Updated 21 September 2026 · Written by the Hostal La Mexicana team
Faro Santander opened on 8 September 2026 in the Pereda Building, Paseo de Pereda 9-12, facing the bay of Santander. It is the new art centre of Fundación Banco Santander and opened with three exhibitions bringing together works by Titian, Velázquez, Goya, Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera and Leonora Carrington. This guide covers opening hours, ticket prices, the current exhibitions, the history of the building and how to get there from the city centre.
Opening hours and ticket prices
After ten open days with free admission (8–17 September 2026), Faro Santander now runs on its regular timetable and rates, as published by Fundación Banco Santander:
| Opening hours | Admission |
|---|---|
| Every day 10:00 – 20:00 · closed on non-holiday Tuesdays | General €14 · Reduced €7 |
Tickets can be booked on the official website farosantander.com or bought at the ticket office in the Pereda Building. Besides the exhibitions, the centre has a family experimentation space, a restaurant and a terrace with 360-degree views over the city and the bay. The rehabilitation of the building was designed by British architect David Chipperfield, winner of the 2023 Pritzker Prize.
The three opening exhibitions
| Exhibition | Dates | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Obras Maestras de la Colección Banco Santander (masterpieces of the Banco Santander Collection) | 8 Sep 2026 – Feb 2027 | Titian, El Greco, Rubens, Velázquez, Goya, Tàpies, Soledad Sevilla, Juan Uslé |
| México Moderno en la Colección Gelman Santander (Modern Mexico) | 8 Sep 2026 – 10 Jan 2027 | Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera, Rufino Tamayo, Orozco, Siqueiros |
| El surrealismo sintomático: Leonora Carrington | 8 Sep 2026 – 31 Jan 2027 | Work by the surrealist artist, with activities about her time in Santander |
The fourth floor of the centre is permanently dedicated to the Banco Santander Collection. Around the Day of the Dead there will be a special programme of film, music and visits linked to the Mexican exhibition.
The Pereda Building: architecture worth visiting now
The Pereda Building is one of the most distinctive architectural ensembles in Santander. The current structure has its roots in an 18th-century building, rebuilt in 1880, which Banco Santander acquired in 1919 for its main headquarters. The most recognisable extension was designed in 1958 by Cantabrian architect Javier González de Riancho — also responsible for the Magdalena Palace — and consists of a twin building joined to the original by a monumental arch that is today the most photographed feature of the complex.
The bay-facing facade incorporates four statues by sculptor Blanes representing the arts, culture, trade and navigation. Even if you only go up to the terrace or the restaurant, walking past it along Paseo de Pereda is worth a detour: the arch, the statues and the proportions of the ensemble are hard to overlook.
Location and access from the hostal
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | Paseo de Pereda 9 (also C/ Marcelino Sanz de Sautuola 3) |
| Distance from hostal | 6 minutes on foot |
| Route | C/ Juan de Herrera → Ayuntamiento → Paseo de Pereda → east |
| Open since | 8 September 2026 |
| Opening hours | 10:00 – 20:00 daily (closed non-holiday Tuesdays) |
| Tickets | €14 general · €7 reduced |
| Promoter | Fundación Banco Santander |
| Official website | farosantander.com |
The cultural triangle of the centre
Since 8 September 2026, central Santander has three major cultural venues within 15 minutes on foot from the Ayuntamiento:
- MUPAC (C/ Hernán Cortés 4) — 5–6 min from the Ayuntamiento. Prehistoric art, cave painting reproductions, free admission Sunday pm.
- Centro Botín (Jardines de Pereda) — 11 min. International contemporary art, Renzo Piano architecture above the bay.
- Faro Santander (Paseo de Pereda 9) — 6 min. Art, culture and technology in the Pereda Building.
All three are within 8 minutes walking distance of each other, making it feasible to visit all three in a single day if the schedules work out.
Paseo de Pereda, the way there
Paseo de Pereda, with direct views of the bay, connects the centre with Centro Botín and Puertochico, and the Pereda Building stands right on the route. It is the same promenade covered in the bay walk guide, so a visit to Faro Santander combines well with a full walk along the waterfront.
Frequently asked questions
Is Faro Santander open? What are the opening hours?
Yes, it opened on 8 September 2026. It opens every day from 10:00 to 20:00, except on non-holiday Tuesdays, when it is closed.
Where is Faro Santander?
At the Pereda Building, Paseo de Pereda 9, 6 minutes on foot from central Santander (Ayuntamiento). Also accessible from C/ Marcelino Sanz de Sautuola 3. It is between Centro Botín (300 m to the east) and the Paseo de Pereda waterfront.
How much are the tickets and where can I buy them?
General admission is €14 and reduced admission €7. Tickets can be booked at farosantander.com or bought at the ticket office in the Pereda Building.
What exhibitions are on?
Three: Obras Maestras de la Colección Banco Santander (Titian, El Greco, Rubens, Velázquez, Goya; until February 2027), México Moderno en la Colección Gelman Santander (Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera, Rufino Tamayo; until 10 January 2027) and El surrealismo sintomático: Leonora Carrington (until 31 January 2027).
Where to stay to visit Faro Santander?
The Pereda Building is 6 minutes on foot from our hostal at C/ Juan de Herrera 3, a pedestrian street in the city centre, so Faro Santander, Centro Botín and MUPAC are all within walking distance, no car needed. Check price and availability for your dates — booking direct on the official website gets you 10% off, with no intermediary commissions.