Santillana del Mar is known in Spain as the village of the three lies: it is not holy (Santi), not flat (llana), and doesn’t have a sea (del Mar). This charming town is in the autonomous community of Cantabria, on the northern route of the Way of Santiago. Here you can discover one of the most beautiful villages of the Cantabrian region and from Spain, a medieval jewel in a perfect state of preservation. Its delicious gastronomy and stunning natural landscape make Santillana del Mar an excellent place to discover the Cantabrian identity in an ideal scenery that looks like taken out of a medieval-themed movie. Visit the center of the village and enjoy the best examples of Romanesque architecture of the region, or travel back in time by visiting the Cave of Altamira, considered the Sixteen Chappel of the Paleolithic. Stay in Santillana del Mar and feel like you are living in another era while having all the amenities you need at a walkable distance in this northern Spain jewel.
Our recommendations on which areas to stay in
- Discover the tranquility of the historic center of Santillana del Mar and feel like traveling to another time among medieval buildings and museums worth visiting. We recommend you stay close to Avenida de Dorat, where you can enjoy the best areas to discover the city’s history and enjoy the most delicious restaurants in the village.
- Stay with your family in Santillana and have a great time discovering this small town and the great attractions that kids and adults will love. We recommend the areas close to Calle Revolgo, where you will be close to different areas of the town to enjoy while relaxing in the laid-back environment of Santillana del Mar.
- Enjoy the culture and sights of Santillana del Mar by staying close to the most representative buildings. We recommend staying close to Plaza Abad Francisco Navarro. Here you will be close to an abbey, churches, museums, and attractions to enjoy during your visit to this village.
These are our recommendations on accommodations in Santillana del Mar, Spain, in 3 categories:
- Stays in the historic center of Santillana del Mar:
- Family accommodations:
- Discovering the sights of Santillana del Mar:
A medieval village to travel back in time. – What to know before visiting
The beautiful village of Santillana del Mar is a unique spot to discover life in the medieval era and enjoy a quieter life outside the cities. The area has had human settlements since prehistory. Around Santillana del Mar, you can find archaeological sites with remnants of the early inhabitants of the area, such as the Cave of Altamira, one of the most significant expressions of paleolithic art in the world, located a few meters from a visitable replica of the caves to preserve them for future generations.
The village’s origin dates back to the VIII century, settled around the areas where now you can find the Collegiate Church of Santa Juliana from the XII century, and is one of the city’s main buildings. Today this church is one of the most important Romanesque buildings in Spain, having elements of Renaissance and Baroque architecture worth discovering on its walls and in the cloister. As the city grew, it became a village of farmers and ranchers, bringing great wealth to Santillana del Mar during the medieval times, allowing the construction of beautiful buildings that can embellish the city until today.
The Historic center of Santillana del Mar is a perfectly preserved medieval town center with beautiful streets and buildings. Visit Plaza Mayor de Santillana del Mar to enjoy the plaza’s multiple terraces and historical buildings. Discover this area by visiting towers like the Torre del Merino, the Torre de Don Borja, and the Casas del Águila y la Parra, all from the early XVI century.
The village also has excellent museums and exciting places to visit and understand better the history and culture of this village, such as the Museo y Fundación Jesús Otero, where you can discover the work of the local sculptor Jesús Otero with permanent exhibitions of his life and work, or the Museum of Torture – Inquisicion where different torture methods used during the inquisition. Also, visit the Santillana Zoo, the home of big cats, orangutans, and flamingos for preservation, and the Jardín de las Mariposas where you can enjoy a charming butterfly garden in beautiful natural scenery.
Santillana del Mar is great to discover with its relaxed environment and historical streets from another era.
Stays in a historic center from another time.
A stay in Santillana del Mar is a travel back in time and enjoy the tranquility of a rural Spanish village. Stay close to the historical center of the village and enjoy the proximity to restaurants and interesting places in the heart of town. We recommend you stay close to Avenida de Dorat, the main road of Santillana del Mar, from where you can move to nearby towns and cities.
Here you will be close to the Historic center of Santillana del Mar. Here you can discover the unique medieval architecture on its plazas and streets, such as Plaza Mayor de Santillana del Mar, where you can enjoy restaurants and cafes surrounded by stunning architecture and historical buildings worth discovering, 260 m from your accommodation. Also, visit the palaces of the families that lived in the town, like the Palacio de Benemejís in Calle Santo Domingo. This XVIII century Baroque palace and you can enjoy a cultural center with temporary exhibitions a few meters from your stay.
