The best things to see and do in northern Spain

When you think of Spanish holiday destinations, you’d be forgiven for skipping straight to the Costa Brava or Costa del Sol – with their bustling beaches, great weather, and things to do beside the seaside. But there’s more to Spain than its well-known eastern and southern coastlines.

The north of the country – around the region of Cantabria, in particular – has plenty to offer curious travellers looking for a more authentic Spanish holiday.

You can still make the most of swathes of golden sand but there are also mountains, UNESCO sites, and some of Europe’s finest restaurants to discover.

To find out more, read on as we deep-dive into Cantabria, and beyond...

Situated in the middle of Spain’s northern coast, Cantabria is one of the country’s most richly diverse regions.

Here you’ll find the vibrant capital and fishing port, Santander, sandwiched between long sandy beaches and seaside towns, such as Santoña, Laredo, and San Vicente de la Barquera.

Travel inland and it’s the forested slopes, alpine peaks, and river valleys of Picos de Europa National Park that offer things to do in Cantabria’s great outdoors. This dramatic, protected landscape is far removed from what most tourists have come to associate with Spain, however, it’s one of the country’s natural treasures and well worth a visit if you’re staying nearby.

If you’re looking for more places to visit, and things to do in Cantabria, keep reading…

Santander combines Gothic architecture – including the imposing Santander Cathedral – with beautiful blonde beaches and wooded greenery on La Magdalena Peninsula. It’s somewhere to enjoy a creamy tiramisu ice cream in one of the historic plazas or take a walk around Magdalena Park overlooking the bay. You can also enjoy a guided tour of the Palacio de la Magdalena and gardens – once the summer home of Spanish royalty.

The ever-popular Primera Playa del Sardinero beach is perfect for a relaxing afternoon sunbathing or swimming. There are plenty of seafood restaurants and beachside cafés lining the Paseo de Pereda promenade, which stretches from the marina to the cathedral. If you want to find out more about Santander’s seafaring history, the Maritime Museum of the Cantabrian Sea is on the front and features fishing boats, nautical exhibitions and an aquarium.

For landlubbers, the Museum of Prehistory and Archaeology is in central Santander and showcases locally found archaeological artefacts alongside interactive displays and regional artwork.

Approximately 45 minutes’ drive east of Santander, the small seaside town of Santoña is a great base to go walking in Cantabria.

Here you can undertake a challenging 10-kilometre walk along the near-vertical cliffs to the El Caballo Lighthouse or enjoy a far less taxing stroll around the narrow side streets on the hunt for tapas bars.

Santoña is also Cantabria’s anchovy capital so be sure to take a tour of the canning factory or pick up a jar or two from one of the artisan food stores.

Santoña has some superb swathes of soft sand flanked by wooded hills and rocky coves and inlets.

Playa de Berria is one of the best places for sunbathing as well as catching some waves as the wind whips in off the Atlantic. You can also walk along the seafront promenade to Fuerte de San Martín – a former 17th-century fortress with great views from the battlements.

Situated across the bay from Santoña, the pretty resort town of Laredo is well-known for its seemingly endless sandy beaches including the natural dunes on Playa La Salvé. It’s a hangout for kite and wind surfers and the town itself features narrow cobbled streets lined with al fresco cafés, pedestrianised plazas, and Cantabrian-style buildings with overhanging balconies.

If you’re looking for things to do in northern Spain away from the coast, the UNESCO-protected Picos de Europa National Park is ideal.

Covered in oak and beech woodlands, limestone peaks, tranquil lakes, and rugged river valleys, this is the perfect spot for animal and birdwatching in Cantabria.

The Picos de Europa mountain range stretches for over 20 kilometres and provides native species of wild cats, otters, deer, wolves, and even Cantabrian brown bears with an untouched natural environment.

Take the exhilarating ascent by cable car – Teleférico de Fuente Dé – to the 600-metre southern summit for panoramic views or visit the medieval village of Potes for cobblestone streets, fairytale houses, and patisseries selling all manner of sweet treats.

Another area of Cantabria that will appeal to wildlife lovers is Cabarceno Natural Park. Situated just south of Santander, this was once where iron was mined from the limestone mountains but now serves as a vast nature reserve for endangered animals.

There are over one hundred species – including elephants, rhinos, boars, bears, and reptiles – living in spacious enclosures surrounded by quintessential Cantabrian scenery.

The park includes an overhead gondola ride, educational displays, and botanical nature trails.

Described as the ‘Sistine Chapel of prehistoric art’, the Cueva de El Castillo is a series of UNESCO-listed caves located near the town of Puente Viesgo.

This archaeological site is home to some of Europe’s oldest cave-drawn artwork depicting animals, graffiti, and paintings daubed in charcoal and red iron deposits.

