2025 Asturias Travel Guide: Must-see attractions, popular food, hotels, transportation routes (updated in July)

Far away from the European crowds there is a different Spain. The rugged mountains and beaches of northern Spain left from Santander and right from Santiago de Compastela you will find Asturia. Mainly known in Spain for the dairy products it is also an area with beautiful beaches, a long coast line and villages that are wrapped in time. If you like hiking there are many waterfalls like the one at Rio Arlos. If you prefer towns visit Gijon which has a rich history and great sandy beaches. The sea, colder than the med, inviting for a swim, good honest food and reasonable priced restaurants and hotels. There are few big chain hotels but many family run places with friendly and helpful people. I recommend driving there or flying to the regional airport and hiring a car, there are trains but public transport would limit what you can do and explore. To be honest the drive from Madrid through the hills with vines and mountains is worth the day it will take you to get there. Time to visit mid June to end of September.

📍Located in the North of Spain Asturias is a small region that has both mountains and beaches. You can drive all the region in less than 3 hours. You can be from the beautiful small towns in the mountains to the amazing beaches in the coast in only 40 minutes. ⛰️Recommended mountain hikes: Picos de Europa National Park Somiedo Natural Park Ribadesella 🏝️Recommended beaches: Gulpiyuri Beach Torimbia beach Beach of Cuevas del Mar El silencio Beach La Ribeirona (Cadavedo) beach 🏨Where to stay? Asturias is divided in three areas: the center, the east and the west. The most beautiful and convenient cities to stay in each area are the following : Center of Asturias : Oviedo and Gijón West of Asturias: Tapia de Casariego East of Asturias: Llanes 🍽️What to eat? Seafood and cheese are a must. Try also: fabada (A pot of beans), cachopo (Breaded beef) and sidra (typical drink made with apples). ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ This region is pretty recommended as is beautiful, small and cheap. You can visit it in 1 week and have many things to do as museums, hiking, kayaking, visit caves, festivals and concerts.. #naturalwonders#beaches

Covadonga Lakes 2 Days 1 Night Wonderland Guide🌟 Overview 💧“Tears of glaciers drop into lakes, emerald-colored lake surfaces reflect millennia-old rock churches, and shepherds' horn sounds echo through the valleys… This is not Switzerland, but Spain's hidden ceiling—Asturias' Covadonga Lakes!🌄 Hiking, daydreaming, listening to the wind, the soul is cleansed!”✨ ⏰ Opening Hours｜ Open year-round, best season: May to October (lake water is most emerald, many sunny days) National Park, free oxygen! ⚠️ Church visit: Santa Cueva (Holy Cave) Church, with an internal museum 🏞️ Must-Do Activities｜Photo Hotspots Emerald Lake Hiking Loop Classic route: Los Lagos Lakes (Enol Lake + Ercina Lake), about 2 hours total, gentle and easy to walk👟 God’s Viewpoint: Mirador de Entrelagos viewpoint📸—both lakes in one frame + snow-capped church reflection! Hidden Easter Egg: Find the free-range Asturian brown cows by the lake🐂 (local mascots!) Santa Cueva Church Cliff Check-in ✨ Stunning shot: After crossing the bridge, look back at the church, with rock + lake + snow mountain triple impact! (Even more amazing at sunset🌅) 💒 Touch the Virgin of Victory statue inside the church—the origin of Spain’s guardian saint! Listen to a Shepherd’s Horn Chance to meet local shepherds herding sheep🐏, the horn’s ethereal sound pierces the valley! (High chance during summer alpine pasture season) 🚗 Transportation Guide｜No need to drive! Self-driving (more freedom): From Oviedo, 1.5 hours on winding mountain roads, picturesque mountain views along the way! ⚠️ Many curves, beginners drive carefully Bus option: 🚌 Oviedo Bus Station → Cangas de Onís town (1 hour), transfer to ALSA tourist bus direct to the lake area (30 min, 4 trips daily, 7 euros round trip) 📅 Itinerary｜2 Days 1 Night Immersive Version Day 1: Morning: Oviedo → Cangas de Onís town (try authentic stewed beans Fabada🥘) Afternoon: Lake area hiking + Santa Cueva Church (shoot stunning light and shadow photos) → stay at a lake area guesthouse Day 2: Early morning: Lake morning mist wonderland🌫️ (arrive before 7 AM! Mist swirling like a fairyland) Noon: Pasture experience (feed lambs / taste fresh cheese🧀) Afternoon: Roman Bridge cliff diving (Cangas town’s millennium-old bridge, a must-try for brave souls!) 🎒 Pre-trip Preparation｜Life-saving Checklist 👟 Non-slip hiking shoes: some gravel paths are slippery! 🧥 Windbreaker + light down jacket: mountain weather changes instantly, it can even snow in June❄️! 🥪 Snacks + water: no restaurants in the lake area, bring a picnic mat for a super chill lakeside lunch~ 📱 Offline maps: some sections have no signal! Recommended: Maps.me 💡 Hidden Tips: Bring a 1-euro coin👉 light a wish candle in the church🕯️ Pick up a small stone by the lake → local legend says it can summon good luck! 📣 Final Shoutout “This place is as beautiful as AI-generated wallpapers! But phone photos can’t capture even a tenth of the shock😭 A lifetime must-visit: Covadonga Lakes, listen to the wind, watch the mountains, be a shepherd for 2 days! 🐑💚” #SpainHiddenTravel #Asturias #CovadongaLakes #EuropeSecretSpots #OutdoorHiking ✨If this guide helps, remember to like and save it～✨

