This is a large nature space located about 15 min drive from downtown Santander. The peninsula…read morecovers about 62 acres and it offers a multitude of activities. There is a Tourist Train that takes you around the entire peninsula so you can check out the sights with minimal walking. There is a Marine Park, built outdoors, taking advantage of the cliff rock and the inlet of sea water, where you can see seals, sea lions and penguins. There is a Man and the Sea Museum where you will be able to see three old galleons used in journeys through the Atlantic Ocean Then, there's the jewel of the park: La Magdalena Palace Located at the top of the Magdalena Peninsula, is the former summer residence of Kings Alfonso XIII and Victoria Eugenia. It currently hosts the UIMP summer courses There are also a few beaches that dot the peninsula for those wanting some Sun Bathing. You can access this area with buses 1, 2 or 4 from the center of town.

On the way east we stopped here for a few hours. We parked at the beach. Easier, cheaper and lots…read moreof spots. But it's about a 10' walk away with lots of stairs. But for us the best option. The town center is pretty small, but filled with charming buildings. A very nice church in the middle and a lively square. There's some good food as well. Good cheeses, meat and pies can be found in several shops. Most restaurants are on the main square with lots of outside tables. Menus looked good, but we didn't have that much time. Bought some pie and ate it at some nice viewpoint overlooking the beach. Some streets here are steep and cobbled. There are ways around them if you have a stroller or a wheelchair, but it's still difficult to navigate at some points. Besides many good food shops there are arts & craft stores as well as souvenir shops. Also a "Dia" supermarket if you need some groceries. A nice little town for a quick visit. Wouldn't stay several days though, since it's quite a compact area only. But the beach is also worth checking out.

After strolling around charming Comillas we took a quick lunch break here. It's a small place with…read moreonly two benches, but fantastic views over the Playa Comillas and the ocean. It was on the way from the old town center back to the beach where our car was parked. Even though it offers great views, nobody was around and we had the place for ourselves. Brought some great tuna/tomato pie with from the local "Aramburu" shop. This was a great little spot to enjoy a quick break, some food and just to take in the nice landscape up here in the north.

I loved this Palace. The architecture, the setting by the water and rocks, the views of the…read moreislands, beaches and lighthouses, the forest around it, all made it very beautiful and serene. The Real Palacio de la Magdalena is the most emblematic building in Santander, as important for its present as for its past as the summer residence of Kings Alfonso XIII and Victoria Eugenia. It was built in the early 1900s as a royal residence, but today it has multipurpose uses.....university campus, event space, conference hall and more...but still the royal bedrooms are open to be used by the King of Spain whenever he wishes. Those bedrooms are part of the Royal heritage. The guided tour took about an hour and I got to see many of the palace rooms and they were magnificent. The cost was about 6 euros and you can buy online or at the door. They sometimes have to cancel or reschedule guided visits depending on event happening at the Palace, like conferences, movie shootings, diplomatic visits, etc.

The Spanish royal family apparently still uses this palace and so would I! Stunning grounds, views…read moreof the ocean, a small zoo and the palace itself is incredible. We spent a really nice afternoon walking the grounds and taking in the sights. It has better views than the Buckingham palace and I would choose this over that...if I was given the choice. ;-)

This spot by itself is well worth the visit to Laredo! I had a hard time finding the tunnel and…read morefinally found the entrance after asking multiple people for help and multiple usages of Google translate. The tunnel itself is an awesome piece of civil engineering and I loved the paintings on the walls. Once you come out of the tunnel, you have truly incredible views of the oceans! Great spot to soak in some nature and take some great pictures.