Asturias

Real Sitio de Covadonga

· Covadonga

A cave and a church in the Picos de Europa mountains, linked to the Battle of Covadonga (around 722 CE) between Pelayo and the Umayyad expedition. Spaniards regard this battle as the beginning of the “Reconquest”. An important site for understanding the other side of al-Andalus’s history.

Moderate effort

Car or bus from Cangas de Onís. The sacred cave is reached by a long staircase or a level tunnel, and the church by a short climb. Restaurants and cafés. On traffic-control days, private cars are barred from the road to the lakes and shuttle buses run.

Santa María del Naranco

· Oviedo

A royal palace built by King Ramiro I in 848 on the slope of Naranco mountain, later turned into a church. One of the masterpieces of Asturian pre-Romanesque architecture, listed by UNESCO. It overlooks all of Oviedo.

Elogio del Horizonte (Cerro de Santa Catalina)

· Gijón

A giant concrete sculpture by Chillida (500 tons) on a green hill at the edge of the old fishing quarter of Cimadevilla, overlooking the open sea. Standing beneath it, you hear the echo of the waves.

Casco Histórico de Oviedo

· Oviedo

The capital of the Kingdom of Asturias, which arose in the north after the Islamic conquest. Clean stone streets, lively squares, and statues in the streets, such as those of Mafalda and Woody Allen.

Cueva de Tito Bustillo

· Ribadesella

Discovered in 1968, it holds original Paleolithic paintings of horses, deer and gazelles in red and black. It is one of the most important rock art sites in Asturias and is listed as a World Heritage site.

Easy to reach

On the edge of Ribadesella, near the bridge; parking and an interpretation center. The cave is open seasonally in very small numbers. Booking is essential and there are age limits (not for small children). Internal staircase.

Museo de Bellas Artes de Asturias

· Oviedo

A wonderful free museum in three palaces in the old quarter, with works by El Greco, Goya, Sorolla, Picasso, Dalí and Asturian artists.

Lagos de Covadonga (Mirador de Entrelagos)

· Cangas de Onís

In the high Picos de Europa, at an altitude of about 1100 meters, the glacial lakes Enol and Ercina lie among green pastures where cows graze, under towering limestone peaks. They are among the most beautiful natural scenes in Spain. The Mirador de la Reina on the climb road overlooks them with a panoramic view down to the sea, and the Mirador de Entrelagos shows both together. From the car park, an easy loop (about 5 km and two hours) passes the two lakes, the old Buferrera mines and the Pedro Pidal visitor center. It suits families and children. At the foot of the road are the Real Sitio de Covadonga and the sacred cave, which in the Spanish story is linked to the Battle of Covadonga in 722 CE, considered the beginning of the “Reconquest”.

Moderate effort

The CO-4 mountain road is 12 km long and is closed to cars on traffic-control days in 2026 (Easter, May holidays, 1 June–18 October), so take the shuttle bus from Cangas. A loop around the two lakes takes 1–1.5 hours with a gentle climb. One restaurant. Fog, cold and weak signal.

Puebloastur Eco-Resort Hotel & Spa

· Cofiño (Parres)

A luxury eco-resort on a green hill overlooking the Picos de Europa mountains, with a large spa, a pool, and nature activities for children.

Easy to reach · needs a car

By car via a rural road (about 10 minutes from Arriondas); no practical public transport. Full services in Arriondas and Cangas de Onís.

Playa de Rodiles

· Villaviciosa

One of the most beautiful beaches in Asturias and one of the most suitable for families: wide golden sand at the mouth of the Villaviciosa estuary, fringed by a shady eucalyptus forest with sitting and picnic areas. The water is cold almost all year (18–20° at the height of summer), and the waves can rise, but the view between the river, the ocean and the mountains is captivating.

Easy to reach · needs a car

By car from Villaviciosa (15 minutes) to a large parking area behind the eucalyptus forest, then a flat 5–10 minute walk to the sand. Lifeguards, toilets and restaurants in summer. Parking fills in the August holidays, so arrive before 11 a.m.; public transport is almost nonexistent.

Bufones de Pría

· Llanes

Limestone cliffs cut by holes from which seawater spurts as spray reaching tens of meters, with an audible roar when the waves rise.

Moderate effort · needs a car

By car only. Park near Llames de Pría, then walk 15–20 minutes on a dirt track and grass above the cliff. No barriers, no services, no shade; dangerous for children. The phenomenon needs high tide and strong waves, and the ground is slippery when wet.

Hotel Torre de Villademoros

· Villademoros (Valdés)

A country house beside a medieval tower on the western coast of Asturias, between meadows and sea cliffs. Small and quiet, with personal service.

Easy to reach · needs a car

By car near the A-8 road between Cudillero and Luarca; the last stretch is a narrow rural road. The nearest services are in nearby villages (5–10 minutes), and Luarca is 15 minutes away. The coastal path has no barriers.

