Picos de Europa cable car<\/h3>\r\n<p>At the head of the Li\u00e9bana valley, the Fuente D\u00e9 cable car climbs more than 700 vertical metres in under four minutes, landing hikers at over 1,800 metres inside Picos de Europa National Park. Even without hiking further, the platform at the top gives a sweeping view over the Cantabrian Mountains.<\/p>\r\n<blockquote>Book the Fuente D\u00e9 cable car early in the day in summer \u2014 queues build fast once tour buses arrive from Potes.<\/blockquote>\r\n<h3>13. Lake Enol and the Cantabrian Mountains<\/h3>\r\n<p>Straddling the edge of the Picos de Europa toward Asturias, the high pastures around Lake Enol are grazing ground for the free-roaming goats typical of this mountain range. The road up offers some of the widest panoramas over the national park without requiring a full-day hike.<\/p>\r\n<h3>14. Valles Pasiegos<\/h3>\r\n<p>East of the Picos, the Valles Pasiegos roll through greener, gentler terrain than the high mountains \u2014 a landscape of scattered stone farmhouses and dairy pasture that gives \"Green Spain\" its name. It's a quieter contrast to the coast and the peaks, and a good half-day loop for anyone based in Santander.<\/p>\r\n<blockquote>Villages here stay far less visited than Santillana del Mar, so expect empty roads even in August.<\/blockquote>","title_for_cities_in_the_wine_region":"The must-see cities of Cantabria","text_for_cities_in_the_wine_region":"<p>Santander remains the natural hub, with its bay, its beaches and its transport links to the rest of the region. Torrelavega, inland and more industrial, works mainly as a road junction toward Santillana del Mar and the coast rather than a destination in itself. Along the water, Castro Urdiales, Comillas, San Vicente de la Barquera and Laredo each anchor a different stretch of the Cantabrian coast, while Potes plays the same role inland, as the entry point to Li\u00e9bana and the Picos de Europa.<\/p>","villages_content":"","title_itineraries":"Our itineraries to visit Cantabria","text_itineraries":"<p>A short stay works best split in two: two to three days along the coast between Santander, Comillas and San Vicente de la Barquera, then a further two to three days inland around Potes, Santo Toribio de Li\u00e9bana and Fuente D\u00e9. Travelers with closer to a week can add El Soplao cave and Cab\u00e1rceno on the way west, plus a wine-tasting afternoon among the Li\u00e9bana vineyards before looping back toward Santander. Those routing onward into Asturias can continue the Cantabrian Mountains west past Lake Enol without doubling back.<\/p>","when_visit":"<p>Cantabria's Atlantic climate means weather shifts fast in any season, so timing depends more on what you want to do than a single \"best\" month.<\/p>\r\n<p><strong>Spring<\/strong> brings green landscapes and fewer crowds, though rain is common \u2014 good for the caves and cities, less reliable for the coast.<\/p>\r\n<p><strong>Summer<\/strong> is peak season on the beaches around Santander and El Sardinero, and the best window for the Fuente D\u00e9 cable car and high-altitude walks in the Picos de Europa, when snow has cleared from the trails.<\/p>\r\n<p><strong>Autumn<\/strong> thins out the coastal crowds while keeping the Li\u00e9bana valley mild, making it a strong season for combining vineyards with mountain scenery.<\/p>\r\n<p><strong>Winter<\/strong> can close or limit access to the highest parts of Picos de Europa National Park, but the coastal towns and prehistoric sites stay fully open year-round.<\/p>","how_visit":"<p><strong>By train<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>Renfe long-distance trains connect Madrid and Santander directly.<\/li>\r\n<li>Regional lines link Santander to Torrelavega and smaller towns along the coast.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p><strong>By car<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>From Bilbao and the Basque Country, the A-8 motorway reaches Santander in under an hour.<\/li>\r\n<li>From Madrid, the A-1 and A-67 run north through Burgos toward Santander.<\/li>\r\n<li>From Asturias, the A-8 continues west along the Cantabrian coast.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p><strong>By plane<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>Seve Ballesteros\u2013Santander Airport handles domestic and some European routes.<\/li>\r\n<li>Bilbao Airport, across the border in the Basque Country, is a practical alternative with more international connections.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p><strong>Getting around<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>A car remains the most flexible way to combine the coast with inland Li\u00e9bana and the Picos de Europa.<\/li>\r\n<li>Regional buses and trains cover Santander, Torrelavega and Santillana del Mar reasonably well.