In this article, I retrace our roadtrip in Asturias, in the north-west of Spain. Here’s what’s on the agenda: the itinerary, the hikes, our favourite thigns and a list of all the places to visit!
One thing’s for sure, Asturias is far from a Spanish cliché! It even seems to have a little Breton or Scottish air about it: between cliffs and ocean as far as the eye can see, green mountains and Celtic culture. In short, if you’re looking for a Spanish destination that’s different from the ordinary while retaining the warmth and friendliness of the country, go for it!
👉See also : My Roadtrip in Galicia!
First trip in a converted van
This roadtrip to the north-west of Spain was our first in a converted van*. We rented our van via Yescapa, a private rental service for converted vans and travel trailers. We were really pleased with the service: it’s simple, practical and human! The owners of our van were friendly and attentive, even during the trip. Unfortunately we had a small problem on the way back (broken windows) but everything was easily sorted out with the Yescapa team (a word of advice when you rent a vehicle: insurance is essential!)
The van was the ideal option for discovering this part of Spain: vanlife is very widespread and we always found it very easy to find places to sleep in the middle of nature.
We had planned 5 days in Asturias! A little too short, because the region is really rich, especially for nature lovers and hikers, but we didn’t have the option of staying longer.
*Unfortunately, I won’t be able to give you any feedback on the accommodation for this trip.
For a trip that suits you and total freedom, rent a converted van Yescapa ! You’ll benefit from low rates and the security of a recognised platform.
Practical info
Capital of the Community: Oviedo
Main airport : Asturias airport, 40 km from Oviedo
Getting around The best way to explore the region is to rent a car.
Weather: The climate is naturally cooler and wetter than in the south of the country. It is more likely to be sunny from June to September.
How many days should you consider? 5 days to see the essentials, 10 to get the most out of the region (even more in summer if you want to spend some time relaxing on the beach).
Tourist information website in English here.
Discovering the Asturias: itinerary
⅓ of the territory is protected! For us nature lovers, it’s the ideal destination. There are plenty of hiking trails, and you can spot species such as brown bears that you won’t find anywhere else in Spain! There are also plenty of free-roaming cows and horses.
The two main cities are Oviedo and Gijon, but we decided to skip them and opted for natural areas and small villages to soak up as much of the local atmosphere as possible.
1st stop: Llanes
After a day on the road from Valencia to Asturias, our first stop was Llanes, a fishing village on the coast.
We spent our very first night at the Mirador de la Boriza and for a first night, we couldn’t have wished for anything better.
Even if you don’t stay for the night, I’d recommend stopping off at the Mirador, which offers a magnificent view of the coastline and an impressive sunrise and sunset. You can also head down to the beach below to catch a glimpse of some surfers.
You can also read: Villages in Asturias, the most beautiful places to visit
What to see in Llanes
- The paseo de San Pedro: a green walk along the coast leading down to the town’s port. The walk offers lovely views of the Cantabrian Sea (the sea and ocean meet a little further west ), with plenty of benches to enjoy the scenery.
- The town’s harbour and the Memoria cubos: a fairly traditional harbour almost entirely dedicated to fishing (we were lucky enough to see a fisherman bring in his catch of the day!). The harbour is marked out by very large cubes painted with geometric patterns.
- The old town: a stroll through the narrow streets is well worth it! There are many terraces with wooden tables in the narrow streets (known as “Chigres”, places where cider, a speciality of the region, is served).
- The bufones de Pria (there are others): geysers which, at high tide, rise violently through chimneys cut into the cliffs. Make sure you go when the tide is high, and even better if there’s a little thunderstorm brewing to make the most of the spectacle!
We ate at the Sidrerie El Bodegon, where the service was very friendly and the food was fresh and tasty!
2nd stop: Mirador del Fitu
Then off to the Mirador del Fitu! This is a former watchtower built in the 20th century, situated in the Sierra del Sueve at an altitude of 1100 metres. From here, you can see practically the whole region (if the fog isn’t too thick): Cantabrian Sea, high mountains, towns and valleys.
We found a place to sleep in a car park close to the mirador with a breathtaking view of the valley and the Picos de Europa in the distance. We stayed there for 2 nights. Be careful, though, as you may get woken up by some very curious cows and horses!
We didn’t venture into the Picos de Europea on this trip, but we did climb 2 small picos in the Sierra del Sueve: Pico Pienzu and Pico Moro.
Two hikes alongside semi-wild cows and horses! A truly incredible experience.
3rd stop: Cudillero
After having spend two days hiking in the Asturian countryside, we hit the road again to cross the province towards Cudillero, a charming little coastal village with colourful houses. It’s the most touristy place we’ve been in Asturias, but it’s clearly worth a visit, even more so out of season. The tour of the village is fairly quick, but if you want a drink or a bite to eat, allow 2 or 3 hours.
It is impossible to enter the village by car, but there is a free car park at the entrance, which is very easy to get to.
What to see in Cudillero
- Take a stroll through the village and admire the small, colourful houses.
- Take a photo at the entrance to the town in front of the letters CUDILLERO!
- Buy some gourmet souvenirs: cheese and tinned sardines.
- Climb to the La Garita viewpoint.
4th stop: Cabo Vidio
For our last stopover in Asturias, we wanted to sleep at a cape, a “cabo”! So off we went to Cabo Vidio. We slept on the edge of a cliff, almost alone. Despite the bad weather, the view was once again breathtaking! Whichever cape you choose, the view will always be breathtaking, whether it be cliffs or the ocean. There’s usually a lighthouse on each cape, so check it out too.
Good tip: we had a great breakfast in the village at Cai Milio.
Asturian culinary specialities
A trip without gastronomy? No, thank you! Here are a few specialities that you absolutely must try in Asturias:
- Cider: try it in a sidreria or chigre, a typical bar where this drink is served. The waiter will serve it to you by raising the bottle very high from the glass – a real spectacle! I have to admit that I was rather disappointed by the taste: not very sweet and not very sparkling, but it’s still worth trying.
- Fresh fried fish, seafood: in short, seafood!
- Tuna-filled empanadas.
- Cheeses: Asturias has almost 50 different cheeses (Cabrales, Gamonéu, Casín, etc.).
- Fabada: a type of regional cassoulet.
Some ideas for activities in Asturias
I hope I’ve inspired you to visit this magnificent region!
