Discover Asturias: mountains, cultural heritage and cider

Asturias brings together nature, rural inland areas and coastal towns, offering a range of landscapes and visitor experiences. Mountain scenery, cider and cultural heritage provide different focuses for a trip: Picos de Europa National Park reaches an altitude of 2,648 m at Torrecerredo in the Central Massif; the region’s cultural heritage also includes prehistoric cave art and pre-Romanesque architecture. Consider whether you want to spend most of your time enjoying nature, exploring history or discovering local traditions.

Mountain landscapes and natural areas

Picos de Europa National Park covers 646 km². In Las Ubiñas-La Mesa Natural Park, contrasting mountain landscapes meet peaks over 2,400 m high; the area is a biosphere reserve. Redes Natural Park is also a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Its landscape includes glacial features, karst caves, pastures and extensive forests. Wildlife found there includes brown bears, capercaillies, wolves, chamois and deer; sightings of these animals are not guaranteed.

Somiedo Natural Park was designated a biosphere reserve in 2000. Lago del Valle has a distinctive island and is considered the largest lake in Asturias. The village of Valle del Lago is regarded as the gateway to the lake, which lies about 6 km from the village. Check local access conditions before visiting. Altogether, protected areas cover more than a third of Asturias. The tourism authority also describes the Asturian coast as Spain’s best-preserved coastline.

Walking routes and trip planning

Picos de Europa National Park has guided routes and visitor centres at Casa Dago and Pedro Pidal; the availability of guided programmes may vary seasonally. The Cares Route is also among the routes listed in the national park. Another way to make landscapes the focus of your trip is the Camino Primitivo. It is regarded as the first recorded pilgrimage route to Santiago and runs through Asturias from Oviedo to Puerto del Acebo, covering a total of 145.6 km. The Hospitales variant is 141.9 km long. The Asturian section can be divided into seven stages, though other breakdowns are also possible.

A funicular provides access to Bulnes, crossing the mountain from Poncebos and making the village easier to reach. Check current operating conditions before travelling. This helps ensure that your chosen route and the journey to its starting point are part of a realistic plan.

Cave art, history and museums

Peña de Candamo Cave is one of the 18 decorated caves included in the UNESCO World Heritage property “Cave of Altamira and Paleolithic Cave Art of Northern Spain.” Another cultural landmark is the UNESCO World Heritage property “Monuments of Oviedo and the Kingdom of the Asturias”: it is associated with an innovative pre-Romanesque architectural style that emerged in the 9th-century Kingdom of Asturias.

The Virgin of Covadonga, known as the Santina and patron saint of Asturias, is venerated in the Santa Cueva of Covadonga. Thousands of people make a pilgrimage to her each year. The Royal Site of Covadonga and its lakes form a combined visitor destination where history, spirituality and nature are presented together.

The Ecomuseo de Somiedo presents rural ways of life, traditional crafts and the cultural landscapes created by local communities over time. It includes three dwellings with traditional broom-thatched roofs, known as “teitos de escoba”; tools and videos illustrate the work of craftspeople. At the Museo de la Minería y de la Industria de Asturias (MUMI), images, machinery, minerals, bibliography and themes in the sociology of work tell the story of mining in Asturias. Its “mina-imagen” recreates the inside of a mine, including the headframe. Individual visitors can enter the mine in groups formed at the museum; check access conditions before visiting.

The Museo del Jurásico de Asturias (MUJA) explores the history of the Earth and the lives of dinosaurs and other prehistoric reptiles across almost 2,500 m² of exhibition space. Displays include reproductions, skeletons and fossils; the garden features more than 39 life-size dinosaur replicas.

Cider and regional experiences

Asturian cider culture has been declared UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. It encompasses practices related to the production, distribution and consumption of natural cider. Visits to cider houses and apple orchards along the Ruta de la Sidra offer an insight into how it is made. They also include tastings of cider straight from the barrel and the chance to learn about the traditional pouring technique. The visits and activities on offer may vary by producer and season.

The Asiegu cheese dairy also offers a hands-on look at local production: the guided tour covers Cabrales cheese, the drying room and a natural ageing cave, and ends with a tasting. Check how to make a reservation before travelling. A visit to the La Malva hydroelectric power station can be arranged by appointment; the facility is suitable for families.

Choosing the right hotel location

Compare hotel locations based on the experiences you actually plan to enjoy, rather than assuming there is one convenient base for all of Asturias. Some visits, guided programmes and the funicular may be subject to scheduling or operating conditions; check these before your trip.

Discover more destinations: Tene, Llamoso, Carbes, Pedroveya, Amieva, Avilés, Belmonte De Miranda, Ribadesella, Comarca Del Nora, El Cuadro, Llanera, Candamo, Laviana, Cabranes, Peñamellera Baja, Villanueva De Oscos, Castrillón, Ribera De Arriba, Valdés, Pesoz, Morcín, Coaña, Allande, La Vega, San Martín De Oscos, Ponga, Ribadesella, Gijón, El Vallín, Carraluz, Meluerda, Gozón, Cabrales, Caso, Ponga, Carreño, Lena, Aller, Ibias, Tapia De Casariego, Sobrescobio, Siero, Santa Eulalia De Oscos, San Tirso De Abres, Salas, Parres, Soto Del Barco, Riosa, Piloña, Ribadedeva, Proaza, Pravia, Quirós, Campiellos, Candamo, Cangas De Onis, Miñagón, Cangas Del Narcea, Caravia, Castropol, Illano, Colunga, Corvera De Asturias, Cudillero, Degaña, El Franco, Grado, Grandas De Salime, Teverga, Langreo, Llanes, Mieres, Muros De Nalón, Nava, Navia, Noreña, Onís, Oviedo, Peñamellera Alta, Comarca Vaqueira, Taramundi, Rozagás, Prieres, Villayón, Otur, Villademoros, San Martín Del Rey Aurelio, Boal, Villaviciosa, Tineo, Cabo Peñas, Merás, Bodé, Ricabo, Caspio La Vega, Escobal, Careses, Cerredo, Les Maces, Vegadeo, Coviella, Celada, Montaña Central, Parque Histórico Del Navia, Comarca De La Sidra, Oriente De Asturias, Cabo Peñas, Camín Real De La Mesa, Soto De Ribera, Lloroñi, Muñas, San Martín de Bada, Tresano, Giranes, Jarrio, Endriga, Buelles, Buelna, Beloncio, Pimiango, Verdera, La Arquera, Llueves, Folgueras, Comarca del Nora, Cuadroveña, Cardoso, Villa, Muñón Cimero, La Robellada, Las Arenas, Pruneda, Camuño, Serantes, Helgueras, Coaña, Sinariega, Quejo, Riofabar, Tuiza de Abajo, Sotiello, Nevares, Loujedo, Premio, La Pedrera, Robledo, Valle del Nalón, Santo Adriano, Bajo Nalón, Asturias, Vaqueira.

For the broader travel overview: Spain.