San Sebastián - Santander

The excellent Autopista A-8 carried us through the lush green countryside as we traveled westward, looping around Bilbao and continuing toward Ontón. There, we left the highway and joined the N-634, which took us the rest of the way to Santander.

Santander, a coastal city of about 180,000 residents, is home to Banco Santander, one of Spain’s largest banks, and is well known for its seafood and maritime heritage. We planned to spend just one night here before continuing our journey.

Along the way, we passed through a number of attractive villages and encountered many hikers walking the famous Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route, which often paralleled our road. Around midday, we stopped in the village of Liendo for lunch at Restaurante El Roble. Their daily menu was an outstanding value at just €14 per person and included an appetizer, main course, wine, water, dessert, and coffee.

We arrived in Santander at about 4:00 PM and checked into Hostal Carlos III, named after King Charles III of Spain. Our modest rooms on the first floor featured small balconies overlooking Sardinero Beach and the Bay of Biscay beyond. Along Spain’s northern coast, a double room can often still be found for around €55 per night, making it a good option for budget-conscious travelers.

Unable to resist the temptation, Kurt quickly changed into his swimwear and headed for a refreshing dip in the Atlantic Ocean, despite the cool water temperature. Afterwards, we settled into the terrace of the Balneario de la Concha beach restaurant, where we enjoyed a few drinks while watching people stroll along the waterfront and the evening light settle over the bay.

Tomorrow, we plan to take the local bus into the city center and spend the day exploring Santander on foot, discovering its neighborhoods, waterfront, and local attractions at a relaxed pace.Read more