📌City
Gijón (Xixón in Asturian) is the most populous city in the Principality of Asturias, on the coast of the Cantabrian Sea in northern Spain. According to the INE it had 269.894 inhabitants in 2025, spread over a municipality of 182,1 km². It lies 28 km from Oviedo, the regional capital, and 26 km from Avilés: the three cities make up the central area of Asturias and are connected by bus and train in under an hour. The old town, Cimadevilla, sits on a peninsula over the Cerro de Santa Catalina, where the Romans settled in the 1st century and where today you'll find Eduardo Chillida's Elogio del Horizonte, the sculpture that serves as the city's symbol. On one side is the Playa de San Lorenzo, about 1.550 metres long, with a seafront promenade from the early 20th century; on the other, the marina and the Playa de Poniente. For more than a century Gijón was an industrial city: the El Musel coal port, steelworks and shipyards. That history shows in its free museums and in the Universidad Laboral, considered the largest building in Spain. It is also one of the capitals of Asturian cider culture, declared Intangible Cultural Heritage by Unesco in December 2024: here cider is poured from up high in sidrerías that are packed at all hours.
📌Currency and language
You pay in euros and cards work almost everywhere, including the sidrerías and the Cercanías trains, where you can pay for your ticket by tapping a contactless card. The everyday language is Spanish. Asturian (asturianu or bable) appears on signs and official names: Xixón is Gijón, Cimavilla is Cimadevilla, 'muséu' is museum, 'llagar' is the place where cider is made and 'culín' is the short pour of cider they serve you. With Spanish you'll get by everywhere.
📌Best time to go
The climate is oceanic: the average annual temperature is 13,8 °C (AEMET data 1971-2000 cited on Wikipedia). Rain is spread throughout the year, so it's always worth packing a waterproof jacket. For the beach, July and August; for walking without crowds and at lower prices, May, June, September and October. According to Momondo, July is the most expensive month to stay (average of 159 € a night) and January the cheapest (74 €). If you plan to drive up to the Lagos de Covadonga, watch out for the dates when car access is restricted: in October 2026 they apply from the 1st to the 18th and on the 24th, 25th and 31st.
📌Visa and tourist tax
Argentinians, Uruguayans, Chileans, Mexicans, Colombians and Peruvians don't need a visa for tourism of up to 90 days in 180 within the Schengen area; Bolivians and Ecuadorians do. Since 10 April 2026 the EES has been fully operational: at your first Schengen check they take your fingerprints and photo instead of stamping your passport. The ETIAS (an online permit costing 20 €) is not yet required. In October 2026 Gijón does not charge a tourist tax: the Government of Asturias approved a bill in June 2026 allowing each municipality to charge one on a voluntary basis, and Gijón's city government said in January 2026 that it would not apply it.
💱 EUR exchange rate
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🌤️ Weather in Gijón
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Gijón is the Asturian city that looks out to sea. It has an old fishermen's quarter perched on a peninsula, an urban beach more than a kilometre and a half long where the tide changes the landscape twice a day, and a seafront promenade people walk at any hour, rain or shine. It's a working city, with a port and industry, and you can tell: it isn't built for tourists, and that's exactly why it's so enjoyable. You eat well, pay less than in other Spanish coastal cities, and almost all its museums are free.
What you'll remember most is the cider. In the sidrerías the waiter raises the bottle above their head and lets a thin stream fall into the glass held at waist height: that's the escanciado. They pour you a culín, you drink it in one go and the glass goes back into the round. Around it come fabada, cachopo, cheeses and fish from the Cantabrian Sea. Cimadevilla, the upper quarter, brings together bars, low colourful houses and the hill with Chillida's sculpture, from where you can see the whole coast.
Gijón is also a practical base for exploring Asturias. Oviedo, with its cathedral and historic centre, is less than half an hour away by train or bus. Covadonga and the Lakes, inside the Picos de Europa National Park, make a good day trip. To the west, fishing villages like Cudillero await. And when you get back at night, the city is still buzzing: the Paseo del Muro, the marina and the sidrerías in the centre, full of people who work nearby rather than tour groups.
📖 History of Gijón
The earliest known settlement in Gijón is the hill fort of Noega, at Campa Torres, inhabited from the 5th century BC. In the 1st century AD the Romans founded a settlement on the Cimadevilla peninsula, walled it and built the baths that can be visited today under Campo Valdés, discovered in 1903. In the 8th century the city appears in the chronicles linked to Munuza, the Muslim governor whom Pelayo confronted before the battle of Covadonga, the origin of the kingdom of Asturias. During the Middle Ages Gijón was a modest seafaring town, and in 1394 it was razed during a siege. It revived with the port and with the Enlightenment: Gaspar Melchor de Jovellanos, born here in 1744, promoted the Real Instituto Asturiano and laid out the city's growth. The 19th century brought the Cimadevilla tobacco factory (1843-2002), the railway and industry: between 1893 and 1907 the port of El Musel was built, the first coal port on the peninsula, and steelworks and shipyards employed thousands of people. Between 1948 and 1957 the Universidad Laboral was built, a huge educational complex for workers' children. The 1973 crisis and entry into the European Community forced a harsh industrial restructuring: in 1987 unemployment reached 26 %. Since the 1980s the city has reinvented itself around the sea and culture: the old port became a marina, the Cerro de Santa Catalina a park with the Elogio del Horizonte (1990) and the Laboral the Ciudad de la Cultura (2007).
