Hanseatic city of Laredo

Laredo

Welcome to Laredo, Spain's first Hanseatic city!

Discover and enjoy our beautiful city, a haven of peace, modern, innovative, and future-oriented, ready to be part of a European project that will capture the interest of international visitors and citizen participation.

Laredo, nestled on the northern coast of Spain, is a place of natural beauty facing the sea with more than five kilometers of fine, white sand on its beaches. Among other attractions, it is known for surfing, sailing, active tourism, and exquisite and appealing cuisine. It also boasts its natural park, fishing port, and festivals and traditions as tourist attractions. The year-round temperate climate with mild temperatures and short, dry, and cool winters allow for outdoor activities in any season.

Facts & figures
The first written reference to Laredo's existence dates back to 968 as a fishing village. During the Middle Ages, when the development and advancement of the Hanseatic League extended its trade southward, Laredo, through its significant port, extended its routes northward, thus establishing the town's connection to the Hanseatic League.

On the occasion of Laredo's recent ratification as a new member of the European Cultural Route (ECR), an institutional event was held last March for the tourism and cultural sector, attended by representatives from the embassies of Belgium, Lithuania, and Germany, as well as various local authorities. With Laredo's accession to THE HANSA, Laredo now belongs to three Council of Europe Cultural Routes: the Camino de Santiago de Compostela, the European Route of Charles V, and THE HANSA.