Hotel Bahía, Santander

• The location is ideal for exploring Santander on foot: you're a 3-minute stroll from the Cathedral, the waterfront promenade, and the Centro Botin cultural center. 
• Rooms are spacious and tastefully decorated, with large bathrooms, floor-to-ceiling windows, and options for sea views.
• The on-site restaurant specializes in Cantabrian flavors and seafood, and in warm weather you can dine on the terrace overlooking the Bay of Santander.
• Multiple room layouts (including a fun unit with bunk beds) make this a good fit for families and larger groups.

• This is a large, business-style hotel, and the common areas feel a bit bland.
• There's no on-site gym or spa.

Authenticity

You won't find much local charm or character at this large, modern hotel, but its central location and spectacular bay views make it one of Santander's most convenient and comfortable options. The concrete high-rise was first built in 1999; in 2014, rooms and common areas were updated to a more contemporary style. The lobby and dining areas still have the feel of a standard business hotel, but the rooms now have an elegant (if neutral) look, with parquet floors, designer lighting, and soft tones of taupe and dove gray. 

Location

The hotel sits just off the Plaza Alfonso XIII in Santander's city center, between the Gothic Cathedral and the modern port. Beyond the plaza lies the Centro Botín, a striking modernist cultural center, and the sprawling green space of the Jardines de Pereda. You're also steps from the city's Paseo Maritimo, a waterfront promenade that hugs the Bay of Santander all the way to the city's eastern beaches. You'll be within a few blocks of restaurants, tapas bars, and the Mercado del Este covered market, and the city's main train station is a 7-minute walk west. Parking is available on-site at an additional charge.

Rooms & Bathrooms

Just under 200 rooms are spread across the hotel's upper floors, but the standouts here are the sea-view units, with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the Bay of Santander. Even the Standard units feel spacious, with more square footage than most European hotels, and the decor is tastefully neutral, if a bit nondescript. Bathrooms are modern and large, with double sinks and shower/bath combos. There are also accessible rooms for travelers with limited mobility, and all floors are reached by elevator.

Amenities

Despite its size, the hotel lacks the amenities of most large hotels—you won't find a pool, gym, or spa facilities here. An optional breakfast is served buffet-style or in-room, and there's a casual ground-floor café for coffee, snacks, and light meals throughout the day. For more formal dining, the on-site restaurant serves a Cantabrian-inspired menu from a dining room with panoramic bay views. This is also a popular spot for events and conferences, with plenty of meeting spaces and banquet rooms.

Family-Friendliness

Children are welcome at Hotel Bahía. While there aren't any kid-specific amenities, the spacious rooms and multiple layout options make this a good choice for families looking to spread out. Triple rooms sleep three with an extra sofa bed, while Family units can accommodate four with a double bed and bunk beds.