The Best Beaches Near Santander for Families
The beaches around Santander split into two kinds. There are the easy city beaches, and there are the wild coves of the Costa Quebrada, the “broken coast” just west of the city, now a UNESCO Global Geopark. We saw both in July 2021 with Damian (8) and Marc (5). With young children, you want both: one to swim at, one to be amazed by.
The short version
- Swim with small kids: El Sardinero in Santander, with lifeguards and a promenade.
- Look, explore, photograph: Covachos, La Arnia and the rest of the Costa Quebrada coves.
- Big sandy beach under cliffs: Playa de Langre, but the waves are strong.
- Always: check the tides, and swim only where there are lifeguards.
Short on time? Our top 3 picks in Santander
Dorma Sardinero – El Sardinero, about 200 m from the beach.
Hotel Chiqui – right on El Sardinero beach, with an infinity pool and direct beach access.
Eurostars Hotel Real – a 5-star grand hotel above the bay, near the Magdalena Peninsula, with a thalassotherapy spa.
El Sardinero (Santander)
The city’s main beach: wide sand, lifeguards in summer, a promenade and cafés behind it. With young children, this is where you swim. Santander with kids.
Costa Quebrada: the wild coast
About 20 km of cliffs, arches and rock stacks between Cabo Mayor and the Liencres dunes, formed over 120 million years. The coves are reached by paths and steps cut into the cliffs. They’re spectacular, but most are not swimming beaches for young children.
Playa de Covachos
A small cove where a strip of sand runs out to a little island at low tide. It’s the most photographed spot on the Costa Quebrada. The path down is steep, so admire it from the top with small children.
Playa de La Arnia
Rocky coves and dramatic rock stacks (the urros). It’s great for exploring rock pools at low tide with an adult close by, and not a place to swim with children.
Playa de Langre
A long sandy beach below high cliffs, reached by steps from the clifftop car park. It’s popular with surfers because the waves are strong, so it’s for walking, sandcastles and paddling at the edge, not swimming with young kids.
Tips for Cantabrian beaches with kids
- Check the tide times. Many coves disappear at high tide.
- Wear proper shoes for the cliff paths.
- Swim only at lifeguarded beaches and follow the flags.
More: Asturias beaches for families · Our road trip
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best beach near Santander for kids?
El Sardinero in Santander: wide sand, a promenade and lifeguards in summer. The Costa Quebrada coves are spectacular but better for exploring than swimming with young children.
What is the Costa Quebrada?
About 20 km of cliffs, arches and rock formations between Cabo Mayor near Santander and the Liencres dunes, now a UNESCO Global Geopark.
Can you swim at Playa de Langre?
Langre is a long sandy beach, but the waves are strong and it is popular with surfers. With young children, stick to paddling at the edge, or swim at El Sardinero instead.
How do you get to Playa de Covachos?
By a steep path from the clifftop. At low tide a strip of sand links the beach to a small island. With small children, the view from the top is the easier option.
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