There is one certainty to keep in mind above all else while planning a vacation to Asturias, Spain:
You can’t control the weather.
That’s not to say I didn’t try. But as my boyfriend and I planned our Easter vacation to this a small region of northern Spain that clings to the Atlantic Coast, I realized that it rains 150+ days a year. Instead of stressing about the weather, we planned a blend of activities that allowed for some indoor days. It was probably healthy for me to give an obsessive-compulsive side a break, anyway.
Below are five fabulous things to do in Asturias, Spain:
1 Hiking
One of the reasons you want at least a little bit of good weather is because there is a ton of beautiful hiking in Asturias. On this last trip, we visited to Mirador Fitu and took a wonderful five-mile hike straight out of the parking lot into the surrounding mountains. (see picture below).
2 Beaches
Playa de Silencio is a must! See photo. Also Salinas beach (near Aviles) if you are looking to go surfing. Bring a wet suit.
3 Coastal walks
There is no other way to say this: the Atlantic coast that borders the Asturias region of Spain is adorable. It’s a wonderful idea to plot out one of two seaside villages to to visit so you can spend the afternoon wondering around and taking pictures. Cudillero was my favorite. Pro tip: order a ‘cortado’ coffee, for an afternoon pick-me-up (an espresso with just a little bit of milk).
4 Culture
See aforementioned note about copious bad weather in the Asturias region. It’s a great idea to have a couple indoor-ish activities that you might be interested in, to help you plan for a rainy day. The Universidal Laboral de Gijon is an excellent suggestion-a beautiful old Spanish campus with a theater and cathedral. Sign up for a tour so you can go in all the buildings (the tour is only offered in Spanish, but even if you don’t understand there will be a lot of cool stuff to look at).
5 Lodging, Food, Drinks
Spain is a small country and this is a small region. That means there are a lot of VERY small towns and if you are going to be somewhere for more than a couple of nights, you need to pick your location with a bit of care. My personal favorite was Ribadesella. They have a lively waterfront, lots of possible outdoor activities close by (hiking, rafting, caving, surfing-you can do stuff on your own or find one of the ‘adventure offices‘ in town to help you), and you can make an easy day trip to lots of other Asturian towns including Covadonga, Oviedo or Gijon. See photo of Ribadesella below.
The Asturias region is agrarian, which means they have excellent food. My personal (vegetarian) favorite was all the excellent cheese-look for picon or cabrales, both of which are local to the region. The local drink is hard cider, produced from orchards in the region. Sidrerias are a fun experience and the cider is low-alcohol, which is good because you order by the bottle, not by the glass. After you ask for your botella de sidra, the bartender will open a bottle and do this crazy, long pour into a small glass (it helps to add more carbonation to the liquid, my very smart boyfriend explained), then replace the cap on the bottle. You drink the cider and the bartender will come and pour you a bit more, and so on until the bottle is gone. It seems, definitively, that pouring your own cider is not a thing. Just FYI.
Want more recommendations for coastal Spain? Click here to read about Malaga.
Banner photo credit: Guillermo Álvarez