Planning your trip to Asturias? Or just checking to see if you should add Asturias to your bucket list?

I’ve got you covered. We’ll see all the best things to do in Asturias, Spain.

This includes the most epic hikes, the best beaches, cool cities to explore and great cultural experiences. 

 

Where is Asturias in Spain

The Principality of Asturias (Principado de Asturias) is one of the 17 autonomous communities of Spain. It’s located in the north west of the country, and is part of Northern Spain.

where is asturias in spain on the map

Asturias has borders with 3 other autonomous communities:

  • Cantabria to the east
  • Castile and León to the south
  • Galicia to the west

 

Where to Stay Near the Best Places to Visit in Asturias

Ready to discover Asturias? Here are the 3 main locations I recommend for your stay in Asturias:

 

wild sheep in lagos de covadonga what to do in asturias spain

 

Your Asturias Travel Guide

Alright, let’s answer the question “What to do in Asturias, Spain?”. Asturias is a region mostly famous for its outdoors, so the guide focuses heavily on this side of travel. However there are also a few cool cities to discover, and of course great cultural experiences to be had.

Here are the 4 main things we’ll cover:

  1. Hikes
  2. Beaches
  3. Cities
  4. Cultural experiences

Ready to learn what to see in Asturias, Spain? Let’s get to it!

 

Best Hikes in Asturias

There’s no shortage of great hikes in Asturias, and you could definitely spend quite a while in this region of Spain exploring all of the trails. The 2 main hiking areas are Picos de Europa, and Somiedo.

Picos de Europa was the first National Park in Spain, and it has the most hikes in my top 21 hikes in Asturias (10 out of 21).

Somiedo is a Natural Park, and is great for outdoors adventures & to see wild animals. It also has a lot of hikes in my best hikes list (4 out of 21).

Here are the best hikes in Asturias:

 

Lagos de Covadonga

The Covadonga lakes are for sure the most popular destination in Picos de Europa, and possibly in Asturias. These 2 lakes used to form the center of the Picos de Europa National Park, which has now expanded.

 

You can drive right up to the lakes, and go on a easy hike around the lakes. It’s a well-maintained path, family-friendly, and even if the hike is short I ended up spending the whole day there anyway.

 

Lagos de Covadonga Hike

Easy

:info:

:time: 2h    :distance: 7.2km / 4.5 miles
:uphill: 210m / 688ft    :downhill: 210m / 688ft
map of covadongas lakes hike asturias spain
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Ruta del Cares

While it’s hard to beat the view of 2 alpines lakes, the landscapes of the Ruta del Cares hold their ground compared to the Lagos de Covadonga.

 

This day-hike is literally carved on the side of the mountain, and runs above the Cares river. You’ll get epic views all along the hike, and you’ll probably meet some friendly goats to keep you company. 
 

Ruta del Cares

Moderate

:info:

:time: 7h    :distance: 24.3km / 15 miles
:uphill: 504m / 1,650ft    :downhill: 504m / 1,650ft
map of ruta del cares hike asturias spain
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Ruta de Lagos de Saliencia

Want more lakes? Well you’re in luck, because Asturias has exactly what you need: the Lagos de Saliencia.

Located in the Somiedo Natural Park, the Lagos de Saliencia are 3 alpines lakes, right next from one another. Not as famous as other locations, but trust me it’s one of the best things to see in Asturias, Spain.

 

Best of all? You don’t need to hike for 10 hours straight to see them! There’s a parking lot right next to the lakes, and you can get to the first one within minutes. If you’re game, you can combine this hike with the Lago del Valle hike; cross to the next valley to check another epic mountain lake.

 

Ruta de Lagos de Saliencia

Moderate

:info:

:time: 3h    :distance: 10.3km / 6.4 miles
:uphill: 464m / 1,522ft    :downhill: 464m / 1,522ft
map of saliencia lakes hike somiedo asturias spain
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Bufones de Pria Loop

Let’s move away from the 2 main hiking hotspots in Asturias, and hit the coast for this next hike: the Bufones de Pria loop.