🗺️ What to see
Tours you can book
If you only have one day, take a guided tour on the first one: it sets up the rest of your trip and saves you a lot of walking. We look ours up on Civitatis: guided in Spanish and booked online with no fuss. They have 14 activities in Gijon. And there are free tours here: you book without paying and tip the guide whatever you think at the end, so trying one costs you nothing. Three are below so you get the idea: tap any of them and they all open.
If you book from here we earn a commission and you pay no more. Prices and availability come from Civitatis.
1
Cimadevilla (Cimavilla)
Gijón's oldest quarter, on a peninsula: steep streets, fishermen's houses, sidrerías and Roman remains.
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Cimadevilla (Cimavilla in Asturian, meaning 'the upper part of the town') is the original core of Gijón. It covers the whole of the Cerro de Santa Catalina, a peninsula jutting into the Cantabrian Sea between the Playa de San Lorenzo and the marina. The Romans settled here, and stretches of their wall and the baths of Campo Valdés still survive. During the 19th century it was a neighbourhood of fishermen and of the cigar makers from the tobacco factory, which operated between 1843 and 2002.
Today it's a small quarter, with around 2.700 residents according to 2018 figures, and almost entirely pedestrian. You explore it on foot, walking up from the Plaza Mayor and the Town Hall. Within a few blocks you'll find the church of San Pedro, Jovellanos's birthplace, the Palacio de Revillagigedo and, at the top, the hilltop park with Chillida's sculpture.
At night it's the busiest area in the city for bars and sidrerías. Wear comfortable shoes, because the streets are steep and the stone gets slippery on rainy days. No bus lines go into the quarter.
ℹ️ Distance: Central Gijón, between the Playa de San Lorenzo and the marina · Best time to go: All year round; at sunset for the hill and at night for the sidrerías · Admission: Free (public neighbourhood) · Duration: 2 to 3 hours on foot
2
Elogio del Horizonte and Cerro de Santa Catalina
Eduardo Chillida's concrete sculpture (1990) at the top of Cimadevilla, a symbol of Gijón and a great viewpoint over the Cantabrian Sea.
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The Elogio del Horizonte is a concrete sculpture by the Basque artist Eduardo Chillida, unveiled in 1990 in the Cerro de Santa Catalina park, at the tip of the Cimadevilla peninsula. It stands about 10 metres tall and weighs around 500 tonnes. At first it was heavily criticised for its cost and its shape (some still jokingly call it 'King Kong's toilet'), but over the years it became the emblem of the city: it appears in Gijón's logos and tourism promotion.
It's designed to be experienced from inside. If you stand under the arches, the sound of the wind and the sea is amplified and changes depending on where you walk in. Around it, the park occupies what was once a military zone on the cliff and has open views of the sea, the Playa de San Lorenzo and the coast to the east.
You can walk up from Cimadevilla in a few minutes. It's a windy spot: even in summer a light jacket is a good idea. At sunset it fills with people, and that's the best time for photos. In high season parking nearby is difficult; better to arrive on foot.
ℹ️ Distance: At the tip of Cimadevilla, walking from the Plaza Mayor · Best time to go: Sunset, any time of year · Admission: Free (open public park) · Duration: 1 hour
3
Playa de San Lorenzo and Paseo del Muro
Gijón's great urban beach, about 1.550 metres long, with its seafront promenade and the Escalerona; the tide transforms the whole landscape.
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The Playa de San Lorenzo has about 1.550 metres of shell-shaped sand, from the church of San Pedro, at the foot of Cimadevilla, to the mouth of the river Piles. Alongside runs the Paseo del Muro, built between 1907 and 1916 and last renovated in 1993, which continues east along the coastal path. The ways down to the sand are numbered as staircases, from 0 to 16; the most famous is the Escalerona (staircase 4), a concrete flight of steps opened in 1933.
The most surprising thing is the tide. At high tide the sand shrinks to about 40.000 m² and at low tide it reaches about 240.000 m²: the beach can almost disappear or become huge within a few hours. Check the tide table before you go. The waves are usually moderate to strong, which is why it's also a surf beach.
There are showers, toilets and a tourist office by staircase 4. Lifeguards are on duty at weekends from early May and every day from 1 June to 30 September, from 10:00 to 21:00. Outside summer it's ideal for walking the whole promenade.
ℹ️ Distance: Central Gijón, east of Cimadevilla · Best time to go: July and August for swimming; all year round for the promenade · Admission: Free (public beach) · Duration: Half a day at the beach or a 1-hour walk
4
Laboral Ciudad de la Cultura (and its tower)
The former Universidad Laboral complex, from 1948-1957: square, elliptical church, theatre and a 130 m tower with a viewpoint.
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The Universidad Laboral de Gijón was built between 1948 and 1957 to a design by Luis Moya Blanco, as a large educational centre for workers' children. It has about 270.000 m² of built space and is considered the largest building in Spain. In 2007 it was converted into Laboral Ciudad de la Cultura, with an arts centre, schools and cultural spaces.
The scale is what impresses. The central square measures about 150 by 50 metres. The church has an elliptical floor plan of 38,40 by 24 metres, one of the largest in the world with that shape. The theatre has 1.756 seats. And the tower, 130 metres high, is the tallest building in Asturias: from its viewpoint you can see the valley, the city and the sea.
The best option is the guided tour, which includes going up to the tower viewpoint. From 9 September to 2 November 2026 there are tours Monday to Friday at 17:00 and at weekends and on public holidays at 12:00 and 17:00; from 3 November to 20 December, Fridays at 17:00 and at weekends and on public holidays at 12:00 and 17:00. The route may change due to events or bad weather, and some areas are not accessible. It's right next to the Jardín Botánico: combine the two.