#cityplaybook Kick off the day in Sotres, one of the highest villages in the Picos de Europa. As the morning fog lifts, hike a trail through rocky peaks and lush green valleys—maybe the Ruta del Cares if you're feeling bold. By noon, pause by a stream for a picnic with local cheese and crusty bread. In the afternoon, descend into a hidden forest near Bulnes, where everything smells like moss and woodsmoke. Let time slow down. As sunset hits, drive to Lagos de Covadonga—those golden reflections on the water are unreal. Finish the day stargazing with a blanket and cider. Asturias = pure, wild peace.

#cityplaybook Wake up early in Cangas de Onís and head straight for the Picos de Europa. Start your adventure with a morning hike around the Lakes of Covadonga—pure mountain magic, with misty peaks, grazing cows, and total silence. By midday, stop for fabada asturiana in a mountain hut with postcard views. In the afternoon, drive up the winding roads toward Mirador del Fitu for sweeping coastal-meets-mountain panoramas. Golden hour? Perfect from any cliffside trail. Wrap it up in a cozy sidrería in a small village like Arenas de Cabrales, toasting to a day spent breathing pure mountain air. Asturias hits different.

📍 Itinerary Overview 🚩 Sightseeing Route 🏖️ Must-Visit Attractions 🚇 Transportation 📷 Photo Spots 🍜 Local Cuisine 🏠 Accommodation 💡 Tips

[Introduction]: The Asturias region is not only similar to Spain in terms of geographical location, but also has green Spain's mountains, grasslands, forests, lakes, and unique folk culture, forming a "green paradise" of freedom and healing. ⛺【Must-visit local places】: The highest peak of the mountain range is located in the famous Picos de Europa National Park, which was declared the first national park in Spain by King Alfonso XIII. The rolling mountains, deep and tranquil valleys and mirror-like lakes form a dreamy landscape painting here. The lower water temperature keeps the green Spanish region cool and pleasant even in summer. The winding coastline has given rise to countless magnificent bays and hidden beaches. Comarca de Oviedo is not only the filming location of the movie "Midnight in Barcelona" starring Scarlett Johansson, but also the cultural center and soul of Asturias. Churches, temples, palaces, fountains, six pre-Romanesque buildings have been awarded the title of World Heritage by UNESCO. Half of these valuable architectural heritages from the early Middle Ages are located in Oviedo. Acuario de Gijon The Aquarium of Gijon allows you to experience the unique charm of the world's major oceans and rivers, such as the Atlantic Sea, the Pacific Sea and the Red Sea. The aquarium covers an area of ​​4,000 square meters, where visitors can see approximately 5,000 species of more than 400 marine species (including sea otters, sturgeons, Magellanic penguins and sharks), all living in tanks, each containing 1 million to 100 million liters of water. It is the only aquarium in Spain where you can see all five groups of vertebrates (mammals, reptiles, amphibians, birds and fish), and the Cantabrian River adds to its unique charm. 🛬【Travel Guide】: Day 1-Llanes, Ribadesella Two coastal towns, Llanes has many magnificent rocky coasts, and Ribadesella's U-shaped beach is also unique. Both towns are unique. Day 2 - Cangas de Onís, Covadonga Cangas de Onís was the first capital of the Kingdom of Asturias. From here you can go to the sacred site of Covadonga, where the Reconquista began, as well as to the Covadonga Lake in Europa National Park and the classic wall hiking route Ruta del Cares. Day 3 - Lastres, Gijon On the way to Gijon, you will pass the small town of Lastres. Part of this town is located on a high ground, and it overlooks the bay beautifully. Gijon is the largest city in Asturias, and the beach is beautiful. Day 4-Oviedo The capital of Asturias, with many historical sites. Day 5 and Day 6- Cudillero, Aviles Cudillero is a beautiful coastal town, with houses built on the cliffs in a theater-like staircase. The nearby Silence Beach is a famous coast with beautiful scenery. Aviles is relatively unremarkable and is a transit point to the airport. 🧡【tips】： Other friendly reminders There are no Chinese cars available in the area, so if you need one, it is recommended to depart from Madrid~

📍Larrecha The restaurant we went to was a place that sold traditional Argentinean cuisine! The lady was so kind and the food was so delicious! We ate a traditional dish called arepa, which is a pancake-like bread with cheese and beef in it. It was really delicious!! The pancakes had something like corn in them!👍 #HongKongFlightEvent

Asturias captivates with its untamed beauty, boasting lush green landscapes, rugged mountains, and pristine beaches along its wild Atlantic coast. 🌿🏔️ #AsturiasBeauty #NaturalParadise

The Descent of the Sella is something more than the central celebration of the Asturian summer, it is also a popular test From the spring until the end of autumn, thousands and thousands of fans from all over the world practice in solid canoes, specially prepared to withstand a competition that lasts for months.#Descensodelsella The Descent of the Sella is something more than the central celebration of the Asturian summer, it is also a popular test From the spring until the end of autumn, thousands and thousands of fans from all over the world practice in solid canoes, specially prepared to withstand a competition that lasts for months.

#historicplaces