Camping Picos de Europa

· Avín (Onís)

A large campsite on a riverbank in Avín, in the heart of Asturias, with cabins, a pool and adventure activities, near Covadonga and the Enol lakes.

Easy to reach · needs a car

In Avín on the AS-114 road between Cangas de Onís and Arenas de Cabrales; parking inside the campsite and a restaurant. The Lagos de Covadonga road is closed to cars in summer, at Easter and on holidays, and buses from Cangas are used.

Cudillero

· Cudillero

A fishing village with colorful houses tiered like an amphitheater down the hill to the port. One of the most beautiful villages on the Asturian coast.

How to get there

Alsa bus from Oviedo (≈1 hr) — by car ≈50 min

Moderate effort

Bus from Oviedo/Avilés or car. Park at the entrance and walk 10 minutes down to the port. The houses are on a steep slope with stairs. Many fish restaurants. The way back is uphill.

Llanes

· Llanes

An elegant coastal town with a colorful port, a painted wall of “Cubos de la Memoria”, small beaches between the cliffs, and the Picos de Europa mountains behind.

How to get there

Alsa bus from Oviedo (≈1 hr 30 min) — by car ≈1 hr 10 min

Easy to reach

FEVE train or bus from Oviedo, or car. The town is flat and the seafront promenade is easy. Full services. Frequent rain.

Taramundi

· Taramundi

A mountain village in the far west of Asturias, famous for handmade knives and metalwork. Around it are museum villages such as “Os Teixois”, with traditional water mills. One of the pioneers of rural tourism in Spain.

Moderate effort · needs a car

Two and a half hours from Oviedo, and one hour from Playa de las Catedrales; narrow, winding mountain roads.

Luarca

· Luarca (Valdés)

The “White Pearl” of the Asturian coast: a fishing port in a narrow bay between two hills, with white houses and small bridges stepping down to the water. Above it, a lighthouse and a church overlook the sea.

Easy to reach · needs a car

An hour and a quarter by car from Oviedo; parking at the port. The upper viewpoints need stairs or a road climb.

Tazones

· Villaviciosa

A small, colourful fishing village at the mouth of the Villaviciosa estuary, where Emperor Charles V first landed in Spain in 1517. Its houses are decorated with shells, and its alleys slope down towards the harbour.

Easy to reach · needs a car

30 minutes by car from Gijón; parking at the entrance to the village, and the walk down to the port is downhill.

Ruta del Cares

· Poncebos – Caín

The Divine Gorge (Garganta Divina) in the heart of the Picos de Europa: a path carved into the rock hundreds of meters above a turquoise river, with tunnels, hanging bridges and mountain goats keeping you company. 12 km one way between Poncebos and Caín, with a steep climb in the first 2–3 km and then nearly level ground. It suits active families and children from 8 years old. You can settle for an hour there and back from the Caín side.

Hard going · needs a car

By car to Poncebos (parking fills before 9). The trail is 12 km one way to Caín (24 km round trip, 6–8 hours). The first 2 km climb steeply, and the edges have no barriers. No water or toilets, and no signal. The return by road takes over two hours by taxi, booked in advance.

Descenso del Sella en canoa

· Arriondas

The most famous canoe trip in Spain. You paddle with the current between green Asturian meadows and gentle rapids, with stops for swimming and picnics. Distances of 7, 10 or 14 km (2–4 hours), and the bus brings you back. Suitable for families and for children from 6 years old, in a double canoe with a parent.

Moderate effort · needs a car

By car to Arriondas. Paddling 7–15 km (2–4 hours), and the company brings you back by bus. Suitable for children from 6 years old, with life jackets. The water is cold, and toilets are only at the stations. Avoid Saturdays in summer.

Museo y Circuito Fernando Alonso

· La Morgal (Llanera)

The museum of the Formula 1 world champion displays all his cars, from his first kart to the McLaren and Senna’s car. Next to it, in the same complex, a go-kart track for adults and children. A dream for every child who loves cars, 15 minutes from Oviedo.

Playa de las Catedrales

· Ribadeo (Lugo)

• One of the most beautiful places in Spain

Natural arches 30 meters high, and passages and caves carved by the ocean. They are not visible, and you walk among them only at low tide. One of the most amazing natural sights on the Atlantic coast, and a wonderful adventure for children.

Moderate effort

Car or FEVE train to a small nearby station. Free booking is mandatory at Easter and from July to September. A steep descent by steps to the sand; the walk depends on low tide only, and the rising tide closes the caves quickly. Toilets and a café at the top.

MUJA – Museo del Jurásico de Asturias

· Colunga

A dinosaur museum on a plateau overlooking the sea near Colunga. The building is shaped like a dinosaur footprint, with skeletons, life-size replicas and sculptures in the outdoor garden.