ℹ️ Distance: In Cabueñes, east of the city, next to the Jardín Botánico · Best time to go: All year round; a clear day for the tower · Admission: Guided tour including the tower: 6 € standard; 4,50 € reduced; free for ages 0 to 3 (source: turismoasturias.es, 2026 calendar, verified October 2026). Tickets are sold at the Laboral reception · Duration: 1.5 to 2 hours
5
Termas romanas de Campo Valdés
Underground museum over a set of Early Imperial Roman baths, opposite the church of San Pedro, at sea level and free.
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Beneath the Campo Valdés square, in front of the church of San Pedro, lie the remains of Early Imperial Roman baths, considered one of the most important archaeological sites in northern Spain. They were discovered in 1903 but only opened to the public in 1965. Today they work as an on-site museum, part of the network of municipal museums.
The building stood outside the Roman wall and had two parts: a domestic area and a bath area, with the cold, warm and hot rooms the Romans used. Walkways and panels help you understand how the circuit worked. The entrance is step-free and moving around inside is accessible.
Opening hours according to Turismo Asturias: Tuesday to Friday 9:30 to 14:00 and 17:00 to 19:30; Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays 10:00 to 14:00 and 17:00 to 19:30. Closed on Mondays, 1 and 6 January, Carnival Tuesday, 15 August and 24, 25 and 31 December. It's on the way between the Playa de San Lorenzo and Cimadevilla, so it fits into any walk.
ℹ️ Distance: Campo Valdés, at the foot of Cimadevilla, next to the Playa de San Lorenzo · Best time to go: All year round; ideal on a rainy day · Admission: Free (source: turismoasturias.es, verified October 2026) · Duration: 45 minutes
6
Palacio de Revillagigedo and Plaza del Marqués
18th-century Baroque palace facing the marina, with a 15th-century tower; now a free exhibition space.
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The Palacio de Revillagigedo presides over the Plaza del Marqués, facing the marina and next to the statue of Don Pelayo. It's an 18th-century Baroque building, although one of its two towers dates from the 15th century. The design is attributed to the architect Francisco Menéndez Camino, who remodelled the original tower and built the rest. Attached to the palace is the Colegiata de San Juan Bautista, designed in 1720.
The façade is the most striking part: two square crenellated towers and a three-storey central section with arcades, balconies, columns and the coat of arms of the Ramírez Jove family. Inside it's used as a space for temporary exhibitions.
According to Turismo Asturias, between 30 March and 20 September 2026 it opened Tuesday to Sunday from 11:00 to 14:00 and 17:00 to 20:00, with free admission; for autumn and winter hours it's best to call 985 346 921 or check the current exhibition. Even if it's closed, the square is worth a stop: it's the gateway to Cimadevilla from the port.
ℹ️ Distance: Plaza del Marqués, between the marina and Cimadevilla · Best time to go: All year round · Admission: Free (source: turismoasturias.es, verified October 2026) · Duration: 30 to 45 minutes
7
Museo Casa Natal de Jovellanos
The house where Gaspar Melchor de Jovellanos, a figure of the Spanish Enlightenment, was born in 1744, with a municipal art collection.
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Gaspar Melchor de Jovellanos was one of the great names of the Spanish Enlightenment and the most influential figure in Gijón's history. He was born in 1744 in this palatial house in Cimadevilla, built between the late 14th and early 16th centuries, and died in Puerto de Vega in 1811. The building was adapted as a museum from the 1950s onwards and opened in 1971.
Attached to the house is the chapel of Los Remedios, which holds Jovellanos's mausoleum. The museum combines the figure of the Enlightenment thinker with the conservation and display of the city's art heritage, so it usually has Asturian painting and temporary exhibitions.
Opening hours according to Turismo Asturias: Tuesday to Friday 9:30 to 14:00 and 17:00 to 19:30; Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays 10:00 to 14:00 and 17:00 to 19:30. Closed on Mondays and on the same dates as the other municipal museums. It's on the Plaza de Jovellanos, a few steps from the baths and the Palacio de Revillagigedo.
ℹ️ Distance: Plaza de Jovellanos, in Cimadevilla · Best time to go: All year round · Admission: Free (source: turismoasturias.es, verified October 2026) · Duration: 45 minutes
8
Sidrerías and cider pouring
The most Asturian experience of all: natural cider poured from up high, culín by culín, with fabada, cachopo or fish.
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Cider is the drink of Asturias, and in 2024 Unesco declared Asturian cider culture Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. It's made from apple juice fermented in the llagares and is between 5 and 6 per cent alcohol. Traditional natural cider is the only kind that gets poured from a height: the waiter raises the bottle above their head and lets the stream hit the rim of the glass to aerate it.
They pour you a culín (about 130 cc). You have to drink it straight away, before it 'dies' and loses its fizz, and leave a little bit to rinse the rim, because the glass is shared at the table. Don't ask them to fill your glass: it just isn't done. According to the municipal leaflet for the Ruta de la Sidra, industrial production of bottled cider in Asturias began in El Natahoyo, in Gijón, in 1827.
There are sidrerías all over the centre and in Cimadevilla. A bottle costs around 3 € according to a Turismo Asturias guide published in 2022 (it may have gone up). If you want to see how it's made, there are visits to llagares on the outskirts. Order something to nibble on: cider is drunk with food.
