Asturias
Asturias is a green region in northwest Spain, with mountains, an Atlantic coast, cider bars and dishes such as fabada and cachopo.
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Asturias is an autonomous community in northwestern Spain on the Cantabrian Sea. Oviedo is the regional capital and Gijón is the largest city. It is the most mountainous Spanish region, and most of its land is steep, so drives wind through the hills. The Picos de Europa National Park in the east holds the highest peaks, with Torrecerredo at 2,648 metres. Along the coast you will find beaches, coves, sea caves and fishing villages such as Cudillero.
Oviedo suits monuments and the Cathedral, Gijón suits beach days, and Llanes works for a summer resort stay. Food is central: fabada is a stew of white beans, pork shoulder, black pudding and chorizo, and cachopo is a stuffed beef dish. Cider is poured with the escanciado technique, held high to aerate it. The climate is mild and very wet, so pack for rain. Mountain snow is common from October to May. Winding roads make each drive slower than the map suggests, so leave extra time.
Asturias in five
- Rent a car, or pick one coastal baseVillages, beaches and the mountains are spread out, and buses are infrequent. Without a car, base in Oviedo or Gijón, where trains and coaches link the main towns.Where to stay
- Check access to the Covadonga lakesThe Lagos de Covadonga are a Picos de Europa highlight, and in busy periods the road is restricted to buses and permitted vehicles. Check the park's official page and arrive early.Picos de Europa
- Learn the cider ritualAsturian sidra is poured from a height into a wide glass, a small amount at a time, and drunk right away. Share a bottle, and expect the bartender to pour for you.
- Pack for rain, not just sunAtlantic weather brings showers in every season, and July to September are the driest months. Bring a waterproof, layers and shoes that handle wet paths.
- Continue west to GaliciaThe coast road leads past Ribadeo toward A Coruña, so Asturias pairs with Galicia on a longer northern loop.A Coruña travel guide
Neighborhoods
Gijón
- Price band: $$
Oviedo
- Price band: $$
Things to do in Asturias
See all attractions in Asturias
Need to know
- Airport
- Asturias (OVD), about 40 min by bus to Oviedo
- Getting there
- Madrid by train or bus about 4–5 hours
- Getting around
- Car for coast and mountains; trains and buses link Oviedo, Gijón, Avilés
- Best base
- Oviedo for culture, Gijón for beaches, Llanes or Cangas de Onís for the mountains
- Time needed
- 4–7 days for a coast-and-mountain loop
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Festival
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryRain14 rainy daysHigh12°Low4°Wet, mildJanuaryRain
Poor
- High
- 12°
- Low
- 4°
- Precipitation
- 145 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet, mild
- FebruaryRain12 rainy daysHigh13°Low4°Rain, quietFebruaryRain
Mixed
- High
- 13°
- Low
- 4°
- Precipitation
- 115 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rain, quiet
- MarchRain16 rainy daysHigh14°Low5°Windy, mildMarchRain
Mixed
- High
- 14°
- Low
- 5°
- Precipitation
- 116 mm
- Rainy days
- 16
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Windy, mild
- AprilRain15 rainy daysHigh16°Low7°Spring showersAprilRain
Good
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 7°
- Precipitation
- 108 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring showers
- MayRain16 rainy daysHigh18°Low9°Green, coolMayRain
Good
- High
- 18°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 115 mm
- Rainy days
- 16
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Green, cool
- JuneRain16 rainy daysHigh21°Low12°Longer daysJuneRain
Good
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 140 mm
- Rainy days
- 16
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Longer days
- JulyRain13 rainy daysHigh23°Low14°Driest, warmJulyRain
Best
- High
- 23°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 67 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Driest, warm
- AugustClear12 rainy daysHigh24°Low15°Warmest, busyAugustClear
Best
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 64 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warmest, busy
- SeptemberRain13 rainy daysHigh22°Low13°Warm, calmerSeptemberRain
Best
- High
- 22°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 89 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, calmer
- OctoberRain13 rainy daysHigh20°Low11°Showers returnOctoberRain
Good
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 117 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Showers return
- NovemberRain16 rainy daysHigh15°Low7°Rain, coolNovemberRain
Poor
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 7°
- Precipitation
- 156 mm
- Rainy days
- 16
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rain, cool
- DecemberRain14 rainy daysHigh13°Low5°Cool, lightsDecemberRain
Poor
- High
- 13°
- Low
- 5°
- Precipitation
- 130 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, lights
Average daily high and low in Gijón, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Festivals: Jul Interceltic Festival of Avilés
Right now in Asturias
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
8
- Feels like
- 7°
- Humidity
- 82%
- Wind
- 6 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 0%
Asturias
09:47 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today14°5°0%Monday: Cloudy. High 14°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Tue10°4°5%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 10°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 5%.
- Wed10°3°3%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 10°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 3%.
- Thu12°3°3%Thursday: Clear. High 12°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 3%.
- Fri14°1°18%Friday: Cloudy. High 14°, Low 1°. Chance of rain 18%.
- Sat16°3°38%Saturday: Drizzle. High 16°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 38%.
- Sun19°9°61%Sunday: Drizzle. High 19°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 61%.
Updated 06:06 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Every year
- JulInterceltic Festival of AvilésAsturias
- JulSemana Negra de GijónGijón, a day trip
Day trips by train
- Oviedoabout 30 min by train from GijónPre-Romanesque churches, a cathedral and a lively cider street.Read the guide
- Gijónabout 30 min by train from OviedoA beach city with a harbor, a hill and a cider district.Read the guide
- Picos de Europaabout 1–1.5 hours by car from OviedoGorges, lakes and limestone walls for a full hiking day.Read the guide
Before you go to Asturias
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Rules for Asturias, checked
- Spain is in the Schengen Area. Check your entry requirements on the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs site (exteriores.gob.es) before you fly.Source
- Non-EU visitors may be fingerprinted and photographed at the border under the EU Entry/Exit System. Check current rules before travel.
- Check the tide tables before you walk out to the Buelna rock formation on the coast path, and go at low tide.
- Camino pilgrims need a credencial to stay in albergues, and it should be stamped each day on the route.
Plan around Asturias
Cities, regions and entry rules for visitors
Read the guideOviedoPre-Romanesque churches and a lively old town
Read the guideGijónBeach city with a cider district
Read the guidePicos de EuropaLimestone peaks, lakes and gorge walks
Read the guideCantabriaThe coast to the east, with Santander and Santillana
Read the guideWhere to stay guidesBases compared city by city
Read the guideAsturias FAQ
How many days do you need in Asturias?
Four days cover Oviedo, Gijón and the coast, and six or seven let you add the Picos de Europa and a few villages. Without a car, stay at one base and use trains and tours.
Is Asturias worth visiting?
Yes for green coast, mountain walking and strong food, away from the heat and crowds of the south. It is less suited to guaranteed beach weather, since rain can fall in any month.
When is the best time to visit Asturias?
July to September are the driest and warmest, but also the busiest. June and September give lighter crowds. Winter is mild and wet, with snow in the mountains.
Do you need a car in Asturias?
For the villages, coves and mountains, yes. Between Oviedo, Gijón and Avilés, trains and buses work. A tour covers the Picos de Europa if you do not drive.
What is Asturias known for?
Cider, fabada bean stew, strong blue cheeses, green mountains and long sandy coves, plus pre-Romanesque churches around Oviedo. Order cider and a share plate rather than a full menu.