Asturias, Spain

There are a great deal of activities and things to do in Asturias, Spain. Depending on which city you call your home base, your daily extravaganzas will vary slightly.

It is very easy to maneuver about the region of Asturias and you will always have access to exciting new things to do.

The main things to do in Asturias are go to the beach and enjoy the temperate climate while basking in the sun, visit the geysers and slew of sea caverns on the coast, visit the national parks and reserves, visit the cave systems inland, and partake in the many river activities that are offered.

Before getting into specifics about each town and the amenities the Asturias region has to offer, it is important to note the thing that Asturias is most famous for: its cheese.

Asturias is known as the País de Quesos, or Country of Cheese. The dairy products in this region, particularly the milk, cheese, and yoghurt are well renowned. One of the most notable cheeses on offer is cabrales (made from cow, goat, and sheep milk, it is a creamy blue cheese).

As a result, there is a cheese route you can travel on, where you can learn about the dairy products from the actual farms and visit ancient cave systems where the cheese is aged.

Speaking of cave systems, this is one of the most notable attractions that Asturias has to offer.

Most of these caverns are scattered throughout Asturias. But, with a car and Oviedo as your home base, everything is an hour or less away within the region itself.

Some of the more noteworthy cave systems to visit in Asturias include Cueva Pindal, Cueva de La Peña de Candamo, La Cuevona, etc. There are plenty of caves to visit, and you can go on your own and pay the small entrance fee (less than US$4, or free in some cases), or take a day trip as part of a tour.

You can see cave paintings, beautiful rock formations, learn about the history of the area and how the caves came to be, and it is a great outing for the whole family.

The prices will vary depending on what else the tour offers, but generally are anywhere between US$50 and US$100 per person (don’t forget to tip your guides).

Staying inland, Asturias, Spain, also offers amazing lake visits (the Covadonga Lakes), which you can visit at the same time as Cangas de Onís (a municipality part of the national park Parque Nacional de los Picos de Europa, as well as holding immense historical value and locations).

In the municipality of Cangas de Onís, you can see the first church built after the conquest of Iberia, and old stone bridges and buildings. You can also visit the nearby caves, the wildlife (notably brown bears, Cantabrian Chamois, or goat-antelopes, and various eagles and vultures), and partake in the local gastronomy found in the national park.

Heading back towards the coast of Asturias, be sure to stop by Oviedo and visit the old town full of wonderful architecture, having been changed and added onto throughout the centuries, and walk around to visit the beautiful churches.

But, once you get to Gijón or Avilés, you will be able to enjoy the beaches that you were promised on the Cantabrian Sea.

While Asturias may be heavily focused on nature’s bounty and the fun that comes with it, don’t forget to visit the local art museums, take a ghost story tour, or partake in the self-guided Sherlock Holmes Gijón city game.