Gijón (or Xixón) is a town to walk around and discover, to enjoy, in short. This coastal town is the largest in Asturias and its cultural importance is such that it becomes the centre of the region in summer, although it is so rich that it is worth visiting at any time of year.
If you want to spend a few days in the city, don't miss the following attractions.
1-Visit the former Laboral University, Laboral City of Culture
This monumental building complex, now transformed into the Laboral Ciudad de la Cultura, is considered a cultural asset of interest.
You can take a guided tour that will show you the plaza, the theatre, the painters' hall, the old kitchens and the redesigned LABoral Centro de Arte space. The guided tour costs 6 euros for adults, and it is possible to buy a joint ticket for the Atlantic Botanical Garden for 7 euros, both with discounts for children, people over 65 and other groups. The visit to the Laboral Ciudad de la Cultura takes about an hour and that to the Botanical Garden about two hours, although both can be visited separately and on different days.
2-Land in the Atlantic Botanical Garden
The Gijón Botanical Gardens will delight you, whether you're a botany lover or just a cacti enthusiast. You can join guided tours or strike out on your own, and it's a great plan with kids as there are educational activities, especially for the little ones (and not so-little ones). Highlights include the Carbayera de El Tragamón, an extraordinary forest of hundred-year-old oaks, a traditional Asturian farmhouse (Quintana de Rionda), the Children's Forest and a fun laurel maze. The entrance fee includes guided tours (both general and thematic), which must be booked at least one week in advance.
3 - Enjoy the breeze and spectacular views at the Alto de la Providencia viewpoint.
The Providencia viewpoint is located in San Lorenzo Park, just 13 minutes by car from the centre of Gijón or half an hour by bus (lines 14 or 25 towards Infanzón).
This incredible viewpoint in the shape of a ship's bow was built in 1997 on a former army firing range and offers spectacular panoramic views of the Gijón coast and the Cantabrian Sea.
San Lorenzo Park not only offers wonderful views and beautiful beaches, but also children's playgrounds and picnic areas, so it's a great place to get some fresh air.
If you want to stretch your legs, several walking routes start from here, including the route back to Gijón. We recommend following the marked path along the coast, visiting the sculpture La Madre del Emigrante (The Emigrant's Mother) and walking along the promenade along San Lorenzo beach to the church of San Pedro. This route of about 7 km can be done in an hour and a half.
4-Go to the Cuesta del Cholo for cider.
An essential stop for Gijón locals is the Cuesta del Cholo, especially when the weather is good!
The hillside is a steep street in the Cimadevilla neighbourhood that leads to the port and has a special charm due to its cobblestone floor. Traditionally, people gather at the end of the afternoon to enjoy a glass (or several) of freshly made cider and watch the sunset with the boats moored in the harbour as a backdrop - a must!
5-Listen to the murmur of the sea in Praise of the Horizon.
This colossal work by sculptor Eduardo Chillida from 1990 is located on the Cerro de Santa Catalina, which you can also visit. For the people of Gijón, it is now one of the city's landmarks, but in its day it was so controversial that it was nicknamed "King Kong's toilet".
Apart from its stylistic merits, its privileged location on the Cantabrian Sea offers magnificent views of the Poniente and San Lorenzo beaches. Stand in the middle of the work and listen to the secrets whispered by the wind of the sea. A real pleasure.
6- Beaches! Gijón has many of them, and they are all good.
Gijón has 10 beaches to choose from, five urban and five rural.
Among the urban beaches, San Lorenzo beach stands out. This natural sandy beach is probably the most famous in Asturias, it is 1.5 km long and has a busy 3 km long promenade that the locals call "el Muro" (the wall). It's ideal all year round for swimming, surfing or just having ice cream and enjoying the sound of the sea.
Poniente beach, also located on the other side of the Cimadevilla neighbourhood near the marina, is smaller but protected from the north-easterly winds, making it ideal for windy days. It is particularly suitable for people with reduced mobility and for beginners in water sports.
Peñarubia, a rural beach very close to the city, is frequented by naturists and nudists and is also ideal for underwater fishing, diving and surfing.
Among the rural beaches, La Ñora and El Estaño are our favourites. Both are accessible from Providencia on foot along the coast or by car, but if you want to go by bus, choose Estaño, line 14 or 25. La Ñora has a beautiful promenade among eucalyptus trees that leads to a viewpoint on the cliff.
7-Sidrerías: Cider bars to enjoy the culinary Gijón
Gijón is a good example of good gastronomy. In the local cider bars, you will find generous portions of traditional recipes or pinchos and tapas served with freshly poured cider. A good coastal town, Gijón offers the freshest fish and seafood straight from the Bay of Biscay, but no less interesting are the Asturian veal dishes and a varied local vegetable garden. Don't leave town without trying a rice dish with bugre (lobster), pixin (monkfish), tortos con picadillo (selfmade mais tortillas with spiced minced meat) or a hearty fabada (bean stew).
Nowadays, many cider houses offer more avant-garde cuisine with a new look at quality products. Some of our favourite places are Tierrastur, El Candasu and El Llavianu.
8-Visit Cimadevilla neighbourhood, the Church of San Pedro and the Roman Baths.
Cimadevilla, an old fishermen's quarter in the heart of the city, still retains a popular and worldly flair that is reflected in the façades and streets, but also in the unique atmosphere characterised by fishermen's stories, the cider houses that can be found everywhere and the way people interact with each other. The streets, seemingly quiet during the day, turn into a meeting place with restaurants and cider bars in the evening and cocktail bars in the early hours of the morning.
To make sure you don't miss anything, plan a walking tour of about two hours, starting at the Plaza Mayor, heading towards the harbour to see the imposing statue of Don Pelayo, and heading to the hill of Santa Catalina via the Cuesta del Cholo, where you can enjoy some cider. The remains of the old military artillery installation can still be seen here. We climb to the highest point and reach the Elogio del Horizonte, from where we can enjoy spectacular views over the city and the Cantabrian Sea, both by day and by night. We continue along the edge of the peninsula by the Cantabrian Sea down to the church of San Pedro, which was rebuilt after being destroyed in the Civil War. At its feet are the Roman baths of Valdés (1st-2nd century). They are considered the most important Roman ruins discovered in northern Spain. The museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday, and admission is free. From here we return to the Plaza Mayor, where we can have lunch, tapas, dinner or even a drink with the Bay of Biscay in the background.
9-Diving at the Gijón Aquarium - Bioparc
Would you like to enjoy the company of sharks, rays, moray eels and giant turtles? The Gijón Aquarium is one of the best things to do with children, and it's even a good plan for rainy days.
This aquarium is part of the Bioparc conservation network, which carries out various projects to promote the conservation and welfare of animals in their natural habitat and to develop awareness and educational activities.
Admission costs 17 euros for adults and 8.90 euros for children. Children under three are admitted free of charge, and there are discounts for students and senior citizens. If you're from Gijón, don't forget to bring your citizen card!
You can also take a guided tour of the technical areas and participate in numerous children's workshops, watch out for the programme!
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