Enjoy the museums near your stay, such as the Regina Coeli Diocesan Museum in Avenida de Dorat, where you can come upon the best examples of Cantabrian religious sculpture in an XVI-century convent a few meters from your stay, or visit the Museum of Torture – Inquisicion in Calle de Bertrand Clisson, to learn about the inquisition in medieval Spain, 300 m from your lodging. Furthermore, you will be close to the Tourist Office Santillana Del Mar in Calle Jesús Otero, where you can plan different activities in the village and the surrounding natural areas, 87 m from your accommodation.
Taste the local gastronomy by visiting Restaurante El Porche in Calle de Juan Infante. Try traditional Cantabrian dishes and small plates in a cozy and charming spot 150 m from your stay. Also, taste the Restaurante El Castillo in Plaza Mayor, with its great variety of tapas and wines in the center of the village, 260 m from your accommodation.
Discover the tranquility of the historic center of Santillana del Mar and feel like traveling to another time among medieval buildings and museums worth visiting by staying close to Avenida de Dorat.
Family-friendly accommodations in Santillana del Mar.
Santillana del Mar is an excellent place for a family to enjoy medieval Spain with all the amenities you need for a wonderful time discovering this village of the Cantabrian region. We recommend the areas close to Calle Revolgo. Here you can find parks, walkable spaces, proximity to the town center, and all the amenities you need for a comfortable stay.
- You will be close to the beautiful Revolgo Park. Here you and your family can enjoy a day in a natural spot with playgrounds and an urban park to relax a few steps from your stay.
- Take a walk to the Historic center of Santillana del Mar to feel what the village was like in the Medieval era and have a great time with your family discovering the hidden spots in the town, 150 m from your stay.
- Plan a visit to the great attractions of Santillana del Mar, such as the Cave of Altamira and the National Museum and Research Center of Altamira in Avenida Marcelino Sanz de Sautuola to learn about the prehistory in the region and enjoy paleolithic art at a short 5-minute car ride from your lodging. Or, visit the Santillana Zoo and the Jardín de las Mariposas to experience up close the conservation of wildlife, plants, and butterflies, 1.1 km from your accommodation.
- Close to this area, you will find grocery stores such as Coviran Yayper Supermarket in Plaza del Rey, 300 m from your accommodation, or El Casino Convenience store in Calle de Juan Infante, 450 m from your stay.
- For convenience, there are pharmacies and health centers near your accommodation, like Farmacia Molina Fernández in Calle Revolgo, 120 m from your lodging, and the health center Consultorio Local Santillana del Mar in Calle Revolgo, 150 m from your family stay.
- Enjoy the restaurants close to your accommodation. Visit the local eatery of Casa Balbina in Avenida de Dorat, where you can enjoy traditional dishes and tapas, but also great burgers and pizzas, 350 m from your stay. Or, try the Pizzería Bitinia in Plaza del Rey to enjoy classic Italian dishes on a terrace with great views 300 m from your accommodation.
Stay with your family in Santillana and have a great time discovering this small town and the great attractions kids and adults will love by staying close to Calle Revolgo.
Accommodation close to a medieval plaza.
Enjoy the culture and landmarks of Santillana del Mar by staying close to Plaza Abad Francisco Navarro. Here you will be close to abbeys, churches, museums, and attractions to enjoy during your visit to this village.
Visit the Collegiate Church of Santa Juliana and discover the foundational site of the city in this XII-century church and cloister, at a few steps from your stay, or come upon the Lavadero de Santillana del Mar, where the locals used to wash their clothes by hand during centuries, and located within the Plaza Abad Francisco Navarro. Finally, enjoy your leisure time wandering around the historic center and visiting the Plaza Mayor de Santillana del Mar, 270 m from your accommodation. Here you can discover the stately homes of medieval times, where you can visit and learn about the life of people more than 500 years ago.
Enjoy a unique dining experience in the restaurants nearby your accommodation, such as Meson El Ojancano in Calle Cantón. You can try the best local dishes in the village center and a laid-back environment 160 m from your stay. Taste delicious tapas and drinks in a friendly and local space by visiting La Lolita in Calle Río, 97 m from your accommodation.
