We are thinking of visiting Santillana del Mar as a day trip from Bilbao, is it worth it. I am reading that it has become a bit touristy. We could spend the night if it seems worthwhile. My thought was that we'd visit the Gugegenheim Museum in Bilbao for a couple of houses and then drive to Santillana at about 1:00ish. I think it is only 1.5 hr. drive. Thoughts??

We stayed overnight in Santillana del Mar and failed to experience the charm which the town is supposed to exude. Bilbao was much more interesting.

I thought Santillana was wildly handsome, but it was also inundated with tourists when we were there in early May a few years ago... I would not drive 1.5 hours each way to see the town, as there are other places much closer that would be of interest...

What other towns might you recommend to visit?

We're planning on an overnight stay in Santillana in '12. Is it like any other "touristy" town, where it's best to visit it after 6:00pm & before 10:30am?? Elsewhere between those two times !!

Stu Dudley

Forgot something
We're planning on overnighting there around the 3rd or 4th week in Sept.

Stu Dudley

I visited Santillana as a day trip from Santander (half hour from there). Eventhough it was summer time I didn't find it inundated with tourists. I liked it enough but frankly wouldn't do a special trip from Bilbao to see it.

This is an excerpt from a post by Maribel in June 2009, referring to Santillana del Mar:

"I would no longer suggest that Fodorites spend the night here in this increasingly heavily touristed town. My husband and I stopped recently and were amazed at how many souvenir shops had clogged and marred the beauty of the main street, Calle de Cantón, on the way to the Colegiata, Santillana's most emblematic church with stunning cloister.
There's even a T-shirt shop now in the portal of Santillana's most ancient home-the one that appears in all postcards and guidebooks. For us, this will not be an overnight stop any more."

we also visited from Santander. Agree with cruiseluv.

Does anyone know anything about Carmona Cabuerniga?

Please tell us the route of your trip so we can suggest other options. The draw in Santillana is the medieval architecture. I would recommend stopping there if it was on your route but again, not to drive 3 hours to see it. If you do go, I've heard that the inland town of Carmona is worthwhile and the architecture, while not as grand, shares some similarity with that of Santillana; maybe you could do quick visits to both.

See the coat of arms on the Carmona house in the photo:

http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/89...Hulton-Archive


I had been in Santillana early in my traveling days, in the 1970s and remember it as out of a dream. I returned a few years ago, staying again at the parador, and things had changed markedly.
We stayed for one night in early May after coming from Picos de Europa, so it was not high season, and the place was just inundated with tour groups all afternoon...and the eating options are not so good. But oh, that architecture..

>>early in my traveling days, in the 1970s and remember it as out of a dream. I returned a few years ago, staying again at the parador, and things had changed markedly.<<

We've had the same experience with several places in Europe. I have often wondered if the "place" has changed - or if "we" have changed - or both.

Stu Dudley

We spent a few hours in Santillana in May and enjoyed it. It was not overrun with tourists or many people for that matter. It was an interesting place to check out, but I would stay in Bilbao & visit from there. Loved Bilbao and it has much to offer beyond the museum.

I spent a night there, went off season and the place was empty during the night and early next morning. I liked the place.
You will always find something too touristy, I do not like Santiago because I find that very touristy all the shops selling the same touristy *rap.