The museum building was designed by architects Vicente Roig Forner and Ángel Hernández Morales.
The institution houses an extensive collection of whales' skeletal remains, including a reconstructed skeleton of a juvenile whale.
It maintains a deep focus on the 'Cantabrian fishing tradition' including the technical evolution of the 'bonitera' fleet.
The site was historically part of the 'Promontorio de San Martín', a strategic defense point overlooking the bay.
The aquarium's largest tank replicates the conditions of the Cantabrian seabed, housing representative local species.
The building's architecture intentionally resembles a ship, with nautical-themed structural elements.
The Museo Marítimo del Cantábrico is a specialized institution documenting the biological and human maritime history of the Cantabrian Sea. It integrates a biological aquarium with anthropological collections, focusing on the evolution of fishing technologies and regional marine biology. The building features a large-scale central atrium designed to showcase maritime navigation history. The aquarium exhibits local marine species, including specimens recovered from the Bay of Santander. The museum collection spans maritime archeology, naval construction, and the history of Cantabrian whaling and fishing industries. Its location on the San Martín promontory provides expansive views of the Santander coastline. The museum acts as a center for marine research and pedagogical outreach in Northern Spain. Exhibits are distributed across four floors, categorized by thematic focus ranging from nature to technological progress.
The terrace on the top floor offers the best unobstructed wide-angle view of the Santander bay and the museum’s distinct maritime architecture.
Prioritize the aquarium section early in your visit, as it is a popular draw for families and gets busier in the afternoons.
Check the viewing platform on the upper level for panoramic views of the bay before heading inside.
If visiting with children, look for the interactive tactile exhibits in the biological hall.
Do not rush through the lower floors; the maritime technology exhibits are dense and require time to appreciate fully.
Closed on Mondays throughout the year.
