Is Santander The Most Beautiful City In Northern Spain?

[@spainspeaks]

Get Exclusive NordVPN deal + 4 months extra here ➼ nordvpn.com/spainspeaks

[@harbinderdosanjh9577]

What happened to the sky there?

[@carlbjorling6058]

I wanted to go on holiday to an european city and Santander was not in our plans but it was cheap to flight so me and my partner went there for 5 days. I absolutely fall in love with Cantabria, which is the bigger region with the capital in Santander. The food was amazing, the people was very nice and the places and landscapes were just stunning. We visited Castro Urdiales, Santona, Isla, Lierganes, San Vicente de la Barquera, Santillana del Mar, Comillas and obviously Santander. We will go back for sure in the future one day. Spain is simply BEAUTIFUL everywhere. ❤🇪🇦

[@mikemonroy1]

Hello Stu,, at age 65 years of age and retired. I have been living here in Santander (Playa Sardinero ) now for 13 years (2012 - 2024). Before in Cadiz for 13 years (1998 - 2011). Here in Cantabria you have the 4 seasons. Excellent food and wine selection. As I get older. I appreciate more. Best kept secret in Northern Spain. Keep up your excellent content. Best wishes and warm regards. US Navy retired

[@Joe-cb6ex]

Genial, más jubilados…porque no os podéis quedar en vuestro país?

[@moonmist9]

@mikemonroy1: How is it different from southern Spain apart from the weather? I mean people, bureaucracy, etc?

[@begonaprada7187]

​@@moonmist9mi ciudad solo es turística dos meses al año, el resto estamos los de aquí.

[@fhernandezgutierrez2366]

More European way of leaving in Santander. Nice mood, people are great ambassadors of their city and region, probably not as extroverts and talkative as southern population because of mild weather and ancient isolation (due to mountain chains) but very kind with tourists. Celtic heritage, well dressed, smart and interested in art, theatre, dance, orchestra, sports and sea issues. Cultivated people in general. Not cheaters but a bit conservative. Proud of great heritage in prehistoric art in caves. A bit more regionalists, inland. Queen Victoria Eugenie of Battenberg and King Alfonso XIII used to stay there at summer. Ancient Spa town. You are welcome @@moonmist9

[@moonmist9]

@@fhernandezgutierrez2366 Wow sounds great! :)

[@jjoel609]

Thanks!

[@spainspeaks]

Appreciate your support!

[@joseantoniodavila2752]

20:32 that's the accent there, as the one in Burgos but singing a bit, no so dull. Subtle. Revilla the politician has a "strong" Catabron accent. They all vocalize well, even in the country.

[@Tasks.]

Although I've yet to visit many Spanish cities, Santander is my first choice for a potential new home in Spain. In my experience the beautiful coastline and nearby mountains suit my young family perfectly. I have no issue with the rain, only employment is what holds me back. Great video as always Stu, I did the very same cycle route a couple of years ago.

[@maste3423]

I loved the e-bike experience! Such a great tour of Santander! Lovely views, architecture, historical context. Thank you!

[@thomasdemmery8814]

Great video Stu. Fellow Aussie here, been living in Santander for the past year, teaching English in the nearby city of Torrelavega. I've loved living in Santander, and I really think the city (and Cantabria as a whole) is an underrated gem, overlooked by most international visitors. Even in the North, it's overshadowed by Pais Vasco to the East and Galicia and Asturias to the west. But for my money, the food and the landscapes here are among the best you'll find anywhere in Spain. And although la gente en el norte are often considered to be colder and more standoffish than their brethren in the south, that wasn't my experience. One thing that bears mentioning though is the cleanliness of the city. While the touristy, well-frequented zones around the bay and the beaches which you showed in the video, are immaculate, you don't have to go very far to see a much dirtier side of the city. Even the area where I lived, which was a couple of streets away from the central market was constantly filthy. It became a bit of a game to dodge all the dog shit on the way home after a night out 😂 and it's common to hear locals complaining about the local government and wondering where all their tax dollars are being spent... but, I guess that's the story in most cities throughout Spain!

