This section is dedicated to take away all your "I wish someone had told me that before I went!" experiences. This way, you can spend less time settling in, and more time making new friends in your chosen hostel. We share our insider knowledge of tips, tricks and important things to look out for in Santander.
Remains from the Bronze Age were found near Santander, but today’s city was first mentioned in the eleventh century. It grew as a harbor and religious center in the Middle Ages, and has become a major port since the seventeenth century. During the second half of the nineteenth century, Santander started the creation of the city-resort of El Sardinero, which grew as a summer destination for the Spanish high society in the early twentieth century. A big boost to the city development was the establishment of Santander Bank, which is currently one of the largest financial institutions in the world.
Today, Santander is still a famous Spanish resort, but it is not the top destination in the country. However, there are twelve beaches, the most famous of which are Virgen del Mar Beach, Maruca Beach, Bocal Beach, and Sardinero Beach. There are many parties and clubs in the city and almost nobody could complain about Santander’s nightlife in the summer. The situation is not that great during the rest of the year, but there are still places to go out. There are also many interesting sights such as the Santander Cathedral, whose lower temple was built around the thirteenth century; El Sardinero, which has been a tourist neighborhood since the mid-nineteenth century; the Palace of Magdalena, built in the early twentieth century for the Spanish Royal Family; the Cantabrian Maritime Museum; and the Municipal Museum of Fine Arts.
You can find many different Santander hostels in the summer, but in the winter the situation is quite different and most of the hostels in Santander are closed. The remaining very few Santander hostels are very good, they have a great location in the city center and they have very reasonable prices. The only problem is that hostels in Santander have rather small capacity and sometimes, it is impossible to find a hostel in Santander with vacancies.
Written by local enthusiast for Santander hostels
George Traveller
