Cantabria is an autonomous region of Spain located on its northern coast along the Bay of Biscay. Asturias borders Cantabria to the west, the Basque Country borders it to the east, and to the south sits the region of Castile and Leon.

Visitors flying into Cantabria will arrive at the Aeropuerto Seve Ballesteros (IATA code SDR), situated just to the south of Santander. The A-8 and A-67 motorways connect Santander to most other parts of Cantabria, and the N-621 motorway connects the A-8 to Liébana. There is also a direct Renfe train from Madrid that runs to Santander thrice daily (travel time approximately 4 hours).

Buses by Transporte de Cantabria (www.transportedecantabria.es) connect nearly all important towns and villages with Santander, and also administers local bus service for the Santander area. Likewise, the three aforementioned motorways connect all important tourist towns and cities. Taxis also take visitors anywhere they wish to go in the region, with prices rising as high as €150 from Santander to Potes or Castro Urdiales, but fares should cost much less than this especially if you aren't traveling as far as these areas. For more information, click here.

Cantabrian culture dates back tens of thousands of years. Cantabrian mythology, dating from the Celts who lived here over 2,000 years ago, is very much a part of today's current culture and many shops sell handicrafts relating to Cantabria's Celtic history and mythology. The culture of the region is on display the most during festival season, which includes such popular events as the dual feast days in Santander during the last week in July, colloquially called "Santander's big week"; the nearly 200-year-old Battle of the Flowers in Laredo, held every final Friday in August; the festival dedicated to the spirit orujo in Potes each November; and the pre-Lenten Carnaval de Santoña, which is maritime-themed and excites the beach town every cool and crisp February.

We recommend visiting during the summertime, as you will get the most sunshine and the least precipitation during your trip. Temperatures in Cantabria are much cooler than in other parts of the country in the summer, making it a great place to visit when you want to escape the heat of Madrid, or the Mediterranean coast. Temperatures are still fairly warm through the end of October, meaning the shoulder season is also an option, especially if you want to enjoy lower rates on accommodations. Keep in mind that many of the beach towns more or less shut down after September, so if a beach getaway is what you want, don't wait until October for your trip.

Spanish is spoken in Cantabria. The Cantabrian variety of Spanish is split up into five dialects, with Montañés being the most common and the one you will encounter most. With only small examples to the contrary, Montañés sounds similar to Spanish heard in other parts of northern Spain such as in Asturias. You will have no problems being understood if you converse with locals in Spanish.

The most popular delicacies in Cantabria are the filling bean stew called cocido montañés and a satisfying sponge cake called sobao pasiego. These dishes will be ubiquitous in restaurants focusing on Cantabrian cuisine. Multiple towns in the region are known for their anchovy and sardine production, as well as a yellow brandy spirit called orujo (mentioned above, with its own festival held each year in Potes). In the Liébana region, the Tresviso blue cheese is renowned by foodies in Spain and beyond.