Centro Botín, in the Jardines de Pereda in Santander, is an art centre designed by Renzo Piano, with its own collection and temporary exhibitions. It's open Tuesday to Sunday, 10am to 9pm in summer; general admission costs €9 online. It's about 30 minutes by car from Bareyo.
Since 2017, the skyline of Santander's bay has had a new silhouette: two oval, silver-toned volumes that seem to float above the water, resting on slender columns, right in the heart of the Jardines de Pereda. This is Centro Botín, the project by Italian architect Renzo Piano that transformed the city's seafront in one stroke and is now, alongside the Palacio de la Magdalena, one of the essential landmarks of any visit to Santander.
The building isn't just architecture: inside there's a permanent art collection, temporary exhibitions that change several times a year, and a hanging garden with free views over the bay, no ticket required. It's just over half an hour by car from Bareyo, making it the perfect plan to combine with a morning of shopping or a stroll along El Sardinero.
Opening hours and ticket prices at Centro Botín
In summer hours, from June to September, Centro Botín is open Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 9pm without a midday break. In winter the hours split into two blocks, 10am to 2pm and 4pm to 8pm. It's closed on Mondays, as well as on 1 January and 25 December. General admission costs €9 bought online (€10 at the box office) and includes access to the Collection and all current temporary exhibitions. There's a reduced ticket of €5 for over-65s, students aged 18 to 25, people with disabilities and large families, and a group rate for six or more people at €7 per person.
What to see inside Centro Botín: the Collection and the temporary exhibitions
Centro Botín organises its programme into two sections worth telling apart before you go in. On one hand there's the Collection, with modern and contemporary artworks; on the other, the temporary exhibitions, which change several times a year and usually occupy the building's upper floor. It's worth checking the official Santander tourism website before you go to see what's on display at the time of your visit, since the line-up varies quite a bit from one season to the next and can affect how much time you'll want to spend there. The Collection usually includes works by Spanish and international artists from recent decades, while the temporary exhibitions tend to focus on a single artist or movement, with free guided tours on certain days of the week that are worth checking in advance.
The hanging gardens and the free views over the bay
You don't need a ticket to enjoy part of Centro Botín. The building is literally raised on pilotis, so you can walk underneath and around the two volumes, and go up to the outdoor terraces with views over the bay at no cost at all. It's a good spot for a short stop, some photos, and then a walk down to the seafront promenade or Plaza Porticada, in the old town. At sunset, with the low light over the bay, it tends to be the busiest time for photos from the terraces, so if you're after some quiet to sit and watch the water, it's best to go mid-morning on a weekday.
Getting there from Bareyo
Centro Botín is on Muelle de Albareda, inside the Jardines de Pereda, right in the centre of Santander. From Bareyo it's about 30-35 minutes by car via the A-8. If you'd rather not drive within the city, there are several urban bus lines with a stop next to the Jardines de Pereda, and both the Renfe and Feve stations are about ten minutes on foot. In high season, parking in central Santander is limited, so it's worth allowing extra time or leaving the car in one of the public car parks nearby.
Good to know
Address: Muelle de Albareda s/n, Santander. Summer hours (June-September): Tuesday to Sunday, 10am to 9pm. Price: €9 general admission online, €5 reduced. Closed on Mondays, 1 January and 25 December. Distance from Bareyo: about 30-35 minutes by car. Free access to the outdoor terraces and gardens, even without going into the galleries. Tip: buy tickets online in advance to avoid queues in high season.
The building floats over the bay, literally: you can walk underneath it without paying for a ticket, and that alone is worth the stop.
Centro Botín is easily enjoyed in two or three hours, just enough to round off a morning in Santander before heading back to eat near the coast. If you've already got a city trip planned, our guide to what to see and do in Santander in a day covers the rest of the stops to complete your visit. This is exactly the kind of plan — half an hour in the city and back to the calm of the coast — that we have in mind for guests at Bareyo Residences: Villa Camino and Villa Monte, with private pool and their own garden, will be available from September 2027.