The Bufones de Pria are massive geysers, where waves get through holes in the cliffs and blow up insanely high in the air.

 

The hike starts from the geysers, and runs along the coast towards Ribadesella. On the way you have great views of the rugged cliffs, and you’ll discover some nice rock formations.

 

 

Bufones de Pria Loop

Moderate

:info:

:time: 3h20    :distance: 14.7km / 9 miles
:uphill: 282m / 925ft    :downhill: 282m / 925ft
map of hike from bufones de pria to ribadesella asturias spain
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Xiblu Waterfall Hike

Let’s move south for the next hike, next to the border between Asturias and Castile and León.

The Cascada del Xiblu is a nice waterfall deep in the forest, and you’ll need to hike a bit to reach it. It’s one of the most off-the-beaten track adventures in Spain, and a great way to escape the crowds. 

 

The hike to the waterfall is also pretty sweet in itself, and depending on the time of year you’ll have different experiences: mysterious fog, fall colors, whistling birds, …

 

Xiblu Waterfall Hike

Challenging

:info:

:time: 3h    :distance: 9.4km / 5.9 miles
:uphill: 240m / 788ft    :downhill: 240m / 788ft
map of xiblu waterfall hike asturias spain
Download GPX
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More Hikes in Asturias

I’ve listed above 5 of my favorite hikes in Asturias, but there are much more. If you plan to spend several days in Asturias, or if you want more ideas for hikes, check out my favorite hiking trails below:

HIKING GUIDE: 21 Best Hikes in Asturias

 

Best Beaches in Asturias

Tired of walking too much? Let’s hit the beach and relax!

The coast of Asturias is known as the Costa Verde (Green Coast), and it’s full of incredible beaches. Except a few of them which are very popular, there’s a good amount of wild beaches with little to no crowds.

Here are the best ones:

 

Playa de Santa Marina

The first beach on the list is the Playa de Santa Marina, a long golden sand beach located in the coastal town Ribadesella.

It’s part of the popular beaches in Asturias, and it’s right in the heart of the town, so expect crowds. But the beach is long enough to find a cool spot for you and your loved ones, and the view from the beach is pretty impressive.

 

 

Amenities: showers, toilets, lifeguards, surf rental, food & drinks

Location: Playa de Santa Marina, Ribadesella

 

Playa del Silencio

Playa del Silencio (Silence Beach) is as the name implies a very calm beach, away from the crowds on most days. It has no amenities, and it requires a short hike downhill to reach, which is enough to deter big crowds.

The beach itself is made of stones & pebbles, but the view and the water clarity more than make up for it.

 

 

Read more: Guide to Playa del Silencio

Amenities: /

Location: Playa del Silencio, Cudillero

 

Playa de la Cueva

Third up on the list is more than just 1 beach, it’s actually a place as a whole. The Playa de la Cueva is located in Cabo Vidio, a cape with a little lighthouse.

The whole area around the lighthouse is full of pretty beaches, epic views and spots to relax. All of this makes it one of the best places to visit in Asturias.

 

 

Read more: Guide to Cabo Vidio

Amenities: /

Location: Playa de la Cueva, Oviñana

 

Playa de Torimbia

The Playa de Torimbia is one of these beaches that made me say “Wait that’s in Spain?!”. It looks like a beach from a tropical island, and the crystal clear water certainly has much to do with it. 

It’s a popular beach, and particularly loved by nudists, even though it’s not officially a strictly-nudist beach. Answer is yes, you can go there with clothes on.

 

playa de torimbia best beach in asturias spain

Amenities: showers, lifeguards, beach bar in high season

Location: Playa de Torimbia

 

Playon de Bayas

Next up is Playon de Bayas, the longest beach in Asturias. This 2,800 meters long beach (1.7 miles) has more than enough space to be comfortable, even on hot summer days when the locals flood to the beach.