[@ricardoreid2991]

Hi Stuart my wife & i use to get the ferry from Portsmouth England to Santander because we took the car. Then we drove from there to A Coruna to see her sister. We stayed in Santander for 1 day & had a look around this amazing town with all is history such a beautiful city would love to stay there a bit longer but her sister wanted to see us asap. It’s not the cheapest place our hotel for the night was £200 & the food was quite expensive as well but what can you do. Loved your recent video of Santander keep up the good work Muchas Gracias.

[@sharongamble6379]

Wow stu, what a lovely clean/green city.

[@martinrichardhorrocks9869]

Agree. The absence of graffiti is notable in Santander. I think Northern Spain in general shows better civic pride/ management than other regions.

[@janetlombardi2314]

Hi Stuart, what a stunning part of Spain. I have heard so many great comments about Santander, and judging on this video, it certainly looks very well maintained and beautiful. Enjoy! Thank you for sharing 😊

[@lauraalva2822]

I like to visit the lighthouse when I'm there,there is a small museum inside, it's free and apart from the art the view is worth the visit. Then rabas in the nearby cafeteria/restaurante. I would recommend getting there walking the coastline, from la segunda playa del Sardinero.

[@BobBob-cb3kd]

Great video and I'm quite surprised how beautiful Santander appears to be 👍

[@NK-xk9kj]

Love watching your city tours. My Grandfather is from Candamo. He left in the early 1900s to Cuba and then to the USA. I’m planning to visit sometime in the near future to meet family that is still in the area. I was able to get a family tree that goes back 6 generations. It has been my dream since I was a child. Thanks again.

[@martinrichardhorrocks9869]

One of many emigrants from the north. Those who returned with fortunes built some of the extravagant houses (Casas de los Indios) which you see in the north. There is a museum abput it in Asturias

[@NK-xk9kj]

@@martinrichardhorrocks9869 yes. They created a documentary and I spoke with them before the pandemic. I was suppose to come to Spain that Sept, but of course that all changed. Esther Martinez Alvarez was who researched and compiled the family tree. Candamo Council sent me the records. Priceless. My Abuelas family is from Barcelona as well and she and my Tias visited Asturias in the early 1900s. I can’t wait to see everything. Just trying to time everything and save so I can come for the max time limit.

[@martinrichardhorrocks9869]

​@@NK-xk9kj it will be amazing when you see the little village in the Asturian mountains which are your roots. Pretty, but hard to imagine the desperate poverty which probably made your forebears abandon everything they knew for the unknown.

[@jupiterherranz-wilkinson3787]

Love Santander ♥'will be moving there soon!!!!!!!🙏❤thanks Stu!

[@jonniesantos]

Beautiful city with an international airport; definitely a place I would like to visit. Good prices on hotel, breakfast and e-bike (in my opinion). Thank you.

[@annaartesana2622]

Great video , I love this format where you show lots of views of the area, interspersed with short segments of you speaking to the camera. Very interesting. I was in Santander in January- it poured rain solidly for two days, but on the third day the sun shone and the city, parks and beaches looked glorious. Thanks for the great work.

[@RichD2024]

Gorgeous city, absolutely stunning. Too bad winters are so rainy.

[@DavidJames-p9f]

Not just in winter. I spent a week in Santander in June a few years ago. It rained three days out of seven.

[@FionaJardine-y6f]

We are just back from a week in Santander. Thanks for your video which gave us a good introduction to the city. We found the city compact enough to walk everywhere and the choice of beaches to visit were great. We kayaked one day and walked the beaches and city the other days or enjoyed the cafe culture. We found most places were very reasonable for food and drink. Not many people speak English so we had to use translate tools often. We did get lucky with the weather as we had 5 dry days out of 7. Not lots of tourist attractions but a nice city to relax in for a few days.

[@sclarke4969]

North of Spain is beautiful. Stayed in Oviedo and was very impressed with transport services, always prompt and easy to navigate to surrounding villages and towns. Thanks for showing us Santander. 🌞

[@jjoel609]

Great video, one of the places I want to visit in Spain, but haven't been to yet! Your video confirms it's a nice place!

