Day Trips from Oviedo

Oviedo is a city that you will 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

11 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 center to its surroundings, which you can incorporate into your daily itinerary. In this way, you will discover amazing natural, architectural and historical monuments.

You can visit the Picos de Europa and its main destinations, visit 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 that you can incorporate into your 1-day itinerary in Oviedo. In this way, you will visit an important natural lung high in the Cantabrian mountain range, to enjoy the beautiful scenery of its towns.

Cangas de Onis

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 advance 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 twentieth century, which prevail in this town.

Lastres fishing village

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

Details of interest

  • 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 to 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 tour of Cudillero, Vidio, Paya la Catedrales and other destinations on the Western Coast of Asturias. All you have to do is join a guided excursion through this region. You will escape the hustle and bustle of the city and enjoy a beautiful coastal region with a series of cliffs and coves.

You will travel by minibus from the door of your hotel to the Asturian coast, specifically to Cabo Vidio. There, you will be able to explore the place in the company of a guide and contemplate a panoramic view of Cabo de Peña and Cabo Estaca de Bares.

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

Next, the guide will 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 Mirador el Baluarte, from where you will have a view of the Plaza la Marina, the port and the amphitheater.
  • The Old Town, with many curiosities such as the Caracolas de Teixera, which is a house whose facade is covered with shells.

Details of interest

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

Book a day tour to Cudillero, Vidio and other destinations

3. Visit Teverga from Oviedo and travel 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 through the Bear Valley route in the itinerary of one of those days. This way, you will have the opportunity to get to know one of the most popular green routes in all of Spain.

Once you connect with this excursion, you will travel approximately two hours until you reach the Bear Valley. There, the guide will take you to 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 remodeled, retains several parts of the old construction of the fifteenth century. In the Main Chapel you will find a Roman sculpture of a crucified Christ from the 13th century.

Prehistoric Park of Teverga

In the Prehistoric Park of Teverga you will learn about the Upper Paleolithic 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 Paleolithic cave, located in France.
  • Altamira Caves, a true sample of the creative spirit of man and an important World Heritage Site, named by UNESCO.

Details of interest

  • Price: from 20€ per person.
  • Duration: 1 day.
  • Means of transport: minibus.
  • Advantages of this option: you will visit the town of Teverga, which is part of the Valles del Oso route.
  • Disadvantages of this option: this type of excursion may not be suitable for children under 4 years old.

4. Walk part of the Camino de Santiago on a guided excursion 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 surroundings of the city. In this sense, a tour along the Camino de Santiago will be a good option for you.

The excursion starts at the Cathedral of Oviedo, 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 center of the city, making your way through the Asturian countryside.

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

During this walk 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 or drink, so you will have to pay for it on your own.

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 Center in Avilés| ©Lucía Garó
Oscar Niemeyer International Cultural Center 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 excursion from Oviedo is the town of Luarca. There, you will be surrounded by a natural scenery that merges the mountains with the sea and you will discover some emblematic places such as La Ermita de la Regalina and the Plaza Mijares.

Cudillero

This is a fishing village with a very picturesque scene, which will capture your attention from the first moment. On the one hand, there is the amphitheater of houses, whose facades are painted in a variety of pastel colors. You will also see the port, the Plaza de la Marina and visit the viewpoints Atalaya and El Pico, where you can take beautiful pictures.

Avilés

The next destination is the town of Avilés with an incredible old town, which you will walk through 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.

Interesting details

  • Price: from 39€ per person.
  • Duration: 10 hours (Approx.)
  • Means of transport: private car.
  • Advantages of this option: you will visit some of the picturesque villages on the shores of the Cantabrian Sea.
  • Disadvantages of this option: this activity does not usually incorporate the pick-up service at the hotel door.

Book a tour to Luarca, Cudillero and Avilés from Oviedo

6. Take an excursion 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 during any month of the year. You will be able to know how the inhabitants of this place used to live in the past.

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

You will walk around the Plaza Mayor, where you will find some cider houses that you can visit and learn about their history. In addition, you will walk through 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 Theater and stroll along the Port of Gijón, to enjoy a privileged panoramic view.

Details of interest

  • 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 get to know the historical legacy of an important Spanish city like Gijón in just over two hours, being able to 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 an excursion to the Cathedrals Beach from Oviedo and enjoy the water activities of the place

Cathedrals Beach| ©BilboHeat
Cathedrals Beach| ©BilboHeat

An excursion to the Cathedrals Beach is an ideal activity if you are a water sports enthusiast or if you do not know what to do in Oviedo with children. You will be able to contemplate the landscape, lie on the sand and dive into the water to practice snorkeling, kayaking, surfing, kitesurfing, among others.

Kayaking experience

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

Afterwards, you will 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 that, together with the wetsuit, will be provided by the guide in charge of the activity.

In addition, if it is 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 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 into practice everything you have learned.

Interesting details

  • Price: from 85€ per person.
  • Duration: 4 hours (Approx.)
  • Means of transport: van.
  • Advantages of this option: whatever the experience in which you decide to participate, you will have the suit and tools necessary to carry out its practice.
  • Disadvantages of this option: this activity usually starts and ends at an agreed point in the center of the city and not at the door of the hotel.

Book a private tour from Oviedo to Catedrales Beach

What are the towns I should not miss on an excursion from Oviedo?

Lastres| ©Eleazar
Lastres| ©Eleazar

Oviedo is a city from which you can visit several towns 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, which highlights 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 great historical richness.
  • The fishing village of Lastres, the enclave of Ribadesella and the town of Cangas de Onis, 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 that you should take into consideration to enhance your experience:

  • Wear seasonally appropriate clothing. If it is summer you should wear shorts, dresses and breathable t-shirts. Meanwhile, in winter you will have to wear coats and thermal clothing.
  • Wear comfortable shoes. Keep in mind that during the excursion you will be walking long distances, 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 in the middle of 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.