Alluring Asturias Spain:
Why should you add this off the beaten path region in the north to your Spain travel itinerary?
Originally published April 23, 2020. Updated February of 2024
All images are courtesy of the Spain Less Traveled team, unless otherwise stated.
Asturias, in the north of Spain, is truly Spain Less Traveled.
It’s not a region that appears on the commonplace Spain travel itinerary, but it should! Since many people come to Spain during the summer months, when most of the country (especially Andalucía) is oppressively hot, the north is cooler and less crowded. And a visit to Asturias Spain will show you a completely different part of the country.
Let us help you design a Spain itinerary that takes you to this magical corner of Spain.
Where is Asturias Spain?
Asturias is part of Northern Spain. Unlike neighboring Galicia, there aren’t any separate provinces in Asturias. Below is a map of Spain. It is the small blue sliver in far northern Spain, on the Cantabrian sea.
Image: VectorStock
Here are some reasons why you should include Asturias on your Spain travel itinerary
Pouring Sidra in Lastres, Asturias.
The food and drink
Asturias Spain is known to have some of the best food in Spain, but not like nearby (and more famous) Basque Country, Asturian cuisine is a better kept secret. Asturian food is hardy, a perfect compliment to the rough seas and cooler temperatures of the region.
Seafood heavy, thanks to Asturias’ location on the Cantabrian Sea, meat lovers will also rejoice in Cachopo (basically breaded meat on meat on cheese) as well as the rich fabada stew.
Known for its cheeses as well, the most famous being cabrales from the Picos de Europa region. Blue, pungent, and veiny, cabrales is a great addition to every Asturian dish.
Asturias is not a wine region. Instead, it is famous for its sidra, which is hard sider. Part of the fun is watching the local tradition of pouring it, from up high, the aim is important. There is even a festival held yearly to celebrate the traditions of Asturian sidra.
The region’s capital of Oviedo is the perfect place to try all of the Asturian food. There is even a street dedicated to it. Read on for more
The “larger” cites of Asturias Spain
(And by “larger, we are talking between 79,000 to 270,000 people, maximum. These aren’t Madrid, Barcelona, or New York City sized cities!)
Let’s start with Oviedo, my personal favorite city in Asturias, one that I often include on a Northern Spain travel itinerary for clients wanting to visit the north of Spain.
Oviedo’s historic center is colorful and charming. The cathedral, one of the top cathedrals in Spain, is an interesting mix of Gothic architecture, Romanesque architecture, Baroque architecture, and. Renaissance architecture.
Make sure to visit the market, El Fonton, to buy some of Asturias’ famous food products to bring home with you. This is one of the top markets in Spain.
And of course, Calle de Gascona, is Oviedo’s famous street to eat. Lined with restaurants, you can try every Asturian specialty within a span of a block or two. The sidra barrel welcomes you to the entrance of the street.
Those who are familiar with the Mafalda comic will be happy to know that you can go visit Mafalda, in statue form, in the city’s Campo de San Francisco park.
Oviedo’s charming historic center.
Oviedo’s charm is unbeatable, and I can spend hours wandering around the historic center. And it’s where I like to be based for a few days on any Asturias trip, especially if I don’t have a car.
Gíjon and Avilés are Asturias’ other cities.
Gijón, being the largest city in Asturias, because of that, it’s also connected to public transportation. Gijón, is grittier than Oviedo, is known for its maritime past and the old fishermen’s quarter of Cimadevilla. The city’s urban beach Playa de San Lorenzo, is one of the most beautiful urban beaches in Spain.
Therefore travelers wanting coastal access, as well as easy transportation, might consider Gijón as a base as well.
Asturias’s third largest city, Avilés boasts Centro Niemeyer a cultural art center complex designed by Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer. It makes for a unique modern landmark in the city. This is in stark contrast to the city’s medieval centre.
(For more about smaller and regional cities of Spain check out our top 20+ picks!)
A few Small Towns you can visit on your Northern Spain travel itinerary
While Oviedo is one of Spain’s best kept secrets in terms of cities, the real heart of Asturian life is in its small villages. It’s hard to choose just a few, but here are some of my handpicked favorite towns in Asturias Spain.
Cudillero, pictured as the header above, is a coastal town. Colorful houses basically cascade right into the town’s small harbor. Walk along the town’s narrow walkways, a car-free zone, on a hill. Cudillero is especially beautiful when the sun comes out, illuminating the colorful town, deep green/blue sea, and the green hills of Asturias in a beautiful glow of light.
Want even more of a reason to visit Cudillero? It was added to the list of most beautiful villages in all of Spain, the famous list of pueblos más bonitos de España.