[@grandadan]

Great video: One of my Favourite places in Spain!

[@pbohearn]

This was a great introduction to Santander for me. Last summer I drove across northern Spain and was very impressed with the beautiful green nature, but I didn’t stop in Santander. We went onto Bilbao which I enjoyed. I’m meeting my sister this summer and Bilbao and I’m gonna take her to Santander, it is impressive

[@seamusp5991]

Looks to be a nice town. Thanks, Stu!

[@AlbertHernandezTorne]

Town? It's a city as it has a population of 172000 and it's the capital of the autonomous community/region of Cantabria

[@mm-qd6oo]

Great Video, Thanks so much for sharing!

[@manuelvilar4496]

Thanks Stuart for your adventures interesting to see new areas 😊

[@Simon-jj2pu]

Interesting that the children are still at school, they broke up here 21st June (inland Almeria). The teachers then act as lifeguards as the outdoor municipal pool then opens for the summer, and then closes when the school reopens

[@eldmorales3867]

I want to visit Santander , Spain. because my 7 great grandpa was born in Santander and all his descendants were born in Puerto Rico.

[@josephmansfield2875]

Very timely for me am staying in Limpias Parador before heading back to the ferry in a few weeks time and will definately make a daytrip to Santander. Thanks v much Stu for your tour

[@martinrichardhorrocks9869]

Make more time for Santander. 2 full days!

[@michaeltravers6109]

A great video Stuart, thank you.

[@triniwilliams]

Appreciate the recon work😂 I am hoping to make a trip there this year to check out the city!

[@silviagonzalez2230]

Great video!

[@marisaberi-in4eb]

Love your walks Stuart, thankyou.

[@paul-gerard9488]

Hi Stu, a great video, but I am also biased, for I spend many weeks in Cantabria, every year. It has everything, even it's own part of Los Picos, and yes it rains, the green north has its own gardener. Did you know, that the Film "Heidi, queen of the mountain" was filmed in the Liébana Valley, in Mogrovejo. The first successful battle against the Moros, took place in Cantabria. Sorry, not correct it was in Austurias. I forgot that I had crossed the border. Like I said, I'm biased. Thanks once again for the video. 😊

[@salustrever8846]

No, sir, the first successful battle against the Moros was in the neighboring region of Asturias, specifically in the Covadonga gorge, in 711 AD.

[@paul-gerard9488]

@@salustrever8846 Yes you are correct. Sorry.

[@sevesellors2831]

Great video and Santander looks very nice and clean too.

[@ladabrisudova7671]

Hello, Stu :) Thanks for this video about Santander. I found it very useful, especially the part about the bike hire...Coincidentally, I fly to Santander next Sunday for a one-week course for Spanish teachers...and plan to stay three more days to do some sightseeing on my own. By the way, love all your videos. :)

[@mrn13]

Had to look it up 😆...So in 2023/2024, Racing Santander finished 7th in the second division with an average home attendance of 15 804 at El Sardinero stadium (capacity 22 200)

[@albertocadena1743]

Well I think you missed some important spots such the Faro / Lighthouse that is right after the football Stadium and going uphill you come to spectacular views, at the old race track there is a camping site with a wonderful secluded beach. In the city center all around Puerto Chico there are a lot of good restaurants. And last but not least the Plaza Porticada home to lot of Art Festivals.

[@gwynethbennellick427]

Ive often been from Plymouth to Santander but never stayed....went onto other cities. I have never seen it in sunshine!

[@lisajrable]

Brilliant review of Santander 😊😊 I do think it was a bit expensive, coffee e2.40.😮 thanks for the great vlog !!!

[@deniseg-hill1730]

Its 3.80 in the village where I live in North Germany for a regular latte

[@MONICAANICA]

Love the maps. Thank you 😍

[@martinrichardhorrocks9869]

For me, yes, Santander is the nicest place in Spain. A pity that so many just use it as a ferry port! Nothimg to add to the video, Stuart, a thorough explanation. But you underestimate the role of Banco Santander in the prosperity of the city. It may have HQ'd in Madrid for a long time, but its heart is still in Santander, providing high income jobs, The bank's founding Botin family (who are still at the top of its management tree) maintain a huge presence in the city.

