Day Trips from Oviedo

Oviedo is a city you'll want to explore in its entirety, as it not only has an incredible medieval old town, but also amazing natural spaces. Find out which are the must-see destinations.

Ana Caballero

Ana Caballero

10 min read

Day Trips from Oviedo

Hiker | Holly Mandarich

Once you start your visit to Oviedo, you will discover a series of excursions from the city centre to the surrounding area, which you can incorporate into your daily itinerary. This way, you will discover amazing natural, architectural and historical monuments.

You can visit the Picos de Europa and its main destinations, get to know the Western Coast of Asturias, walk part of the Camino de Santiago, do water activities, among other of the best things to do in Oviedo during an excursion.

1. Join a guided tour of the Picos de Europa from Oviedo

Sanctuary of Covadonga| ©Willian Justen de Vasconcellos
Sanctuary of Covadonga| ©Willian Justen de Vasconcellos

A guided tour of the Picos de Europa is a good option to incorporate into your 1-day itinerary in Oviedo. This way, you will visit an important natural lung in the Cantabrian Mountains, to enjoy the beautiful scenery of its towns and villages.

Cangas de Onís

You will travel approximately one hour from the door of the hotel to Cangas de Onís. This is a mountainous town located in a valley at the foot of the Picos de Europa. There you will see the Roman Bridge and the Monastery of San Pedro, both declared National Monuments.

You will also go to Lake Covadonga (Lake Enol and Ercina), to visit some essential destinations:

Enclave of Ribadesella

Next, you will move on to the enclave of Ribadesella, which is bordered by the sea. You will walk along the promenade of the beach of Santa Marina, while the guide tells you the history of the buildings of the early 20th century, which prevail in this town.

The fishing village of Lastres

Before returning to Oviedo, the guide will take you to the fishing village of Lastres, for lunch in one of its restaurants with beautiful views of the sea. Afterwards, you will stroll through the streets of this village, shop for souvenirs and visit the Jurassic Museum in Colunga.

Interesting details

  • Price: from 110€ per person.
  • Duration: 8 hours and 30 minutes (Approx.)
  • Means of transport: minibus.
  • Advantages of this option: you will discover beautiful natural scenery and amazing National Monuments.
  • Disadvantages of this option: this activity is not suitable for wheelchair users.

Book a tour of the Picos de Europa from Oviedo

2. Discover the Western Coast of Asturias from Oviedo to Cudillero

Aerial view of Cudillero| ©Enric Domas
Aerial view of Cudillero| ©Enric Domas

During your visit to Oviedo in summer, you can take advantage of the good weather to take a day trip to Cudillero, Vidio, Paya la Catedrales and other destinations on the Western Coast of Asturias. All you have to do is join a guided tour of the region. You'll escape the hustle and bustle of the city and enjoy a beautiful coastal region with a series of cliffs and coves.

You'll travel by minibus from the door of your hotel to the Asturian coastline, specifically to Cabo Vidio. There, you can explore the area accompanied by a guide and enjoy a panoramic view of Cabo de Peña and Cabo Estaca de Bares.

The adventure continues at Playa del Silencio beach. This is a natural area with an average length of 500 metres, where you will find imposing quartzite cliffs. You can walk down to the beach along a path, lie down on the sand and dive into the warm waters.

The guide will then take you to Cudillero. This is a picturesque town where you will find many interesting places:

  • The Plaza de la Marina, with several restaurants to eat, drink and rest.
  • The Baluarte viewpoint, from where you will have a view of the Plaza la Marina, the harbour and the amphitheatre.
  • The Old Town, with many curiosities such as the Caracolas de Teixera, which is a house whose façade is covered with shells.

Interesting details

  • Price: from 80€ per person.
  • Duration: 4 hours (approx.)
  • Means of transport: minibus.
  • Advantages of this option: you will get to know the hidden destinations of the Asturian West Coast of Cudillero.
  • Disadvantages of this option: this excursion does not usually include food and drink.

Book a day tour of Cudillero, Vidio and other destinations

3. Visit Teverga from Oviedo and follow part of the Valles del Oso route

San Pedro de Teverga Collegiate Church| ©Javier Habladorcito
San Pedro de Teverga Collegiate Church| ©Javier Habladorcito

If you plan to be in Oviedo for 2 days or more, you can incorporate an excursion along the Bear Valley route into the itinerary of one of those days. This will give you the chance to discover one of the most popular green routes in Spain.

