Train stations in Santander

Santander has two stations side by side on Plaza de las Estaciones: Santander Estación, where the Renfe Alvia from Madrid and the C1 Cercanías to Torrelavega and Reinosa arrive, and Santander-Feve, the metre-gauge terminus for trains to Bilbao, Oviedo and the Cantabrian coast.

Which station to use

Use Santander Estación for Madrid, Palencia, Valladolid and the C1. Use Santander-Feve for Bilbao, Oviedo, Llanes and the C2 and C3 Cercanías. The two buildings are next to each other. Renfe and Adif treat the two as one station, Santander, with a ticket office, self-service machines and a taxi rank, and the bus station is on the same square.

From the station to the centre and El Sardinero

From Plaza de las Estaciones, Calle Jesús de Monasterio leads to the Correos stop and on to Paseo de Pereda on the waterfront. TUS city bus line 4 stops at Estaciones, on the station square, then at Correos and Jardines de Pereda on Paseo de Pereda, and continues along Avenida Reina Victoria to Plaza de Italia at El Sardinero. Most trips end at the Intercambiador Sardinero bus hub; some weekday trips turn off after Plaza de Italia for the university instead. It runs from about 07:30 to 22:40, roughly every 15 to 20 minutes on weekdays and every 20 to 25 minutes at weekends (timetable valid to 30 June 2027). A single ticket costs €1.30 and does not allow transfers. A rechargeable card, sold for €1 in tobacconists and kiosks, brings each ride down to €0.66 and allows a free transfer to another line within an hour.

Trains to Madrid, Palencia and Valladolid

Times are as of October 2026, and all Madrid trains use Madrid Chamartín-Clara Campoamor, not Atocha.

• Santander to Madrid: Alvia at 07:05 (arrives 11:19) and 13:55 (17:55, the fastest at 4 hours) every day. A third Alvia at 19:00 (23:20) runs on weekdays and most Sundays, never on Saturdays.
• Madrid to Santander: Alvia at 07:41 (arrives 11:50) Monday to Saturday, 13:40 (17:47) and 19:08 (23:12, 4 hours 4 minutes) every day. An Intercity leaves Madrid at 15:23 and arrives at 19:49 on Fridays until 18 December and on Wednesdays 23 and 30 December.
• Palencia and Valladolid: the same Alvias take about 3 hours to Valladolid Campo Grande. Slower Regional Exprés trains leave at 09:20 on weekdays, at 07:14 at weekends and on public holidays and at 16:29 every day, taking about 4 hours to Valladolid Campo Grande. From Valladolid they leave at 09:52 and 18:30.

Bilbao, Oviedo and the coast

Santander-Feve sends metre-gauge Regional trains to Bilbao la Concordia at 07:58, 13:53 and 18:58, taking about 3 hours 5 minutes to 3 hours 25 minutes, and back from Bilbao la Concordia at 08:45, 13:32 and 19:06, taking 3 hours 10 minutes to 3 hours 35 minutes. Two trains a day go to Oviedo, at 08:29 and 15:28, calling at Torrelavega-Centro, San Vicente de la Barquera and Llanes and taking about 5 hours 30 minutes. These times are as of October 2026.

Cercanías around Santander

Cercanías times below run to 23 November 2026. C1 from Santander Estación takes 31 to 42 minutes to Torrelavega and about 1 hour 30 to 1 hour 45 to Reinosa, with 21 departures on weekdays (first 06:30, last 22:32), 12 on Saturdays and 8 on Sundays. From Santander-Feve, C2 reaches Torrelavega-Centro in 28 to 39 minutes and Cabezón de la Sal in 56 to 74 minutes, and C3 reaches Astillero in about 20 minutes, Solares in about 40 and Liérganes in 53.

Holidays and bridge days

On 25 December and 1 January the first train south is the 13:55 Alvia (no 07:05 Alvia and no morning Regional Exprés), and nothing arrives from Madrid before 17:47. On 24 and 31 December the last train to Madrid leaves at 13:55 and the last arrival from Madrid is the 17:47. On Mondays 2 and 9 November and on 8 December and 6 January the 07:41 Alvia from Madrid does not run. On 1 and 8 November, 7 December and 5 January there is no 19:00 to Madrid. An extra Intercity leaves Santander at 16:06 and reaches Madrid at 20:31 on Mondays 2 and 9 November, Tuesday 8 December and Sundays from 15 November to 3 January except 6 December.

Tickets

Long-distance tickets are sold on renfe.com, in the Renfe app and at the station ticket office. Cercanías tickets are sold at the ticket office and the self-service machines and must be used within two hours of purchase. You can also tap a contactless bank card or phone at the turnstiles, but you must tap in and out: skipping the exit tap charges the maximum fare for all zones. From the fifth trip in a calendar month on the same card, a 40% discount applies.

Rail passes and reservations

As of October 2026, Interrail pass holders need a paid reservation on the Alvia to Madrid (€6.50 in second class) and on the Intercity (€6.50 in second class). The 07:05 to Palencia and Valladolid is also sold as a Media Distancia train, with a €4 reservation. Regional Exprés trains to Palencia and Valladolid have a €4 reservation fee, though a reservation is not always mandatory. The metre-gauge Regional trains to Bilbao and Oviedo and all Cercanías need no reservation.