ancient ruins
Cave of Altamira
The 'Sistine Chapel of Paleolithic Art,' containing stunning 36,000-year-old polychrome bison paintings on cave ceilings.
7 km · about 15 min drive
EuropeSpainCantabria
Torrelavega
Cantabria, Spain · Europe
About Torrelavega
Torrelavega works well as a base: 5 minutes from Reocín, 29km from El Soplao Cave.
Torrelavega is in Cantabria, Spain, with about 55,000 people. You drive on the right here. The nearest town is Reocín, about 4 km away.
Torrelavega (Asturian: Torlavega) is a municipality and important industrial and commercial hub in the single province Autonomous Community of Cantabria, northern Spain.
It is situated roughly 8 kilometres from the Cantabrian Coast and 27.5 kilometres from the capital of the Autonomous Community, Santander, halfwayRead more
between the Principality of Asturias and the Basque Country. The rivers Saja and Besaya flow through the city.
It is the capital of the comarca (county, but with no administrative role) of Valle del Besaya which includes also composed of the municipalities of Suances, Polanco, Cartes, Los Corrales de Buelna, Cieza, Arenas de Iguña, Bárcena de Pie de Concha, Molledo, Anievas and San Felices de Buelna.
Torrelavega is a regional centre for industry and transport, and its weekly livestock fair is famous in Spain. Its stadium is known as El Malecon. The Cave of Altamira, which contains prehistoric paintings, is about 10 kilometres northwest of the city.
Where to Stay in Torrelavega
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Torrelavega?
Within an hour or so of Torrelavega: Cave of Altamira (7 km), Santillana del Mar (7 km), Comillas & El Capricho de Gaudi (20 km), Playa de Oyambre (24 km).
Are there any good drives near Torrelavega?
The nearest famous roads are Desfiladero de la Hermida, Garganta del Cares Road (Poncebos) and Puerto de San Glorio.
Where is Torrelavega?
Torrelavega is in Cantabria, Spain, about 4 km from Reocín.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 55,297
- Continent
- Europe
- Country
- Spain
- Region
- Cantabria
- Timezone
- Europe/Madrid
- Coordinates
- 43.3494, -4.0479
Emergency & Services
Essential numbers in Spain
Guardia Civil (traffic police): 062. Two warning triangles required in vehicles.
Full driving guide for SpainTags
Worth the detour from Torrelavega
8 notable places within an hour's drive.
landmark
Santillana del Mar
A flawlessly preserved medieval town of cobbled lanes and golden-stone manor houses, dubbed 'the town of three lies' by Sartre.
7 km · about 15 min drive
landmark
Comillas & El Capricho de Gaudi
A charming Cantabrian coastal town featuring one of Gaudi's earliest and most whimsical buildings, the sunflower-adorned El Capricho.
20 km · about 25 min drive
beach
Playa de Oyambre
A wild golden arc of dune-backed sand within a protected natural park, framed by green meadows and the distant Picos de Europa.
24 km · about 30 min drive
beach
Santander & El Sardinero
An elegant coastal city with a spectacular crescent bay, grand belle epoque beach promenades, and the striking Botin Centre.
25 km · about 30 min drive
landmark
Palacio de la Magdalena
An eclectic royal summer palace on a sea-girt peninsula in Santander, ringed by beaches and a small free-roaming zoo of seals and penguins.
26 km · about 30 min drive
natural wonder
El Soplao Cave
An old mining cave turned underground wonderland of rare eccentric stalactites that defy gravity, reached by a little mine train.
29 km · about 35 min drive
famous road
Desfiladero de la Hermida
Spain's longest gorge carves a dramatic 21km road between towering limestone walls along the Deva river into the Picos.
51 km · about 60 min drive
Driving roads near Torrelavega
- 51 kmDesfiladero de la HermidaSpain's longest gorge carves a dramatic 21km road between towering limestone walls along the Deva river into the Picos.
- 64 kmGarganta del Cares Road (Poncebos)The narrow road up to Poncebos through the Cares gorge, where the walls close to a slot and the Ruta del Cares path begins.
- 66 kmFuente De Cable CarA vertiginous cable car rockets 750m up a sheer cliff into the heart of the Picos de Europa, opening onto a high alpine plateau of trails.
- 66 kmPuerto de San GlorioA 1,609 m pass on the N-621 between Potes and Riaño, famed for the nearby Mirador de Llesba brown-bear monument and grandstand views of the Picos de Europa massifs.
- 76 kmLagos de Covadonga RoadA steep, narrow climb from Covadonga to two glacial lakes at 1,100 m, restricted to shuttle buses at peak times.
- 77 kmLagos de Covadonga road (CO-4)A steep, narrow Vuelta climb to twin glacial lakes at 1,100m in the Picos de Europa; access is bus-only in peak season.
Driving in Spain
- Drives on
- the right
- Petrol
- ~€1.55/litre
- Motorway tolls
- ~€4.00/100km
When to drive here
April to October
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