Santander Bay 1-Hour Sightseeing Cruise

The Bay of Santander and the city seafront

Santander, capital of Cantabria, stretches along the northern shore of a wide bay that opens onto the Cantabrian Sea. The bay is sheltered by the Magdalena Peninsula on one side and the long sandy spit of El Puntal on the other, which keeps its waters calm and ideal for a sightseeing cruise. The city was largely rebuilt after a great fire in 1941, and its seafront today combines stately buildings, gardens and promenades.

This Santander bay cruise starts at the passenger pier beside the Pereda Gardens, the green heart of the waterfront. As the boat pulls away, the whole city comes into view, with the cathedral, the elegant facades of the Paseo de Pereda and the hills behind. From the open upper deck you get wide panoramic views; the covered lower deck keeps you sheltered on cooler days.

Puertochico and the Magdalena Peninsula

Heading east, the boat passes Puertochico, the small marina that was once the fishermen’s quarter and is now lined with sailing boats and seafood eateries. Beyond it rises the Magdalena Peninsula, a wooded headland crowned by the Magdalena Palace, built between 1908 and 1912 as a summer residence for the Spanish royal family. Today the palace hosts summer courses and events, and its park, with small beaches and a little zoo of seals and penguins, is open to the public.

From the water you see the palace exactly as it was meant to be seen, standing above the rocks with its slate roofs and turrets. Many visitors who take this cruise later walk up to the peninsula on foot or by the small tourist train that circles the park.

El Sardinero and the beaches of Somo and El Puntal

Beyond the Magdalena lies El Sardinero, the long beach that made Santander a fashionable seaside resort in the early 20th century, framed by grand hotels and gardens. The cruise then crosses towards the southern shore of the bay, where the beaches of Loredo and Somo are favourite spots for surfers, and the sandy spit of El Puntal stretches into the turquoise shallows.

These beaches are reached from the city by small passenger boats, and the cruise gives you a perfect preview of them. The best time to take a Santander boat tour is from spring to early autumn, when the light is clear and the sea is calm; the afternoon departure catches the warm evening light on the city.

The waterfront art centre and the Pereda Gardens

On the way back, the boat passes the modern art centre that stands on stilts above the water next to the Pereda Gardens. Opened in 2017, its two volumes covered in ceramic discs shimmer in the sun, and its terraces offer views over the bay. It has become one of the symbols of the new Santander and a meeting place for locals.

The cruise ends where it began, at the pier beside the gardens, so you can continue straight to the art centre, walk the Paseo de Pereda or explore the cathedral and the city centre. Toilets are available on board, and pets on a leash are welcome. Allow an extra hour if you want to visit the art centre or stroll through the gardens after the cruise.