Oviedo is the capital of neighbouring Asturias, a compact city built around a Gothic cathedral and known for a scattering of small pre-Romanesque churches from the 9th-century Asturian kingdom, a style unique to this corner of Spain. It's also a cider town, with a street of sidrerias where cider is poured from height in the traditional escanciado pour. Given the distance, this is a long day trip best justified by the train journey itself as much as the destination.
| Distance | 195 km from Santander |
|---|---|
| Travel time | 2 h 30 min by FEVE train (scenic) or 2 h by car |
| Address | Plaza de Alfonso II el Casto s/n, 33003 Oviedo, Asturias |
How to get there
- Mode
- FEVE coastal train
- Duration
- 2.5–3 h (scenic)
- Price
- €15 (~$16)
- Info
- From Santander FEVE station, Calle Rodríguez; renfe.com
- Mode
- ALSA bus
- Duration
- 2 h
- Price
- €12–18 (~$13–19)
- Info
- alsa.es, frequent daily departures
- Mode
- Car
- Duration
- 2 h
- Route
- A-8 motorway west
Location
Plaza de Alfonso II el Casto s/n, 33003 Oviedo, Asturias
43.3614, -5.8497 View on map
Highlights
- Catedral de San Salvador - Oviedo's Gothic cathedral, with the Camara Santa chapel holding early medieval relics and reliquaries
- Iglesia de Santa Maria del Naranco - a 9th-century pre-Romanesque royal hall turned church on a hill outside the center, one of the style's best-preserved examples
- Calle Gascona - the cider street, lined with sidrerias serving Asturian cider poured from a height
- Casco Antiguo - Oviedo's old town squares and arcaded streets around the cathedral
- Mercado El Fontan - the covered market square for a look at local produce, near the old town