ℹ️ Distance: All over the centre, Cimadevilla and the neighbourhoods · Best time to go: All year round; in April the Primer Sidre l'Añu takes place · Admission: Bottle of natural cider: around 3 € (source: Turismo Asturias sidrerías guide, 2022 edition; verified October 2026 that there is no official rate) · Duration: A meal or an afternoon
9
Jardín Botánico Atlántico
More than 30.000 plants of 2.500 species across 25 hectares, with natural woodland and a traditional Asturian farmstead.
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The Jardín Botánico Atlántico is a 25-hectare municipal park, 16 of which are open to the public. It holds more than 30.000 plants of 2.500 species, organised into four themed areas with the Atlantic Ocean as the common thread: plants used by people in the Old and New Worlds, dunes, salt marshes, boreal forests and a historic garden more than 150 years old.
Within the grounds there are well-preserved natural woodlands, such as the alder grove along the river Peñafrancia and the Carbayera del Tragamón, with centuries-old oaks. There's also a traditional Asturian farmstead, the Quintana de Rionda, with a house, stable, llagar, mill and granary restored as small museums.
An individual guided tour is included in the ticket, subject to availability. There are workshops for children on Saturdays and special activities at each change of season. Opening hours vary by season: check them at the ticket office (985 185 130). It's right next to the Laboral, and there's a combined ticket for both.
ℹ️ Distance: Avenida del Jardín Botánico, in Cabueñes, next to the Laboral · Best time to go: Spring and autumn · Admission: 2,90 € adult; 1,80 € reduced (ages 12 to 26, over 65s, people with disabilities); free for under 12s (source: Municipal Ordinance 3.65 of the Ayuntamiento de Gijón, published in December 2025, verified October 2026) · Duration: 2 to 3 hours
10
Acuario de Gijón (Bioparc Acuario)
A route through some 60 freshwater and saltwater tanks, from a Cantabrian river to coral reefs, with sharks and turtles.
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Gijón Aquarium, now run by Bioparc, sits right by Playa de Poniente. It takes you on a journey through the world's seas across some 60 freshwater and saltwater tanks. It starts with a Cantabrian river and species such as sturgeon, salmon and trout, continues through the Atlantic and ends in warm waters with corals, tropical fish, sharks and turtles.
It's the obvious choice if you're travelling with kids or if the day looks rainy. There's a restaurant and a shop, and eating inside the exhibition is not allowed. Capacity is limited and Turismo Asturias recommends booking your visit online. There's a public car park about fifty metres away.
According to the aggregator Taquilla.com, it opens every day from 10:30 and closing time varies by season; last entry is one hour before closing. It's one of the most expensive things to do in the city, so if you're on a tight budget, prioritise the municipal museums, which are free.
ℹ️ Distance: Next to Playa de Poniente, on the west side of the centre · Best time: All year round; ideal on rainy days · Admission: 20,50 € adult (15 to 64); 12 € child (3 to 14); 14 € over 65; free under 3 (source: Taquilla.com and Civitatis, aggregators, verified October 2026). Buy on the aquarium's official website or at the ticket office · Duration: 2 hours
11
Muséu del Pueblu d'Asturies (Museum of the People of Asturias)
A 30,000 m² open-air ethnographic museum, with hórreos (raised granaries), relocated houses, a bagpipe museum and historical photography.
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The Muséu del Pueblu d'Asturies was founded in 1968 to preserve and showcase traditional Asturian society. It occupies a 30,000 m² site in La Güelga, where three buildings were moved: the Valdés house, from the 17th century; the González de la Vega house, a galleried manor from 1757 that is now the Bagpipe Museum; and the Asturias pavilion from the 1992 Seville Universal Exposition.
The grounds have 18th- and 19th-century hórreos and paneras (raised granaries), bowling alleys for the different Asturian bowling games, an exhibition of farm tools, a typical peasant house from central Asturias and a pond recalling the marshland that once covered the mouth of the river Piles. The Bagpipe Museum brings together bagpipes from Europe, North Africa and the Iberian Peninsula, and the Valdés house shows photography in Asturias between 1850 and 1965.
Opening hours from October to March: Tuesday to Friday 9:30 to 18:30, and weekends and public holidays 10 to 18:30. From April to September it closes at 19. Closed on Mondays.
ℹ️ Distance: Paseo del Doctor Fleming 877, La Güelga, near the river Piles · Best time: Spring and autumn, with good weather for the outdoor grounds · Admission: Free (source: turismoasturias.es, verified October 2026) · Duration: 1,5 to 2 hours
12
Muséu del Ferrocarril d'Asturies (Railway Museum)
The old Estación del Norte, in service for over a century until 1990, turned into a free museum of trains and industry.
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The Asturias Railway Museum occupies the old Estación del Norte, in the El Natahoyo neighbourhood, very close to Playa de Poniente. The station was built in the second half of the 19th century, when Gijón was growing as an industrial, working-class city, and for more than a hundred years it was the city's main railway gateway. Coal and goods from the mining valleys left for the sea from here, and passengers from central Asturias travelled through it. It closed in 1990 and was turned into a museum.
The visit explains how the railway shaped life, the economy and social change in Asturias. It includes the permanent and temporary exhibitions, the covered platforms with rolling stock and other buildings on the site. There are lifts and stairs to move between floors.
Opening hours from October to March: Tuesday to Friday 9:30 to 18:30, and weekends and public holidays 10 to 18:30. From April to September, 10 to 19 on weekdays and 10:30 to 19 at weekends. Closed on Mondays, 1 and 6 January, Carnival Tuesday, 15 August and 24, 25 and 31 December. Combine it with the Aquarium, which is nearby.