[@JohnLovesSpain]

This is a great video, thank you.

[@rebjorn79]

Santander might definitely be attractive for a lot of people. The climate conditions are very different from other parts of Spain.

[@welshtoro3256]

My brother in law lives and works in Santander. I've visited on quite a few occasions and this view of the city is very one sided. The stretch of the beach is lovely and it's why most people visit. You have to have a very large salary to live on it of course. Walk half a mile inland though and it's a different city. One with massive amounts of social housing and really depressed neighbourhoods. Santander was massively reconstructed after the Civil War and there was a lot of horrendously ugly architecture built on the cheap. I'm not attacking the city in any way but I don't think we should look at these places with rose tinted glasses.

[@gerrypaul2461]

Great value for coffee and sandwich nice city 😊

[@paulgooderham]

I enjoyed your video, thank you.

[@Aotruba]

Thank you, Stu 👍😊👍 I haven't decided yet, where to retire. Best regards from Colorado, USA

[@janethaver3375]

Beautiful! Thank you

[@fhernandezgutierrez2366]

Yes, it is ❤

[@Juanfernandez-sm8jl]

👍👍👍👍Santander, Gijon, San Sebastián...are the best!!

[@GabrielLorenzo-lc7fm]

Great city I was there 2 years ago

[@joseantoniodavila2752]

Botín translates to loot or booty, which is a proper surname for the owner of a large bank

[@welshtoro3256]

🤣

[@felipeyanez7786]

The weather seasons are fantastic, Andalucía too hot in the summer

[@yamigonzalez50]

Thank you 👍

[@carlosgernika1767]

Santander is a fantastic city but in my opinion San Sebastián is the most beautiful city.

[@chris-4566]

Hi Stuart, I’m slowly recovering from a stroke I had just over 2 years ago. My wife and I have recently had a weeks holiday in Palma Nova and later on this year, we’re having a week in Port Pollenca, in the north. We managed fine in Palma Nova because there’s a decent promenade where I could walk safely (albeit slowly) and I use my mobility scooter if I need a break (my wife rides the scooter while I walk). Is it possible you could consider whether towns you visit are good for walking/scooting for disability. The main obstacle for my scooter is when the pavement comes to an end and there’s no drop, causing me to have to turn around to go back to where there is one. Santander looks very nice and somewhere I’d like to visit so it would help if you could give it a quick “marks out of ten” for suitability for disabled travellers. Thanks

[@Tomas-ud2uc]

Thanks for all the valuable information. Which coastal city in northern Spain do you think has the least amount of rain? Thanks!

[@davidaranda2528]

wow indeed it is! these cities a class far-above comparable seaside towns of England!

[@lucieteal7201]

Which hotel did you stay it. Beautiful video thank you.

[@goldgeologist5320]

Thanks again Stu. What another beautiful city in Spain. So hard to decide where I would like to live in Spain if I move there. Appears to be good value. But I missed the pricing of apartments.

[@hejla4524]

It rains a lot...June has been terrible this year.

[@stevetilk4926]

Stu, just curious of Mrs Stu accompanies you on your adventures or do you go solo. I appreciate your videos. Thank you.

[@MONICAANICA]

What's the golf situation in Spain...my husband is asking. Thank you Stuart 🍷🍷

[@rossiricky71]

Santander is the home of the famous player Severiano Ballestreros and even the airport has its name. There are beautiful golf courts in Santander and close to the city

[@Darkknight21789]

Hey guys, need some advice: I’ve booked 3 odd days here in Sept next few weeks (thinking thr weather and sun would be quite warm and I could enjoy some rays on beach I booked this back in August 24). However, I’ve checked the weather forecast it looks rubbish and rain. Do you guys think it’s still worth going Santander as beach time will be zero?!!. Still with going? Or better wait until next year when it’s hot in July? I can easily cancel my hotel. Just unclear if it’s worth going? Can anyone advise?

