WELCOME TO SANTANDER, HOLA ESPAÑA!

If you are about to start your student exchange or you are already in the city... all the info you need is here. Check it out!

▷ How to get to Santander
Avión

Santander Airport is the closest to the city, it has good connections towards Europe with Ryanair airline... Bilbao is also an option, it has more international connections, Santander is just 1h30 away by bus.

Bus

The city is well connected by bus with multiple frequencies a day to and from Bilbao, Madrid and Barcelona... the cheapest option to move within Spain!

Tren

The only long-distance connection by train is to Madrid, which is usually more expensive than the bus, but it's faster.

▷ How to get around Santander

The only public transport service in Santander is the bus. The tickets can be purchased directly on the bus (cash or card), but they are cheaper with the public transport contactless card, only 0.33 cents. There are many different transport travel cards.

If you want to go outside Santander, it is possible to do it by bus or train. All the info is in our guide:

Icono Transport Guide Icono Guía de Transporte
▷ Accommodation

Compared to other big cities in Spain, Santander is not as expensive. Average monthly rent in a shared flat is around 200-350 without utilities.

Unfortunately, Universidad de Cantabria does not have any student dorms, so most of the students are staying in shared flats near the university. UC colaborates with a platform to help students to find housing, Emancipia.

Cesine and UNEAT do have student dorms managed by the universities.

Another popular platform to find housing is Idealista, but as always, be aware that there might be scammers, check everything twice before paying anything.

▷ Residence permit (EU and non-EU students)

Depending on your origin country, the paper work for residence permit is different.

  • EU students:
    • If the stay is MORE than 3 months: NIE
  • Non-EU students:
    • If the stay LESS than 6 months: student visa
    • If the stay MORE than 6 months: visa + TIE
The procedure to obtain all documents is detailed in the guide below:
IconoResidence permit guideIconoGuía permiso de residencia
▷ Local food

Ever wondered why Spanish cuisine is hailed as one of the world's finest?

Rooted in the heart-healthy Mediterranean diet, our dishes are made with extra virgin olive oil (never butter!) and always come with a side of fresh bread. In Cantabria, we’re especially proud of our seafood—but trust us, the meats are just as unforgettable.

Are you ready to try them all?

IconoLocal foodIconoComida local

Looking for gluten-free restaurants or with vegan/vegetarian options? Don't worry, here are some of the bests choices around the city.

IconoSpecial diet options
▷ Emergency contacts
  • Emergency number: 112
  • National Police: 091
  • Local Police: 092
  • Health emergencies: 061