ℹ️ Distance: Plaza de la Estación del Norte, El Natahoyo, near Playa de Poniente · Best time: All year round · Admission: Free (source: turismoasturias.es, verified October 2026) · Duration: 1,5 hours
13
Day trip to Oviedo
The capital of Asturias, 28 km away: a Gothic cathedral with the Cámara Santa, an old town and cider houses, by train or bus.
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Oviedo is the capital of the Principality and lies 28 km from Gijón, so you can visit it in half a day or a full day. You get there on the Cercanías commuter train (line C-1) or by intercity bus; with the CONECTA card the bus journey costs 1,05 €.
The highlight of the visit is the cathedral complex. Admission includes the church, the Cámara Santa, the cloister, the chapter house, the pilgrims' cemetery and the museum. The cathedral is also the starting point of the Camino Primitivo to Santiago, so you'll see pilgrims with their credentials. The climb up the Gothic tower is sold separately.
Around the cathedral you can explore the old town on foot, with arcaded squares and streets full of cider houses. A tip: on Tuesdays the cathedral museum is free and 1 € is taken off the ticket. If there's a mass on, the visit may be partial (Cámara Santa, museum and cloister) at a reduced price.
ℹ️ Distance: 28 km; about 25 to 36 minutes on the Cercanías train according to Omio · Best time: All year round · Admission: Cathedral: 8 € adult; 7 € over 65; 5 € ages 13 to 17 and university students under 25; 4 € pilgrims with credentials; free under 12; Gothic tower 10 € (source: catedraldeoviedo.com, verified October 2026) · Duration: Half day or full day
14
Covadonga and the Lakes (Picos de Europa)
The Covadonga sanctuary and lakes Enol and Ercina, in the Picos de Europa: the big day trip from Gijón.
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Covadonga is where, according to tradition, Pelayo defeated the Muslims in the early 8th century and the kingdom of Asturias began. Today you can visit the Santa Cueva (Holy Cave), with the image of the Virgin, and the basilica. From there a mountain road climbs up to the Lagos de Covadonga, Enol and Ercina, inside the Picos de Europa National Park, with meadows, free-roaming cows and viewpoints.
On the busiest dates, private cars can't drive up to the Lakes and you go up by bus. In 2026 the restrictions apply, among other dates, from 1 to 18 October, on 24, 25 and 31 October, on 1 and 2 November and from 1 to 8 December. Buses leave from Cangas de Onís or from four car parks along the route (3 € per car per day). From 1 October the first service leaves at 8 and the last one up at 16. Tickets are sold online at buslagoscovadonga.es, which is the recommended option.
Without a car, the practical choice is an organised tour from Gijón. Bring a warm layer: it's a lot colder up there and fog rolls in quickly.
ℹ️ Distance: Cangas de Onís and Covadonga, in eastern Asturias; day trip from Gijón · Best time: Spring and autumn; avoid foggy days · Admission: Bus to the Lakes: 9 € adult; 3,50 € ages 4 to 11; free under 3; Cangas de Onís-Covadonga only 1,55 € (source: turismoasturias.es, Lakes access plan 2026, verified October 2026) · Duration: Full day
15
Cudillero
A fishing village on the western coast, with colourful houses stacked above the harbour; pairs well with Avilés and Luarca.
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Cudillero is one of the most photographed fishing villages in Asturias. Its colourfully painted houses climb the hillside around a small harbour, so the village looks like an amphitheatre facing the sea. You explore it on foot, going up stairs and narrow lanes to the viewpoints, where you can take in the whole village.
Down by the harbour you'll find most of the bars and fish and seafood restaurants. It's a good place to try fish from the Cantabrian Sea, although in summer and at weekends it gets crowded and it's best to book.
From Gijón the simplest way to get there without a car is an organised tour that combines it with Avilés, a town with an arcaded old quarter, and Luarca, another fishing village on the western coast. If you're driving, leave the car at the top and walk down: the streets in the centre are very narrow.
ℹ️ Distance: Western coast of Asturias, west of Avilés · Best time: Spring, summer and autumn · Admission: Free (village); tour from Gijón with Avilés and Luarca from 25 € (source: Civitatis, verified October 2026) · Duration: Half day or full day
💵 Prices
Tickets
| Type | Price |
|---|
| Acuario de Gijón (Bioparc) | 20,50 € adult (15 to 64); 12 € child (3 to 14); 14 € over 65; 11,50 € people with disabilities; free under 3 (source: Taquilla.com, aggregator, 2026 rates, verified October 2026). Buy online on the aquarium's website or at the ticket office; Civitatis sells it from 20,50 € |
| Jardín Botánico Atlántico | 2,90 € adult; 1,80 € reduced (ages 12 to 26, over 65 and people with disabilities, with proof); free under 12; annual pass 25 €; individual guided tour included (source: Ordenanza 3.65 of the Ayuntamiento de Gijón, December 2025, verified October 2026). Buy at the garden's ticket office |
| Laboral Ciudad de la Cultura: visita guiada con subida a la torre | 6 € general; 4,50 € reduced (Club Cultura Asturias members, Pasaporte Cultural); free ages 0 to 3 (source: turismoasturias.es, 2026 calendar, verified October 2026). Buy at Laboral's reception during opening hours |