[@begonaprada7187]

Normalmente en Santander en Septiembre suele hacer buen tiempo, pero este año no, esta haciendo muy malo, ha entrado el Otoño y la lluvia de golpe, siendo aún verano. Dan bueno a partir de este fin de semana, pero calor poco.

[@yanassi]

Hi stu and guests. I have a unbusy moment, so i can catch a “live” showing. A beautiful city.

[@amandaroberts5111]

Stuart, great video, question do you have to wear a helmet?

[@spainspeaks]

Hi, no.

[@amandaroberts5111]

@@spainspeaks thanks

[@d.c.sodyssey4783]

This is dream living.

[@wisgarytorres8784]

I think if you keep your e bike trips short and return them quickly it's cheaper?

[@spainspeaks]

Hi, of course!

[@begonaprada7187]

El café en cualquier café en terraza en Santander es 1,60 , has ido a desayunar al más caro

[@steven1515]

Hola Stuart, just watched your latest vlog on Santander brilliant 👏 really enjoyed it, going to drive over to Spain next year, so I think we're going to pop in to Santander stay overnight and have a look around Before we drive down to the Costa del Sol,😎 thanks for your tour. It's much appreciated. Keep up the good work, mate 👍 🇪🇸🍷🍷

[@utopian666]

Santander is great in the centre, but outside of that area there are very little amenities and I would not recommend it.

[@danielgomez-ik4qq]

Santander: the port of Castilla. Part of Castilla before the autonomies.The most beautiful bay in Spain.

[@johnryan2193]

Hard to believe a whole city burned down .

[@VasodeBatman]

San Sebastian is by far the most beautiful city in northern Spain

[@saltaireorangebicyclechopp8555]

It's lovely is Santander, it's where l either end up or start from cycling across Spain. But.....its definitely San Sebastian that is the most beautiful city on that coast, by far. From Bilbao to Ferrol is the most beautiful part of Spain, it's bonkers that Brits don't holiday there when it would suit them far more than the costas.

[@martinrichardhorrocks9869]

People say that. I've visited both extensively and prefer Santander. It feels more open than San Sebastian, less exclusive and much better value ( Madrid prices as opposed to Madrid pijo prices). I suspect 40 years ago and counting, San Sebastian was a different level, but Santander has developed.

[@salozinp]

The brits,to Benidorm,thanks.

[@martinrichardhorrocks9869]

@@salozinp to be fair, lots of Spanish people go to Benidorm too.

[@joseluisluque449]

​@@salozinp jajaja

[@MariaFernandez-iv3gi]

​@@salozinp😂😂😂😂

[@anacasanova7350]

Todas las capitales del norte de España en la costa son preciosas y aristocráticas, como La Coruña, Oviedo, Santander , San Sebastián y Bilbao y más al interior, Burgos, Valladolid.... Pero todas las demás capitales son históricas, milenarias, la mayoría y bellas. Además Santander se incendió en el s.XX y la ciudad es nueva, y San Sebastián fue destruida por los Ingleses en el transcurso de las guerras napoleónicas. También es de nueva construcción, y Bilbao se modernizo en el final del s. XX. 😊

[@joseantoniodavila2752]

Si los reyes madrileños se pasaban los veranos en el cantábrico sería por algo. Ahora se van a Mallorca y con el cambio climático. Pero que por lo mismo que sea Colón no se trajo la quinoa y aquí la tenemos hasta en la sopa =) I don't think I got English enough to say that

[@joseantoniodavila2752]

Ya estamos exagerando como poco. Ahí va una exageración cierta: la pila bautismal de la catedral de La Asunción de Santander es la pila de abluciones de la mezquita de Sevilla. Los Cantabrones cortaron las cadenas para conquistar Sevilla y se llevaron de recuerdo esa pila. Eso no se quema porque parece de mármol y tiene agua bendita o pagana pero agua.

[@ursus9104]

Es muy bonito ir al norte de España desde San Sebastián, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Burgos, Valladolid, Salamanca, y luego más hacia Portugal y la costa atlántica.

