Asturias is an autonomous community on Spain's rugged northern coast, bordered by the Cantabrian Sea to the north and the Cantabrian Mountains to the south. Known as the 'Natural Paradise,' the region combines dramatic cliffs, emerald valleys, medieval villages, and the towering peaks of Picos de Europa National Park. Its Celtic heritage, distinctive cider culture, world-class seafood, and UNESCO-listed pre-Romanesque monuments make it one of Iberia's most rewarding destinations for independent travelers.
Top attractions
The most popular and significant attractions in Asturias.
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1
Picos de Europa National Park
Spain's first national park spans limestone peaks rising abruptly from the Cantabrian coast, split across Asturias, Cantabria and Castilla y León. The Asturian side centers on the Cares Gorge and the Fuente Dé-adjacent Naranjo de Bulnes massif, with jagged summits that stay snow-capped into early summer. Most visitors experience it via day hikes or the Covadonga lakes road rather than serious mountaineering.
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2
Oviedo Cathedral (Catedral de San Salvador)
Oviedo's cathedral mixes Gothic construction with an older core, but its real significance is the Cámara Santa, a pre-Romanesque chamber built to house relics including the Sudario (Holy Shroud relic) and the Cross of the Angels, both tied to the Asturian kingdom's early medieval prestige. The cathedral museum displays these and other treasury pieces. Because Oviedo was a royal seat before the Reconquista pushed south, the building carries weight beyond its architecture.
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3
Covadonga Sanctuary & Picos Lakes
Covadonga is where, by tradition, Pelagius's Asturian forces halted the Muslim advance in 722, an event later mythologized as the start of the Reconquista. The basilica and grotto sit at the base of the mountains, while a mountain road climbs from there to Lake Enol and Lake Ercina, two glacial lakes used as trailheads for Picos hikes. The site pairs a national origin story with genuinely striking high-mountain scenery.
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4
Cave of Tito Bustillo
This cave near Ribadesella holds Upper Paleolithic paintings and engravings, primarily horses and other animals, dated to roughly 14,000-18,000 years ago, and is part of the UNESCO-listed group of Cantabrian cave art alongside Altamira. Because the original cave is fragile, visits are limited and the on-site interpretation center explains the art's context and techniques before or after entry. It's a genuine prehistoric site, not a replica experience.
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5
Santa María del Naranco
Built around 848 under King Ramiro I on a hillside above Oviedo, this building is one of the finest surviving examples of Asturian pre-Romanesque architecture, likely constructed as a royal hall rather than a church. Its barrel-vaulted upper hall, open loggias and carved medallions predate Romanesque style elsewhere in Europe by more than a century. Nearby San Miguel de Lillo, from the same royal complex, can be visited on the same trip.
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6
Ruta del Cares (Cares Gorge)
This roughly 12-kilometer trail (one-way from Poncebos to Caín, on the Castilla y León side) follows a walkway and tunnels carved into the gorge wall above the Cares River, built originally to service a hydroelectric channel. The path clings to sheer limestone cliffs with the river far below, making it one of the most exposed but non-technical walks in the Picos. Most hikers walk in and back rather than arranging transport for a one-way trip.
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7
Somiedo Nature Reserve
A UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in the western Asturian mountains, Somiedo is known for its brown bear population, glacial lakes (the Lagos de Saliencia and Lagos del Valle), and traditional 'brañas' — clusters of round-roofed stone-and-thatch herders' huts (teitos) still used for seasonal cattle grazing. It's a working pastoral landscape rather than a curated park, so trails pass through active grazing land and small villages like Pola de Somiedo and Valle de Lago.
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8
Cudillero Fishing Village
Cudillero is a working fishing port built into a steep coastal amphitheater, with brightly painted houses stacked up the hillside above a small harbor. Unlike some larger Asturian coastal towns, its fishing fleet is still active, and the layout — narrow stepped streets funneling down to the port — reflects the site's geography rather than tourism design. It's compact enough to see on foot in a couple of hours.
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9
Centro Niemeyer (Avilés)
This cultural complex on the banks of the Avilés estuary was designed by Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer as his only major work in Spain. Its sweeping white concrete forms — a dome, a tower, a curved auditorium, and an open plaza — sit on land reclaimed from the town's former industrial port. It hosts film screenings, exhibitions, and performances rather than a single permanent collection.
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10
Playa de Gulpiyuri
Gulpiyuri is a small beach that sits inland, cut off from the open sea by a band of meadow and rock. Seawater reaches it through underground channels carved into the limestone coast, so the tide rises and falls in what looks like a landlocked pool a short walk from the cliffs. It's protected as a natural monument rather than developed as a conventional swimming beach.
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Practical information
What you need to know before you go.
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Tips for visiting attractions
Make the most of your sightseeing time.
Visit popular attractions early in the morning or late in the afternoon to avoid crowds and harsh midday light.
Book tickets online in advance for major attractions to skip long queues and sometimes save money.
Many cities offer multi-attraction passes that include public transport. Calculate whether they save you money based on your itinerary.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a car in Asturias?
For major cities (Oviedo, Gijón, Avilés), buses and trains suffice. For Picos de Europa, Somiedo, and rural villages, a rental car is essential.
Is Asturias in Spain or a separate country?
Asturias is an autonomous community of Spain, not a separate country. It uses the Euro and has the same visa requirements as the rest of Spain.