Discover Cultural Cantabria

Travel Talk with Ed Finn

Saturday, 29 August 2026 - 12 minutes

Discover Cantabria: Spain’s Spectacular Northern Secret

If you think you know Spain, think again.

On this week’s Travel Talk with Ed Finn, we headed north to Cantabria, one of Spain’s most beautiful and perhaps still most underrated regions — a place where dramatic mountains tumble towards the Atlantic, golden beaches stretch along a wonderfully wild coastline, and historic towns sit alongside some striking contemporary architecture.

At its heart is Santander, Cantabria’s elegant seaside capital. It’s a city that immediately feels different from the Spain many of us know. Green, sophisticated and beautifully positioned around a sweeping bay, Santander combines city life with the relaxed atmosphere of a coastal resort.

One of its modern landmarks is the extraordinary Centro Botín, designed by renowned architect Renzo Piano. Sitting right on the waterfront, this striking arts centre has helped put Santander firmly on Spain’s contemporary cultural map. Even if you don’t venture inside, the building, gardens and waterfront setting are well worth exploring.

Then there’s the magnificent Magdalena Peninsula, home to the Palacio de la Magdalena, once the summer residence of the Spanish royal family. It’s one of those places made for a leisurely stroll, with fabulous views across the bay and out towards the Cantabrian Sea.

And you’re never far from a beach. Just across the bay, Somo is famous for its long sandy beach and excellent surfing, while the coastline beyond Santander is dotted with beautiful coves, fishing villages and spectacular viewpoints.

But Cantabria really rewards those who venture further.

The medieval village of Santillana del Mar is often described as one of the prettiest towns in Spain, with cobbled streets, honey-coloured stone buildings and centuries of history.

Nearby lies one of the world’s great prehistoric treasures — the Cave of Altamira, home to extraordinary Palaeolithic paintings created thousands of years ago. Often described as the “Sistine Chapel of prehistoric art”, Altamira forms part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site and offers a remarkable glimpse into the lives, imagination and creativity of our ancient ancestors.

And Altamira is just part of Cantabria’s extraordinary prehistoric story. The region contains a remarkable collection of decorated caves and archaeological sites, making this one of Europe’s great destinations for anyone fascinated by our earliest history.

Architecture lovers should also make time for Comillas, where you’ll find El Capricho de Gaudí, one of the great architect’s wonderfully colourful early creations — and one of the relatively few Gaudí buildings outside Catalonia.

Then the landscape changes completely as you head towards the magnificent Picos de Europa. The Fuente Dé cable car carries you high into the mountains for breathtaking views and some superb walking trails.

Another Cantabrian highlight is Cabárceno Nature Park, a remarkable former mining landscape transformed into a vast wildlife park, where animals live in enormous open spaces rather than conventional zoo-style enclosures.

And, of course, this is northern Spain, so food matters. Expect superb seafood from the Cantabrian Sea, local cheeses, anchovies from Santoña and hearty mountain cooking — all accompanied by that wonderfully relaxed Spanish approach to eating and drinking.

Best of all for Irish travellers, Santander is surprisingly accessible from Dublin, making Cantabria a brilliant alternative for anyone looking for a different side of Spain.

From contemporary art and royal palaces to Atlantic beaches, medieval villages, prehistoric caves and soaring mountain peaks, Cantabria packs an extraordinary amount into one relatively compact region.

Listen back to Travel Talk with Ed Finn and discover why Cantabria and Santander should be on your Spanish wish list.

Travel Talk with Ed Finn — discovering the people, places, food, culture and stories that make travel worth talking about.