A Mini Break: Santander and Somo, it could be the perfect combination. Santander and Somo are the perfect mix of city break and seaside scenery. Throw in amazing food and drink and you have the perfect getaway.

Santander – a great mini break destination

Santander in Nothern Spain may not be as popular as its neighbours San Sebastian and Bilbao, but it should be. It’s a relatively small and walkable city, with it’s own city beaches within a few kms.

Accommodation is reasonable. I rented an apartment Hospedaje Magallanes through booking.com for €50 a night. It was super close to the port and the apartment felt brand new.

One of the best things about a mini break here is the climate of Cantabria is mild, with summer months between 25c and 30c and winter remaining fairly pleasant.

One of the main attractions in Santander is the beautiful Cathedral. Its sits in a typical Spanish plaza with restaurants and cafes spilling out nearby.

The other must do, is to sample the tapas and wine. There are also some upscale restaurants serving a more a la carte experience. The best streets for tapas are – Calle Arrabel which has quite a student vibe (check out Arrabel 11) and Calle de Medio (see La Catedra). I’d also recommend Plaza Cañadio, late in the evening this area is thronging with activity.

A mini break in Santander and Somo inlcudes a great indoor market. A great spot to peruse food and take in a glass of wine or two. Mercado Del Este, which is located on Calle Hernan Cortes.

For advice on what to drink in Nothern Spain, have a peruse of my blog on this very topic.

Somo – a mini break by the beach

Onwards to Somo! This fabulous beach town is a short ferry ride away from Santander. It takes around 20 minutes, runs twice and hour and costs a couple of Euros.

The beach is glorious, white sand that seems to go on for miles and surrounded by pine trees. The perfect place to spend a day.

If you’re looking for something more active on your mini break, Somo is known for its surfing. Apparently it has one of the oldest surf schools in Spain which is still running. You can hire a board and spend hours in the water.

Alternatively, there is a fun hike just past Somo to the East of the beach that will take you winding up a hill and onto Playa Loredo. Or you can continue on round the bay!

Seafood is a must in Somo. So after all this activity, check out one of the many seafood restaurants in town. A few have a Menu Del Dia (Menu of the Day) which is usually 3 courses of food with bread and wine for between €10 and €20.

How to get to Sanatander & Somo

From the UK, you can fly to Santander from Stansted with Ryanair. The flight is under 2 hours and there are cheap deals available. There’s also a ferry from Portsmouth, if you have time to take things a bit more slowly.

Have you guys been to Santander and Somo for a minibreak? Let us know in the comments below what you thought.

---

---

Want to save this to read later?