The beautiful, broad golden sands of 1km-long Playa de Rodiles, backed by eucalyptus trees, front the sea at the mouth of the Ría de Villaviciosa, 10km north of Villaviciosa. Surfers might find a wave to catch here in late summer.
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
26.13 MILES
Oviedo's stunning cathedral complex was built mainly in Gothic and baroque styles between the 13th and 18th centuries. But its origins and greatest…
Palacio de Santa María del Naranco
26.66 MILES
On the slopes of Monte Naranco, 3.5km northwest of central Oviedo, this tall, narrow palace – built by Ramiro I (842–50), Alfonso II’s successor…
16.51 MILES
Some of Spain’s finest cave art, including superb horse paintings probably done around 15,000 to 10,000 BCE, is within this World Heritage–listed cave,…
Museo Arqueológico de Asturias
26.08 MILES
Partly within a restored 16th-century monastery, Asturias’ archaeology museum makes the most of the region’s archaeological riches through video and…
27.29 MILES
A beautiful, gold-blonde crescent bounded by rocky headlands and a bowl of green hills, 9km west of Llanes, Torimbia is truly spectacular. Turn off the…
27.92 MILES
About 8km west of Llanes, the 250m-long sands of Playa de Toranda are backed by green fields and a forested headland. Snorkellers should see a good…
11.65 MILES
Constructed as a Jesuit-run universidad laboral (vocational training centre), the austerely grand 1940s-vintage ‘Laboral,’ 5km southeast of the centre, is…
22.68 MILES
This cave, now with a chapel installed, is where the Virgin supposedly appeared to Pelayo's warriors before their 722 CE victory over the Muslims…
Nearby Asturias attractions
3.59 MILES
You can immerse yourself in the world of cider at several bodegas around Villaviciosa. El Gaitero, 2km northeast, is one of the biggest and offers the…
2. Iglesia de San Juan de Amandi
5.42 MILES
This fine late-Romanesque church, built in the early 13th century, lies 1.5km south of Villaviciosa. Despite later interventions, including the addition…
3. Museo del Jurásico de Asturias
5.78 MILES
Dotted with Jurassic-era fossils, the Asturian coastline between Gijón and Ribadesella is known as La costa de la los dinosaurios (the Dinosaur Coast)…
4. Iglesia de San Salvador de Valdediós
9.2 MILES
Don’t miss this beautifully preserved, triple-naved, pre-Romanesque church, built in 893 CE as part of a palace complex for Asturian King Alfonso III. It…
5. Laboral Ciudad de la Cultura
11.65 MILES
Constructed as a Jesuit-run universidad laboral (vocational training centre), the austerely grand 1940s-vintage ‘Laboral,’ 5km southeast of the centre, is…
6. Jardín Botánico Atlántico
11.87 MILES
This verdant botanical garden – featuring 2000 different species – offers a lovely break from the chaotic city centre and is an excellent introduction to…
7. Muséu del Pueblu d’Asturies
12.78 MILES
This museum, 2.5km east of the Plaza Mayor, is devoted to traditional Asturian culture, with exhibits on bagpipes, cooking, carriages and even 19th…
12.83 MILES
The broad, 1.5km-long sands of Playa de Vega, 8km west of Ribadesella, are among the least known of northern Spain's finest beaches. There are three or…