Santoña Holidays: Marshes, Lighthouses and Cantabrian Coast
Provincia de Cantabria · Cantabria · Spain · 11,569 residents · on the coast
Santoña, Victoria and Joyel Marshes Natural Park
Playa del Regatón
Faro del Caballo
Faro del Pescador
Palace of the Marquis of ManzanedoSantoña is a coastal town of around 11,500 people on the Cantabrian shore of northern Spain, sitting barely 10 metres above sea level. Its pull is mostly natural. The Santoña, Victoria and Joyel Marshes Natural Park begins about a mile and a half from the centre, and two lighthouses, Faro del Caballo and Faro del Pescador, stand within two miles, as does the beach at Playa del Regatón. In town, the Palace of the Marquis of Manzanedo now serves as the town hall. For British travellers, access is unusually easy: Santander's airport and ferry port are both around 18 miles away, and Bilbao is not much further.
Why go
- The Santoña, Victoria and Joyel Marshes Natural Park starts roughly 1.5 miles from town.
- Two lighthouses, Faro del Caballo and Faro del Pescador, are both under two miles away.
- Santander Airport, with direct UK flights, is about 26 minutes' drive away.
Top sights in Santoña
Marshes, Lighthouses and a Town Palace
Nature leads here. The Santoña, Victoria and Joyel Marshes Natural Park, a protected area about 1.5 miles from the centre, is the most notable sight in the area and the obvious first outing. Close by are two lighthouses, Faro del Caballo at around 1.7 miles and Faro del Pescador at about 1.8 miles, which make a natural pairing for a walk with a view of the sea.
For a swim, Playa del Regatón is a beach roughly 1.6 miles out, suited to families. Back in the centre, the Palace of the Marquis of Manzanedo, a listed cultural property that now houses the town hall, is only a couple of hundred yards from the middle of town, and the town's bullring, the plaza de toros de Santoña, is about a third of a mile away.
Tours and tickets for the area can be booked directly on this page.
Tours & tickets in Santoña
Guided tours, day trips and tickets in and around Santoña can be booked in advance, priced in GBP.
See tours & tickets (opens GetYourGuide in a new tab)Where to stay in Santoña
Town Centre or Nearer the Shore
Santoña is a small town, so nothing is far away. Staying in the centre puts you within a short walk of the Palace of the Marquis of Manzanedo and the bullring, with everyday life on your doorstep. If the marshes, the lighthouses and Playa del Regatón are your priority, a base on the edge of town brings you that much closer to the coast and the natural park.
With a population of around 11,500, expect a quieter, more local feel than a large resort. This page shows live hotel prices so you can compare options across the town.
Hire a car
The easiest way to reach Santoña and the villages around it is a hire car from Bilbao (BIO), about 41 min away.
Best time to visit Santoña
Getting there from the UK
Flights, Ferries and the Drive
Three airports nearby have direct flights from the United Kingdom. Santander (SDR) is closest, about 18 miles away and roughly 26 minutes by car. Bilbao (BIO), a larger airport, is around 29 miles off, about 41 minutes' drive. Asturias (OVD) is a longer option at roughly 129 miles, a drive of a little over three hours.
If you would rather bring your own car, the ferry is a strong choice. Santander's port is about 18 miles away, with Brittany Ferries sailings from Portsmouth (roughly 24 to 32 hours) and Plymouth (around 20 hours). Bilbao's port, about 22 miles away, has Brittany Ferries crossings from Portsmouth taking around 28 to 32 hours.
Driving all the way from Calais takes about 13 hours and 20 minutes at the wheel, before any stops.
By air
- Bilbao (BIO)29 miles, about 41 min by roaddirect flights from the UK
- Santander (SDR)18 miles, about 26 min by roaddirect flights from the UK
- Asturias (OVD)129 miles, about 3 h 4 min by roaddirect flights from the UK
By car and ferry
Driving from Calais takes roughly 13 h 22 min without stops. Nearest ferry ports: Santander (18 miles), Bilbao (22 miles).
Santoña is good for
Around Santoña
Day Trips Along the Coast
Laredo and the small village of Escalante are both about 3 miles away, close enough for a half-day. Castro-Urdiales, a town of around 32,000, is about 12 miles east, and Ramales de la Victoria lies roughly 13 miles inland.
Santander, Cantabria's capital with some 174,000 residents, is about 17 miles away, and Penagos is around 19 miles. Crossing into the Basque Country, Balmaseda and Avellaneda are each about 21 miles from Santoña.
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Tips from Robin
Practical Points Before You Go
Santoña sits at around 10 metres above sea level right on the coast, so pack a windproof layer for the lighthouse walks and time out on the marshes, where there is little shelter.
This is a working town of about 11,500 people rather than a purpose-built resort, so it suits travellers who prefer a local pace. With the ferry ports at Santander and Bilbao so close, it also makes a sensible first or last night for anyone driving their own car off the boat.
Questions people ask
What is the nearest airport to Santoña?
Santander Airport (SDR) is the closest, about 18 miles away and roughly 26 minutes by car. Bilbao (BIO) is around 29 miles away, about 41 minutes' drive. Both have direct flights from the United Kingdom, as does Asturias (OVD), which is over three hours away.
Can I get the ferry from the UK to near Santoña?
Yes. Brittany Ferries sails to Santander, about 18 miles away, from Portsmouth (roughly 24 to 32 hours) and Plymouth (around 20 hours). Bilbao's port, about 22 miles away, has Brittany Ferries sailings from Portsmouth taking around 28 to 32 hours.
Is there a beach in Santoña?
Playa del Regatón is about 1.6 miles from the town centre and suits families. Laredo, roughly 3 miles away, makes an easy additional outing if you want to explore more of the coastline nearby.
What is the main thing to see in Santoña?
The Santoña, Victoria and Joyel Marshes Natural Park, a protected area about 1.5 miles from town, is the area's most notable sight. The nearby lighthouses, Faro del Caballo and Faro del Pescador, both under two miles away, are good to combine with it.
How long does it take to drive from Calais to Santoña?
The drive from Calais takes roughly 13 hours and 20 minutes of driving time, not counting stops. Many British drivers prefer to take the ferry to Santander or Bilbao instead, as both ports are within about 22 miles of Santoña.
Is Santoña a good base for visiting Santander?
Yes. Santander is about 17 miles away, making it an easy day out. Castro-Urdiales, about 12 miles away, and Laredo, about 3 miles away, are also within easy reach for further days out along the coast.