Spain's green Atlantic coast — Picos de Europa, prehistoric caves, and golden beaches. Book with IMPT and remove 1 tonne of CO₂.
Cantabria is a region that most international travellers overlook — and that is precisely why it rewards those who make the journey. Tucked along Spain's northern Atlantic coast between Asturias and the Basque Country, Cantabria belongs to the stretch of coast the Spanish call España Verde — Green Spain — a world away from the sun-baked Mediterranean image most people associate with the country. Here, rolling green hills tumble toward dramatic sea cliffs, sheltered sandy coves open onto the Bay of Biscay, and the snow-capped peaks of the Picos de Europa rise barely 40 kilometres inland from the shore.
The landscape alone would justify a visit, but Cantabria layers history on top of geography in extraordinary ways. The Cave of Altamira, located just outside the medieval village of Santillana del Mar, contains some of the finest examples of Palaeolithic art anywhere in the world. The polychrome bison painted on its ceiling date back roughly 14,000 years, and the on-site museum and replica Neocave allow visitors to experience them without endangering the originals. Santillana del Mar itself — despite the name, it is neither flat, nor holy, nor by the sea, as the old Spanish saying goes — is a beautifully preserved medieval town of honey-stone palaces and cobbled lanes that has barely changed since the 17th century.
The regional capital, Santander, sits on a spectacular natural bay. Its two main beaches — Playa del Sardinero and Playa de la Magdalena — are wide, clean, and backed by grand Belle Époque architecture. The Magdalena Peninsula, once a royal summer retreat, is now a public park with sweeping views of the harbour and open ocean. Across the bay, the long sandy beaches of Somo and Loredo draw surfers from across Europe, with consistent Atlantic swells and a more laid-back atmosphere than the better-known breaks of the Basque coast or Portugal.
Inland, Cantabria transforms. The Liébana valley, reached via the dramatic Desfiladero de la Hermida gorge, is a microclimate enclave where vineyards and orchting trees flourish at altitudes that would seem impossible. The Fuente Dé cable car lifts visitors 753 metres in under four minutes to reach the high limestone plateaus of the Picos de Europa at 1,823 metres, opening up some of the finest mountain walking in all of Europe. Cabárceno Nature Park, set in a reclaimed open-cast mine, houses more than 120 species of animals roaming across 750 hectares of sculpted karst landscape — it is neither a zoo nor a safari park but something uniquely its own.
The food of Cantabria is mountain-meets-sea comfort cooking at its finest. Cocido montañés, the signature stew of white beans and collard greens with chorizo, black pudding, and ribs, is hearty enough to fuel a day in the Picos. Sobaos pasiegos — golden, buttery sponge cakes from the Pas Valley — are eaten at breakfast, with coffee, or frankly at any time of day. Quesada pasiega, a baked custard-like cheesecake, pairs perfectly with a glass of orujo, the local pomace brandy. The anchovies cured in Santoña are considered the finest in Spain, and possibly the world. With Michelin-starred restaurants like Cenador de Amós (two stars) and El Serbal in Santander (one star), Cantabria's culinary scene punches well above its weight.
Booking an eco hotel in Cantabria through IMPT means you experience all of this while making a real environmental impact. Every booking removes 1 tonne of CO₂ through verified carbon removal projects. You pay the same price as Booking.com — often exactly the same room at exactly the same rate — plus you receive EUR 5 free credit on your first stay and earn 5% cashback in IMPT tokens on every booking. With over 25,000 green-certified hotel partners globally and access to 8 million+ properties worldwide, IMPT makes sustainable travel the easy choice, not the expensive one.
From prehistoric caves to soaring cable cars, Cantabria packs an astonishing range of experiences into a compact region. Here are the standout attractions that every visitor should have on their list.
The "Sistine Chapel of Prehistoric Art." The original cave is closed to the public, but the Museo de Altamira features a stunning full-scale replica (the Neocave) of the 14,000-year-old polychrome ceiling paintings. Located 2 km from Santillana del Mar, the museum provides interactive exhibits explaining Upper Palaeolithic life in Cantabria. Entry is around €3, free on Saturday afternoons.
