Major city · Spain
Comillas
Give Comillas one full day and one night: Gaudí's El Capricho, Sobrellano palace and the beach all sit inside a 15-minute walk.
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- EUR
- Best months
- May–Sep
- avoid Nov–Feb (wet, many places closed)
- Airports
- SDR · BIO
- Nights
- 1–2
Rules in force · 9Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…
- Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
- Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
- Iberia ↗Plan meals on the Iberian clock: Spanish kitchens serve lunch from about 13:30–14:00 and dinner from 20:30–21:00; Portugal eats an hour or so earlier. Early evenings are for tapas or petiscos, not full meals.
- Iberia ↗Inland Spain and Portugal (Seville, Córdoba, Madrid, the Alentejo) pass 40 °C in heatwaves from late June to August: sightsee before 11:00 and after 18:00, and keep July–August for the coasts and the green north.
- Iberia ↗Andorra and Gibraltar have their own border and customs rules and are reached only through Spain (or France for Andorra); read their pages before adding them, especially if you hold a limited Schengen visa.
- Spain ↗Spain is in the Schengen area. Check the entry rules for your passport on official sources; the EU's Entry/Exit System registers non-EU visitors at the first Schengen border, and further pre-travel authorisation rules are being introduced.
- Spain ↗High-speed trains have airport-style baggage screening at the station and boarding gates that close a few minutes before departure: arrive early.
- Spain ↗Carry your passport or ID: police may ask for it, and hotels must register every guest's document.
- Spain ↗The Alhambra in Granada and the Sagrada Família in Barcelona sell timed tickets that sell out weeks ahead in season; book on the official sites before you fix your dates.
Comillas is a small Cantabrian coastal town, about 2,000 residents, that spent a Cuban fortune on palaces and villas in the late 19th century. The sights are compact and walkable, so one night covers it; two nights if you want the beach and the Oyambre dunes without rushing. Come May to September for dry, mild weather; winter is wet and many places shut.
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Comillas, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the euro (EUR, €).Spain-wide
- SIM or eSIMcheckEU and EEA plans roam at home prices; UK and other plans may charge — check before you land.Spain-wide
- Tap waterTap water is safe across the mainland; it tastes of chlorine in some coastal areas.Spain-wide
- TippingRestaurant: Round up or 5–10% for good service; service is not usually added.Spain-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets C/F. US/Canada (A/B): adapter · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 230 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Spain-wide
- SafetyComillas is a small, low-crime town and safe to walk at night.
- RestroomsFew public toilets; use bars and cafés (buy a coffee).Spain-wide
- Emergency numbers112 All emergency services · 091 National police · 062 Guardia Civil (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysSmall shops close about 14:00–17:00 and on Sundays; big chains and department stores open all day.Small shops close about 2:00 PM–5:00 PM and on Sundays; big chains and department stores open all day.Spain-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportSDR Santander Airport (52 km east by A-67 then A-8 and CA-135; about 45–55 min by car or taxi).SDR Santander Airport (32 mi east by A-67 then A-8 and CA-135; about 45–55 min by car or taxi).
- Getting aroundEverything in the centre is walkable: plaza to El Capricho is about 10–15 minutes on foot.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- Coffee€1.50–2.50 (≈ US$2–3)
- BeerPintxo or tapa€2–4 (≈ US$3–5)
- Museum or sight ticketEl Capricho entry€10 (≈ US$12)
- Budget bedHostel dorm bed, a night, per person€25 (≈ US$30)
- Mid-range bedGuesthouse or hotel double room, a night, per room€110 (≈ US$130)
- High-end bedGuesthouse or hotel double room, a night, per room€180 (≈ US$250)
A day, not counting the bed: Budget €60 (≈ US$70) · Mid €100 (≈ US$120) · High €180 (≈ US$250)
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- SDR Santander Airport (52 km east by A-67 then A-8 and CA-135; about 45–55 min by car or taxi) · BIO Bilbao Airport (About 1 h 45 min–2 h by road west along the A-8)SDR Santander Airport (32 mi east by A-67 then A-8 and CA-135; about 45–55 min by car or taxi) · BIO Bilbao Airport (About 1 h 45 min–2 h by road west along the A-8)
Weather and climate
Comillas: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
13°C55°F
6°C43°F
14 rd
Feb
13°C55°F
6°C43°F
12 rd
Mar
15°C59°F
7°C45°F
12 rd
Apr
16°C61°F
8°C46°F
13 rd
May
18°C64°F
10°C50°F
12 rd
Jun
21°C70°F
13°C55°F
10 rd
Jul
23°C73°F
15°C59°F
9 rd
Aug
24°C75°F
16°C61°F
10 rd
Sep
23°C73°F
14°C57°F
10 rd
Oct
20°C68°F
12°C54°F
12 rd
Nov
16°C61°F
9°C48°F
14 rd
Dec
14°C57°F
7°C45°F
14 rd
High / low °C°F · rd = rain days
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
Everything in the centre is walkable: plaza to El Capricho is about 10–15 minutes on foot. Local buses from Santander stop at Marqués de Comillas 12, 100 m west of the town hall. Taxi Diaz covers the town and Oyambre (+34 613 004508).
