Santander is the modern and cosmopolitan capital of the Cantabria region. The city is located on a beautiful piece of the northern Spanish coastline, eleven beautiful sandy coves and sweeping beaches are found within this urban setting. Santander combines nature, the mountains and the sea to perfection all wrapped around the setting of this busy northern Spanish city. The bays and beaches are considered some of the most stunning in the world; Santander offers all you would expect from a Spanish beach holiday whilst having the convenience of this provincial capital city extremely close. A stay here will offer something for everyone to enjoy.

Santander Airport is located five kilometers outside of the city centre. Internal flights are organised by Iberia who fly between Madrid and Barcelona. The biggest operator from the UK is Ryan Air. They have daily flights to Santander and if booked in advance are usually reasonably priced. Look out for their tax free weekend sales when prices are drastically cheaper than usual.

Alternatively it is possible to cross from the UK by ferry. Brittany Ferries sail twice weekly from Portsmouth and crossings take a leisurely 24 hours. This is a relaxed way of getting to Spain and if you are planning on taking your own car to explore the area it can work out alot cheaper.

For the perfect combination of sea and mountain located on either side of a stunning city visit Santander. Santander’s location between Asturias and the Basque Country where you will find Bilbao and the Guggenheim museum and overlooking the Cantabrian Sea is simply perfect. Under Roman rule it was a very important port known as Portus Victoriae Luliobrigensium, but the current name is from a third century martyr called Saint Emeterio. In the Late nineteenth Century Santander became known as an exclusive very fashionable coastal resort. It became popular with Spain’s elite class and many of the buildings still exist from this highlight in history. Today it welcomes everyone! Its wonderful beach together with the promenade and the Magdalena Peninsula are some of the main attractions for tourists.

This area of Spain, and in particular the local Basque Country are worth visiting and exploring whilst you are here; the best way to see as much or as little as you want at a pace you can set is to hire a car. Car hire in Spain is very affordable, the prices range dramatically but are usually a lot cheaper than car hire in the UK. It sometimes works out cheaper to hire a car as you do not have the cost of hiring taxis.

Consider taking a drive along the old pilgrim route of Santiago de Compostela, and end up in Bilbao for a trip to the world famous Guggenheim museum. Bilbao can be reached in just one hour by taking the beautiful coastal road the E-70 you will be treated to some of the most stunning coastline Spain has to offer. Follow this twisting road all the way to Bilbao where you can experience everything The Guggenheim Gallery has to offer. The building is a work of art on its own merits. Often as much time is spent exploring the undulating titanium curves of the building as the works of art housed within it. Frank Gehry’s out standing creation should be top of you list of visits in Bilbao. An entire day can easily be spent exploring the galleries and enjoying a leisurely snack by the river. For anyone who visited the Tate modern in the early days you will recognize Louise Bourgeois’ giant spider which now towers above visitors at the Guggenheim entrance.

The building, sited as it is in a port town, is intended to resemble a ship. Its brilliantly reflective panels resemble fish scales, echoing the other organic (and, in particular, fish-like) forms that recur commonly in Gehry’s designs, as well as the river Nervión upon which the museum sits.
Also in typical Gehry fashion, the building is uniquely a product of the period’s technology. Computer aided design and visualizations were used heavily in the structure’s design. Computer simulations of the building’s structure made it feasible to build shapes that architects of earlier eras would have found nearly impossible to construct.

Vitoria-Gasteiz is roughly twice as far and inland from Bilbao; but could be reached in your hire car in just two hours. Perhaps a little too far for a day trip if you have time to explore you could make this a stop over visit or even end your holiday here. You can hire a car from one location and drop it off at another. This means you could easily fly home from an entirely different airport.

Vitoria is the capital of the Alava province and of the autonomous region of the Basque Country. In fact Vitoria has two names it is officially Vitoria-Gasteiz. The Name Nuevo Victoria was given to the city by King Sancho VI of Navarre, who founded the modern city of Vitoria in 1181. Beforehand this Vitoria as it stands today didn’t really exist, the closest inhabited area was the hamlet of Gasteiz which stood on the hill around which Vitoria grew. Vitoria was little more than a walled defensive outpost which belonged to the kingdom of Navarre.

Vitoria grew to the city we know today mainly because of its strategic position between the table lands of Castile and Northern Europe. The huge number of passing travelers meant it became an important trade center. In the 13th century three weekly markets took place and two very important annual fairs were held.

One of Vitoria’s most interesting historical elements was that the city held its own individual principals that became laws. All inhabitants of Vitoria were declared equal; there was no distinction between nobility and the general public.

To ensure you get the cheapest quotes when you are booking your hire car in Santander there are a few things you can do. By using an Online Comparison Search Engine you will get a wide range of quotes to compare. This will bring you the most comprehensive and cheapest quotes; remember to compare elements offered such as fully comprehensive insurance, the size of the excess required and any optional extras you might be getting before you book. By booking as far in advance as possible you will be sure to receive the best prices for your trip.