El Sardinero is a broad, golden-sand beach stretching for nearly 1.5 km along Santander's Atlantic-facing coast, separated from the old city by the Magdalena Peninsula. It was the fashionable bathing resort of the 19th century, and the line of elegant villas, hotels, and the gran casino that overlooks it from the hill still gives the area a certain faded grandeur. The beach itself is clean and well-maintained, with calm surf by Atlantic standards — good for swimming, though the water is cool even in summer.
The beach is divided into two sections — Primera Playa and Segunda Playa — by a rocky promontory, and both have beach bars (chiringuitos) and facilities. The seafront promenade that runs behind the beach is excellent for an evening walk, with views back toward the Magdalena Peninsula and out to the open sea. Getting there from the city centre takes about 30 minutes on foot along the waterfront, or 10 minutes by bus.