It’s a must for prehistoric lovers looking for things to do in northern Spain and an ideal setting to escape the summer heat as you journey underground.

Northern Spain’s foodie capital is situated to the east of Cantabria within the Basque Country. Bordered by green mountain foothills and wide beaches – including the picture-postcard Playa de la Concha – this is another favoured holiday haunt for the Spanish royal family.

San Sebastian is revered for its fine dining restaurants and is third in the world for Michelin-starred venues per inhabitant. Upmarket places such as Arzak, Akelarre and Martin Berasategui are considered among the best in Europe and booking well in advance is highly recommended.

If you prefer your pimientos de padrón (pan-fried peppers) and tortilla de patatas (potato omelette) in more relaxed surroundings, San Sebastian also has an abundance of informal tapas and pintxo bars.

It also has a gorgeous Gothic-style church and a Baroque basilica, plus an arcing four-kilometre prom leading to a collection of steel structures created by abstract Basque sculptor, Eduardo Chillida – the perfect place to watch the sunset over the Bay of Biscay.

Set between San Sebastian and Santander, the port city of Bilbao is another of the Basque Country’s most popular places to visit.

It’s considered the region’s capital and contains an atmospheric old town (Casco Viejo) with lively pintxo bars, the Gothic-styled Santiago Cathedral, and quirky little boutiques situated within Las Siete Calles (The Seven Streets). Culture-wise, you’re in for a treat. You can explore the Guggenheim Bilbao – housed in a building designed by architect Frank Gehry – and the Museo de Bellas Artes for art, or dip into the Basque Museum and Ria de Bilbao Maritime Museum for regional history exhibits.

Food and wine in Cantabria is heavily connected with the ocean. The region’s seafood tapas paired with a zingy white, is not to be missed. Cuttlefish and fried squid (also known as rabas) are cooked in their own ink, served with onions, a green salad and Greek yoghurt for dipping.

Locally sourced anchovies are commonplace, served either in salads, with tapas or on their own. As mentioned above, there’s a factory in Santoña where anchovies are preserved, so fish from here are usually the freshest.

If you’re not into seafood, then popular meat dishes include concido montanes, a hearty stew made from beans, red meat and cabbage. If you have a sweet tooth, you must try chocolate con picatostes. This tasty treat involves taking slices of fried bread, dusted with sugar, and dipping them into chocolate.

Another must-try Cantabrian specialityis sobao pasiego, a crumbly cake made with lemon zest and anise liquor, traditionally served at weddings.

Compared to the rest of Spain, relatively few wines are made in Cantabria. Those that are tend to be low alcohol white wines that taste similar to what’s produced in the neighbouring Basque Country. That said, the Bodegas Vidular vineyards – just inland from Santoña – produce an award-winning blend from a serene location in Barcena de Cicero.

Otherwise, you’ll find a variety of fruity Cantabrian rosés on sale in restaurants, along with blends from elsewhere in Spain and Central Europe.

If you’re looking for something to accompany a barbecue or enjoy with a sunset, northern Spain is starting to gain a reputation for serving darker beers, particularly brands like Amstel Oro, mahout Negra and San Miguel Nostrum. Otherwise, you can opt for a lighter lager like Estrella Galicia, which you’ll often find on tap in bars.

Sidra – a form of apple cider – is also popular throughout Cantabria, although unlike other ciders, it’s rarely stronger than 4.5%.

In terms of spirits, orujo brandy is renowned across the region, especially in the valley of Liebana. It’s strong – over 50% alcohol volume – and often enjoyed as an after dinner digestif or in a hot coffee cocktail as a pick me up.

Northern Spain’s proximity to the Atlantic means it’s often exposed to cooler conditions than the south. This makes it an ideal destination during the summer for comfortable temperatures and plenty of blue-sky days.

Summer temperatures average around 20 degrees in northern Spain. It’s largely dry, although it makes sense to prepare for a little rainfall.

Bring light clothes for the beach, plenty of layers for walking – especially on higher ground – and warmer clothes to wear during the evening.

Inland winds from the mountains can cause spring and autumnal temperatures to rise but, on the whole, temperatures in the shoulder months remain around 15 degrees. November gets the most rainfall so be sure to bring waterproofs and jumpers for windy seaside strolls.

Winters in Cantabria can be mild, although alpine areas are prone to snowfall between October and March. January temperatures average around 11 degrees in Santander.

Aim to pack cold weather gear, not too dissimilar to what you’d wear during the winter in the UK.

If you’re planning a trip to northern Spain, consider staying at an authentic, family-run hotel such as the Juan de la Cosa in Santoña. It’s just a stone’s throw from the beach and perfectly placed for exploring the Cantabrian coast and inland around Picos de Europa National Park.

Ready to discover northern Spain for yourself? Discover our Cantabrian holiday collection.