Overview
Castro Urdiales is a coastal town of 32,000 residents in Cantabria, Spain, that swells to double or triple its population each summer. Its main draws are two sandy beaches—Beach Brazomar to the east and Beach Ostende to the west—plus a scenic harbour lined with coffee bars.
Architecture · Beach · Day Trips · History
Before you go
Beaches
Beach Brazomar (east) and Beach Ostende (west). Both get crowded in August. Walk between them takes 30–45 minutes.
Food
Seafood dominates: grilled sardines, anchovies in oil. Cider bars are a local specialty. Two canning factories (Lolin, La Castreña) are local landmarks.
Transport
Buses to Bilbao run every 30 minutes (€3.21); to Santander every 1–2 hours. The town is walkable; furthest walk is 2–3 km between beaches.
Weather
Summer is warm and crowded; spring and autumn are quieter and better for sightseeing monuments and Roman ruins.