The beach has great waves, and you can even rent a surfboard directly on the beach if you’re up for a riding session.

 

Amenities: showers, lifeguards, surf rental

Location: Playon de Bayas

 

More Beaches in Asturias

I’ve listed above 5 of my favorite beaches in Asturias, but there are much more. If you plan to spend several days in Asturias, or if you want more ideas for beaches, check out my favorite beaches below:

BEACH GUIDE: 19 Best Beaches in Asturias

 

Best Cities in Asturias

Pretty sure you got your nature fix by now, with these 21 hikes and 19 beaches. How about we see some of the beautiful cities Asturias has to offer now?

 

Ribadesella

Ribadesella is a small coastal city, with around 6,000 inhabitants. The town is mainly famous for its unique position at the end of the Sella river, in between the river and the sea, with the Picos de Europa mountains in the background.

 

the playa de santa marina beach most famous beach in ribadesella

The town is a hub for outdoors activities: surf, hiking, biking, canoe in the river, and much more. It’s also home to one of the most popular Asturias tourist attractions, the Cueva de Tito Bustillo: a UNESCO World Heritage cave with prehistoric paintings on the walls, from 29,000 BC.

 

TRAVEL GUIDE: 15 Things to Do in Ribadesella

Find the best hotels in Ribadesella: Ribadesella Recommended Hotels

 

Llanes

Llanes is another coastal town, and its historical center is one of the most gorgeous in Asturias. There’s plenty of things to do in the town itself: go play at the casino, visit the medieval tower or the Duque de Estrada’s palace.

The main beach in town is the Playa del Sablón, a half-circle beach right below the cliffs of the village.

 

playa del sablon asturias

Travel Guide: Llanes Tourism

Find the best hotels in Llanes: Llanes Recommended Hotels

 

Oviedo

Oviedo is the capital of Asturias, and obviously I had to include it in this list. It’s a great city to visit to immerse yourself in Asturian culture, whether it’s getting a taste of the local food or enjoying festivals & exhibitions.

The Old Town is the main attraction in town, with beautiful buildings from the Middle Ages, and the famous Oviedo Cathedral towering above the streets.

 

visit the city of oviedo one of the best things to do in asturias spain 

Travel Guide: What to Do in Oviedo

Find the best hotels in Oviedo: Oviedo Recommended Hotels

 

Gijón

While Oviedo is Asturias capital city, Gijón is the most populated city in the Principality. This harbor town has a pretty special feel, where new & old peacefully coexist.

The Plaza Mayor and Playa de San Lorenzo will take you back in time with Roman architecture. On the other side of town you’ll find an artificial beach (Playa de Poniente) and modern buildings.

All parts of town are lively, and it’s a great city to combine sunbathing on the beach, visiting the Old Town and partying.

  

gijon a great city to visit asturias spain

 

Travel Guide: 15 Things to Do in Gijon

Find the best hotels in Gijon: Gijon Recommended Hotels

 

Cudillero

And finally, the last city in this Asturias guide: Cudillero. It’s a tiny fishing village, tucked away on the Costa Verde, often overlooked. This colorful village is definitely worth a visit. On one hand you’ll enjoy the gorgeous view over the village, and on the other hand you’ll discover a typical Asturian fishing village.

And when you’re ready to leave the village, there are plenty of splendid beaches in the area, including Cabo Vidio and Playa del Silencio less than 20mn away.

 

cudillero one of the best places to visit in asturias spain

 

Travel Guide: Discover Cudillero

Find the best hotels in Cudillero: Cudillero Recommended Hotels

 

More Cities in Asturias

I’ve listed above 5 of my favorite cities in Asturias, but there are much more. If you plan to spend several days in Asturias, or if you want more ideas for cities and small towns, check them out below:

 

Best Cultural Experiences in Asturias

We’ve seen hikes, beaches and cities, and by now you probably have enough things on your list to plan a great Asturias trip. To finish off this Asturias travel guide, let’s see what goes hand in hand with discovering a place: the cultural experiences.

