Although Santander is not a particularly large city, it has a peculiar geography that has fascinated tourists for many years. The region's mountains directed the city's development to conform to an odd shape: running west-to-east and hugging the northern rim of the bay.

There are two distinct and equally-important parts of the city: the center and El Sardinero.

The center is where you will find most of the shops, businesses, and services, as well as the greater portion of monuments and tourist attractions. This is where the main streets San Fernando, Burgos, Jesús de Monasterio, Calvo Sotelo Avenue, and Paseo de Pereda all meet.

The city starts at Somorrostro Hill, where the cathedral stands and where the old walled city with its castle once stood. Here you will find some of Santander's most famous buildings, such as Edificio del Banco de España, Correos (the post office building), Banco Santander, Plaza Porticada, Iglesia de la Anunciación (Church of the Annunciation) and the Ayuntamiento (city hall). Also nearby are the famous Jardines de Pereda (Pereda Gardens), presided over by a sculpture of the Cantabrian novelist himself. The cluster made up by Paseo de Pereda and Calle Castelar, completed by the Paseo Marítimo (promenade) that runs parallel to the sea, which is something no visitor to Santander should miss.

This district is characterized by its commercial infrastructure. Along the busy streets, some of which are pedestrianized and lined with shops on the ground floor, you can buy nearly anything or simply indulge in window-shopping.

A little further east, near Plaza de Cañadío, there is a group of streets where most of the nightlife is concentrated. Streets such as General Mola, Hernán Cortés, Daoíz, Velarde, Peña Herbosa, Santa Lucía, and Sol, are full of bars and cafés where you can stop for a drink or some tapas, as well as numerous nightclubs where you can dance through the night.

Between the center and El "Sardi" (as locals call it) there is a transitional area, marked by Avenida Reina Victoria. This classy residential area is sprinkled with luxurious buildings like Casa Pardo and Hotel Real.

El Sardinero is the summer holiday area par excellence, where there are endless accommodation options (apparent to those who notice the avenue named “Hoteles”). Magdalena Peninsula is at one end, with its park and Palacio Real (Royal Palace), and Cabo Menor forms the northern border, with Mataleñas Park at the top of the cape. Between the two is El Sardinero cove, with four beaches called Camello, Concha, Primera and Segunda. These are ideal for sunbathing, swimming in the Cantabrian Sea, and enjoying the beautiful and unbeatable views of the coast. Other trips to be enjoyed while in town are visits to Jardines de Piquío (Piquío Gardens) and Mesones Park, a stop in at the Casino, and strolling along the endless strips of sand running out to the sea.