Start off your tour of Santander with some strong sensory impressions: take in the scent of fresh fish and sweet honey, the sounds of Spanish being spoken, and the sight of a myriad of deliciously presented foods – and you can even have a try. For all that, the always busy Mercado de la Esperanza is the perfect place to go. The two-storey market hall was built in 1897 and is easily recognisable by its glazed upper storey with cast-iron columns. Here, sellers offer their locally sourced and seasonal foods every day from 8 am, except Sundays: fish and seafood, fruit and vegetables, meat and sausage, cheese and honey – which, by the way, makes for an excellent souvenir.