 

Try the local cuisine

Whether you go hike in the mountains or spend time in one of the major cities, you’ll be able to try some of that sweet Asturian cuisine. Asturias is a region that produces a lot of local products, and it’s mostly known for its cheese, meat and seafood. 

The classical cheese is known as Cabrales, a blue cheese made from cow, goat and sheep milk.

 

cabrales cheese from asturias in spain

 

As you’ll see when roaming the hills & mountains of Asturias, there are a lot of animals: cows, sheeps and goats. Asturian shepherds produce some great quality meat, and locals eat an absolutely enormous amount of meat! 

And of course there’s great seafood in Asturias, with a lot of coastal villages living from the sea. You can order a marisco, a big old seafood platter that includes lobster, crab, clams, mussels, & more!

 

Drink sidra and learn how to pour it

Cider is a real tradition in Asturias. The Asturian cider is known as sidra, and it’s made with local apples. This kind of cider is pretty special, as it doesn’t have any gas, and the acidity of the apples is very strong.

To avoid the acid taste, the locals have a very special way of pouring the sidra: they put the bottle high above their head, and pour it in the glass they hold at their waist. When the cider crashes in the glass below, it oxygenates the cider and removes the acidity for a short while.

They serve you a culín, which is only a small quantity of cider in your glass. You need to chug the cider instantly, and then they’ll serve you again a drop of that sweet local cider.

 

local man pouring sidra cider in asturias

Zulio / CC BY

You can try your hand at pouring cider, and you’ll notice the terraces of the restaurants are always wet from all the cider poured on the ground.

 

Learn Asturian

Truth is, almost all Asturian speak Spanish. If you speak Spanish, you won’t have any problem at all getting around in Asturias. More and more people speak English, but it’s mostly young adults; English is not that spread out among the older generation.

You’ll be fine in most cities & near main Asturias attractions. But if you go deep in the mountains and countryside, you’ll probably have to talk with your hands to get your point across.

In any case, it’s always fun to learn a few local words, and locals will appreciate you making the effort. Here are a few Asturian words:

  • Hello = Hola
  • How are you? = Como tas?
  • Yes = Sí
  • No = No
  • Sorry = Perdón
  • How much? = Cuanto?

 

If you’re with a friend, try this one: Esti señor va pagor por too (this guy will pay for everything). Señor for a guy and señora for a girl.

 

Map of Asturias Things to Do

Damn, that was quite a lot of things! To make it easy for you to plan your trip, I’ve put all of these epic things to do in Asturias on a custom map.

And yes, it’s available for free.

To get my map of Asturias things to do, simply click on the image below to open it in Google Maps. Then click on the “star” icon to save it to your own maps.

 

map of asturias things to do

 

Asturias Climate

Asturias is a diverse region, and as such the Asturias climate is also pretty diverse.

Due to its proximity to the sea, it’s never freezing cold nor burning hot. The climate is cool, with mild winters and warm summers. There’s usually a fair share of wind regardless of the season, so make sure to pack some windbreaker or scarf.

Fog is a common phenomenon, and can quickly appear; same thing for rain and thunderstorms. The climate can rapidly change, and go from warm to cold, windy and rainy.

More details: Asturias Climate

Weather forecast: Picos de Europa | Ribadesella | Oviedo

 

Visit Asturias, Spain

Planning a trip to Asturias and Spain? You can find below several other articles about this wonderful part of the world to help you plan your trip.

 

Asturias Guides:

And finally, if you need more inspiration, see all my Spain travel guides

 

I hope you enjoy your trip to Asturias and to Spain; if you have any questions, let me know in the comments below, I always reply.

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