Spain's first national park (1918) straddles Cantabria, Asturias, and León. The Cantabrian section includes the Fuente Dé cable car, the Ruta del Cares gorge access from Poncebos, and the remote Andara massif. Peaks exceed 2,600 metres, and the landscape ranges from beech forests to exposed limestone karst. Chamois, golden eagles, and griffon vultures are regularly spotted.
Playa del Sardinero stretches 1.3 km of golden sand backed by the iconic Gran Casino. Playa de la Magdalena sits below the royal palace peninsula. Both have Blue Flag status, lifeguards in summer, and excellent facilities. The boardwalk between them offers one of the best coastal walks in northern Spain, passing through the Jardines de Piquío headland gardens.
The elegant town of Comillas is home to one of only three Gaudí buildings outside Catalonia. El Capricho (1885) is a whimsical villa covered in ceramic sunflower tiles, with a distinctive minaret-style tower. Comillas also features the Pontifical University (a Neo-Gothic masterpiece), the Sobrellano Palace, and a beautiful sandy beach.
One of Spain's best-preserved medieval villages, Santillana del Mar is a car-free maze of 15th- to 17th-century stone mansions, Romanesque churches, and craft shops. The Collegiate Church of Santa Juliana dates to the 12th century and contains exceptional carved capitals. The village is small enough to explore in a couple of hours but atmospheric enough to deserve an overnight stay.
Set in a reclaimed iron mine 17 km south of Santander, Cabárceno covers 750 hectares of striking karst terrain. Over 120 animal species — elephants, giraffes, bears, gorillas, Iberian lynx — roam in large semi-wild enclosures. A network of 20 km of roads and aerial cable cars connects the areas. It is the most-visited attraction in Cantabria, drawing over 600,000 visitors per year.
The Liébana valley is a hidden enclave reached via the Desfiladero de la Hermida, an 18 km gorge carved by the River Deva. The town of Potes is the valley's lively hub, known for its Monday market and orujo distilleries. From Fuente Dé, the cable car rises 753 metres in four minutes, depositing visitors at 1,823 metres amid the high Picos de Europa for spectacular hiking.
Across the Bay of Santander (reachable by a 15-minute ferry from the city centre), the beaches of Somo and Loredo offer consistent Atlantic swells year-round. Multiple surf schools cater to beginners, while experienced surfers head to the reef breaks at Santa Marina and Langre. The area hosted the ISA World Surfing Games and has become one of northern Spain's top surf destinations.
Discovered by miners in 1908, El Soplao contains some of Europe's most spectacular formations of helictites — delicate mineral growths that defy gravity and extend in all directions. The tourist route covers 1.5 km by underground train and on foot. An adventure route allows visitors to explore unlit sections with helmets and headlamps, crawling through passages that feel genuinely wild.
Cantabria is a compact region — roughly 100 km from east to west — meaning you can base yourself in one area and day-trip to almost anywhere. Here are the five best areas for an eco hotel stay, each offering a distinct experience.
The regional capital offers the best mix of urban culture, beaches, and transport links. Stay near Sardinero for beachside elegance, or in the city centre for restaurants and nightlife. Santander is the natural base for first-time visitors, with ferry connections to the UK (Brittany Ferries to Plymouth and Portsmouth), the airport, and RENFE trains to Madrid.
The western coast combines architectural gems (Gaudí's Capricho, the Pontifical University), world-class beaches at Oyambre Natural Park, and the picturesque fishing port of San Vicente de la Barquera, framed by the Picos de Europa on the horizon. This area is quieter and more rural than Santander, with excellent seafood restaurants and boutique rural hotels.
For mountain lovers, the foothills between Potes and Fuente Dé offer access to the heart of the Picos. Accommodation ranges from rustic mountain refugios to converted stone casonas. The village of Cosgaya, mid-way between Potes and Fuente Dé, is perfectly positioned. Expect cooler temperatures, spectacular walking, and the best orujo in Spain.
Centred on the medieval market town of Potes, the Liébana valley is a microclimate enclave where grapes and olive trees grow at surprisingly high altitudes. The Monastery of Santo Toribio de Liébana — one of Catholic Christianity's holiest sites — is a short walk from town. This is the gateway to the Fuente Dé cable car and some of Cantabria's most dramatic gorge roads.
