Asturias Tourism

Getting to Asturias

The only international airport in Asturias is about 40 kms from Oviedo near Avilés, and this has a regular Easyjet service from London Stansted as well as regular links with Madrid, Paris and Barcelona. The road from Santander has been upgraded so that it is now quite feasible to fly into the airport there – Ryanair have a regular service from Liverpool and Stansted – and then drive to the region. Some people enjoy the ferry voyage to Santander and then take the road into Asturias, which only takes about an hour nowadays.

The largest port in the region is at Gijón, although this tends to attract cruise liners rather than ferry ships.

The RENFE rail network successfully links both Oviedo and Gijón with the rest of Spain and, internally, the FEVE company runs the more localised train system. There is a fine bus service, the ALSA bus company, which links Asturias with other parts of Spain and provides thorough coverage of the whole region.

Main Tourist Destinations in Asturias

The two main cities of the region are Oviedo, the capital, and Gijón, the largest city. Oviedo is a clean and attractive city with some fine pre-Roman architecture and a fascinating old quarter. Gijón, altogether bigger and livelier, has a lovely area, Cimadevilla, near the port but it can get very crowded when there’s a cruise ship in town.

The Asturian coast has an abundance of still unspoilt picturesque fishing towns and hidden beaches. Places like Cudillero, Luarca and the Senda Costa, the coastal way between Llanes and Pendueles taking in some of the region’s most spectacular coastline, seem a million miles away from the more famous resorts on the Mediterranean coast.

Visitors to Asturias, however, tend not to come for the beaches – wonderful though many of them might be. The Picos de Europa National Park offers some of the very best walking and climbing country in the whole of Spain. Try to get a glimpse of Picu Urriellu at sunset – and then you’ll appreciate why it’s locally known as El naranjo de Bulnes as it glows orange in the evening sky. There’s also the idyllic area around the little town of Covadonga, right in the heart of the mountains and site of King Pelayo’s Virgin Mary inspired victory over the Moors that sparked the whole Reconquest. The lakes above the town, often cycled around during the Vuelta a España, are very popular walking areas.

Other attractive mountain towns or villages include Soto de Sajambre, Lebeña, Arenas de Cabrales and Arriondas but, as you drive along the spectacular mountain passes or walk along the many trails, you will discover many delightful gems of your own.

Local Tourist Activities in Asturias

Obviously walking is extremely popular in this part of Spain which offers a first class mix of forest, mountain and valley trails. Included amongst these is the French route of the Camino de Santiago, which passes through the length of Asturias on its way to Galicia. There are many trails of differing degrees of difficulty. During the winter, there are two areas which can provide excellent conditions in which to ski: Valgrande near Pajares and Asturleonés, in Aller. Both areas are well resourced with ski lodges and other facilities.

Asturias is also developing its reputation as a centre for adventure sports and activities. As well as mountain climbing, there are opportunities to do everything from hang-gliding to snowboarding and bungee jumping to archery and potholing.

The Rio Sella, in the east of the region, has developed an international reputation amongst those interested in canoes, with the famous International Descent being held at the beginning of every August. This is one of Asturias’ great salmon rivers, as well and it is possible for visitors to obtain permits to fish in several areas.

Local Asturian Festivals

The canoe and kayak race from Arriondas to Ribasdella that forms the Descent of the Sella is held on the first Saturday in August and is an exciting and spectacular event.

Every May, Asturians celebrate the Fiesta de la Ascension, which will have plenty of food, competitions and bull fights. Just about every community has its own special flavour to the festival. Slightly earlier in the year is Asturias Day, where the best parade and celebrations are probably in Gijón, which is also the site of one of Spain’s most influential film festivals, usually held in May.

Food and Drink in Asturias

In an area with so many fishing harbours, fish is a large part of the diet but probably the most renown Asturian dish is the enormously tasty fabada – a stew made with several varieties of beans, chorizo, pork and, often, anything else the cook decides to use up. This is Asturian comfort food at its finest.

Also popular is Carne Gobernada, a dish of beef and onions, often cooked in white wine and served with fried potatoes. Asturian cheese is famous throughout Spain, because of its quality and diversity.

The climate of Asturias is better suited for the production of apples rather than grapes and consequently cider is considered as the region’s ‘wine’. Don’t try and pour it out like a local waiter, though; they hold the bottle well above head height and pour the drink into a glass held near ground level. This is not just for show but because the cider is produced without gas and this puts some ‘fizz’ into it, apparently.