| Entrada conjunta Laboral + Jardín Botánico | 7 € general; 5,50 € reduced (over 65, ages 12 to 26 and groups of 20 or more) (source: Ordenanza 3.65 of the Ayuntamiento de Gijón, December 2025, verified October 2026) |
| Entrada conjunta Acuario + Jardín Botánico | 15,90 € general; 10,60 € over 65 (source: Ordenanza 3.65 of the Ayuntamiento de Gijón, December 2025, verified October 2026). Tarjeta Ciudadana rates are for residents only |
| Museos municipales (Pueblo de Asturias, Ferrocarril, Termas de Campo Valdés, Casa Natal de Jovellanos, Nicanor Piñole, Campa Torres) | Free (source: turismoasturias.es, verified October 2026). Closed on Mondays, 1 and 6 January, Carnival Tuesday, 15 August and 24, 25 and 31 December |
| Palacio de Revillagigedo (exposiciones) | Free (source: turismoasturias.es, verified October 2026). Check opening hours and the current exhibition on 985 346 921 |
| Elogio del Horizonte, Cerro de Santa Catalina y playas (San Lorenzo, Poniente) | Free (public spaces) |
| Catedral de Oviedo (excursión) | 8 € adult (18 to 65); 7 € over 65; 5 € ages 13 to 17 and university students under 25; 4 € pilgrims with credentials, large families and the unemployed; free under 12 with an adult; Gothic tower 10 € with no discounts (source: catedraldeoviedo.com, verified October 2026). Online or at the visitor reception |
| Colectivo a los Lagos de Covadonga (fechas reguladas) | 9 € adult return; 3,50 € ages 4 to 11; free under 3; Cangas de Onís-Covadonga 1,55 €; parking 3 € per car per day (source: turismoasturias.es, 2026 access plan, verified October 2026). Buy at buslagoscovadonga.es |
🔄 updated monthlyOfficial / reference values · double-check when buying
Activities and tours
| Activity | Price | Duration | Operator |
|---|
| Tour to the Lakes of Covadonga, Cangas de Onís and Lastres from Gijón | 47 € per person (source: Civitatis, verified October 2026) | 11 hours | Local operators via Civitatis |
| Small-group tour to Covadonga and Cangas de Onís | 67 € per person (source: Civitatis, verified October 2026) | 7 to 8 hours | Local operators via Civitatis |
| Tour to Avilés, Cudillero and Luarca | From 25 € per person (source: Civitatis, verified October 2026) | 9,5 to 10,5 hours | Local operators via Civitatis |
| Picos de Europa tour with a Cabrales cheese cave and tasting | From 49 € per person (source: Civitatis, verified October 2026) | 12 hours | Local operators via Civitatis |
| Cheese and cider tour of Gijón | 30 € per person (source: Civitatis, verified October 2026) | 2 hours | Local guides via Civitatis |
| Visit to the Sidra JR cider house (Cabueñes), with an explanation of how cider is made | 10 € per person (source: Civitatis, verified October 2026) | 1 hour | Llagar Sidra JR via Civitatis |
| Speedboat ride along the Gijón coast | 20 € per person (source: Civitatis, verified October 2026); 1-hour kayak tour, 22 € | 45 to 50 minutes | Boat companies at the marina via Civitatis |
| Free tour of Gijón (Cimadevilla and the centre) | Free; voluntary tip (source: Civitatis, verified October 2026) | 2 hours | Local guides via Civitatis |
🔄 updated monthlyOfficial / reference values · double-check when buying
🚌 How to get there and distances
Getting around
Gijón city buses (EMTUSA)
PriceSingle ticket 1,50 € (source: redtransporte.com, aggregator, 2026 fares, verified October 2026)
NotesThis is the municipal network. The ticket allows transfers between lines for 45 minutes. Discounts for under-25s and over-65s, and free travel for under-17s, only apply with Gijón's Tarjeta Ciudadana, which is meant for residents. We couldn't confirm on the EMTUSA website whether you can pay by bank card on board, so carry some coins just in case. There are no bus lines in the Cimadevilla old town.
CONECTA card from the Consorcio de Transportes de Asturias (CTA)
Price0,45 € 1 zone; 0,72 € 2 zones; 1,05 € 3 zones; capped at 20 € per month from 1 October 2026; the card costs 2 € (source: ctaconecta.com, verified October 2026)
NotesThis is Asturias's single ticket for intercity buses. It's personal and you apply for it in the CTA CONECTA app with your passport (or TIE if you're a resident); it arrives by post within a week, so it's worth it if you're staying a while (Working Holiday, studies). The Asturian government has warned that keeping the 20 € cap in 2027 depends on the budget.
Renfe Asturias Cercanías train (line C-1 Gijón-Oviedo)
PriceZone-based fares; paying by contactless card, a 40 % discount applies from the 5th trip of the month (source: renfe.com, verified October 2026)
NotesThe C-1 links Gijón with Oviedo and the mining valleys. You can pay at the turnstile with a contactless credit or debit card or with your phone. You must validate on entry and on exit: if you don't validate on exit, you're charged the maximum fare for all zones. We couldn't find the exact Gijón-Oviedo fare published on the Renfe website, so check it in the Renfe app.
Intercity bus Gijón-Oviedo and Gijón-Avilés
PriceWith the CONECTA card: Gijón-Oviedo 1,05 €; Gijón-Avilés 0,72 € (source: redtransporte.com, aggregator, 2026 fares, verified October 2026). Without CONECTA, Omio shows tickets from about 3 € (aggregator, 2026)
NotesThey leave from the Gijón bus station and stop in the centre of Oviedo and Avilés.
On foot around the centre
Free
NotesThe centre, Cimadevilla, San Lorenzo beach, the marina and Poniente beach are all within walking distance. For the Laboral, the Botanical Garden and the Museo del Pueblo de Asturias, the bus is the better option.