[@seanflewin9803]

Bike hire cost was disgusting you should get all day for fhat

[@jakejefferies7225]

It's only because he didn't dock the bike when he had his pincho etc...😊

[@Kevin-zz9nc]

I was in Spain for 6 months ans never found a soul who could speak ONE word of French in either Santander or Bilbao....

[@salozinp]

In Spain English is studied, French is obsolete.

[@caracas787]

Very nice but for me San Sebastián will always be the best .I went there for the first time 30 years ago and had the good fortune to eat at Arzak in those days Jaun Mari would come to your table and ask your opinion on what you had eaten.At the time my Spanish was basic to say the least luckily my girl friend was Spanish it was a night I will never forget and we didn’t even have a reservation now of course you have to book months in advance.La Concha was wonderful and so were the people .

[@patrickmulloy8787]

Bike hire is expensive if you compare it to hiring a car ie…. Bike for a day ,12hours would be about €120, you would hire a car for half of this.

[@jakejefferies7225]

Not sure how you came up with that figure, if you hired a City Bike for a whole 12 hrs without a break ( not really meant for that ) would cost you about €45!!

[@patrickmulloy8787]

@@jakejefferies7225 do you have shares in this bike hire ?

[@vioreliachim5646]

Candy floss sky.

[@moonmist9]

Excellent video. Hope there are no anti-tourism protests there.

[@spainspeaks]

Hi, no. Not in that city...yet

[@57ffjjimenez]

La más bonita y la más cara tambien

[@tonydecastro6340]

San Sebastian is the most beautiful city in northern Spain. But Santander is the 2nd most beautiful city.

[@balvirkumar3586]

❤😊

[@dominic8218]

Beautiful city and terrible bank!

[@frankreynolds4547]

Us Brits don't need to indicate to cyclists, especially one's ridden by Ozzys on neutral ground 😂

[@leonnestor5602]

I think Santander is beautiful but I also think San Sebastián/Donostia is even more beautiful; by the way, I'm not from San Sebastián, I am from Pamplona/Iruña

[@bertotorron7802]

santander desaparecio 2 veces , la explosion del machichaco, la peor carasrofe portuaria de españa con muchisimos muertos y a los 50 años se quemo de nuevo

[@igorv1756]

Ni de coña

[@JoseCalvete]

Fortunately we in Santander only speak spanish, no other stupid and uselss languages spoken in other parts of Spain

[@anacasanova7350]

La lana de Castilla iba a Santander y se llevaba a Europa desde la Edad Media, y la comunicación con Inglaterra o norte de Europa era desde Santander. A Bilbao no iba nadie en tal caso a Vitoria. Bilbao era un puerto pesquero y ballenero. Y el interior un pueblo de pastores. Los británicos llegaban a Santander para hacer el camino de Santiago desde hace casi 1000 mil años y a Santander , un pueblo, llegó Carlos I de España desde Gante.😊

[@EQP-v3u]

No

[@vincentrocco1004]

😅you have to be joking

[@anacasanova7350]

La región de Cantabria es un invento de la Democracia. Santander es el puerto de Castilla desde hace más de 1000 años. Santander es Castilla pero con mar.😅

[@honduraswalks]

is this true?

[@odalrich]

@anacasanova7350 Cantabria es un invento del pueblo de Cantabria cuyas costumbres y cultura no tiene nada que ver con Castilla. Sigue siendo un puerto para Castilla y el resto de España.

[@anacasanova7350]

La Comunidad autónoma es un invento político, la región de Cantabria es una realidad, geográfica, e histórica y cultural. Tampoco tiene nada que ver el Valle de Arán con Cataluña y.....eso. 😊

[@gebermartinson6553]

Bilbao es el puerto de Castilla desde hace más de 1000 años .A Castilla poco o nada le ha interesado ni Santander ni Cantabria históricamente y Cantabria tampoco siente demasiada atracción por los vecinos del sur salvo 4 fanáticos.

[@pbohearn]

This was a great introduction to Santander for me. Last summer I drove across northern Spain and was very impressed with the beautiful green nature, but I didn’t stop in Santander. We went onto Bilbao which I enjoyed. I’m meeting my sister this summer and Bilbao and I’m gonna take her to Santander, it is impressive