Visit Asturias and Cantabria
Pretty beaches, elegant seaside towns, quiet fishing villages and the Picos de Europa make this a delightful region for summer holidays.
Asturias and Cantabria tourist sites and places to visit
For a summary of the most popular sights in the region see also Asturias and Cantabria places to visit.
The region of Asturias and Cantabria is a long narrow strip along the north coast of Spain. Its regional capital is the delightful city of Oviedo.
With beaches, little coastal towns, the lively university city of Santander and the magnificent backdrop of the Picos de Europe, a lovely verdant and very peaceful stretch of mountains, there is lots to tempt visitors. One of the most famous sights of the region is the Caves of Altamira with their magnificent pre-historic cave paintings.
Below we introduce the two provinces of Asturias and Cantabria with suggestions and highlights to enable you to plan your ideal Spanish holiday.
Asturias province
Rocky coves with sandy beaches and a backdrop of the Picos de Europa mountains will tempt you to the Asturias Province.
The coastal area of Asturias (and Cantabria) is known as the Costa Verde, or green coast and it is the coastal towns and villages that most holiday makers in Asturia visit. Its name evokes the many lovely coves with tree covered cliffs reaching down to the sandy beaches and sea below. The sea here is the Atlantic Ocean and so colder than the waters of the Costa Brava and Costa del Sol but less commercialized as well.
Dotted along the coast are a number of attractive little villages and towns including Ribadesella, Llanes, Castropol, Figueras, Luarca, Cudillero and Lastres. Also visit the caves of Tito Bustillo near Ribadesella and see the prehistoric drawings.
Inland are the stunning mountains of the Picos de Europa, a relatively undiscovered mountain range which is very verdant (and yet does have some snow covered peaks), full of bubbling streams, gorges and pretty little villages which look as though they have been lost in time. Be sure to take a walk through the Cares Gorge - 1000m deep and 12km long.
Cangas de Onis in the mountains is surrounded by great scenery and Castro de Coana has an interesting Celtic settlement. Salas has a castle from which you get great views and Covadonga has an important religious sanctuary and was the starting point of the Spanish Reconquest.
When hiking on the various trails often you will not see another hiker buy may meet one of the very long horned cattle which also use the trails but which are fortunately extremely docile. The mountain range is now a National Park and spreads over Asturias and Cantabria and also the Castile and Leon region. Sotres makes a good base for walkers.
For some city life visit Oviedo, the regional capital with a charming medieval centre. Aviles also has an interesting medieval centre and Gijon has some good beaches and nightlife.
Cantabria province
The world famous Altamira caves, parts of the Way of Saint James pilgrim route, more great beaches and, of course, the Picos de Europa are some of the reasons visitors come to Cantabria.
The Altamira Caves with their wonderful cave paintings are a UNESCO World Heritage Site and not to be missed. Other treasures include the Magdalena palace in Santander and the Modernista building designed by Gaudi in Comillas.
If you are looking for beaches then head for the stunning Santillana del Mar (also home to the Altamira caves), Suances, the elegant Santander, Santona, Laredo and Castro Urdiales. San Vicente de la Barquera is one of our favourite resorts on the green coast.
Inland the pretty town of Reinosa has typical Cantabrian architecture and Lierganes was awarded Historic-Artistic status for its interesting classical architecture. Potes is one of the most attractive villages in the region and has a delightful old quarter and Mogrovejo is thought to be one of the most beautiful villages in Spain as is Barcena-Mayor. Carmona is also a charming village in the Cabuerniga Valley and Puente Viesgo is also attractive and has some excellent caves nearby.
Take the cable car from Fuente Dé up to a wild rocky area with great views of the surrounding Picos. If you are looking to do some skiing then head for the small, attractive Alto Campoo ski resort.
Asturias and Cantabria tourism and sightseeing
UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Asturias and Cantabria
Cave of Altamira and Paleolithic Cave Art of Northern Spain, Asturias, Cantabria and the Basque Country
Monuments of Oviedo and the Kingdom of the Asturias, Asturias
Pilgrim route to Santiago de Compostela
Museums
Fine Arts Museum of Oviedo, Museo de Bellas Artes - housed in an 18th century palace the museum contains a good selection of paintings.
Archeological Museum of Oviedo, Museo Arqueologico - housed in an old monastery it contains pre-historic, Roman and Romanesque exhibits.
Fine Arts Museum of Santander - includes works by Goya.
Archeological Museum of Santander - has artifacts from caves in Cantrabria
Maritime Museum of Santander - has a collection of whale skeletons.
Museo del Pueblo de Asturias, Gijon - has a large bagpipe collection!
Gardens
Gardens of the Magdalena Palace, Santander - a palace and gardens all on the tip of the peninsula and so surrounded by sea.
Paradors of Asturias and Cantabria
The paradors of Spain are luxury hotels set in historic buildings or modern buildings in fabulous locations. The paradors of Asturias and Cantabrias offer you a converted palace, an 8th century monastery and an ancient mill amongst others. Paradors are always situated in historic and/or beautiful locations and visiting the paradors is a great way to tour Spain.
Parador de Argomaniz - Argomaniz
Parador de Cangas de Oniz - Cangas de Oniz
Parador de Coriaz - Coriaz
Parador de Fuente de - Fuente de
Parador de Gijon - Gijon
Parador de Limpias - Limpias
Parador de Santillana Gil Blas - Santillana Gil Blas
Parador de Santillana del Mar - Santillana del Mar
