Spain’s green coastline is dotted with picturesque towns and cities. Here you’ll find miles of beautiful beaches, spectacular views, exciting cultural history and plenty of local life. Here are five must-visit cities in the overlooked region of Asturias.
Photo: Christian Grønne, PR
1 Gijón
Gijón is Asturias’ largest city with 272,000 inhabitants. From the main road into the city, you’ll be greeted by a gigantic tower belonging to the church of the city’s huge university complex, which serves as a signpost.
Universidad Laboral de Gijón, built in 1955 and today a Gijón landmark. At 270,000 square meters, the complex is the largest building in Spain. The complex, which consists of main buildings, church, theater and courtyard, was originally built as a center for orphans. Today it serves as a university and tourist office.
One of Gijón’s main attractions is the crescent-shaped San Lorenzo beach, located in the middle of the city with stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean. Stroll along the 3-kilometer long promenade with the locals, soak up the sun on the fine sand or jump in the waves.
At the end of the promenade is the old town of Cimadevilla, with the church of San Pedro at the end.
The charming neighborhood with winding streets, colorful houses and the Plaza Mayor as its center, also has a green park (Cerro de Santa Catalina) with beautiful sea views and a small harbor.
On the harbor is a modern sculpture, Árbol de la Sidra (Cider Tree), made from green cider bottles. It is a powerful symbol of the 45 million liters of cider produced in Asturias per year from locally grown apples. In the Old Town, you can sample cider and local dishes at the many cider restaurants.
Gijón is also home to the region’s folk museum, Muséu del Pueblu d’Asturias, which provides insight into Asturian culture.
2 Avilés
At the mouth of Avilés, the futuristic cultural center Centro Niemeyer rises up in stark contrast to the rest of the old industrial city.
Designed by Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer, the cultural center consists of four buildings. An organically shaped auditorium with a lemon yellow facade adorned with a sketch of a woman. There is also a domed building with exhibition spaces, a tower with a restaurant on top and an arch-shaped multifunctional space.
Centro Niemeyer was inaugurated in 2011 and here you can experience art exhibitions, concerts, theater and film. In the tower restaurant, Yume Gastro, where you dine well, you get great views of the city.
Cross the multi-colored bridge and you’ll arrive in Avilés Old Town. Here you’ll find charming squares and pedestrian streets with plenty of shopping opportunities. The pedestrian streets of Avilés are characterized by the many archways that hide shops and restaurants.
A good place to stop for a coffee is in Plaza de España, a pleasant square with the city hall and a few palaces.
You can also grab a coffee to go in the romantic Ferrera Park. Here you’ll find a balustrade that is the backdrop for a scene in Woody Allen’s movie Vicky Cristina Barcelona. The park is English-style and 81,000 square meters in size. It is located in the city center and was formerly the garden for the Ferrera awnings.
Also enjoy stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean from the Faro de Aviles lighthouse, a 10-minute drive from the city center.
Dating back to 1861, the lighthouse is so picturesque that it has been used as a location in several movies. This includes Woody Allen’s Vicky Cristina Barcelona, where the characters Juan and Vicky took a walk here.
3 Cudillero
The small, amphitheater-shaped fishing village of Cudillero is often compared to the towns on the Amalfi Coast. Its pastel-colored houses cascade down the cliffs towards the sea.
The postcard-like gem is said to have been founded by the Vikings. Many Spaniards come here to enjoy a lunch of the day’s catch at one of the many seafood restaurants. They are located around the Plaza de Marina square at the bottom of the city. I also recommend eating in the city for lunch, when most restaurants are open.
Climb the narrow, steep streets with lots of stairs to reach one of the city’s many viewpoints, Mirador San Juan, at the top of the city. It’s worth the effort.
Along the way, you may meet some of the locals who would love to have a chat. We met an elderly lady who told us that she hadn’t been out of her home for the last five years because Cudillero is difficult to access with its steep streets. She gets groceries delivered to her door.
