Car Hire Santander Airport

Santander Airport Mini Guide

Who Flies to Santander?
Santander has been a key point of entry to Spain for decades but most people arrived by ferry with their cars and then drove around northern Spain or headed south to the Costas. Nowadays those who don’t want the long journey or the uncomfortable trip across the bay of Biscay choose to fly with Ryanair to Santander Airport and hire a car when they arrive, fresh and ready to go. Often you’ll save money by using this alternative means of getting around northern Spain. In Santander you’ll find a historic city with lots of museums ready to explain the city’s history to you. It’s got a lot of very nice beaches; twenty four in total, all offering lots of different environments and activities for when it’s not raining and there’s the Magdalena palace, the summer home of Spanish royalty in the 20th century.

How do I get to Santander Airport?
Only three operators fly to Santander Airport; Air Nostrum, Vueling and Ryanair. Ryanair is the only one with flights from the UK. Once you get out of the airport you’ll find it’s only around ten minutes’ drive in a hire car to the city.

What is the Airport Like?
The meteoric rise in passenger numbers meant some serious work needed doing and this was completed in 2009 with an extension to the terminal and refurbishment of the facilities. There are now eight check in desks, three baggage reclaims and seven boarding gates. When you arrive you’ll find three ATMs with a Banco Santander one in the arrivals hall near the four car hire desks. If you need it you’ll also find a police station there as well as a post office.

What can I Expect Whilst Waiting for my Flight Home?
There’s only a single shop called Multitienda but it has many departments so you can stock up on duty free goods, reading material, gifts and also gourmet products from the Cantabria region. In the main part of the airport near departures on the ground floor you’ll find an excellent restaurant called La Barilla which serves many delicious hot and cold dishes, many of them Cantabrian specialities. If you still want something to eat after security then there’s a snack bar called Pic Nic where you can pick up sandwiches, cakes and hot and cold drinks. Wi-Fi is available on a pay per use basis across the airport.