There are three charming coastal towns, all starting with the letter “L:” From east to west they are Llanes, Lastres, and Luarca.
In western Asturias, not far from the border with Cantabria, is the town of Llanes. The town itself has a medieval tower and some interesting modernista architecture (the casino specifically). It’s also a good spot for a meal with several restaurants serving up Asturian favorites to choose from.
Luarca’s colorful harbor. (Photo by Karen Rosenblum)
Heading west, Lastres should be included on your Asturias travel itinerary. It’s on the list of the most beautiful towns in Spain. Simply walking around the small village is delightful. Above town, don’t miss the mirador where you can get a bird’s eye view of the town and the Cantabrian sea.
Finally, further west is Luarca. Famous for its seafaring tradition, seafood lovers will want to have lunch or dinner here at one of the local restaurants surrounding the colorful port. Divided in half by the Río Negro, but connected by narrow bridges, this is another great town to explore on foot.
My favorite pueblo of Asturias nestled in the Picos de Europa mountains is Arenas de Cabrales. This is where Asturias’ cabrales, a pungent blue cheese, comes from. The town itself is quite charming and very rural. A slow paced pueblo surrounded by green mountains, Arenas de Cabrales is a good pit stop for hikers, cyclists and drivers alike. Nearby you can visit the famous cheese caves to see how cabrales cheese is made. And yes! There are samples!
Or how about a town only accessible by hiking and a long funicular? Welcome to Bulnes where you can truly discover Spain off the beaten path. There are no cars in the town as there are no roads. The funicular is managed by ALSA, one of Spain’s largest bus companies, it also transports goods from the base of the mountain up Bulnes. For passengers, the ride to the top (and then back down) only takes seven minutes.
(Update! Like Cudillero, Bulnes was added to the list of most beautiful villages in Spain / pueblos más bonitos de España in 2021. Even more reason not to miss it!)
Asturias is a natural wonder (Sea, beaches, and mountains)
Asturias Spain is nicknamed Paraíso Natural, which means “natural paradise” in English. With tall mountains and rugged coastline in a compact area, it’s no wonder that hikers, cyclists, and nature lovers consider Asturias to be one of their favorite destinations in Spain.
The coastline in Asturias is called the Costa Verde, and verde (green) it is. This is not the sunny Mediterranean. This is the moody Sea of Cantabria and it can be stormy and chilly, even in the summer months. But that is in part what makes it so beautiful. And unlike other coastal areas in Spain, there is very little mass tourism on Asturias’ beaches. The coastline here is rugged and accessing the beaches often requires a little hiking/walking.
Playa del Silencio would be my vote for most beautiful beach in Asturias. And the views during the walk down are amazing.
Overlooking Playa del Silencio in between storms.
For something smaller and chiller, yet a bit more accessible, Playa de la Franca near Llanes is a good bet. Finally, not far from Llanes is Playa de El Sablón. I love the sandy beach and the little coves.
If it’s the mountains you crave, Asturias is your answer. Two of my favorite mountainous areas are the Picos de Europa National Park (Spain’s oldest national park) and the Somiedo area.
The Picos de Europa area is great for hiking too!
Somiedo is much more remote and harder to access. But it is worth it for its uncrowded trails (even in the summer months), lakes, and very rural life. Your phone will probably lose signal here. That is how remote Somiedo is.
Some ways to weave Asturias Spain into your Spain travel itinerary
There are several ways to make Asturias a part of your Spain travel itinerary during a short trip to Spain
Spend the entire time in Asturias Spain. Especially if you are coming in the summer months. To really get a feel for Asturias, you could easily spend 7-14+ days exploring the region on its own.
Plan a Northern Spanish road trip visiting Asturias as part of a larger northern Spain travel itinerary along with nearby less traveled gems of Cantabria and/or Galicia.
Spend part of your “tour of Spain travel itinerary” in Asturias. There are regular trains, busses, and flights to Oviedo and Gijón to and from Madrid. However, it is not a short trip (5-6 hours by train or bus or an hour long flight, but factor in time to get to and from the airports and to be at the airport a few hours in advance).
While there is some public transportation, especially between the cities, I recommend having a car in Asturias for flexibility as well as for getting off the beaten path.. If not, you could use Oviedo or Gijón as a but be sure to check bus and train schedules as transport does not run as regularly.
Handcrafting a Spain travel itinerary just for you is something I’d love to help you with. Regardless of how many days you have in Spain you can visit Asturias with a bit of planning and strategizing. Check out some of the travel services we offer, and let us know how we can help you too!
Lastres from the mirador.
If you loved this, you might like our other in depth guides by region.
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