Port of Santander cruise port guide
Port of Santander — Santander, Spain.
Santander is the capital of Cantabria, on the north coast of Spain, a city of waterfront promenades and parks facing a wide bay with green mountains behind. Cruise ships berth in the middle of town, so the centre, the Centro Botín art centre and the cathedral are all within an easy walk. Bigger sights, such as the royal Palacio de la Magdalena and the beaches of El Sardinero, are a short taxi or bus ride away, and the Cantabrian countryside and the Altamira cave replica are popular excursions.
Getting ashore
Where do cruise ships dock in Santander?
Ships berth at the Estación Marítima on the Maliaño quay, right on the waterfront in the city centre; since March 2023 the terminal has been used only by cruise ships, with the ferries moved to a new terminal. The Centro Botín is about 500m from the berth and the Mercado de la Esperanza about 800m, so you can start exploring on foot. Check your P&O port information for whether a shuttle is offered.
Getting around
The city centre is compact, and the tourist board describes Santander as ideal for exploring on foot, with funiculars, ramps and escalators to help with the steeper streets. The Magdalena peninsula is about 3km from the berth: take a taxi or a TUS city bus (several lines run from the centre to Puertochico and the El Sardinero beaches), then walk or use the tourist train that runs around the peninsula and stops at the palace. Taxis are the simplest way to reach El Sardinero if you are short of time. For Santillana del Mar, Altamira, Cabárceno or the mountains, book a ship excursion or a private driver, as these are day trips rather than walks.
Don't miss
- Centro Botín — The Renzo Piano-designed art centre on the waterfront, about 500m from the berth, with views over the bay. Allow 1 to 2 hours. Admission is €9 online or €10 at the desk. From October to May it is open Tuesday to Friday 10am to 2pm and 4pm to 8pm, and Saturday and Sunday 10am to 8pm; from June to September Tuesday to Sunday 10am to 8pm, plus every Monday in July and August. It is usually closed on other Mondays, including the late-May Monday call, so check the centre's list of Monday openings.
- Cathedral and the old centre — The cathedral stands in the Plaza de las Atarazanas, next to the Church of El Cristo, whose floor is partly glazed to show Roman remains. The Plaza Porticada, with the Archaeological Centre of the Medieval Wall beneath it, is close by. Allow about an hour.
- Mercado de la Esperanza — Santander's best-known covered market, selling fish, meat, cheese and local produce. It is open Monday to Saturday 8am to 2pm (and Thursday and Friday afternoons) and closed on Sundays, so it suits most of the calls but not the Sunday one. Allow 30 to 45 minutes.
- Palacio de la Magdalena — The former summer residence of King Alfonso XIII and Queen Victoria Eugenia, on the highest point of the Magdalena peninsula, about 3km from the berth. Guided visits cost €7 and run at set times; once a visit has begun nobody can join it, so buy tickets ahead. The peninsula grounds are free to walk, with views over the bay. Allow 2 to 3 hours with transport.
- El Sardinero beaches — The city's main beach area, reached by taxi or city bus. Worth it on a warm day for a walk along the front, but it is not close to the ship, so allow time to get back.
- Santillana del Mar and the Altamira replica — A popular half-day excursion by coach or taxi. The original Altamira cave is closed to ordinary visits, but there is a replica beside the Altamira museum, about 2.6km from Santillana del Mar; the museum is closed on Mondays. Cabárceno nature park (animals living in large open enclosures) is just over 15 minutes by car from Santander and is an alternative.
Planning your day
Start on foot along the waterfront to the Centro Botín, then head into the old centre for the cathedral and, if it is not a Sunday, the Mercado de la Esperanza. Have lunch around the Cañadío area, then take a taxi to the Magdalena peninsula for the grounds and, if you have booked, the palace. If you prefer the countryside, a Santillana del Mar and Altamira replica excursion fills most of the day (not on a Monday).
