City BuddyCityBuddy
English

Museo Marítimo del Cantábrico

4.5 (9,571 reviews)
Tourist AttractionMuseumPoint of InterestEstablishment

Best time to visit

Weekday mornings are the calmest, since there aren't as many schoolchildren and weekend visitors. Crowds are smaller in winter, so you can view the reservoir in peace.

Budget tips

Adult tickets cost around 8 euros, while students and pensioners pay less. Children up to 4 years old enter for free, and a combined ticket with other museums in the city often works out cheaper.

Recommended for

Families with children, Sea lovers, Amateur photographers, Curious explorers

Plan your visit

2-3 hours

About

Quick facts: With more than 1.5 million litres of water in the main reservoir and a 30-metre transparent tunnel, the aquarium section is a real little wonder. Alongside live fish and crabs, here you can see the skeleton of a whale 14 metres long, as well as authentic old navigation instruments.

Highlights: Suddenly you stand in the transparent tunnel while schools of fish circle around you and bluish light breaks through the water. From the corner of the hall, the skeleton of a whale 14 metres long calmly gazes at you, and next to it stands an old wooden boat from the 19th century, hand-built for life on the open sea.

Insider tips

  • Wear comfortable shoes, because you'll walk more than a kilometer between the halls.
  • The best photos come from the tunnel, so wait for the moment a school of fish swims overhead.
  • Leave the most time for the top floor where the old navigation instruments are, since it's least crowded there.
  • Going early on a weekday morning lets you avoid school trips and the worst crowds.

Practical info

Opening hours

Directions

Official website

Book tours & tickets

Where to Stay in Santander

Selected by City Buddy based on guest reviews and proximity to top attractions

Search all hotels in Santander

Powered by agoda

Our #1 travel tip

Have you heard of free walking tours?

After traveling to 30+ countries, there's one thing I wish someone had told me from day one, and it completely changed how I experience new cities.

Free walking tours. Yes, actually free. No credit card needed. No catch.

Local guide, 2-3 hours

Major sights, hidden gems, local stories

100% tip-based

Guides earn only tips, so they give their absolute best

You tip what feels right

At the end, just tip whatever you feel is right

I've done these in dozens of cities and they've been the highlight of almost every trip. If you're visiting Santander, Spain, do this on your first day. You'll thank me later.

Adrijana, founder of City Buddy
Browse FREE walking tours