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The ground behind you: what the walk into Santander crosses, and where it could have been broken.
Tomorrow from Santander
Nothing says you have to stop here, or there. These are simply the towns within a comfortable day's walk, so you can decide tonight.
| Town | km from here | Shared | Private | The walk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peñacastillo | 3.5 | — No | ✓ Yes | |
| Santa Cruz de Bezana | 9.3 | — No | ✓ Yes | The walk from Santander to Santa Cruz de Bezana |
| Mompía | 10.7 | — No | ✓ Yes | The walk from Santander to Mompía |
| Boo de Piélagos | 14.1 | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | The walk from Santander to Boo de Piélagos |
| Mogro | 23.5 | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | The walk from Santander to Mogro |
| Cudón | 31.7 | — No | ✓ Yes | The walk from Santander to Cudón |
Santander is the capital of Cantabria and the largest city between Bilbao and Gijón. The ferry from Somo deposits you on the Paseo de Pereda, a café-lined waterfront boulevard that serves as the city's front door. If you've been looking for a rest day, this is the place.
The Catedral de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción sits to the left of the ferry terminal — built over the site of the earlier Abbey of the Holy Bodies, which held the relics of saints Emeterio and Celedonio (from whose name, Sant Emeter, the city takes its own). The Gothic lower church is the older and more atmospheric of its two levels.
From the cathedral, cross the park and walk through the massive arch in the Banco Santander building. The Mercado del Este, a small market hall, is the next building on the right — good for a casual lunch. For a proper market experience, the Mercado de La Esperanza is better.
The Palacio de la Magdalena, the city's most emblematic building, sits on the peninsula at the far eastern end. Built by public subscription as a summer residence for Alfonso XIII, it's now a university and cultural center. The grounds are open and the views are excellent, though the palace interior requires a tour. The Playa del Sardinero, north of the palace, is the city's best beach.
All services are available. Santander has rail, bus, and ferry connections (including to the UK via Brittany Ferries). A well-connected city for arrivals and departures.
San Juan is celebrated, and bonfires are lit, on the 24th of June.Santiago is celebrated on the 25th of July. San Emeterio and San Celedonio, patrons of Santander, are celebrated on the 29th of August.The Fiestas de la Virgen de la Bien Aparecida are held on the 15th of September
The city's origin story begins in the 8th century, when the mortal remains of two Roman soldiers martyred for their Christian faith — San Emeterio and San Celedonio — were brought here by boat from North Africa for safekeeping from the Moors. The abbey built to house the relics became the nucleus around which the city grew. The Romans had already named the harbor Portus Victoriae, but it was Emeterio who gave the city its name — Sant Emeter becoming Santander through centuries of pronunciation.
The most devastating event in Santander's modern history was the great fire of February 1941, which burned for two days and destroyed much of the old city center. Fanned by south winds reaching 180 km/h, the fire left 10,000 people homeless and obliterated the medieval core. The reconstruction reshaped the city center into the wider, more modern layout you see today. Unlike the bombing of Gernika, this was a catastrophe of wind and fire, not war — though it came in the middle of the grim postwar years, making recovery painfully slow.
Between Santander and Boo de Piélagos there are two routes, the official camino and the Senda Litoral (coastal trail) that follows the coastline north of the city.The Senda Litoral starts at the ferry terminal and continues along the coast, with the water on your right, all the way around the city. The option is a great deal more scenic than the official camino and it is growing in popularity among pilgrims. At 33km it is the longer option. The official camino turns left at the ferry dock and across the adjacent city park. The path through town is clear and city walking from here to the far end of Santander. At the edge of the park turn left and follow this road; it is the Paseo de Pereda when you begin but changes names along the way. Officially it is the N-611. After passing the large university hospital complex on your left the camino goes through two large roundabouts. At the second roundabout follow the signs in the direction of the Avenida de Cajo, which will take you to the start of Peñacastillo.
23. September 2026 - 18:46
If you’re walking the Norte, you need to walk the coastal route, simple as that. Yes it’s long, but stay somewhere along the way and make it a two day event - I’ve walked this Camino twice now, and the coastal section around Santander is simply the most beautiful walk of the entire Camio. Then ride the train from Boo (wait for the train on the same side of the track that the albergue is on), and treat yourself to a stay at Hotel Rural La Joyuca del Pas. Laurie will treat you beautifully (fresh orange juice on arrival, she does a load of laundry for you, has an incredible breakfast, and best of all, she has a Labrador named Beau❤️). You’ll be on the road to Santillana Del Mar the next morning rested and having avoided a boring and sometimes dangerous stretch of road on the “official” route out of Boo. Besides, who doesn’t want to ride a train for 1 stop - for free - and cut off a lot of road walking???
13. September 2026 - 8:40
I’m not sure why anyone would skip the coastal route and walk inland. Stay somewhere along the route to cut it in half if you’re not wanting to walk that far in one day. It is some of the most spectacular walking I’ve done on any Camino - and I’ve walked quite a few. Then take the train from Boo to Mogro and stay at Hotel La Joyuca Del Pas as a special treat after an amazing day of walking. Just incredible!