Ages

3–14

Setting

Indoors and outdoors

Museo del Jurásico de Asturias (MUJA)

· Colunga

A dinosaur museum shaped like a dinosaur footprint, on a cliff overlooking the sea, with skeletons and life-size models inside. The Asturian coast around it is rich in real dinosaur footprints.

Easy to reach · needs a car

40 minutes by car from Gijón; the building is adapted for wheelchairs and strollers.

Mezquita de Oviedo

· Oviedo

The community prayer room in Oviedo.

Comunidad Musulmana de Gijón Al-Mohcinin

· Gijón

The community prayer room in the center of Gijón.

Eurostars Hotel de la Reconquista

· Oviedo

• One of the city's best hotels

A royal hospital from the 18th century converted into the most established hotel in Oviedo, opposite San Francisco park.

Parador de Gijón Molino Viejo

· Gijón

• One of the city's best hotels

An old mill inside the Isabel la Católica park, near San Lorenzo beach.

Motorhomes Area (Cangas de Onís)

· Cangas de Onís

A free municipal area in the heart of Cangas de Onís, the first capital of the Kingdom of Asturias, near Covadonga, where the wars of the Reconquest began. It has free water and emptying, and a short walk to the Roman bridge.

Parador de Cangas de Onís

· Villanueva de Cangas

The former monastery of San Pedro de Villanueva on the bank of the Sella river at the entrance to the Picos de Europa, with modern rooms and gardens. An excellent base for visiting Covadonga and its lakes.

Hotel Castillo del Bosque La Zoreda

· Oviedo

An early-20th-century English-style palace inside a private forest on the edge of Oviedo. Five stars, with a quiet, secluded atmosphere, suitable for those who want privacy close to the city.

Barceló Oviedo Cervantes

· Oviedo

• Boutique

A four-star boutique hotel in a renovated residential mansion in central Oviedo, with spacious modern rooms and a distinguished restaurant. A walk from the old quarter and the cathedral.

Los Picos Tuñón

· Cangas de Onís

A local shop for hiking and climbing in Cangas de Onís, the gateway to the Picos de Europa mountains and the Lagos de Covadonga. Useful if you forgot an essential item before the climb.

Mercado El Fontán

· Oviedo

An iron market from 1885 behind the colorful arcaded square (Plaza del Fontán), with fish, Asturian cheeses and vegetables. On Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays there is a popular market outside.

Área recreativa de Monte Deva

· Gijón (Santurio)

A picnic and barbecue area on the summit of Monte Deva, overlooking the city of Gijón and the Cantabrian Sea. Public tables and barbecues among the meadows, and nearby a farm of pure Asturcón horses.

Easy to reach · needs a car

By car only from Gijón (about 15 minutes). The last stretch climbs very steeply but is paved. Parking beside the meadows and picnic tables. Little shade, and wind and fog change quickly. No restaurants on the summit; the nearest services are in Gijón.

Área recreativa El Valláu

· Sobrescobio (Redes)

A recreational area on a clear river inside the Redes Natural Park (a UNESCO biosphere reserve) in the Asturian mountains. Wooden tables in the shade, several well-kept barbecues, and river water where children swim in summer.

Easy to reach · needs a car

By car via the winding mountain road AS-117 to a small parking area that fills quickly; tables a few steps away in the shade beside the river. No toilets; groceries and restaurants in Rioseco (a few minutes by car). Phone signal is patchy in the valley.

Las Caldas Villa Termal (Blau)

· Las Caldas (Oviedo)

A historic thermal bath complex near Oviedo, including the Acuaxana center with thermal pools, a jacuzzi and saunas, alongside the “Roman Baths” therapy area. One of the largest mineral-water centers in northern Spain.

Café Dindurra

· Gijón

The oldest café in Gijón, opened in 1901 on Begoña avenue beside the Jovellanos Theatre. With its modernist decoration and later Art Deco, it was the city’s literary and political salon, and a meeting place for writers and theater people through the 20th century.

Camilo de Blas

· Oviedo

A historic confectionery founded by Camilo de Blas in León in the late 19th century, moved to Oviedo in 1914, and still on Jovellanos street with its original façade and wooden shelves. Here the “Carbayón” sweet, symbol of Oviedo, made of almonds and pastry, was born.

Lagos de Covadonga – Buferrera

· Cangas de Onís

The glacial lakes Enol and Ercina in the heart of the Picos de Europa, among green pastures, cows and majestic peaks. An easy loop around the two lakes and picnic areas.

Easy to reach

A bus from Cangas de Onís in season, or by car outside it to the Buferrera parking. Easy walk; almost no shade.

Barbecue

Not allowed: no fires or barbecues at all; picnic with ready food only.

Instituto Oftalmológico Fernández-Vega

· Oviedo

A family eye-care institution in Oviedo since the 19th century, specializing in retina, cornea, cataract and refractive surgery. It is one of the best-known eye centers in Spain, and patients from outside Spain come for the delicate cases.