Outside Oviedo – Oviedo & Asturias, Spain Travel Guide

Luarca: The port in the fishing village of Luarca.

Outside Oviedo

Gijon
A quick 20-minute bus ride to the north of Oviedo, Gijon is a coastal city slightly larger and more hectic than the Asturian capital. Just wandering along the beach and various parks in the city is a pleasant way to pass the day, but there is also plenty more to see. Here are some of the key places to visit:

The roman baths located on the western end of Playa de San Lorenzo
Jovellanos Museum featuring Gijon artists
Church of San Pedro
Railroad Museum of Asturias
Asturian Ethnographic museum
Bagpipe Museum featuring a collection of instruments from all over the world.
La Campa de Torres Natural and Archeological Park containing the ruins of an ancient pre-Roman town.
El Parque de Isabel La Catolica, the largest park in Gijon

Nightlife in Gijon is similar to that in Oviedo; in fact many University students travel to Gijon on the weekend for a change of scenery. The most popular places to go out are situated along the beach or just off the beach main drag. El Nautico, a group of clubs located right off of Playa San Lorenzo, is particularly popular and usually goes strong until the sun comes up, and then some.

For maps and more information visit the tourist office located right on the San Lorenzo beach, the main beach of Gijon.

Llanes, Luarca, Lastres, Aviles
These small coastal towns are great representatives of the small fishing villages that scatter the Asturian coast. There are, however, numerous villages to explore, and many are usually less than a two-hour train ride from Oviedo. Plus, they are great places to try out some delicious seafood.

Picos de Europa
This mountain range is one of the most prized possessions of Asturias not only because of the impressive beauty of the jagged peaks, but also because of its historical importance in protecting the Spanish from the Moorish invasion. Situated high among the peaks is the sacred haven of Covadonga, home to the Covadonga Basilica and the temple of the Virgin of Covadonga, the patron saint of the region. Continuing up the road from these monuments are the Lakes of Covadonga, probably the most impressive part of the area. There’s a better chance of being able to make it up to the lakes on a clear day, of which there are unfortunately few during much of the year. Other days the lakes are covered with a fog so thick that it’s impossible to make it to the top.

Just below Covadonga is the town of Cangas de Onis, the original capital of the Asturian region that’s also worth a bit of exploring and checking out the 12th century Roman bridge at the city’s entrance. All of these places can feasibly be visited in one day, but you may want to dedicate more time to the Covadonga lakes if weather permits.

San Isidro
If you’re in Asturias during the winter or spring, skiing in San Isidro may be an appealing option. The resort may not be the best of the best, but it’s enough of a mountain to get a bit of skiing in if you don’t have time to head to the Pyrenees, or the Alps for that matter. San Isidro is small, with two lifts and, depending on the day, fairly decent snow. If you have your own skis it’s all the better, but if not you can rent on the spot, although I recommend trying everything on before heading up the mountain. Pajares is another ski resort that I heard was also decent, but I never had the chance to check out. It is a bit farther from Oviedo but may be worth the trek.

Questions?
If you want more information about this area you can email the author or check out our Europe Insiders page.

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