The eastern stretch of Cantabria's coast is anchored by Castro Urdiales, a handsome fishing town with a Gothic church perched on a headland and a lively old quarter. Just 35 km from Bilbao, this area makes a smart base for exploring both Cantabria and the Basque Country. The beaches of Laredo and Santoña are nearby, along with the Santoña Marshes nature reserve, a major bird-watching site.
From grand Belle Époque seafront hotels to stone mountain lodges in the Picos de Europa, Cantabria's accommodation is as varied as its landscape. Book through IMPT to guarantee the same price as Booking.com while removing 1 tonne of CO₂ per stay, earning 5% cashback in IMPT tokens, and receiving EUR 5 free credit on your first booking.
The grande dame of Santander hotels, opened in 1917 to host the Spanish royal family's summer court. Perched on a hillside with panoramic bay views, indoor and outdoor pools, spa, and a Michelin-recommended restaurant. A 5-minute walk to Playa del Sardinero.
Housed in a restored 15th-century manor on the main square of one of Spain's most beautiful villages. Stone walls, carved wooden ceilings, and an interior courtyard garden. Walking distance to Altamira Museum (2 km). The Parador's restaurant serves traditional Cantabrian cuisine.
A historic thermal spa hotel set in lush gardens beside the River Pas, 30 km south of Santander. The natural spring water emerges at 35°C and feeds indoor and outdoor pools. The nearby Monte Castillo caves contain prehistoric paintings dating back 40,000 years — among the oldest in Europe.
A centrally located classic on Santander's waterfront promenade, with rooms overlooking the bay and the Magdalena Peninsula. Steps from the Botín Centre (Renzo Piano's cultural landmark), the ferry terminal, and the old quarter's tapas bars. The rooftop terrace offers sunset views across the bay.
One of the most dramatically sited Paradores in Spain, positioned right at the base of the Fuente Dé cable car in the heart of the Picos de Europa. The modern mountain lodge offers simple, comfortable rooms, a restaurant featuring cocido lebaniego, and direct access to some of the finest hiking trails in northern Spain.
A family-run mountain hotel in the village of Cosgaya, midway between Potes and Fuente Dé. Surrounded by Picos de Europa scenery, with an outdoor pool, gardens, and an excellent restaurant specialising in game and Liébana dishes. The terrace views of the Deva valley are stunning. An ideal base for hiking, cycling, and canyoning.
A lovingly restored 18th-century stone farmhouse in the green Pas Valley, surrounded by meadows and dairy farms. The Pas Valley is the birthplace of sobaos pasiegos, and local bakeries supply the breakfast table. Rooms feature exposed timber beams and stone walls. A peaceful rural retreat 25 minutes from Santander, close to the Puente Viesgo caves.
A beachfront hotel on Noja's 4 km Playa de Ris, one of the longest stretches of sand in Cantabria. The town sits between the Santoña Marshes (a bird-watching paradise with over 20,000 migratory waders) and the beaches of Isla. Simple, comfortable rooms with sea views. An excellent family beach base 45 minutes east of Santander.
Cantabria is one of Spain's finest regions for walking. From coastal cliff paths to high-mountain traverses in the Picos de Europa, the variety is exceptional. Here are four standout trails, ranging from leisurely strolls to challenging multi-day routes.
A dramatic clifftop walk connecting the beaches of Santa Justa and Ubiarco with the medieval village of Santillana del Mar. The path passes through cattle pastures perched above 50-metre sea cliffs, with views of the Cantabrian coast stretching to Cabo Mayor lighthouse. Wild flowers carpet the path in spring. The descent into Santillana offers a magnificent first view of the Collegiate Church.
This Camino de Santiago variant crosses the Picos de Europa from San Vicente de la Barquera on the coast to Mansilla de las Mulas in León, passing through the Liébana valley, over the Collado de Piedrasluengas (1,335 m), and into the Castilian meseta. The Cantabrian stages — through the Hermida gorge, past Potes, and over the mountain passes — are the most scenic and challenging. Accommodation in mountain refugios and village albergues.
Following the course of the River Deva through the 21 km Hermida gorge — the longest limestone gorge in Spain — this trail hugs the old road between Lebeña and La Hermida. Vertical cliffs rise 600 metres on both sides. The Mozarabic church of Santa María de Lebeña (10th century) at the southern end is one of the finest pre-Romanesque buildings in northern Spain. Griffon vultures nest in the cliff faces above.
