Hugging Spain’s rugged northern coast, Asturias offers mist-cloaked mountains, wild beaches and untouched beauty. Ancient traditions meet modern day life, against a backdrop of stunning natural wonders. Sample Spanish cider, hike the Picos de Europa, or discover the region’s Celtic Roots. Asturias is full of surprises for food, nature, and culture seekers alike.
NATURE
Limpid lakes, dramatic valleys and challenging hiking can be found across the Picos de Europa, the National Park that stands guard over Asturias and neighbouring Cantabria. Home to oak and beech groves, brown bear and the Iberian wolf, the park offers pretty towns, outdoor activities and stunning scenery. The coastline of Asturias is also a haven for nature, with impressive blowholes, surf spots, dinosaur footprints and beautiful Atlantic beaches.
FOOD & DRINK
Rich flavours and long-standing traditions are an essential park of Asturian cuisine. Famous for sidra (cider), you can visit a traditional sidrería to sample local varieties – best paired with fine Spanish cheese (try punchy blue Cabrales for a counterpoint to the cider’s tanginess). Beyond fizzing apple flavours, sample hearty bean stews, traditional sausage, and fresh seafood from the wild coastline. Moules, clams, oysters... Asturias has it all.
CULTURE
Spanish and Celtic heritage collides in Asturias. A surprising combination perhaps, but once known, the echoes of both appear throughout the region. Visit the Museum of the Asturian People in Gijón to divine fact from mythology, or dive into rural history at the Ethnographic Museum of Grandas de Salime. There’s also a bagpipe museum, if those Celtic roots were ever in doubt, and a cider museum, for new converts. Thriving festivals, markets and art galleries also offer a more contemporary glimpse into Asturias’ cultural spirit.
Stroll seaside promenades in Gijón, where Roman roots and a pretty old town meet the wild waters of Spain’s Atlantic coast.
