Sitting on the northern coast of Spain, Santander is the regional capital of Cantabria. It's probably best known as a port city, but unlike many others of its kind, is also home to a prestigious university and a fashionable influx of (largely Spanish) tourists who visit every year. Santander has some beautiful beaches within easy reach of the city centre, but the area’s maritime climate means that visitors can’t rely solely on this as a leisure option. Fortunately, there are plenty of other attractions, including some beautiful buildings, a casino and an array of bars and restaurants.
Santander is divided into two distinct areas - the vibrant commercial centre containing most of the city’s shops, tourist attractions and historic buildings, and the beach resort of El Sardinero which is home to the city's most up-market suburbs, the former royal palace and the casino. Unfortunately, Santander’s old quarter was largely destroyed by a fire in 1940s, but there is still plenty of beautiful architecture from the 19th and early 20th century to take in.
