Shopping

Santander’s shopping district is in its bustling centre. The streets around the Ayuntamiento–Artigas, Juan Herrera, Burgos and Cubo, for example, are good for everything from clothing to shoes to sportswear, as are Vargas and San Fernando. For boutiques and upmarket clothing, take a stroll along the Avenida de Calvo Sotelo. There are two large commercial centres in Santander, both located a short drive out of town — Valle Real and the well-known Spanish department store chain instalment El Corte Inglés.

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Mercado de la Esperanza

This covered market is housed inside a late 19th-century building on the street just behind the Ayuntamiento, aptly named Calle El Mercado. Here you can join the locals browsing stalls selling freshly caught fish, local cheese and sausages, as well as fruit, vegetables, and …

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El Corte Inglés

The nationwide department store chain enjoys a well-deserved good reputation. The Santander instalment is located a short drive outside the city centre. Apart from a large hypermarket, it contains a multiple-screen cinema, as well as a wide selection of local and international brand …

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Centro Comercial Valle Real

A short ride outside Santander lies the Centro Comercial Valle Real, one of the largest shopping centres in the area. Here you can shop for everything you need, ranging from clothes and make-up to books and toys. There are also several restaurants …

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Gómez Pastelerías

Those with a sweet tooth will certainly be delighted to find out that Santander is famous for its sobaos (a popular sponge cake from Cantabria) and quesada cakes (another dessert typical of the Cantabrian region). One of the best places to buy them is Gómez Pastelerías, which has several branches in the …

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Nuks

This colourful candy shop offers visitors endless freedom of choice — sweets come in all shapes, flavours, and sizes, and shoppers are free to browse around filling bags with candy to their liking. The end cost is calculated by weight. Sugar-free varieties are also …

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Mercado de México

The Mercado de México on Calle Alta hosts vendors selling everything from leather to ceramics to olive oil. The second floor is mostly given over to produce vendors, selling fresh vegetables, seafood, deli items, pastries, and …

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