Once you connect with this excursion, you will travel approximately two hours until you reach the Bear Valley. There, your guide will take you on a tour of some unmissable destinations:

Collegiate Church of San Pedro in Teverga

You will make a stop in the town of Teverga to visit the Collegiate Church of San Pedro; this is a Romanesque Byzantine temple built in the 11th century, where you can visit its three pre-Romanesque naves. You can also see the reliefs, capitals and other decorations.

You can also visit the cloister which, although it has been remodelled, conserves several parts of the old 15th-century construction. In the Main Chapel you will find a Roman sculpture of a crucified Christ from the 13th century.

Prehistoric Park of Teverga

In the Teverga Prehistory Park you will learn about Upper Palaeolithic art in Europe, through its galleries and the area called "Cave of Caves".

In the latter, you will find representations of some very important cave systems:

  • Lascaux, a Palaeolithic cave, located in France.
  • Altamira Caves, a true example of man's creative spirit and an important UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Details of interest

  • Price: from 20€ per person.
  • Duration: 1 day.
  • Means of transport: minibus.
  • Advantages of this option: you will get to know the town of Teverga, which forms part of the Valles del Oso route.
  • Disadvantages of this option: this type of excursion may not be suitable for children under the age of four.

4. Walk part of the Way of St. James on a guided tour from Oviedo

The Way of St. James| ©Les Argonautes
The Way of St. James| ©Les Argonautes

During your stay in Oviedo you can connect with a tour that allows you to get to know the city's surroundings. In this sense, a tour along the Camino de Santiago will be a good option for you.

The excursion starts at Oviedo Cathedral, where you will meet the guide and learn a little about this architectural and religious monument, which for years has been of great importance for pilgrims. From there, you will walk slowly through the city centre, making your way through the Asturian countryside.

The route will take you along the primitive path from Oviedo to Compostela. However, on this excursion you will only cover an average of 12 kilometres. Therefore, you will reach the town of Trubia, which stands out for its beautiful natural scenery.

During this hike you will learn some curiosities of the Camino de Santiago, enjoy a quiet atmosphere and breathe fresh air, away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Details of interest

  • Price: from 80€ per person.
  • Duration: 5 hours (approx.)
  • Means of transport: private car.
  • Advantages of this option: you will follow in the footsteps of thousands of pilgrims throughout history and enjoy the beautiful countryside.
  • Disadvantages of this option: the excursion does not include food and drink, so you will have to pay for it yourself.

Book a Camino de Santiago tour

5. From Oviedo enjoy a couple of villages overlooking the shores of the Cantabrian Sea

Oscar Niemeyer International Cultural Centre in Avilés| ©Lucía Garó
Oscar Niemeyer International Cultural Centre in Avilés| ©Lucía Garó

Oviedo in 4 days or more offers many destinations to enjoy. Some of them are located on the outskirts of the city, in the north of the Iberian Peninsula, specifically on the shores of the Cantabrian Sea. To discover them you can take a trip to Luarca, Cudillero and Avilés from Oviedo.

Luarca

The first stop on this guided tour from Oviedo is the town of Luarca. There, you will be surrounded by a natural scenery that blends the mountains with the sea and you will be able to discover some emblematic places such as La Ermita de la Regalina and the Plaza Mijares.

Cudillero

This is a fishing village with a picturesque scene that will capture your attention from the very first moment. On the one hand, there is the amphitheatre of houses, whose façades are painted in a variety of pastel colours. You'll also see the port, the Plaza de la Marina and the Atalaya and El Pico viewpoints, where you can take beautiful photographs.

Avilés

The next destination is the town of Avilés, with its incredible old quarter, which you can explore at your own pace. You will also see:

  • The Old Church of Sabugo.
  • The Plaza de la Merced.
  • The Santo Tomás Church and the Avilés estuary.

Details of interest

  • Price: from 39€ per person.
  • Duration: 10 hours (approx.)
  • Means of transport: private car.
  • Advantages of this option: you will get to know some of the picturesque villages on the shores of the Cantabrian Sea.
  • Disadvantages of this option: this activity does not usually include a hotel pick-up service.

Book a trip to Luarca, Cudillero and Avilés from Oviedo

6. Take a trip from Oviedo to Gijón to get to know this ancient town

Gijón| ©Alejandro Tocornal
Gijón| ©Alejandro Tocornal

A tour of the coastal town of Gijón is usually another of the excursions you can do during your visit to Oviedo in December or any other month of the year. You'll be able to see how the people of this place used to live.

