Wondering if Asturias is worth visiting? Here are my favourite experiences that I think give this region of Northern Spain its special character and that I highly recommend adding to your itinerary.

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Is Asturias in Northern Spain Worth Visiting? Top Experiences Not to Miss

In my opinion, Asturias is one of the most beautiful areas in northern Spain and is absolutely worth visiting! I especially recommend this region to travelers who love nature and greenery and want to discover a more rural, traditional side of Spain, with fascinating landmarks, picturesque fishing villages, and delicious local comfort food.

In this post, I also want to dive into the details of what, in my opinion, makes Asturias so special and why I have revisited the region several times myself. I will share the places and experiences I loved the most and recommend not missing, as well as articles with tips and itineraries based on my personal trips to Asturias that might help you plan your own trip like a local.

You can find all my articles about Asturias on the blog under #Asturias.

Asturias in fall northen spain taramundi
Nature in Asturias

What is the Asturias famous for

While Asturias is one of the rainiest regions on the Iberian Peninsula, it is popular for its national park Picos de Europa and iconic hikes, such as the Ruta del Cares (one of the most famous trails in Spain).

The area is known for its emerald greenery, steep mountains, secret beaches, dramatic cliffs, and remote fishing villages. As the weather in Asturias can be quite unpredictable, you should always be prepared for occasional rain (take it from someone who has visited in different seasons) and make sure to bring layers.

Thanks to its endless greenery, Asturias is home to some of Spain’s most magical forests, including Robledal de Muniellos (the largest oak forest in Spain) and Hayedo de Montegrande. It is also home to Spain’s largest watermill museum in Taramundi and one of Europe’s largest collections of dinosaur footprints at MUJA (the Jurassic Museum of Asturias).

Asturias also holds a special place in the history of Christian Spain. It was here that the famous Reconquista began, following the Battle of Covadonga, when Christian forces started reclaiming territories from Muslim rule in the Iberian Peninsula. You can learn more about this fascinating period in my list of Spanish documentaries. Today, the Holy Cave of Covadonga and the Basilica of Covadonga are important religious landmarks that attract visitors and pilgrims from across Europe.

Asturias ALC covadonga spain bucket list
The Basilica of Covadonga
Watermills museum in taramundi asturias
Spain’s largest watermill museum in Taramundi, which we visited on this trip
dinosaurs museum in northern spain with children
The Dinosaur Museum of Asturias (MUJA), visited during this family-friendly Asturias itinerary

Food and what to eat in Asturias

Another famous aspect of travelling to Asturias is its local cuisine, known for hearty comfort dishes, soups, and stews. Many traditional Spanish desserts also have their origins in Asturias. You can read more about what to eat in Asturias in this post.

The region’s most typical drink is sidra (Asturian cider), and around Villaviciosa, you’ll find beautiful apple orchards that are an important part of the local cider-making tradition. It is one of the most popular food souvenirs to bring home from the region.

Fabada at home easy recipe
10+ Best Dishes Not to Miss in Asturias
Ripe Apples cider asturias northern spain
Apple orchards are a characteristic part of the Asturian countryside

Bucket-list tours to book in Asturias

Here are some of the best tours to prebook in Asturias if you want to explore the region with a local guide. Most tours in Asturias start either in its capital city, Oviedo, or in Gijon.

There is even a section of the famous Camino de Santiago route that crosses Asturias, although I have only walked the French Way from Sarria myself so far.

Below, you will find some of the most popular experiences to include in your Asturias itinerary.

Camino frances for first-timers
There is a section of the famous Camino de Santiago route that crosses Asturias

Top Reasons to Visit Asturias (and Why I Keep Returning)

1. Experiencing life in the Asturian countryside

One of the best ways to get an authentic taste of Asturias is to book a stay in the rural countryside. On my recent trip to Asturias, we stayed in a local house, Casa Cintha, with a child-friendly room, a terrace for breakfasts, and lots of books.

It was an experience in itself to arrive here after a long day of sightseeing and simply unplug, especially since the surrounding area is so quiet that the only sounds you hear are occasional rainfall and birds chirping.

You can find more cozy places to stay in different areas of Asturias on the map below, like Apartamentos Hacienda Llamabua, Hotel Los Caspios, Hotel El Babú, Hotel Rural Cantexos, Casona de El Castañíu, Apartamentos El Pedrayu, Casa Les Pedroses, Casas Rurales Prieto, El Prau la Iglesia I, and La Quintana de Marta.

Countryside accommodation in Asturias
On my recent trip to Asturias, we stayed in a local house, Casa Cintha
Staying in a local countryside house in Asturias in October and enjoying a good book on a rainy day
A rainy day in Asturias, spent reading at Casa Cintha
Rural spain asturias cows
Peaceful countryside landscapes surrounding the house

2. Visit the charming villages of Asturias

Another thing I love about Asturias is its local villages, most of which preserve colorful fishing houses, local recipes, traditional decorations, crafts, and the kind of rural life that much of Spain used to have before people started moving to larger cities.

Asturias still preserves something that has become increasingly difficult to find in other parts of Spain. So, if you are visiting the region by car, I would say that planning a road trip through its local villages is one of the best experiences in Asturias.

You can check out the full list of villages I recommend not missing in this post.

Cudillero Asturias Spain
Cudillero is one of the most colorful villages in Spain
luarca Asturias fishing village
Luarca
Taramundi spain house
Taramundi (you can get a glimpse of this village in my recent Asturias vlog)

3. Enjoy the stunning Asturian coast (wild beaches & dramatic cliffs)

Another thing I love about Asturias is its wild coastline, where you can enjoy some of Spain’s most dramatic cliffs and some of the most stunning beaches in the whole of northern Spain.

