Car hire in Santander
1 office in Santander · airport pick-up · Spain
Santander looks out over the Cantabrian Sea from a bay ranked among the most beautiful in the world: the Magdalena peninsula, El Sardinero and the Centro Botín shape an elegant, maritime capital. But Cantabria is above all a small region densely packed with wonders: in under an hour's drive you go from the beach to the Picos de Europa.
Seve Ballesteros airport, some ten minutes from the centre, handles most arrivals to the region. Picking up your hire car there is the obvious move: the Pasiego valleys, Santillana del Mar and the beaches of Liencres have limited bus connections, and the whole charm of Cantabria lies in wandering it village by village.
Search cars in SantanderWhy hire a car in Santander
- Cantabria is the perfect road-trip format: short distances, scenery that changes every twenty minutes and villages — Santillana, Comillas, Bárcena Mayor — poorly served by bus.
- Pick-up at Santander airport puts you straight onto the S-10: in under half an hour you are in Santillana del Mar or on your way to the Picos.
- The wild beaches of Liencres, Langre and Somo are best enjoyed chasing the tide and the light — something only your own car allows.
Day trips near Santander
- Santillana del Mar and Altamira — A cobbled medieval town next to the Altamira neocave, an essential Cantabria visit, around ~30 min from the airport.
- Comillas — Gaudí's Capricho, the Pontifical University and a charming beach in this town built by returning emigrants; around ~45 min away.
- Picos de Europa and Potes — The Hermida gorge, Potes and the Fuente Dé cable car — high mountains at their finest, ~1 hr 30 min away.
- The Pasiego valleys — Stone huts, meadows and the Puente Viesgo caves with cave art; a leisurely route ~30 min from Santander.
Where to pick up your car
- Santander Aeropuerto Seve Ballesteros
- Santander Estacion de Tren
Final prices in euros · book without paying · free cancellation up to 72 h before.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I collect the car at Santander airport?
In the car hire area of Seve Ballesteros airport, next to the arrivals terminal. The exit onto the S-10 is immediate, so within about ten minutes you can be in central Santander or heading for the western coast.
What sort of car is best for touring Cantabria?
A compact is perfectly sufficient — and welcome: the valley and Picos de Europa roads are narrow and winding, and in villages like Santillana del Mar and Potes a modestly sized vehicle is far easier to park.
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