<\/li>\r\n<li>Guided excursions run from Santander to Altamira, El Soplao and Fuente D\u00e9 for travelers without a car.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>","hotels_visit":"<p><strong>Charming hotels<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>Hotel Real, Santander \u2014 overlooking the bay near El Sardinero.<\/li>\r\n<li>Parador de Santillana del Mar, Santillana del Mar \u2014 inside a restored 17th-century manor house.<\/li>\r\n<li>Gran Hotel Sardinero, Santander \u2014 a belle-\u00e9poque landmark steps from the beach.<\/li>\r\n<li>Hotel San Roque, San Vicente de la Barquera \u2014 smaller, design-focused option near the estuary.<\/li>\r\n<li>Parador de Fuente D\u00e9, Fuente D\u00e9 \u2014 set right at the base of the Picos de Europa cable car.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p><strong>Guesthouses in the vineyards<\/strong> Around Potes and the Li\u00e9bana valley, a handful of rural guesthouses sit within walking distance of the small vineyards that supply the area's wine-tourism experiences, making it easy to pair a tasting with a night surrounded by mountains rather than driving back to the coast.<\/p>\r\n<p><strong>Living Cantabria differently<\/strong> Staying in Potes rather than Santander flips the whole trip inland-first: mornings for the monastery and the cable car, afternoons for the valley's vineyards, with the coast becoming the day trip instead of the base.<\/p>","display_map":true,"map_title":"","map_widget_link":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.winalist.com\/affiliate\/widget?partner=14&#038;type=map&#038;lat=43.1828396&#038;lng=-3.9878427&#038;location=Cantabria,%20Spain&#038;locale=en_US\">https:\/\/www.winalist.com\/affiliate\/widget?partner=14&amp;type=map&amp;lat=43.1828396&amp;lng=-3.9878427&amp;location=Cantabria,%20Spain&amp;locale=en_US<\/a>","other_images_for_term":"","title_faq":"Good to know before visiting Cantabria","text_before_faq":"","acf-repeater-faq":[{"faq_question":"Is the Altamira cave open to visitors?","faq_answer":"No \u2014 the original Altamira cave has been closed since 2002 to preserve the Paleolithic paintings. The National Museum of Altamira, next to the site in Santillana del Mar, houses the Neocave, a full-scale replica, along with exhibits on the cave art and the people who created it."},{"faq_question":"What is Cantabria known for?","faq_answer":"Cantabria is known for its Atlantic beaches around Santander, the prehistoric cave art at Altamira, the Picos de Europa mountains, and villages like Santillana del Mar and Comillas. It's also home to a small but growing wine-tourism scene centered on the Li\u00e9bana valley."},{"faq_question":"Are there wine regions in Cantabria?","faq_answer":"Yes \u2014 the Li\u00e9bana valley, near Potes, has a small vineyard tradition dating back to the monks of Santo Toribio. Several cantabria wineries welcome visitors for tastings that pair mountain scenery with the region's cooler-climate wines."},{"faq_question":"How do you get up to the Picos de Europa from Fuente D\u00e9?","faq_answer":"The Fuente D\u00e9 cable car climbs over 700 metres in under four minutes, reaching a platform above 1,800 metres inside Picos de Europa National Park, from where several marked trails start."},{"faq_question":"What is the significance of the Monastery of Santo Toribio de Li\u00e9bana?","faq_answer":"The monastery holds what's venerated as the largest known relic of the Cross, making it a major stop on the Camino Lebaniego, a pilgrim route feeding into the broader Camino de Santiago network."},{"faq_question":"Is Comillas worth visiting for Gaud\u00ed fans?","faq_answer":"Yes \u2014 El Capricho, one of Antoni Gaud\u00ed's early works, sits in Comillas alongside the town's Pontifical University and seafront promenade, making it a rare chance to see his architecture outside Barcelona."},{"faq_question":"What's the best base for exploring both the coast and the mountains of Cantabria?","faq_answer":"Santander works best for the coast and prehistoric sites, while Potes is better positioned for the Picos de Europa, Li\u00e9bana and the region's vineyards \u2014 many visitors split their stay between the two."}]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.winalist.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories\/1064","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.winalist.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.winalist.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/taxonomies\/category"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.winalist.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories\/826"}],"wp:post_type":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.winalist.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts?categories=1064"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}