Cantabria

Shop

Get even more with a Lonely Planet guide.

Shop Book
panoramic views to san vicente de la barquera traditional village at cantabria, spain; Shutterstock ID 533886376

Shutterstock / Jon Chica

Overview

You can traverse this green-clad region next to Asturias from north to south in an hour. But don’t. For modern travellers, Cantabria offers a bit of everything. The coastline is a sequence of soft cliffs, beautiful beaches and colourful fishing ports; summer seaside days are perfectly possible (unreliable weather permitting). The inland mountains – sliced up by deep, multibranched valleys connected only by steep passes – are sprinkled with sleepy villages and prove a feast for the eyes, whether you drive the country roads or walk the trails.

Attractions

Must-see attractions

  • UNESCO World Heritage. Puente Viesgo. Pas valley. Cantabria. Spain

    Cuevas de Monte Castillo

    Santander

    Of these four World Heritage–listed caves 30km southwest of Santander, two – El Castillo and Las Monedas – are open for 45-minute guided visits (in…

  • ALTAMIRA, SPAIN -10 JUN 2017- The National Museum and Research Center of Altamira is a museum with replica of the cave of Altamira with its prehistoric rock art. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.; Shutterstock ID 664589344

    Museo de Altamira

    Cantabria

    The museum’s highlight is the Neocueva, a dazzling, full-sized re-creation of the real Cueva de Altamira’s most interesting chamber, the Sala de…

  • Palace Sobrellano, Comillas, Spain.

    Palacio de Sobrellano

    Comillas

    With this marvellous 1888 building, the Marqués de Comillas’ summer palace, Modernista architect Joan Martorell truly managed to out-Gothic real Gothic…

  • Capricho de Gaudí

    Capricho de Gaudí

    Comillas

    Antoni Gaudí left few reminders of his genius beyond Catalonia, but of them the 1885 Capricho is easily the most flamboyant. This brick building, one of…

  • SANTANDER, SPAIN - SEPTEMBER 27, 2017: Centro Botin or Botin Center is a cultural facility building located in Santander, Spain; Shutterstock ID 1036661941

    Centro Botín

    Santander

    Santander's newest and splashiest landmark, this ambitious waterfront arts and cultural centre opened to great fanfare in 2017. The futuristic two-block…

  • View on Playa de Oyambre y la Rabia, located on the bay of Biscay, Cantabria, Spain.; Shutterstock ID 1052635787

    Playa Oyambre

    Comillas

    The 2km-long, soft-blonde Playa Oyambre, 5km west of Comillas, is a sandy dream protected by the Parque Natural Oyambre. It has frequently surfable waves,…

  • Cueva de Covalanas

    Cueva de Covalanas

    Cantabria

    Discovered in 1903 (second only to Altamira among Cantabrian caves with prehistoric artwork), the World Heritage–listed Covalanas cave is home to several…

View more attractions

Plan with a local

Articles

Latest stories from Cantabria

Filter by interest:

Woman with camera take travel picture from sea landscape, Atlantic ocean and Asturias coast at Cape Penas in north Spain.; Shutterstock ID 2177193009; your: Ben N Buckner; gl: 65050; netsuite: Online Editorial; full: Asturias Northern Spain Sponsored

Beaches

Unspoiled Spain: How to feel the spirit of the northern coast

Nov 14, 2022 • 9 min read

Read more articles

Build a memorable collection

Get to the heart of Cantabria with one of our in-depth, award-winning guidebooks, covering maps, itineraries, and expert guidance.

Go Beyond

Cantabria and beyond

Beyond Cantabria