Drive to the famous Cabo Vidio viewpoint at sunset. It is a 10-minute drive outside Cudillero. In this dramatic spot, the wind whips across the 100-meter-high cliffs that plummet into the sea. Here, several ships have been wrecked in the Bay of Biscay in stormy weather, yet the view is breathtaking in all its beauty and drama.
4 Llanes
Llanes is beautifully situated around a small harbor. Along the pier of the small harbor you will find the artwork “Los Cubos de la Memoria” (Memory Cubes). They are painted on concrete blocks that form the breakwater of the harbor.
Created by artist Ibarrola, the piece illustrates the cultural history of Llanes. In the city center you’ll find cultural heritage in the form of 300 meters of well-preserved 13th century city walls, a castle tower and the Basilica of Santa Maria del Concejo.
Fishing is important in Llanes, and the harbor area is dotted with restaurants where you can taste the catch of the day.
Gigantic colonial-style mansions from the 19. and The 20th century is sprinkled throughout Llanes.
The mansions are called “casas de los indianos” (Indian houses) and were built by locals who had become rich after immigrating to Cuba and Costa Rica. Back home, they built the mansions as a symbol of their success. Casino de Llanes in the city center is a fine example.
5 Lastres
Lastres belongs to the club of towns that have been called Spain’s most beautiful. The small fishing village is built on a hillside, where the white houses (with a few colored ones in between) hang like nests on the mountainside. The town has a small fishing and sports harbor. The fishing harbor is home to 50 fishing boats that catch around 400 tons of fish per year, and the harbor views can be enjoyed from most of the city.
The old city center was built from the 16th to 18th centuries and has an interesting combination of mansions, fishermen’s houses and charming squares.
The church of Santa María de Sábada is worth a visit. It dates from the 18th century in classic Baroque style, with a tower that functions as both a watchtower and bell tower.
The town’s small beach is ideal for a siesta in the sand or a dip in the sea. Also visit the San Roque viewpoint for breathtaking views of the coast and harbor.
Eat well
Seafood naturally plays a starring role in the gastronomy of the Asturian coastal towns, and you’ll have plenty of opportunities to find a good restaurant where you can taste the delights fresh from the sea. Here are a few of my recommendations, but feel free to try them out. There are so many great places to eat along the coast.
Yume Gastro in the tower of Centro Niemeyer in Aviles is a small restaurant with a focus on modern, creative gastronomy. Yume is run by a young couple who offer a few sophisticated, high-quality menus. You can enjoy them with a view of the Niemeyer complex. Book a table in advance.
Sidreria el Puerto in Llanes serves freshly caught seafood in a cozy setting right next to the fishing boats. The dishes are simple, classic and you can also taste the region’s famous cider.
Stay in Cudillero or Gijon
Casona de la Paca
This beautiful red “indianos” mansion turned boutique hotel is located on the outskirts of Cudillero. There are spacious rooms, cozy living areas and a lovely garden. The hotel serves a delicious homemade breakfast with eggs, good ham, cheese, sausage, bread, jam and pastries, and you can also pack a packed lunch for the trip.
Read more, see more photos and book here
Casona de la Paca, El Tolombreo, s/n
Hotel Abba Playa Gijon
Hotel Abba Playa is located a stone’s throw from San Lorenzo Beach and features modern rooms, a gastro bar, Turkish bath, sauna and gym. Ask for a room with a beach view and you can look all the way along the promenade from your room. A classic breakfast buffet is served and the hotel also has a gastro bar where you can enjoy a glass of wine and dishes such as burgers, salads, nachos and cheeses.
Read more, see photos and book here
Abba Playa Gijón, Paseo Dr. Fleming 37
More travel tips for Asturias
Be guided around the scenic area of Picos de Europa.
The capital of Asturias, Oviedo, is a must visit. Find inspiration in the Oviedo weekend guide and stay at one of Oviedo’s boutique hotels.
