North of Spain itinerary. Day 7: Coast of Asturias

These are the chronicles of my road trip through the north of Spain with my cousins in the Spring Break of 2019. It is a 11 day itinerary that spanned from the French Basque Country to Asturias, including the way from and to Barcelona (where I currently live). On the seventh day, we explored the coast of Asturias, driving from Picos de Europa to Oviedo. We decided to make it a relaxed day in order to recover from some days of intense driving. We visited the coastal city of Ribadesella, the inland beach of Gulpiyuri and the beautiful town of Lastres.

Day 7: Coast of Asturias

1. Ribadesella

Ribadesella (Ribeseya in Asturian language) is a small city on the coast of Asturias, still in the Picos de Europa region. The city is located in the mouth of River Sella, where it makes a final bend that shapes the city.

Ribadesella is famous for three things: 1. In the first weekend of August takes place the Descenso Internacional del Sella, an international canoeing race that spans the last 20 km of River Sella to the coast of Asturias and comes with gigantic popular celebrations.

2. It is home to the prehistoric caves of Tito Bustillo, inhabited by cro-magnon before the year 10,000 BC. And 3. It is hometown to Queen Letizia of Spain.

Monte Corberu Viewpoint

We decided to have a walk along the promenade following the river all the way to Punta del Caballo and up Monte Corberu, a hill topped by a hermitage (Ermita de la Virgen de Guía) with fantastic views of the city and the coast of Asturias.

It also offers view of the cliffs that remind of Zumaia or San Juan de Gaztelugatxe in the Basque Country. The promenade has some interesting panels describing elements of Asturian mythology, which is very link to the Celts.

Eating in Ribadesella

Afterwards we had a quick lunch at La Talamera, a gastro-bar with Asturian products (the cheese!) and with super friendly staff. It is important to note that they cater to all (vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free), and according to my cousin, they have free sanitary pads in the women’s toilet. EDIT: I was very sad to hear that they closed in 2020 but they have another location at Abareque Sidra y Tapes (CLOSED) with the same gluten-free food.

2. Gulpiyuri

From Ribadesella we drove to the quirky beach of Gulpiyuri. This inland beach is created by a sinkhole in the coastal cliffs that allows the sea water to infiltrate creating the illusion that the beach has no connection to the sea. It’s one of the most quirky spots in the coast of Asturias.

We had a walk on the cliffs behind the beach, which have a very special shape and offer a great view of the coastline. The whole area is quite isolated and not crowded with tourists, which gave quite a relaxing time with the sound of the waves crashing into the cliffs of the rugged coast of Asturias.

3. Lastres

We spent the whole afternoon in one of the most beautiful towns I have ever seen: Lastres (or Llastres in Asturian). This small town was made famous for appearing in the Spanish TV show Doctor Mateo and has seen an increase in visitors since. However, it is still a sleepy town with an incredible setting and magnificent views.

Walk around the hilly town of Lastres and visit the Clock Tower, the Port of Lastres or the church of Santa María de Sábada.

Also make some time to just walk around and enjoy the tranquility and beauty of this town without worrying about checking items from a list.

San Roque Viewpoint

The best part of Lastres, however, is the beautiful viewpoint of San Roque, up the hill. The walk is not long or difficult to get to chapel of San Roque on the top of the hill. There you can delight your eyes with the best views of thetown and the coastline, as well sip on a drink while enjoying the views at Restaurante El Mirador. You can of course eat there as well, but I don’t recommend it because the prices are a bit steep.

Eating in Lastres

If you plan to eat in Lastres I really recommend the restaurant Bitácora. It is one of those old school bars with simple food but great produce and a fantastic setting. The inner dining room has a panoramic view of the sea, the port and the mountains, which adds a lot to the dining experience. If in doubt, go for seefood, which is fresh and fantastic.

Playa de la Griega

If you have time, spend some time in a beach next to Lastres called Playa de la Griega, which is at the mouth of River Colunga and surrounded by a beautiful fern forest. The beach is famous for the amazingly presrved dinosaur footprints, which are the some of the biggest ones in the world, reaching over 1,3 m diameter. It is a fantastic side trip if you’re traveling with kids, and you can complemented with the Jurassic Museum, located very close to Lastres.

4. Mirador del Fitu

If you leave Lastres and still have some time, you could have a stop at Mirador del Fitu, a spectacular viewpoint that faces Sierra del Sueve, a limestone massif that is a foothill of the Cantabrian Range. This viewpoint has an elevated structure that offers an unrestricted view of the range.

5. Oviedo

Our last stop of the day was Oviedo, the capital of Asturias, where we would stay for the next two days. I will cover the most important things in Oviedo in the next post, since we arrived quite late and only had time to go out for some food.

Due to the peak season in Easter, it was hard to find a hotel, but we saw a really good offer from Ayre Hotel Oviedo, a 4-star hotel located in a massive and strange building designed by Santiago Calatrava. Although the appearance of the building in its location is surrealistic, with a Hunger Games’ Capitol feel to it, the facilities are fantastic (although a bit tacky, if you ask me) and the price was unbeatable (at least on that season).

How to get to Oviedo

While this post is part of a road trip through the North of Spain and we got there by car, you may want to travel directly here. In that case, you can fly to the airport of Asturias from many destinations.

Alternatively you can get there from many other cities in the country using Spain’s well developed train system or intercity buses:

Where to stay in Oviedo

Budget

While the accommodation in Oviedo is getting surprisingly pricy for how cheap the region is, it is still possible to find well located and affordable options for budget travellers. That is the case of Hotel Vetusta, offering a comfortable stay in the city center. Alternatively, Pensión Romero or Hostal Alvarez are also great options that balance a good price with decent quality and excellent location.

Midrange

If you’re looking for a bit of style and comfort without breaking the bank, check out Hotel Nature Oviedo. If you prefer traditional charm at a decent price, then Gran Hotel España may be better for you, while NH Oviedo Principado offers a more contemporary design. Both are located in the city center.

Luxury

For those seeking luxury, Oviedo has some options for you. Barceló Oviedo Cervantes exudes sophistication in its luxurious hotel in the very heart of Oviedo. The design is more modern and yet it’s very close to the Old Town. Eurostars Hotel de la Reconquista is perfect for history lovers, as it is located in an opulent former royal palace, showing amazing architecture, exquisite dining and lavish rooms. If you prefer amenities over style, then AC Hotel Oviedo Forum may be your choice.

Booking.com

Closing statement

This is only the seventh day in our 10-day road trip through the north of Spain. Make sure you stay tuned for new and exciting posts about our journey.

Previous post: North of Spain route. Day 6: Picos de Europa

Next post: North of Spain route. Day 8: Oviedo

Go to route: North of Spain route: Basque Country, Cantabria and Asturias

Meanwhile, you can read more about other destinations in Spain in some of our posts (check them out and you will find many subposts linked to them):

→ Top 10 things to do in Barcelona

→ ‘Game of Thrones’ locations that you can visit in Spain