Where to stay in Cantabria
Some of the best towns to sleep in Cantabria are San Vicente de la Barquera, Suances, Carmona, or Castro Urdiales. Read on to find out all the details! On the other hand, if you are interested in staying in a beautiful place, don’t miss my selection of charming hotels in Cantabria.
1. San Vicente de la Barquera
San Vicente de la Barquera is a small coastal town of just over 4,000 inhabitants located 60 km west of Santander. It is located in the Natural Park of Oyambre; therefore, the surroundings of this charming fishing village are a real privilege.
Do not miss places like the Puente de la Maza, the Church of Santa Maria de los Angeles, or the Castillo del Rey (to enjoy the views). If you are looking for beaches, you can go to Merón beach, El Tostadero beach, or La Maza beach. This town is a good option if you want to be close to the sea and at the same time enjoy a quiet place.
Recommended hotels in San Vicente de la Barquera
2. Santillana del Mar, one of the most beautiful towns in Spain
Santillana del Mar is said to be the place of the three lies: it is neither holy nor flat, nor does it have a sea. But what is undeniable about it is its spectacular charm. Its cobbled houses and balconies full of flowers, among other things, have made this town one of the most beautiful villages in Spain and an essential stop if you make a route through Cantabria. It is located 30 kilometers west of Santander.
Do not forget to visit the Collegiate Church of Santa Juliana, the Plaza Mayor, and the Altamira Cave. You can book a day trip of Santillana and Altamira here in advance. Strolling through its historic center is another real pleasure. It is a very good option to stay in Cantabria because, apart from offering a lot of cultural and gastronomic leisure, Santillana del Mar has a wide range of accommodations for different budgets.
Recommended hotels in Santillana del Mar
- $: Hospedaje Maria Jesus, Posada de la Abadia.
- $$: La Casona de Revolgo, Hotel Cuevas.
- $$$: Hotel Casa del Marqués.
3. Suances, great area to stay in Cantabria
On my last trip to Cantabria, we stayed in Suances. This coastal town of almost 9,000 inhabitants is located 30 km west of Santander. The center of the town is about a kilometer and a half from the beaches; however, most of the hotels are located in several urbanizations next to the coast.
Because of this, it is necessary to differentiate between “Suances village” and “Suances beach.” In the village, you can take a stroll through the neighborhood of La Cuba or visit the Casa de los Polanco, the church of Nuestra Señora de las Lindes, and the Plaza de Viares.
As for the beaches, do not miss the beach of La Concha (the largest of them), the beach of La Ribera, and the beach of Los Locos. Here, be sure to visit the lighthouse and enjoy the views from the Torco viewpoint. Although one of my favorite activities in Suances was to walk along the estuary of San Martin every morning,.
Recommended hotels in Suances
- $: Hostería Isla Cabrera.
- $$: Amita Hotel Boutique.
- $$$: Costa Esmeralda Suites, La Surfería Suances.
4. Carmona, ideal for rural tourism
If you are looking for rural tourism, a very good option is Carmona, a very small village (no more than 200 inhabitants) called one of the most beautiful villages of Cantabria. This town is located just over 60 kilometers from Santander, between the Saja valley and the Nansa valley.
It highlights the traditional architecture of the area and the wonderful natural environment. It is a good place for those seeking tranquility and disconnection. If you stay here, be sure to visit the town of Bárcena Mayor, located half an hour away by car. It is a village with cobblestone streets, stone houses, and balconies full of flowers.
You won’t be far from the impressive El Soplao Cave, an old mining factory. It is one of the places that impressed me most on my trip. I could not stop hallucinating with all the stalactites, stalagmites, and other geological formations that are hidden inside this wonder. You can book a guided tour of El Soplao Cave here in advance. The price includes the entrance fee and the guide.
Recommended hotels in Carmona and surroundings
- $$: Posada de Fidel.
- $$$: La Infinita Rural Boutique.
5. Castro Urdiales
Castro Urdiales is the third-largest town in Cantabria. It is located about 70 kilometers east of Santander, bordering the Basque Country. The most picturesque part of the town is next to the port, where the Church of Santa María de la Asunción, the Castle of Santa Ana, and the Medieval Roman Bridge create the typical postcard of Castro Urdiales.
Other places worth visiting are Cotolino Park, Amestoy Park, the promenade, the Palace-Castle of Ocharán, Urdiales Beach, or Brazomar Beach.
As you can see, there are many places to visit in Castro Urdiales and its surroundings, in addition to having a large number of stores and restaurants. All this makes it a good option to make a base for visiting Cantabria.
Recommended hotels in Castro Urdiales
- $: Pensión La Mar.
- $$: Hostal Vista Alegre, Casa La Quintana.
- $$$: Las Rocas Playa Hotel.
6. Laredo
Another town that cannot be missed on this list of places to stay in Cantabria is Laredo, a coastal town located 50 kilometers east of Santander. It is a very quiet place where I recommend a stroll through the old town or enjoying its beaches, such as Salvé Beach or Regatón Beach.
From Laredo, you can reach Santoña in just a few minutes, where you can visit the Fort San Martin, the Fort of San Carlos, or the Church of Santa Maria de Puerto.
Recommended hotels in Laredo
- $: Hotel Ramona.
- $$: Hotel Las Ruedas.
- $$$: Posada Casona de la Ventilla.
7. Comillas
Finally, I recommend the town of Comillas, located on the coast just over 50 kilometers west of Santander. Its architecture is characterized by modernist buildings from the nineteenth century.
Apart from strolling through the old town and going to the beach of Comillas, do not miss the following places: the Capricho de Gaudí, the Pontifical University of Comillas, the Monument to the Marquis of Comillas, the Casa del Duque, the Palacio de Sobrellano, and the Chapel-Pantheon of the Marquises. Near this town, I recommend a visit to the Redwood Forest of Monte Cabezón.
If you are staying in Santander but still want to know this Cantabrian town, you can book this day trip to Comillas and the Capricho de Gaudí.
Recommended hotels in Comillas
- $: Albergue la Huella del Camino.
- $$: Apartamentos Mar Comillas, La Solana Montañesa.
- $$$: El Tejo de Comillas.
8. Potes, to visit the Picos de Europa.
If you want to visit the National Park of Los Picos de Europa, Potes and its surroundings are one of the best places to sleep in Cantabria. In addition, it is one of the most beautiful villages in this autonomous community. It has many restaurants, bars, and beautiful places, such as the Old Bridge of Potes and the Bridge of San Cayetano.
Potes is located in the Liébana Valley, where I also recommend visiting the Desfiladero de la Hermida (from the viewpoint of Santa Catalina), the cable car of Fuente Dé, the village of Bejes, the Church of Santa María de Lebeña, or the viewpoint of Collado de Llesba.
Recommended hotels in Potes
- $: Posada Rural Bistruey.
- $$: Apartamentos Casa de la Abuela.
- $$$: Casa Matapalacios.
Map of best areas to stay in Cantabria
I have created a map to help you choose a place to stay.
The map above shows the main locations (apart from places you should visit) highlighted in red; the hotels I recommend staying at (along with links to Booking); the places I recommend seeing in Cantabria highlighted in yellow; and, lastly, hotels with enchantment highlighted in dark blue.
You can view the neighborhoods, lodging options, and tourist destinations by clicking on each box in the drop-down menu on the map. You’ll find it a lot simpler to plan your itinerary and select your lodging as a result.
Check out my Spain travel guide if you are traveling to other areas of the country.
I hope this post about where to stay in Cantabria has been very useful for you to organize your trip. If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment or contact me. See you next time!