Potes Holidays: Santo Toribio Monastery and Day Trips
Provincia de Cantabria · Cantabria · Spain · 1,481 residents
Potes is a small inland town in Cantabria, home to around 1,500 people and set at roughly 307 metres above sea level. It is a place for culture before beaches. The Monastery of Santo Toribio de Liébana stands less than 2 miles away, and the village of Mogrovejo, the Bolera de los Moros archaeological site and the Lookout of Jozarcu all lie within about 6 miles. Santander airport is about an hour's drive, and the Brittany Ferries port in the same city is similarly close. Summers are mild rather than hot, with highs around 23 to 24°C, so it suits travellers from the UK who prefer walking and sightseeing to lying by a pool.
Why go
- The Monastery of Santo Toribio de Liébana sits just 1.7 miles from the town.
- Santander, Asturias and Bilbao airports all have direct flights from the UK.
- Mild summers peaking around 24°C in August suit sightseeing and walking without the southern heat.
Top sights in Potes
Monastery, Village and Viewpoint
The headline sight is the Monastery of Santo Toribio de Liébana, a protected cultural property in the municipality of Camaleño, about 1.7 miles from the centre of Potes. It is close enough to make an easy first outing on the day you arrive.
Further out, Mogrovejo, around 4.5 miles away, is a village worth seeing in its own right and appeals especially to couples. At roughly 6.4 miles you reach two sites side by side: the Bolera de los Moros archaeological site, listed as a castle, and the Lookout of Jozarcu, a viewpoint for those who want the landscape rather than the history.
Tours and tickets for the area can be booked directly on this page through the booking cards below.
Tours & tickets in Potes
Guided tours, day trips and tickets in and around Potes can be booked in advance, priced in GBP.
See tours & tickets (opens GetYourGuide in a new tab)Where to stay in Potes
Choosing a Base In and Around Potes
Potes is not on the coast, so the choice here is not between seafront and town. With fewer than 1,500 residents it is a small, quiet place, and staying in town puts you within walking or short driving distance of the monastery and close to everyday services.
If you want even more quiet, the surrounding villages such as Mogrovejo offer a more rural setting, though you will rely on a car. Those who want a livelier evening scene may prefer to base themselves on the coast and visit Potes for the day. Live hotel prices for Potes are shown on this page.
Hire a car
The easiest way to reach Potes and the villages around it is a hire car from Santander (SDR), about 1 h 3 min away.
Best time to visit Potes
When to Visit Potes
- 13°CJan220 mm
- 14°CFeb123 mm
- 16°CMar95 mm
- 18°CApr98 mm
- 18°CMay165 mm
- 22°CJun134 mm
- 23°CJul86 mm
- 24°CAug83 mm
- 23°CSept136 mm
- 22°COct174 mm
- 17°CNov167 mm
- 14°CDec128 mm
Highlighted months are the sweet spot for warm, dry weather.
Potes has a damp, mild climate and no month is truly dry, so plan for some rain whenever you go. July and August are the most comfortable months, with the lowest rainfall of the year (around 83 to 86 mm), 17 rain days each and highs of 23 to 24°C. August is the warmest month, with nights around 16°C. September is still warm at 23°C but wetter.
The wettest period is winter, with January bringing about 220 mm of rain and highs of only 13°C. May is the month with the most rain days, around 24, despite reasonable temperatures. As Potes is inland, there is no sea temperature to consider.
Full monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 13°C | 4°C | 220 mm | 6 h |
| Feb | 14°C | 3°C | 123 mm | 7 h |
| Mar | 16°C | 6°C | 95 mm | 8 h |
| Apr | 18°C | 8°C | 98 mm | 9 h |
| May | 18°C | 9°C | 165 mm | 10 h |
| Jun | 22°C | 14°C | 134 mm | 10 h |
| Jul | 23°C | 15°C | 86 mm | 10 h |
| Aug | 24°C | 16°C | 83 mm | 9 h |
| Sept | 23°C | 13°C | 136 mm | 10 h |
| Oct | 22°C | 12°C | 174 mm | 7 h |
| Nov | 17°C | 9°C | 167 mm | 6 h |
| Dec | 14°C | 5°C | 128 mm | 6 h |
Averages 2015–2024. Highlighted months are the sweet spot for warm, dry weather.