🔄 updated monthlyOfficial / reference values · double-check when buying
How to get there
Asturias Airport (OVD) → Gijón
Airlines / operatorsALSA (direct bus to the Gijón bus station); taxis at the arrivals exit
Avg. priceBus 9 € for a single ticket (source: Airmundo and Omio, aggregators, 2026, verified October 2026); taxi around 45–55 € according to aggregators (no official fare published)
Avg. priceFrom 15 € if you book in advance (source: Omio, aggregator, 2026, verified October 2026); the price goes up a lot if you buy on the day
Avg. priceFrom 9 € (source: Movelia, ALSA reseller, 2026, verified October 2026); the fare varies by date and class (Comfort or Supra)
Airlines / operatorsRenfe Cercanías (C-1) or intercity buses run by the Consorcio de Transportes de Asturias
Avg. priceBus with CONECTA 1,05 € (source: redtransporte.com, 2026 fares, verified October 2026); train with contactless card payment, priced by zone (renfe.com, 2026)
🔄 updated monthlyOfficial / reference values · double-check when buying
🏨 Where to stay
No exact prices: a scale from $ (budget) to $$$$$ (luxury), with 2-3 options per category.
Budget: guesthouses, hostales and hostels
Recommended optionsPensión Albor (from 35 €), Hostal Verdemar (from 37 €), Hostal San Félix (from 42 €) and hostels such as Gijón Surf Hostel (from 55 €) or Boogalow Hostel (from 51 €) per night (source: Momondo, verified October 2026). 2-star hotels average around 66 € and reach 118 € on peak dates. July and August are the most expensive months
Mid-range in the centre and near San Lorenzo
Recommended optionsHotel Alda El Pasaje (from 54 €), B&B Hotel Gijón Centro Begoña (from 45 €), Hotel Santa Rosa (from 64 €) and Hotel Alcomar (from 72 €) per night (source: Momondo, verified October 2026). A 3-star hotel in Gijón averages 77 €, with peaks of up to 288 € in high season
Upmarket, on the beachfront or in the centre
Recommended optionsNH Gijón (from 63 €), abba Playa Gijón (from 72 €), Silken Ciudad de Gijón (from 73 €), Hotel Hernán Cortés (from 73 €) and Hotel Príncipe de Asturias (from 78 €) per night (source: Momondo, verified October 2026). A 4-star hotel averages 106 €; in July the city's overall average rises to 159 €
The city's top end: Parador, palace with spa, and boutique
Recommended optionsGijón has almost no 5-star hotels; the most exclusive options are the Parador de Gijón (from 78 €), the Oca Palacio de la Llorea Hotel & Spa, on the outskirts (from 61 €), and the Munna Hotel Boutique (from 86 €) per night outside high season; the priciest 4-star hotels reach 303 € on peak dates (source: Momondo, verified October 2026)
🍴 Where to eat
Sidrería clásica (sidra natural escanciada)
Options / signature dishThe basic experience: a bottle of natural cider poured by the waiter, around 3 € according to the Turismo Asturias cider house guide (2022 edition, so it may have gone up), with plates of chorizo cooked in cider, cheeses or squid to share. At neighbourhood cider houses such as Casa Valdorta, a diner reported a 15 € Saturday set menu in December 2025 (source: reviews on Gastroranking, verified October 2026)
Fabada asturiana y cachopo
Options / signature dishFabada (a stew of faba white beans with chorizo, morcilla and pork belly) and cachopo (two breaded veal fillets stuffed with ham and cheese) are the star dishes. At the Río Astur cider house, winner of the La Mejor Fabada del Mundo contest in April 2026, a portion of fabada costs 20 € (source: El Español, April 2026, verified October 2026)
Menú del día y menú de fin de semana
Options / signature dishThe cheapest way to eat well: starter, main course, dessert, bread and a drink for a fixed price. At the El Alleranu cider house, a diner reported a 23 € Sunday menu with three courses and dessert in April 2026 (source: reviews on Gastroranking, verified October 2026). On weekdays it is usually cheaper than at weekends
Alta cocina del Cantábrico
Options / signature dishAuga has a Michelin star and specialises in fish, with an à la carte menu and tasting menus; the average spend is around 60–100 € per person (source: Gastroranking, verified October 2026). Casa Gerardo, in Prendes (on the outskirts), has held a Michelin star without interruption since 1991, according to Turismo Asturias
❓ Frequently asked questions
Do I need a visa, EES or ETIAS to travel to Gijón from Latin America?+
Argentines, Uruguayans, Chileans, Mexicans, Colombians and Peruvians do not need a visa for tourist stays of up to 90 days within any 180-day period in the Schengen area. Bolivians and Ecuadorians, on the other hand, do need a Schengen visa. Since 10 April 2026 the EES (Entry/Exit System) has been fully operational: at your first Schengen border check they take your fingerprints and photo, and your passport is no longer stamped. If you fly into Madrid and then continue to Asturias, you do that registration in Madrid. ETIAS, the 20 € online travel authorisation, is not required yet. Bring a return ticket, an accommodation booking and health insurance.
How many days should I spend in Gijón?+
Two full days are enough to see the essentials of the city: one for Cimadevilla, the Elogio del Horizonte, the Roman baths, San Lorenzo beach and an afternoon at a cider house; another for the Laboral and its tower, the Botanical Garden and the Museo del Pueblo de Asturias, which are all on the same side of the city. Add half a day for the Aquarium and the Railway Museum if you're travelling with kids or it rains. With four or five days you can add Oviedo, a trip to Covadonga and the Lakes, and another to Cudillero and the western coast. Gijón works very well as a base for the whole of central Asturias.