Yes, Asturias is rainy, and while you can occasionally get lovely weather and enjoy some sunshine on one of the local beaches, it is not a destination in Spain you would choose for a lazy beach holiday. But the coastline here is incredibly beautiful if you love raw, untamed nature.

During my first Asturias road trip, I completely fell in love with Playa de Torimbia. Since I visited on a rainy day, there was no one around, but I was later told that this beach is known as a nudist beach on sunny days. Other beaches in Asturias that are true natural wonders include Playa del Silencio, Playa de Gulpiyuri, Playa de Ballota, Playa de Rodiles, Playa Cuevas del Mar, Playa de Poo, Playa de Andrín, Playa de Penarronda, and Playa de Aguilar.

 On another recent trip to Asturias, I also fell in love with the coastal walk along the cliffs at Cabo Busto. The foggy, misty weather surrounding the area only made it more beautiful.

Reasons to visit asturias
Playa de Torimbia
Asturias Best Beaches Northern Spain: 3 Beaches to Awaken Your Wanderlust
Playa del Silencio
Cliffs in busto asturias northern spain
Coastal walk along the cliffs at Cabo Busto

4. Unique Museums and Landmarks in Asturias You Won’t Find Anywhere Else

Despite being famous for its natural wonders, Asturias is also home to some of the most unique landmarks in Spain. The Lakes of Covadonga, the Holy Cave of Covadonga, the Basilica, and the Roman Bridge of Cangas de Onis are all spectacular landmarks located relatively close to each other, making them easy to combine into one day trip.

MUJA, the Jurassic Museum of Asturias, has one of the largest collections of dinosaur footprints in Europe. In Oviedo, you will also find two wonderful museums with completely free admission, which we loved visiting on a recent trip: the Museum of Fine Arts and the Archaeological Museum. I highly recommend adding both to your Asturias itinerary.

But what really makes Asturias stand out in my opinion are its museums dedicated to local lifestyles and traditions, which make you feel as if you have stepped back into another era of life in Spain. Some examples include Museo de los Molinos de Mazonovo, Spain’s largest watermill museum; the Mining Museum; El Museo del Pueblo de Asturias; the Cider Museum; and the Railway Museum.

Beyond the endless greenery, you can also discover beautiful places filled with even more plants, such as Jardin Botanico Atlantico de Gijon, as well as more modern landmarks like Centro Cultural Niemeyer and the Fernando Alonso Museum.

I honestly love how combining historic sites with natural wonders makes every visit to Asturias such a memorable and varied travel experience. Especially when staying in the countryside, the region encourages you to slow down and unplug, while somehow still allowing you to return home with memories of places and experiences you won’t find anywhere else.

Watermills museum in taramundi asturias
Museo de los Molinos de Mazonovo
Basílica de Santa María la Real de Covadonga
Basílica de Santa María la Real de Covadonga
The Holy Cave of Covadonga in Asturias Spain
The Holy Cave of Covadonga in Asturias
Roman Bridge Cangas de Onis in Spain
The Roman Bridge in Cangas de Onis

5. Endless Hiking and Outdoor Adventures in Asturias

While everyone expects Asturias to show up in every article about hiking in Spain, thanks to the region being home to one of Spain’s oldest national parks, Picos de Europa, once you visit Asturias, you realize that this is just the tip of the iceberg. There are plenty of lesser-known trails that are no less spectacular, especially if the weather conditions during your visit are not ideal for exploring Picos de Europa, as heavy rain and thick fog can sometimes make hiking there impossible.

On our recent trip, we absolutely loved hiking the Ruta del Agua in Taramundi. The trail took us through the woods, which, in October, were full of beautiful autumn foliage, mushrooms, and even huge snails.

Fall foliage forest in asturias with kids
Ruta del Agua in Taramundi
Hiking in asturias with kids ruta del agua
Hiking in Taramundi (you can see more views from this hike in my Asturias vlog)
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Asturias is definitely one of the best places to enjoy autumn foliage in Spain

For the record, Asturias officially has 9 nature reserves, 39 natural monuments, and 9 other protected landscapes, making it one of the best hiking destinations in Europe.

Below, I am leaving you links to some of the most popular trails on Wikiloc to enjoy in Asturias, whether you are visiting the region specifically for hiking or simply want to choose a trail to add to your Asturias itinerary:

If you want to experience some of the adventurous activities and natural wonders of Asturias in the company of a local guide, here are some of the most popular tours to add to your itinerary, so you don’t have to worry about following a GPS to find your way:

Asturias Spain Covadonga Lakes
When I visited the Lakes of Covadonga in July, I was unlucky with the weather
Beautiful park and garden in Gijon asturias
Jardin Botanico Atlantico de Gijon

Travelers I especially recommend visiting Asturias

While Asturias is the Spanish region I love and keep returning to myself (and I honestly think everyone should visit at least once), I feel it is an especially great match for travelers looking for a green, quiet nature getaway. It is perfect for those who live in big cities and want to slow down and unplug, while still enjoying interesting historical landmarks, particularly those connected to local lifestyles, history, and traditions.

I would also recommend Asturias to travelers who want to avoid Spain’s crowded, mainstream tourist destinations and experience somewhere that still feels genuinely local and authentic, from traditional rural house stays to hearty local comfort food.

It is also a wonderful destination for travelers who prioritize raw natural beauty over consistently sunny and comfortable weather and don’t mind occasional rain. The gloomy, misty landscapes surrounding its countryside fields, dramatic cliffs, and green forests have a special kind of charm that is difficult to find elsewhere.

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is asturias worth visiting

For more Spain travel tips check out my Pinterest board Spain Travel Collection and Flipboard Travel to Spain.

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