You'll travel from Oviedo by car, covering a distance of approximately 28 minutes until you reach Gijón. There, you'll start exploring this Spanish city with the help of a local guide.

You'll stroll around the Plaza Mayor, where you'll find some cider houses that you can visit and learn about their history. You will also walk around the traditional markets of this town as if you were a local, having free time to do some shopping and taste the local gastronomy.

You will also visit the old town and see the Revillagigedo Palace, whose history dates back to the 15th century. Afterwards, you will have the opportunity to visit the Jovellanos Theatre and stroll along the Port of Gijón, to enjoy a privileged panoramic view.

Interesting details

  • Price: from 39€ per person.
  • Duration: 2 hours and 30 minutes (Approx.)
  • Means of transport: car or minibus.
  • Advantages of this option: you will be able to discover the historical legacy of an important Spanish city like Gijón in just over two hours, and then return to Oviedo to continue with other activities.
  • Disadvantages of this option: meals and drinks are not included in the cost of the excursion.

7. Join a trip to Playa de las Catedrales from Oviedo and enjoy the water activities on site

Las Catedrales Beach| ©BilboHeat
Las Catedrales Beach| ©BilboHeat

A trip to the Cathedrals Beach is an ideal activity if you are a water sports enthusiast or if you don't know what to do in Oviedo with children. You can admire the scenery, lie on the sand and dive into the water to snorkel, kayak, surf, kitesurf, among others.

Kayaking experience

You'll take your paddle and get into a one or two-seater kayak, as you wish. But beforehand, the professional guide in charge will talk to you for approximately 15 minutes, explaining the basics of this sport.

Afterwards, you'll start paddling through the crystal clear waters of Playa de las Catedrales, enjoying an incredible natural landscape and a series of millenary rock formations.

Kitesurfing Experience

Kitesurfing is a very popular sport in Playa de la Catedral. It is an experience that combines a surfboard and a kite which, together with a wetsuit, will be provided to you by the guide in charge of the activity.

In addition, if it's your first time, before entering the water you will receive a series of instructions on how to balance on the board while holding the kite. This way, you will avoid any inconvenience during the practice.

Surfing experience

Surfing is the sport par excellence in Playa de las Catedrales. In fact, these waters are usually the scene of some annual competitions. You can connect with a lesson during your visit to Oviedo in winter, summer or any other season of the year, as you will always find good waves.

The guide will provide you with a wetsuit and a board suitable for you. He will then teach you how to get up on the board and some tricks, depending on your level of experience. Afterwards, you will enter the water and put everything you have learnt into practice.

Interesting details

  • Price: from 85€ per person.
  • Duration: 4 hours (approx.)
  • Means of transport: van.
  • Advantages of this option: whichever experience you decide to take part in, you will have the necessary equipment and tools to carry out the activity.
  • Disadvantages of this option: this activity usually starts and finishes at an agreed point in the city centre and not at the door of the hotel.

Book a private tour from Oviedo to Playa Catedrales

What are the towns I should not miss on a tour from Oviedo?

Lastres| ©Eleazar
Lastres| ©Eleazar

Oviedo is a city from which you can visit several villages of great historical, cultural and touristic importance. Therefore, during your visit you should not miss the opportunity to join an excursion in the surroundings of the city. You will enjoy beautiful landscapes and emblematic monuments.

Some of the villages are:

  • Teverga, with ancient temples and an important archaeological park.
  • Gijón, with its old town and some architectural monuments.
  • Luarca, Cudillero and Avilés, on the shores of the Cantabrian Sea. These are three fishing villages with a picturesque scene and a wealth of history.
  • The fishing village of Lastres, the enclave of Ribadesella and the town of Cangas de Onís, which are located around the Picos de Europa, considered an important natural lung.

Tips for an excursion from Oviedo

Equipment for hiking| ©Rana Sawalha
Equipment for hiking| ©Rana Sawalha

When embarking on an excursion from Oviedo, there are some basic tips you should take into consideration to enhance your experience:

  • Wear seasonally appropriate clothing. If it's summer you should wear shorts, dresses and breathable T-shirts. Meanwhile, in winter you should wear coats and thermal clothing.
  • Wear comfortable shoes. Keep in mind that you will be walking long distances during the hike, so you will need comfortable shoes with a good level of traction.
  • Havesome supplies and hydration on hand in case you get hungry or thirsty halfway through the hike.
  • Protect your skin with sunscreen and mosquito repellent. Don't forget that you will be outdoors for hours, exposed to the sun's rays, mosquitoes and insects.