Gijón between the Atlantic coast and cultural history

Playa de Poniente is an artificial sandy beach in the area of Gijón/Xixón’s marina. It is suitable for getting started with water sports and for children to swim; seasonal conditions and services may change. One acoustic highlight is Elogio del Horizonte: Stand beneath it to hear the amplified sound of the sea.

Coast, neighborhoods, and walking paths

Cimadevilla was a fishing district and retains its buildings, historic layout, and maritime atmosphere. Together with the coastal experiences, this place reveals another side of Gijón: the traditional character of a neighborhood. If you are interested in the city’s history and appearance, Cimadevilla offers a tangible point of reference.

The green routes also connect different themes: the network comprises eight routes with more than 50 kilometers of walking paths in the open air. They link the region’s history and traditions with its diverse flora and fauna. The Senda fluvial del Piles offers its own landscape experience: the riverside path follows the Piles through landscapes with apple orchards, forests, and farms.

The Jardín Botánico Atlántico specializes in the flora and vegetation of the Atlantic world as a plant museum. It offers a different way to experience nature than the walking paths, focusing on plants and types of vegetation. The garden can be reached on city bus routes 1 and 18; check the current routes before traveling.

Roman traces and city history

The Museo de las Termas Romanas de Campo Valdés is located on site above a thermal bath complex from the early imperial period, one of the most significant archaeological sites in northern Spain. The Ciudadela de Celestino Solar, also known as Ciudadela de Capua, offers a glimpse into much more recent living conditions: this museum and cultural space shows the living conditions of Gijón’s proletarian population in the last third of the 19th century, as well as in the years before and after the Civil War.

The Museo Casa Natal de Jovellanos is housed in a palace built between the late 14th and early 16th centuries, where Jovellanos was born in 1744. The Capilla de los Remedios is attached to the building; it houses Jovellanos’s mausoleum. Here, architectural history, a specific biographical connection, and a later place of remembrance are closely linked.

Art, collections, and architecture

The Museo Nicanor Piñole preserves more than 6,000 drawings by the painter, who was born in Gijón. Guided tours are available by prior arrangement for groups of 20 or more; visitor program details may change. At the Museo Evaristo Valle, the garden and collection complement each other: the more than 16,000 square meters of historic gardens combine French and English garden design, and almost 50 contemporary art sculptures are displayed there. The museum also permanently exhibits more than 100 works by Evaristo Valle.

The Museo Barjola is located in the former La Trinidad complex, which includes the Capilla de La Trinidad, an outstanding example of 17th-century Gijón Baroque. One part of Juan Barjola’s work is displayed on the museum’s three upper floors, spanning the period from the mid-1950s to the late 1980s. At the Muséu del Pueblu d’Asturies, hórreos and granaries from the 18th and 19th centuries, along with a bagpipe collection featuring instruments from several European regions, North Africa, and the Iberian Peninsula, offer further insights.

Laboral and a festival in August

Laboral Ciudad de la Cultura can be explored on guided tours that include the Plaza, theater, church, and ascent to the Mirador de la Torre. The tower stands 117.60 meters above the central courtyard; its crowning ear of wheat measures 17 meters. Laboral Ciudad de la Cultura can also be reached on city bus routes 1 and 18. Before traveling, check the routes and operating times for guided tours, as well as the current bus routes.

The Festival de la Sidra Natural takes place in Gijón at the end of August and is recognized as an event of tourist interest by the Principality of Asturias. At Playa de Poniente, thousands of people pour cider at the same time. Since dates and programs may change, check the dates for your travel period.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Cimadevilla, Gijón, Camín Real De La Mesa, Laviana, Riosa, El Franco, Soto De Ribera, Villaviciosa.

For the overview of the wider region: Asturias.