Asturias road trip
Page note summary
Asturias road trip. Driving from Luarca via Cudillero-Gijon-Lastres to Ribadesella. Where to stay. Good beaches. Cider video. Asturias Get your guide. Visits 2007 - 2013 - cancel 2020. My Photos except 1 (Gijon) Video by Shifting Sands Production. Page latest update 2025
Horreo Granary
An horreo is a typical granary from the northwest of the Iberian Peninsula (mainly Galicia, Asturias, and Northern Portugal)
There are several types of Asturian hórreo, according to the characteristics of the roof (thatched, tiled, slate, pitched or double pitched), the materials used for the pillars or the decoration.
The oldest still standing date from the 15th century.
There are an estimated 18,000 in Asturias.
The film/video by Shifting Sands Production is about the Asturias tradition of homemade apple cider being bottled in true fashion. Thank you Shifting Sands Production!
Cider - Sidra
is more than just a drink in Asturias it is truly a culture and a way of life that begins in the apple orchards.
Villaviciosa is said to be the birthplace of cider, and it is there, along with neighboring Nava, Siero, and Gijón, that most of the province’s cider is produced.
Playa de Cueva outside Luarca
Asturias road trips
I visited Asturias first time in October-November 2007, combined with my first-time visits to Galicia and Cantabria, and then again 2013. I postponed my trip 2020.
This is known as Green Spain. It is a beautiful mountainous region overlooking a wonderfully verdant countryside with its mountains crossed by countless river valleys.
To the North, the Atlantic sea breaks onto beautiful sandy beaches lying just a few kilometers from the mountain peaks, and the whole area is free from mass tourism.
Luarca
Driving from Aviles to Luarca (west of Aviles Airport) less than 40 minutes on A-8.
Luarca is a small fishing village
at the mouth of the Rio Negro with white-painted houses that surround the picturesque harbour, and a hilltop chapel in honor of the Virgen Blanca that overlooks the town below.
The river Negro ends its course in this village where it finally joins the sea. Population hear is near 5,000.
Stay over in Luarca try the country house built in 1899 and nowadays a lovely hotel Villa La Argentina, situated in the residential area of Luarca.
I left Luarca on the smaller coastal road A634 - A632 via Cadavedo, a small good looking fishing port and then another small village Castaneras with a Mirador viewpoint overlooking the impressive beach-coastal area of Playa de Silencio.
Plenty of beaches and rocky cost beyond Playa de Silencio - take your pick.
Cudillero Village
From Luarca to Cudillero 30 minutes on A-8
Cudillero allegedly the most picturesque fishing village in Asturia,
and it is stunning. Cudillero is famous for its multicolored houses climbing on the hillside all the way down to its port, La Cruz. Cudillero’s seafront area, a popular meeting place, a square with many bars, restaurants. A legend says that Cudillero was founded by the Vikings.
Every June 29, residents observe the feast of L’Amuravela, when a speaker delivers a ‘pregón’ summing up the main events of the year with a humorous perspective. The speaker uses pixueto language, a local dialect of the Asturian language still spoken in parts of northern Spain.
Playa de Aguilar is the nearest beach.
Stay over in Cudillero Hotel and Apartments Casona de la Paca, situated above Cudillero, stands in a beautiful garden with centuries old oaks.
Gijon Asturias largest city
From Cudillero to Lastres around 1 hour on A-8 and I passed on the outskirt of Gijon. Image Gijon City Council
Gijon, Asturias largest city, is located on the Bay of Biscay, approximately 24 km north-east of Oviedo, (airport) the capital of Asturias.
This industrial town has the last 15 years taken some trouble to make itself attractive for the locals and visitors to spend some time here. The creation of waterside promenades, pedestrianised old street, new interesting museums, and new parks. It's a lively place, cafes, bars, restaurants, and Sidrerias. Nice town beaches Playa de Poniente and Playa de San Lorenzo
Late August - Fiesta de La Sidra Festival.
To stay in the center of Gijon, Blue hotels present 2 hotels in central Gijon, Hotel Marques and Hotel Santa Rosa, and the Urban Blue Apartments all close to bars, restaurants, shops and the two town beaches,
Villaviciosa
Further along driving on the A-8, you can also visit Villaviciosa alledegly the birthplace of cider.
Link to La Comarca de la Cidra What to do in the Villaviciosa area
Link to Capital Manzanera de Espana Turismo for the Villaviciosa and beyond
Lastres port & village
attached to the municipality of Colunga that is home to just under 1,200 people. Many travel writers regard Lastres (officially named Llastres in Asturia) as one of the best looking village location in Asturia,
Lastres is closely connected to the sea. Traditional houses are built into the cliffs overlooking the water and it still features a whaling quarter that dates back to the 16th century.
Hotel Eutimio, a good example of an early 20th century stone casona, located right in the centre of Lastres. 10 rooms, include two suites.
Ribadesella
A low key resort. Busy end of July and August. Rio Sella canoe festival, the first weekend after the 2nd of August, very, very busy. In July free jazz concerts are held at night in the Plaza Christina.
Classical music concerts are performed in August, in Cuevona. They take place in the auditorium where the amazing and natural Ardines cave is located.
Ribadesella town is split into two halves by Sella's estuary, joined by a bridge. Playa de Santa Marina on the west side and the old town and fishing harbour are on the east side. The population nearly 6,000.
It's home to the Tito Bustillo Cave, which contains Paleolithic rock art. The Rock Art Center of Tito Bustillo details the cave's history and displays prehistoric relics, (about 12,000 years old).
Many visitors to the area choose to stay in Ribadesella due to the magnificent leisure and tourism tradition, sea and mountains activities on its “doorsteps”.
The architectural beauty of Hotel Villa Rosario and the larger 4-star Gran Hotel del Sella is both a perfect choice of accommodation for those who likes to pamper themselves located next to the magnificent beaches of Ribadesella.