This Instagram-famous trail descends 763 steps carved into the sea cliffs of Monte Buciero to reach the dramatic Faro del Caballo (Horse Lighthouse) perched on a rocky ledge above the Bay of Biscay. The views from the lighthouse platform are extraordinary — turquoise water, sheer cliffs, and the Cantabrian coast stretching east toward Bilbao. The climb back up is demanding but short. Start from the Fuerte de San Martín car park in Santoña.
Cantabria's central position along Spain's northern coast puts four fascinating regions within easy driving distance. Each offers its own character, cuisine, and landscapes.
Cantabria is a single-province autonomous community. Its capital and largest city, Santander, is the gateway to the region and a destination in its own right.
June to September offers the warmest weather, with average highs of 20–24°C, long daylight hours, and the best conditions for beach days and mountain hiking. July and August are the busiest months, especially along the coast and around Semana Grande (late July/early August) in Santander. Spring (April–May) brings wildflowers, green valleys, and fewer crowds — ideal for walking. Autumn (September–October) is spectacular in the Picos de Europa, with beech forests turning gold and bronze. Winters are mild on the coast (8–12°C) but can bring snow to the mountains, making it possible to combine a morning's skiing at Alto Campoo with an afternoon on a sheltered beach.
Seve Ballesteros–Santander Airport (SDR), 5 km from the city centre, has flights from Madrid, Barcelona, London Stansted, and seasonal routes to other European cities (primarily via Ryanair). Brittany Ferries operates direct routes from Plymouth and Portsmouth to Santander — a 20- to 24-hour crossing that brings your car directly to northern Spain. RENFE trains connect Santander to Madrid Chamartín in approximately 4.5 hours. ALSA buses link Cantabria to Bilbao (1.5 hours), Oviedo (3 hours), and other Spanish cities. By car, the A-67 motorway from Palencia reaches Santander in under 3 hours, and the A-8 coastal motorway connects to Bilbao (1.5 hours) and Oviedo (2 hours).
Cantabria has over 90 beaches along its 220 km coastline. The most famous are Playa del Sardinero (1.3 km of golden sand with Blue Flag status, backed by grand Belle Époque buildings) and Playa de la Magdalena (a sheltered city beach below the royal peninsula). For surfing, head to Playa de Somo and Playa de Loredo across the bay. Playa de Langre is a dramatic cliff-backed cove with transparent water. Playa de Oyambre (near Comillas) is a long, wild beach in a natural park. Playa de Berria in Santoña and the vast sands of Laredo (5 km of beach) are excellent for families. For solitude, try the hidden coves between Liencres and Mogro in the Costa Quebrada geopark.
Start with cocido montañés, the signature mountain stew of white beans, collard greens, chorizo, morcilla (blood sausage), and pork ribs — warming and deeply satisfying. Rabas (battered fried squid rings) are the quintessential Santander bar snack. Anchoas de Santoña — hand-cured anchovies from the coastal town of Santoña — are considered the finest in Spain. For dessert, try sobaos pasiegos (buttery sponge cakes from the Pas Valley) and quesada pasiega (a baked milk-curd tart). In the Liébana valley, taste cocido lebaniego (a chickpea-based stew) and orujo (pomace brandy). Cantabria's DOP cheeses, especially the pungent Picón Bejes-Tresviso blue cheese, are world-class. For fine dining, Cenador de Amós in Villaverde de Pontones holds two Michelin stars, and El Serbal in Santander holds one.
Cantabria is an outstanding family destination. Cabárceno Nature Park — 750 hectares of open-air animal park with elephants, bears, gorillas, and more — will occupy a full day and delight children of all ages. The Altamira Museum's Neocave replica brings prehistoric art to life with interactive displays. The Fuente Dé cable car offers a thrilling 753-metre vertical ascent in four minutes. Beaches at Sardinero, Laredo, and Noja are shallow, sandy, and lifeguard-patrolled. El Soplao cave features an underground train ride through a world of stalactites. The Maritime Museum (Museo Marítimo del Cantábrico) in Santander has aquariums, whale skeletons, and hands-on exhibits. For rainy days — and it does rain in Green Spain — the Museo de la Naturaleza de Cantabria in Carrejo is excellent.