Comillas is a town in Cantabria on the north coast of Spain. It was an insignificant village until mid 19th century, when Spanish royalty began taking their summer holidays here, and local-boy-made-good Antonio Lopez y López embellished the place with his Cuban fortune. It therefore has a collection of fine buildings out of proportion to its size; in 2025 the population was just over 2000.
Oficina de Turismo is in the new town hall at Joaquín del Piélago 1, open Tu-F 09:00-16:00, Sa-M 09:00-15:00.
Get in
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Map of Comillas
Comillas is 52 km west of Santander city and airport, follow A-67 onto A-8 then Ca-135 into town.
Cantabria buses run four times a day from Santander, taking 70 min via Santillana del Mar, and continue to San Vicente de la Barquera.
The main bus stop is at Marqués de Comillas 12, 100 m west of the town hall and tourist office.
Get around
[edit]Places of interest are in a walkable area.
The local taxi firm is Taxi Diaz (+34 613 004508).
See
[edit]- A total solar eclipse on Wednesday 12 Aug 2026, starting at 20.27 and lasting 84 sec. The chances of a clear sky are only 40%, and you need to find a spot with a clear view to the northwest horizon, where the sun will be setting.
- 1 Plaza de la Constitución is the attractive cobbled square at the heart of the old town. The former town hall is on its west side.
- San Cristóbal the parish church is south side of the plaza. It was built from 1684 but took almost a century to complete. Tourist entry €2 and not during mass.
- Plaza Corro de Campíos is another attractive square a block west. Fuente de Tres Caños is the elaborate fountain at its west end.
- Casa del Duque de Almodóvar del Río is a mansion built 1900 on a hillock north of town centre, at Prado de San José 7. It's only occasionally open to tour.
- 2 Cementario de Comillas at Las Paserucas 25 is built around the ruins of a 16th century church and has elaborate funerary monuments, such as the "Angel of Death".
- Ermita de Santa Lucía is a small fisherman's chapel east end of the beach above Hotel Josein.
- 3 Punta de la Moría is the headland sheltering the beach.
- Casa Ocejo is an indiano mansion built mid-19th century at Paseo de Estrada by town hall. No tours.
- 4 El Capricho, Sobrellano, ☏ +34 942 720365. Su-Th 10:00-19:30, F Sa 10:00-21:30. Summer chalet built 1883-85 by Antoni Gaudí in his "oriental" period - if the Persians had invented Art Nouveau it might look like this. It was a restaurant from 1988 to 2009 but is now a museum. Adult or child €10.
- 5 Palacio de Sobrellano, El Parque, ☏ +34 942 720339. Tu-Sa 09:30-18:30, Su 10:00-15:00. Neogothic bling-mansion built 1881-88 by Joan Martorell, with furniture by Gaudí. Its owner Antonio Lopez y López was first Marquess of Comillas and made his vast indiano fortune in Cuba. Highlights include the facade, the marble staircase, the throne room and the family chapel / mausoleum. Adult €7, conc or child €5.
- 6 Centro Universitario CIESE is a grand neogothic complex west side of town. It was founded as a Jesuit seminary in 1890, endowed by the first Marquess. He wanted to make entry to the priesthood accessible to local boys from poor backgrounds, but the Jesuits' prime goal was to raise priests to Christianise the Americas, so they feuded long. In 1904 it was promoted to a Pontifical University by Pius X; that institute transferred to Madrid in 1969 and the building is now a campus of the University of Cantabria. You can look in at the church.
Do
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- Beaches: Playa de Comillas east side of the headland is sandy.
- Playa Oyambre is a longer, quieter beach 5 km west of town.
- Polideportivo Municipal is a sports centre on Santa Lucia, above Hotel Josein.
- Golf: Campo de Golf Rovacías is east side of town by Abba Hotel.
- El Camino is the collective name for the plexus of pilgrimage trails towards Santiago. The classic route from France is much further inland via León, but when that region was under Moorish occupation pilgrims switched to a route along the coast. The local section of this Camino del Norte is from Santander to Arce, Santillana del Mar, Comillas, Unquera, Llanes and Ribadesella, thence across Asturias to Oviedo.
- Fiesta de San Pedro is at the start of June.
Buy
[edit]- Lupa supermarket on Cervantes is open M-Sa 09:00-21:00.
- Ultramarinos Tinita is on Plaza de la Constitución, open M-Sa 09:00-14:30, 17:00-20:30, Su 09:30-14:30.
- Coviran on Las Infantas is open M-F 09:00-13:30, 17:00-21:00, Sa 09:00-14:00.
Eat
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- A dozen places in town centre serve trad fare.
- Restaurante Gurea is probably the best, on Ignacio Fernández de Castro, open Su M 13:30-16:00, F Sa 13:30-16:00, 20:30-22:30.
Drink
[edit]A dozen bars in town centre.
Cantabria produces a small amount of wine but the main drink is cider.
Sleep
[edit]- 1 Hostal Esmeralda, Antonio López 7, ☏ +34 942 720097. Pleasant central place with restaurant, some noise from street and bar. B&B double €100.
- 2 Hotel Marina de Campios, General Piélagos 14, ☏ +34 942 722754. Clean friendly hotel in an Indianos mansion. B&B double €160.
- 3 La Magia del Camino, San Jerónimo 30, ☏ +34 625 043654. Efficient pilgrim hostel, warmth of welcome varies. Dorm €25.
- 4 Hotel Josein, Paseo Manuel Noriega 35, ☏ +34 942 720225. Spacious rooms right on the beach. B&B double €120.
- 5 Abba Comillas Hotel, Paseo de Rovacías 3, ☏ +34 942 720470. Okay for a short stay, but basic for what you pay. B&B double €100.
Connect
[edit]As of May 2026, Comillas and its approach roads have 5G from all Spanish carriers.
Go next
[edit]- Santillana del Mar to the east has a picture-perfect but very touristy medieval centre.
- Santander is mostly modern (the old centre burned down) but has lots to see and do.
- San Vicente de la Barquera is a small harbour and beach resort to the west.