Santander is a small city where is very easy to move on foot so you will feel at home quite fast. First you can go to the tourist office in the Pereda gardens so as to ask for a map. The city centre is marked by two tragedies, in 1893 a ship exploded in the port and destroyed part of the city and in 1941 the city was burnt so the medieval centre was lost. In the city centre there are the bus and train stations and all the city buses stop in the centre, even the airport is not far away and the airport bus stops next to the bus station.
CITY CENTRE
In the city centre you can find the cathedral and some churches. It´s worth to visit the cathedral, and to see the two heads of the Santander patron saints, San Celedonio y San Emeterio. Also in the centre there is the 19th century city neighborhood that´s quite well preserved and it´s full of shops, bars and restaurants. Some streets near Cañadío square have a lively night life. In front of this part of the city there are the Pereda gardens and the old wharf where you can relax sitting in front of the see ( Santander Bay is spectacular). You will find all quite comfortable and near because the city is full of supermarkets, restaurants, bars and shops. The Esperanza market in behind the town hall and I would recommend you to visit it, the fish market on the ground floor is quite interesting (closed Mondays).
You can take a walk along the Burgos Str and the Alameda. You will pass near Perines, another part of the city full of bars. You will arrive to Cuatro Caminos Junction where the main hospial and the Santander bullring are located and if you follow the Alta Str. you can go to the Cantanbria Parlament ( Cantabria is the region and Santander is the capital).
RIO DE LA PILA LIFT
Another option is to take a lift at the end of the Rio de la Pila Str. It´s free and the views are impressive. This Rio de la Pila Str and the nearby Del Sol Str. are two streets full of bars. Then you can follow the General Davila Str. If you turn right you will go to the beaches and left you will arrive to the Cuatro Caminos Junction.
BARRIO PESQUERO
If you follow the Marqués de la Hermida Str. you can go to the Barrio Pesquero. That´s a neighborhood full of fish and seafood restaurants. It has the old and a bit lost fishing atmosphere.
PUERTOCHICO
The Tetuan and Casimiro Sainz Str, also the nearby, are full of bars and restaurants. Puertochico was the old fishing neighborhood (in the 60s it was relocated in the Barrio Pesquero) and even now the atmosphere is quite popular, of course there is a big contrast with the chic Castelar Str. Here you can take photos to Raqueros statues that are located in the wharf and they were poor children who looked for coins under the water.