8. September 2026 - 7:58
Great prices great host
Easy to reach from ferry and great for a night sleep
15. June 2026 - 18:40
If you decide to leave Santander early for Arce or beyond and it’s a Monday make sure you have plenty of food. The only place we found open on the Monday was the alburgue in Boo. There they welcomed us and fed us but we had walked nearly 15klms with no stops available
9. September 2025 - 17:10
Lovely safe, comfy and friendly. Staying here for two days because it’s so nice. Bagged a private room which is pretty nice.isabel is the best
3. June 2025 - 13:19
The exit from the city is not pleasant, it is possible to take the train to Mogro. This makes it easier to reach the next albergue
15. May 2025 - 20:01
Luxury Hotel with cheap but very comfortable rooms.
Also for pilgrims with dogs!
Only 30 meters from the Camino!
So if you like to spoil yourself a bit…
15. May 2025 - 19:57
I recommend this taberna to all pilgrims!
The restaurant looks fancy but staff is super friendly. The menu del dia is cheap (19,50) and with a lot of choices.
Be aware that the location might be illogical but it’s an oasis in the industrial sector.
And also important: on The Camino route!
30. June 2024 - 17:39
I walked around 2/3 of the coastal route today. I tried to followed the little red line faithfully though its many quirks. I followed it when it seemed criminally wrong to find myself walking INTO the sunrise and then north out of Santander. I followed it when it required me to hop that rock wall at Centro de Arte Faro Cabo Mayor (thanks to the anonymous angler for demonstrating). I followed it when it sent me through that mucky, thorny, overgrown trail inland from Punta de las Muelas, and though the farthest reaches of the small Parque de San Juan de la Canal, when just walking straight across would have been more sensible. I followed it over trails that twisted my ankles and left me sodden to mid-shin. But when it told me to turn right uphill into a thicket of overgrowth near Playa de Covachos that I'd have needed a machete to negotiate, I gave up and walked the CA-231 into Boo de Piélagos, with some directional help from a local cyclist. I walked more than 30 km to get 14 km closer to Santiago. I definitely saw some stuff, and HATE walking into and out of big Camino cities, but I wouldn't do this again.
7. April 2024 - 16:19
The Hotel San Glorio is cheap and clean. Paid €30/ night, split between my sister and I so very reasonable. Good location too if you’re planning to take a rest day in Santander.
6. April 2024 - 17:00
I took the coastal my wife the inland
I had a three hour head start and we arrived about the same time
The coastal has nice views, the opportunity for a brief swim. There is not much to commend the inland, industrial and rural.
Is the coastal worth the extra 18km? If the weather is good and you have the time and energy then Yes
4. October 2022 - 16:41
Hi, I walked the coastal route today Oct 5,2022 and I do NOT recommend it! Yes some good views but also quite some walking between holiday houses! So for me not so spectacular as it is made out here. Red signed route is at times not or no longer correct! I kept losing the way. After about 2/3 of the way I left and went on to the main road to Boo. Not worth all the trouble and 31km for a few nice views (coast before Santander was more spectacular).
6. September 2022 - 22:25
I can recommend this hotel: it’s pretty much on the inland route out of town, has a good bar that serves all day and huge showers. Rooms are simple but very clean, and the staff are lovely. There’s a good cheap laundrette very close, too, and several other reasonably priced bars and restaurants. No a/c but the rooms have fans. blueK
19. August 2022 - 20:59
There is a way to shorten that for those who want to do the coast but are a bit afraid of 33km. You can navigate on Google maps straight through santander North (for example, to Playa La Maruca, or to the Faro, or I went to a little monument called Panteón del inglés) and depends on which point you pick, you can shave off up to 5-6km.
I saw a bunch of spectacular things after Playa La Maruca. Would recommend the coastal way mostly though for people who are well on their feet and have decent balance, it was a little scrambly at some points.
6. June 2022 - 18:58
I walked the coastal route from Santander to Boo today and while it took a long time (7.5 hours, about 33km) it was very beautiful. The easiest thing to do is stick to the coastal path as there are literally no signs or markings. Stunning views onto Isla Castro too. Strongly recommend it.
2. May 2022 - 18:23
Having walked both the coastal and the official (don’t ask) I cannot emphasize enough how spectacular the coastal is. Organize your trip around taking the time to do this. For me
It was give or take the most beautiful section so far.
2. May 2022 - 18:23
Having walked both the coastal and the official (don’t ask) I cannot emphasize enough how spectacular the coastal is. Organize your trip around taking the time to do this. For me
It was give or take the most beautiful section so far.
22. April 2022 - 21:36
Little is any signs and difficult to follow in places. However, worth the effort for spectacular views. If 33km feels too much just Route find directly towards the coast out of Santander- cuts it to circa 25km.
22. April 2022 - 21:36
Little is any signs and difficult to follow in places. However, worth the effort for spectacular views. If 33km feels too much just Route find directly towards the coast out of Santander- cuts it to circa 25km.
29. November 2021 - 8:41
Both albergues closed (one just refused to open because he would need to find a cleaner). Stayed in the train station hostel where they threw away my walking stick. It's no wonder that the bank named itself after this discomforting city.
Esta entidad ha sido beneficiaria de una ayuda del Programa de incentivos a la movilidad eficiente y sostenible (MOVES III), gestionado por la Xunta de Galicia a través del Instituto Enerxético de Galicia (INEGA) en el marco del Real Decreto 266/2021, y cofinanciada por la Unión Europea — NextGenerationEU, dentro del Plan de Recuperación, Transformación y Resiliencia.
