Santander with Kids: Things to Do, Beaches and Where to Stay
Santander was our first proper city after a week of Asturian villages. We visited in July 2021 with Damian (8) and Marc (5), on the Cantabria leg of our road trip. It’s an elegant seaside city, with a long beach and a green peninsula full of things for children.
The short version
- Beach: El Sardinero, the city’s main beach, with lifeguards in season.
- Best free thing: the Magdalena Peninsula, with a free mini zoo of seals, sea lions and penguins.
- Rainy day: the MUPAC prehistory museum in the centre.
- Base: Santander is an easy, central base for the Cantabrian coast. It’s much easier than the mountain village we stayed in.
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 beach
Santander’s main beach, split into Primera and Segunda playa, with wide sand, a promenade behind it and lifeguards in summer. It’s the easiest beach in the city for young children, and the hotels in the box above are all around it.
Magdalena Peninsula: the best free morning in Santander
The peninsula is a big green park jutting into the bay, free to enter and open from early morning to late evening. For children, the highlights are:
- The mini zoo: seals, sea lions and penguins in rock pools along the cliffs, and it’s free.
- The little tourist train round the peninsula, useful for small legs. Tickets are sold at the entrance.
- The galleons: three replica ships and a raft that crossed the Pacific in 1970, on display by the water.
- Small beaches on the peninsula itself, such as La Magdalena and Bikini.
The Palacio de la Magdalena at the top can be visited on guided tours (around €6) at limited times, so check before you go. Cars can’t drive onto the peninsula; walk in or take the train.
Rainy day: MUPAC
The Museum of Prehistory and Archaeology of Cantabria, in the city centre, is the best rainy-day option. Cantabria is cave-painting country, and the museum is a good introduction for children.
Where to stay in Santander with kids
We stayed three nights in an Airbnb in San Sebastián de Garabandal, up in the mountains. The room was lovely, but every day started and ended with a long drive, and I wouldn’t do it again. Stay in Santander instead. El Sardinero puts you by the beach and 15–20 minutes from the Costa Quebrada beaches.
More: Our Asturias and Cantabria road trip · Asturias with kids
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Santander good for kids?
Yes. It has a long lifeguarded beach at El Sardinero, the Magdalena Peninsula with a free mini zoo of seals, sea lions and penguins, and a prehistory museum for rainy days.
What is the best beach in Santander for kids?
El Sardinero, the city’s main beach, with wide sand, a promenade and lifeguards in summer. The small beaches on the Magdalena Peninsula are good too.
Is the Magdalena mini zoo free?
Yes. Entry to the Magdalena Peninsula and its mini zoo of seals, sea lions and penguins is free. The tourist train and palace tours are paid.
Where should families stay in Santander?
El Sardinero, by the main beach. It is also a good base for the Costa Quebrada beaches and the rest of the Cantabrian coast.
How many days do you need in Santander with kids?
Two days covers El Sardinero, the Magdalena Peninsula and a museum. Add a day for the Costa Quebrada beaches.
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