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Door to door: About 45 min
Cantabria bus towards Santander, about 25–30 min
Medieval centre and the Altamira museum nearby; go early, it fills up.
San Vicente de la Barquera
goDoor to door: About 40 min
Same bus line continuing west, about 25 min
Harbour, castle and long estuary beach; easy half-day.
Door to door: About 1 h 30 min
Cantabria bus, about 70 min
Four buses a day each way: check the last return before you leave.
Torrelavega
cautionDoor to door: About 1 h
Bus towards Santander, then change or continue, about 45 min
Market and rail links, not a sight in itself.
Castro Urdiales
cautionDoor to door: About 2 h
Bus or car east along the coast, about 1 h 30 min
Better as an overnight on the way to Bilbao than a return day trip.
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Old town around Plaza de la Constitución
Cobbled centre, bars and restaurants on the doorstep; some street noise at night.
Beach side (Paseo Manuel Noriega / Santa Lucía)
Sea views and the sand within a 2-minute walk; quieter, a 5–10 min walk from the plaza.
Sobrellano / El Parque
Next to the palace and El Capricho; best if those two are your priority.
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- €55–85 (≈ US$65–100) excl. bed
- Mid
- €85–140 (≈ US$100–170) excl. bed
- High
- €140 (≈ US$170)+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Guesthouse or hotel double room1 × 1 night × €110 | €110 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × €100 | €200 |
| Bus Santander ↔ Comillas, both ways2 × €12 | €24 |
| El Capricho entry2 × €10 | €20 |
| Sobrellano palace entry2 × €7 | €14 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × €10 | €20 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | €39 |
| Trip total≈ €214 per person per day, bed included | €427≈ US$500 |
2026 estimate in euros; travel to Comillas excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee | €1.50–2.50 (≈ US$2–3) |
| Menu del día at lunch | €14–22 (≈ US$17–30) |
| Pintxo or tapa | €2–4 (≈ US$3–5) |
| Cider or wine, glass | €2.50–4 (≈ US$3–5) |
| El Capricho entry | €10 (≈ US$12) |
| Sobrellano palace entry | €7 (≈ US$9) adult, €5 (≈ US$6) concession or child |
| Church of San Cristóbal entry | €2 (≈ US$3) |
| Local bus Santander → Comillas | €5–7 (≈ US$6–9) |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Buses from Santander run only about four times a day: check the return times before you commit to a day trip.
- The Cantabrian coast is wet and changeable even in summer: carry a light rain jacket.
- Church of San Cristóbal charges a small entry and closes during mass.
- Casa del Duque de Almodóvar del Río opens only occasionally: check locally before walking up.
- Many restaurants and hotels shut or cut hours outside the May–September season.
Emergency numbers
- All emergency services
- 112
- National police
- 091
- Guardia Civil
- 062
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.
ComillasComillas
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
A esta dirección, por favorTo this address, please
Emergency
- All emergency services112
- National police091
- Guardia Civil062
Embassy
No embassies in Comillas; the US has a consulate-general in Barcelona, the UK and Ireland have consulates in Madrid and Barcelona, and most countries work through Madrid.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Bus Santander → Comillas: about 70 min, four departures a day
- Taxi within town: €6–10 (≈ US$7–12)
- El Capricho entry: €10 (≈ US$12)
Say or show
- Hola — Hello (OH-lah)
- Gracias — Thank you (GRAH-thyahs)
- La cuenta, por favor — The bill, please (lah KWEN-tah por fah-VOR)
- ¿Puedo pagar con tarjeta? — Can I pay by card? (PWEH-doh pah-GAR kon tar-HEH-tah)
- ¿Dónde está la playa? — Where is the beach? (DON-deh es-TAH lah PLAH-yah)
- Una cerveza, por favor — One beer, please (OO-nah ser-VEH-thah por fah-VOR)
Tourist office is in the new town hall at Joaquín del Piélago 1; hours are seasonal, so check before you go.
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Comillas. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: May–Sep · avoid Nov–Feb (wet, many places closed) · month by month →
- 2 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 5 day-trips, door to door
- 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for SDR: bus and taxi options from Santander airport, last-bus cutoff, overnight rung.
- Four walking clusters with rescue anchors: Plaza de la Constitución, Sobrellano and El Capricho, the beach and Punta de la Moría, the cemetery and CIESE.
- Place pages with verified cutoffs (El Capricho, Sobrellano palace, San Cristóbal church) and eat pages with last orders.
- Wet-day and off-season fixtures so gates A–D can go green.