Santander & Somo · Spain
Surfing El Sardinero
A beach break in Santander & Somo, Spain, for beginner and intermediate surfers.
El Sardinero is Santander's city beach, a wide curve of sand below the promenade and the Gran Casino. It sits inside the bay, so it needs a bigger north-west swell than the open coast, but when that arrives it has good peaks, especially at the Segunda playa.
Being in the city, it gets busy with local surfers after work. As on most urban beaches, the water quality can drop after heavy rain.
In summer it's a crowded city beach with flags and lifeguards, and the waves are usually small. If it's too small, Somo, across the bay, or Liencres, to the west, will have more swell.
When to surf
El Sardinero
El Sardinero is at its best from October to March. Conditions it likes: Big NW swell, WSW offshore wind, mid tide.
October to March: Prime
Consistent north-west swell, cold water and quieter beaches
April to June: Good
Smaller swells, milder water and air
July to August: Quiet
Mostly small, and the beaches are full of holidaymakers and surf schools
The year across Cantabria
Waves near El Sardinero
Somo
5 kmSantander & Somo · Beach Break · Beginner / Intermediate
Langre
8 kmSantander & Somo · Beach Break · Intermediate
Liencres (Valdearenas)
14 kmSantander & Somo · Beach Break · Intermediate / Advanced
Straight-line distances. By road it is usually further.
Getting there
Where to stay: Stay in Somo for surf hostels and schools on the beach, or in Santander for hotels, food and the ferry across the bay. Liencres has a few rural houses near the dunes.
Transport, costs, where to stay and the rest of the waves in the area are in the Santander & Somo guide.
Santander & Somo surf guideSurf it often and something here is wrong? Tell us and we will fix it.