Wat is de beste tijd om Comillas te bezoeken?
De beste periode is van juni tot september, wanneer het weer zonnig en warm genoeg is voor het strand. Buiten het hoogseizoen, in mei of oktober, is het rustiger en nog steeds aangenaam qua temperatuur.
Hoe kom ik in Comillas aan?
De dichtstbijzijnde luchthaven is Santander, op ongeveer 45 minuten rijden. Vanaf Santander kun je met de auto of een lokale bus naar Comillas reizen.
Wat zijn de must-see bezienswaardigheden in Comillas?
Mis vooral El Capricho, een uniek gebouw van Gaudí, en de Universidad Pontificia niet. Ook een wandeling door het historische centrum en langs het strand is de moeite waard.
Tucked between green hills and the Cantabrian Sea, Comillas is the kind of place Spanish nobles once escaped to and travellers still haven’t quite caught up with. Cobbled lanes, an eccentric Gaudí building, and dramatic cliffside cemeteries sit alongside everyday fishing-town life. It’s a holiday for people who want Spain without the crowds pressing in.
A Small Town With Grand Ambitions
In the 19th century, Comillas became the favourite summer retreat of the Marqués de Comillas and even hosted King Alfonso XII, which explains why such a small town is dotted with palatial buildings. The star is El Capricho, Antoni Gaudí’s only work in Cantabria, a playful mansion covered in sunflower tiles that feels almost out of place among the fishing cottages. Nearby, the Palacio de Sobrellano and the hilltop cemetery, guarded by Josep Llimona’s brooding Angel of Death sculpture, add a theatrical, slightly melancholic edge to a walk through town.
Vibe: Understated and Coastal
Comillas moves at the pace of a working fishing port rather than a resort, with a small harbour, a wide sandy beach, and streets that empty out once the day-trippers from Santander head home. It suits travellers who like their history mixed with quiet beach mornings, rather than nightlife or big attractions. Independent travellers, couples, and families who enjoy exploring on foot will feel most at home here.
Getting to Comillas
The nearest airport is Santander (Seve Ballesteros), about 45 minutes away by car, with Bilbao Airport a workable alternative roughly 1.5 hours east. There’s no train station in Comillas itself, so most visitors drive or take a regional bus from Santander, which also makes it easy to combine with other Cantabrian coastal stops along the way.
Pairing Comillas With the Rest of Cantabria
Medieval Santillana del Mar, just 15 minutes away, and the prehistoric Altamira Caves make an easy day trip, while the fishing town of San Vicente de la Barquera adds another dose of unspoiled coastline. Inland, the Picos de Europa mountains offer a dramatic contrast for hikers, and the Oyambre Natural Park nearby is ideal for surfers and birdwatchers looking to slow down further.
Coso Blanco and Local Flavours
Every July, Comillas hosts the Coso Blanco, a nocturnal parade dating back to the 1870s in which flower-covered floats and lanterns move through the darkened streets, drawing locals from across the region. Food here leans on Cantabrian staples like cocido montañés (a hearty bean and cabbage stew) and sobao pasiego, a buttery sponge cake, best enjoyed at a harbourside bar with a glass of local sidra.
Weather Through the Seasons
Spring brings mild temperatures with frequent light rain and green landscapes at their best. Summer is warm but rarely scorching, typically 22-26°C, making it comfortable for beach days without the heat of southern Spain. Autumn turns wetter and moodier, while winter stays mild for Spain’s north, hovering around 8-12°C, with rain more common than frost or snow.