Getting there from the UK
Flights, Ferries and the Drive
The nearest airport is Santander (SDR), about 45 miles away and roughly an hour's drive, with direct flights from the UK. Asturias (OVD) is about 76 miles away, around 1 hour 50 minutes by car, and Bilbao (BIO) is about 86 miles away, a little over 2 hours. Both also have direct flights from the UK. Car hire makes sense, as the sights around Potes are spread out.
If you would rather bring your own car, Brittany Ferries sails to Santander from Portsmouth (around 24 to 32 hours) and Plymouth (around 20 hours); the port is about 46 miles from Potes. Bilbao, about 81 miles away, has sailings from Portsmouth taking around 28 to 32 hours. Driving the whole way from Calais takes roughly 14 hours 20 minutes at the wheel.
By air
- Santander (SDR)45 miles, about 1 h 3 min by roaddirect flights from the UK
- Asturias (OVD)76 miles, about 1 h 49 min by roaddirect flights from the UK
- Bilbao (BIO)86 miles, about 2 h 3 min by roaddirect flights from the UK
By car and ferry
Driving from Calais takes roughly 14 h 23 min without stops. Nearest ferry ports: Santander (46 miles), Bilbao (81 miles).
Potes is good for
Around Potes
Day Trips from Potes
The closest excursion is Posada de Valdeón, about 15 miles away over the regional border in Castile and León. On the coast, San Vicente de la Barquera in Cantabria and Llanes in Asturias are both around 19 miles away, with Comillas about 23 miles off.
Into Asturias, Posada is around 22 miles, Amieva about 24 miles and Cangas de Onís roughly 29 miles. Santillana, in Cantabria, is about 30 miles away and pairs well with a coastal day.
Tips from Robin
Practical Tips for Potes
Pack a waterproof in every season: even the driest months see around 17 rain days, and late spring and autumn are wetter still. Layers help too, since winter nights drop to around 3 to 4°C.
Potes is a small town of around 1,500 people, so services are limited compared with a resort. A hire car is the most practical way to reach the monastery, the viewpoint and the coastal towns, and if you arrive by ferry at Santander you are only about an hour away.
Questions people ask
What is the nearest airport to Potes?
Santander airport (SDR) is the nearest, about 45 miles away and roughly an hour's drive. It has direct flights from the UK. Asturias and Bilbao airports, around 1 hour 50 minutes and just over 2 hours away respectively, also have direct UK flights.
Can I take the ferry from the UK to Potes?
Yes. Brittany Ferries sails to Santander from Portsmouth (around 24 to 32 hours) and Plymouth (around 20 hours). Santander port is about 46 miles from Potes. Bilbao, around 81 miles away, also has Brittany Ferries sailings from Portsmouth taking around 28 to 32 hours.
When is the best time to visit Potes?
July and August are the most comfortable months, with the lowest rainfall of the year and highs of 23 to 24°C. Winter is the wettest season, with January bringing around 220 mm of rain, and May has the most rain days.
How far is the Monastery of Santo Toribio de Liébana from Potes?
The Monastery of Santo Toribio de Liébana is about 1.7 miles from Potes, in the municipality of Camaleño. It is a protected cultural property and the most notable sight near the town. Tours and tickets for the area can be booked on this page.
Is Potes near the beach?
Potes is inland, at around 307 metres above sea level, so there is no beach in town. The coastal towns of San Vicente de la Barquera and Llanes are both about 19 miles away, and Comillas is around 23 miles away.
How long does it take to drive from Calais to Potes?
The drive from Calais to Potes takes roughly 14 hours 20 minutes of driving time. Many British travellers instead take the Brittany Ferries crossing from Portsmouth or Plymouth to Santander, which leaves only about an hour's drive to Potes.