Is it expensive? What's free?+
By Spanish standards, Gijón is an affordable city. The municipal museums are free: the Museo del Pueblo de Asturias, the Railway Museum, the Roman baths, Jovellanos' birthplace, the Museo Nicanor Piñole and the Campa Torres archaeological park. So are the Palacio de Revillagigedo, the Elogio del Horizonte and the beaches. What you do pay for is the Aquarium (20,50 € adult), the guided tour of the Laboral (6 €) and the Botanical Garden (2,90 €). The city bus costs 1,50 €. For food, cider and the menú del día are the way to eat well without spending much.
How does cider work at a cider house?+
You order a bottle of natural cider and the waiter pours it for you: they raise the bottle above their head and let a thin stream fall into the glass to aerate it. You get a culín, about 130 cc, which you drink right away, in one go, before it loses its fizz. You leave a little at the bottom to rinse the rim, because the same glass is passed around the whole table. The glass is never filled, and filtered or sparkling cider isn't poured this way: only traditional natural cider. Cider is only 5 to 6% alcohol, but you end up drinking a lot of it, so eat something as you go.
Do I need a car?+
Not for the city. The centre, Cimadevilla, the beaches and almost all the museums can be explored on foot, and EMTUSA buses go to the Laboral and the Botanical Garden for 1,50 €. For Oviedo and Avilés there are Cercanías trains and frequent buses. A car is useful for the coast and the mountains: Cudillero, Llanes or the Picos de Europa. Note: on busy dates the road to the Lagos de Covadonga is closed to private cars and you have to go up on the official bus (9 € adult). In October 2026 this applies from the 1st to the 18th and on the 24th, 25th and 31st. If you don't want to drive, organised excursions from Gijón cost between 25 and 67 €.
Is Gijón safe? And what's the weather like?+
Gijón is a relaxed city with lots of street life day and night, especially along the Muro promenade, the marina and Cimadevilla. The usual precautions for any city apply: don't leave your things unattended on the beach, and keep an eye on your phone in crowded cider houses. The biggest risk is the sea: San Lorenzo beach has moderate to strong waves, and the tide changes the width of the sand a lot. Swim in supervised areas: there are lifeguards every day from 1 June to 30 September. The climate is oceanic, with rain spread throughout the year, so bring a waterproof jacket and layers even in summer.
Do I have to pay a tourist tax in Gijón?+
No, not as of October 2026. In June 2026 the Government of Asturias approved a draft bill on tourist stays that would allow each town council to charge an optional tax of between 0,50 and 3 € per person per night, depending on the type of accommodation, only in high season and for a maximum of five nights. The bill still has to go through parliament, and Gijón's city government said in January 2026 that it would not apply it. If a hotel adds a surcharge, ask what it is for: there is no official tax in force. As this may change in 2027, check the small print of your booking.
Sources consulted (42)
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- Wikipedia (ES) — «Universidad Laboral de Gijón»: https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universidad_Laboral_de_Gij%C3%B3n
- Wikipedia (ES) — «Playa de San Lorenzo (Gijón)»: https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Playa_de_San_Lorenzo_(Gij%C3%B3n)
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- Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores — «La UNESCO declara la ‘Cultura sidrera asturiana’ como Patrimonio Cultural Inmaterial de la Humanidad»: https://www.exteriores.gob.es/RepresentacionesPermanentes/unesco/es/Comunicacion/Noticias/Paginas/Articulos/--La-UNESCO-declara-la-%E2%80%98Cultura-sidrera-asturiana%E2%80%99-como-Patrimonio-Cultural-Inmaterial-de-la-Humanidad.aspx
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- Turismo Asturias — «Museo Casa Natal de Jovellanos»: https://www.turismoasturias.es/es/descubre/cultura/museos-y-espacios-culturales/museos/museo-casa-natal-de-jovellanos
- Turismo Asturias — «Parque Arqueológico-Natural de la Campa Torres»: https://www.turismoasturias.es/es/descubre/cultura/museos-y-espacios-culturales/castros-y-espacios-arqueologicos/parque-arqueologico-natural-de-la-campa-torres
- Turismo Asturias — «Museo Nicanor Piñole»: https://www.turismoasturias.es/es/descubre/cultura/museos-y-espacios-culturales/museos/museo-nicanor-pinole
- Ayuntamiento de Gijón — «Ordenanza Nº 3.65 precios públicos Jardín Botánico»: https://drupal.gijon.es/sites/default/files/2025-12/Ordenanza%20N%C2%BA%203.65%20precios%20publicos%20Jard%C3%ADn%20Bot%C3%A1nico.pdf
- Turismo Asturias (Pasaporte Cultural) — «Visita guiada a Laboral Ciudad de la Cultura de Gijón»: https://www.turismoasturias.es/pasaporte-cultural/eventos/-/calendarsuite/event/visita-guiada-a-laboral-ciudad-de-la-cultura-de-gijon/12731061/1788022800000/jr0cMeS144cd
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- Turismo Asturias — «Acceso a Lagos»: https://www.turismoasturias.es/es/organiza-tu-viaje/como-llegar/acceso-a-lagos
- Civitatis — «Actividades en Gijón»: https://www.civitatis.com/es/gijon/
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- Omio (aggregator) — «Trenes Gijón a Oviedo con Cercanías»: https://www.omio.com.ar/trenes/gijon/oviedo
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- Gastroranking — «Sidrería Nava en Gijón»: https://gastroranking.es/r/sidreria-nava_16607/
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