Picos de Europa
Limestone peaks in northern Spain, with the Cares Gorge, lakes near Covadonga and a cable car above Fuente Dé.
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Picos de Europa is a limestone mountain range in northern Spain, spanning Asturias, Cantabria and Castile and León. Most of it lies inside Picos de Europa National Park. Visitors come for the Cares Gorge, a walking route between high rock walls that links Caín and Poncebos, and for the lakes of Covadonga, reached by road from Cangas de Onís. From the Cantabrian side, the Teleférico de Fuente Dé climbs toward the peaks. Asturian villages are known for Cabrales cheese and cider.
The range is spread out, and the roads between its Asturian, Cantabrian and León sides are long, so most visitors pick one area as a base. Potes and Cangas de Onís are two towns people use as a base. Late spring to early autumn is the practical season for high trails. Plan at least three nights to cover one gorge and one lake area without rushing.
Picos de Europa in five
- Pick one side of the range and stay thereThe massifs span three regions, and driving between valleys takes hours. Choose Cangas de Onís for Covadonga, Arenas de Cabrales for the Cares gorge or Potes for Fuente Dé.
- Walk the Cares Route early in the dayThe gorge path from Poncebos to Caín runs about 11–12 km one way. It is narrow and shared, so start early in summer and plan how you get back before you set off.
- Ride the Fuente Dé cable car before the queuesIt lifts you roughly 750 m above Fuente Dé near Potes. Late-morning queues build in summer, so go first thing and check the operator's site for hours and tickets.
- Check access to the Covadonga lakes before drivingIn busy periods the road up to Lakes Enol and Ercina can be limited for private cars, with a bus from Cangas de Onís. Look at the park's official page the day before.Asturias
- Hire a car or book a guided dayBuses link the main villages but rarely reach trailheads on a useful schedule. A car gives you freedom; a guided day removes the parking and return-transport puzzle.
Things to do in Picos de Europa
See all attractions in Picos de Europa
Need to know
- Airport
- Asturias (OVD) or Santander (SDR), then a car
- Getting there
- Car from Oviedo or Santander in about 1–2 hours; limited buses
- Getting around
- A car, or local buses and taxis between villages
- Best base
- Cangas de Onís, Arenas de Cabrales or Potes
- Time needed
- 3–4 days
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryRain16 rainy daysHigh12°Low6°Cold, snow up highJanuaryRain
Poor
- High
- 12°
- Low
- 6°
- Precipitation
- 151 mm
- Rainy days
- 16
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, snow up high
- FebruaryRain13 rainy daysHigh14°Low7°Snow up highFebruaryRain
Mixed
- High
- 14°
- Low
- 7°
- Precipitation
- 118 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Snow up high
- MarchRain17 rainy daysHigh14°Low8°Cool, wetMarchRain
Mixed
- High
- 14°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 126 mm
- Rainy days
- 17
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, wet
- AprilRain15 rainy daysHigh16°Low9°Spring flowersAprilRain
Good
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 101 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring flowers
- MayRain16 rainy daysHigh18°Low11°Green, mildMayRain
Good
- High
- 18°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 103 mm
- Rainy days
- 16
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Green, mild
- JuneRain16 rainy daysHigh21°Low15°Hiking opensJuneRain
Best
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 105 mm
- Rainy days
- 16
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hiking opens
- JulyRain14 rainy daysHigh23°Low17°Busy, warmJulyRain
Best
- High
- 23°
- Low
- 17°
- Precipitation
- 73 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Busy, warm
- AugustClear12 rainy daysHigh24°Low17°Hottest, busiestAugustClear
Best
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 17°
- Precipitation
- 78 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hottest, busiest
- SeptemberRain14 rainy daysHigh22°Low15°Quiet trailsSeptemberRain
Best
- High
- 22°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 120 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Quiet trails
- OctoberPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh20°Low13°Autumn colorOctoberPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 115 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Autumn color
- NovemberRain17 rainy daysHigh15°Low10°Cold, wetNovemberRain
Poor
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 181 mm
- Rainy days
- 17
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, wet
- DecemberRain15 rainy daysHigh13°Low8°Short daysDecemberRain
Poor
- High
- 13°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 142 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Short days
Average daily high and low in Cangas de Onís, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Picos de Europa
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
4
- Feels like
- 2°
- Humidity
- 96%
- Wind
- 4 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 38%
Picos de Europa
01:57 AM
Tuesday, November 3
- Today-2°-5°38%Tuesday: Snow. High -2°, Low -5°. Chance of rain 38%.
- Wed-1°-8°10%Wednesday: Cloudy. High -1°, Low -8°. Chance of rain 10%.
- Thu1°-6°3%Thursday: Clear. High 1°, Low -6°. Chance of rain 3%.
- Fri3°-5°14%Friday: Cloudy. High 3°, Low -5°. Chance of rain 14%.
- Sat8°0°30%Saturday: Drizzle. High 8°, Low 0°. Chance of rain 30%.
- Sun9°2°76%Sunday: Drizzle. High 9°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 76%.
Updated 09:36 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
What's on in Picos de Europa
Concerts, festivals and big events in and around the city
Events calendarEvery year
- JanLa VijaneraCantabria, a day trip
- Jul–AugFestival Internacional de SantanderSantander, a day trip
- JulInterceltic Festival of AvilésAsturias, a day trip
- JulSemana Negra de GijónGijón, a day trip
Day trips by train
- Santillana del Marabout 1–1.5 hours by carA medieval stone village near the Altamira cave museum.Read the guide
- San Vicente de la Barqueraabout 1 hour by car from PotesA fishing harbor with beaches and a view back to the peaks.Read the guide
- Oviedoabout 1–1.5 hours by road from Cangas de OnísAsturias's capital, with a pre-Romanesque church trail.Read the guide
Before you go to Picos de Europa
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Rules for Picos de Europa, 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 travelers are fingerprinted and photographed at the border under the EU Entry/Exit System. Check the European Commission's EES page for current rules.
- Wild camping and open fires are restricted in the national park. Check the rules with the park authority before you pitch a tent or light a stove.Source
- Mobile signal drops in the gorges and high valleys. Tell someone your route and expected return time, and call 112 in an emergency.
Plan around Picos de Europa
Regions, trains, entry rules and money for the whole country
Read the guideAsturiasCoast, cider country and the Covadonga side of the Picos
Read the guideCantabriaBeaches, fishing towns and the Liébana side
Read the guideSantillana del MarA medieval village an hour's drive from Potes
Read the guideGetting around SpainCar or bus: how to cover northern Spain without a rental
Read the guidePicos de Europa FAQ
How many days do you need in the Picos de Europa?
Three days gives you one big walk, the Covadonga lakes and a cable-car morning. Four days is more relaxed, especially if you cross between Asturias and Cantabria. A single day only touches one valley.
Do you need a car in the Picos de Europa?
Almost always. Buses link villages but not trailheads on useful times. Without a car, base in Cangas de Onís or Potes, join a guided day or use taxis for the Cares Route.
Is the Cares Route hard?
It is not technical, but it is long and exposed at points, with a drop beside the path. Allow a full day out and back, wear proper shoes and avoid it in storms or after heavy rain.
What is the best time to visit the Picos de Europa?
June and September give the best mix of open paths and fewer crowds. July and August are busiest. Snow can close high routes into late spring, and autumn colors peak in October.
Can you see the Picos de Europa as a day trip?
From Santander or Oviedo, yes, but it is a lot of driving for one valley. A day trip suits Covadonga or Fuente Dé, not both. Sleep one night close by if you can.