Food & drink
Cantabrian cooking is built on seafood from the Cantabrian Sea, local beef and cheese. The tourist board calls rabas, fried squid rings, the star dish of the city's cuisine, and you will find them on menus all along the waterfront streets. Santander has several Michelin and Repsol-listed restaurants as well as simple bars, and the Cañadío and Puertochico area is one of its main eating districts, a short walk from the berth.
Where to eat
- Cañadío — Long-running restaurant (since 1981) in the Cañadío district, about 500m from the berth, serving rabas and other Cantabrian dishes at the bar or at a table. Open Monday to Saturday from noon, kitchen 1pm to 4pm and 8:30pm to 11:45pm; closed on Sundays, so not an option on the Sunday call.
- La Bodega del Riojano — Traditional bodega open since 1940, in the centre, with Cantabrian and Riojan dishes and painted wine-barrel ends on the walls. Open every day for lunch (from noon) and dinner. The pisto with Iberian pork jowl and fried egg is its best-known dish. Reservations recommended.
- Mercado de la Esperanza — Market stalls selling fish, meats, cheese and local produce, a good place to see what Cantabrians cook with and to pick up cheese or tinned fish. Monday to Saturday 8am to 2pm; closed on Sundays.
Must try
- Rabas (fried squid rings) — Santander's signature dish, described by the city tourist board as something you cannot leave without trying. Usually served as a portion to share, with a drink.
- Quesucos — Small local fresh cheeses from Cantabria, found at the Mercado de la Esperanza and in restaurants.
- Cantabrian beef — Local beef is a point of pride on Cantabrian menus, often grilled and served simply.
Know before you go
- 🗣️Language — Spanish. English is understood at hotels and many restaurants, but a few Spanish phrases are appreciated, especially in neighbourhood bars.
- 📋Documents — Carry your passport or photo ID as P&O instructs. Spain is in the Schengen area; entry rules depend on nationality, so check the current requirements before you sail.
- 🛍️Shopping & hours — Shops and markets keep their own hours and some close on Sundays: on the Sunday call (June 2028) the Mercado de la Esperanza and Cañadío are both closed. On the Monday call (late May 2027) the Centro Botín and the Altamira museum are usually closed. The city's main shopping streets are in the centre, a short walk from the berth.
- 🌤️Weather — Santander is mild. Average daytime highs are about 18°C in May, 20°C in June, 22°C in July, 23°C in August and 22°C in September, with roughly 8 to 10 days of 1mm or more of rain a month. Take a light waterproof, even in summer.
- 📶Connectivity — Spain uses the euro. For mobile data, check what your UK network charges in Spain before you rely on roaming.
- ♿Accessibility — The tourist board says Santander has a good network of ramps, escalators and funiculars for the steep streets, and it has an accessible-destination page on turismo.santander.es. The waterfront is flat. Step-free access at the terminal and on specific buses isn't published, so ask the ship.
- ⏱️Getting back — The berth is in the city centre, so getting back is simple if you stay in the centre. If you go to the Magdalena peninsula, El Sardinero or on an excursion, allow extra time and be back well before the all-aboard time shown by your ship.
Sources: https://turismo.santander.es/en/discover-the-city/places-of-interest; https://turismo.santander.es/en/discover-the-city/religious-buildings; https://turismo.santander.es/en/discover-the-city/gastronomy; https://turismo.santander.es/en/organising-your-journey/getting-around-santander; https://turismo.santander.es/en/what-to-do/trips-around-cantabria; https://www.centrobotin.org/en/visit/; https://palaciomagdalena.com/en/visits; https://www.comerciosantander.com/mercados/mercado-de-la-esperanza; https://bodegadelriojano.com; https://grupocanadio.com/restaurantes/santander/canadio-santander/; https://www.cruiseeurope.com/destination-information/santander; https://www.eldiario.es/cantabria/cruceros-pesqueros-turismo-maritimo-bate-record-pesca-desaparece-puertos-cantabros_1_13294710.html; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santander,_Spain