There are so many fun things to do in Oviedo, Spain. Here is a complete guide with plenty of suggestions to make sure you do not miss out on any of the local attractions, fascinating culture and architecture, and the delicious food and drink that this captivating city offers.
Founded in the 8th century, Oviedo (pronounced oh-vee-ay-doh) was once the capital of the ancient Kingdom of Asturias. Although no longer a Kingdom, Asturias is a Spanish principality with a strong local identity, and Oviedo is still its capital today.
Oviedo is both an ancient and modern city, full of contrasts and surprises waiting to be discovered.
From narrow cobblestone streets steeped in history, to mouthwatering hearty food, peculiar cider traditions, and an incredible amount of public art scattered around the city, Oviedo has something for everyone.
I visited Oviedo as part of a 5-day itinerary of Northern Spain by train, so here are my top recommendations for fun things to do in Oviedo. But before that, here is a little bit of an overview on this charming medieval city.
Table of Contents
- 1 An Overview of Oviedo
- 2 Where to stay in Oviedo, Spain
- 3 Fun things to do in Oviedo
- 3.1 Explore the Old Town
- 3.2 Visit Oviedo Cathedral
- 3.3 Venture into the Archaeological Museum of Asturias
- 3.4 Go hunting for sculptures
- 3.5 Listen to the sound of bagpipes
- 3.6 Discover Oviedo’s UNESCO Pre-Romanesque churches
- 3.7 El Fontán Market
- 3.8 Try the local cuisine of Asturias
- 3.9 Sample local sweet treats
- 3.10 Asturias, land of cheeses
- 3.11 Immerse yourself in cider tradition
- 3.12 Oviedo nightlife
- 4 How to get to Oviedo
An Overview of Oviedo
Oviedo is located in Northern Spain, in the Principality of Asturias. It is located 17.5 miles (28 kms) south west from Gijón on the coast.
Whether you are a history buff, an insatiable foodie or ready for an outdoors adventure, Oviedo has it all. The city is over 1,000 years old, with an important culinary tradition, and it’s a great starting point to explore the neighbouring Picos de Europa. I would also suggest combining a trip to Oviedo with a visit to cities such as Gijón or León, which are very well connected by train.
Oviedo is famous for having an immense collection of public art scattered through its streets. It is also famous for its cider and the traditional way of pouring it – the act of escanciar.
Where to stay in Oviedo, Spain
Gran Hotel España
I stayed at the Gran Hotel España, located at the edge of the Old Town and within a short walk from the main attractions. My room had a big balcony with great views over the city and the surrounding hills.
Here are alternative places to stay in Oviedo that are highly recommended:
Fun things to do in Oviedo
Explore the Old Town
Oviedo’s Old Town oozes charm in every corner, and you will want to wander aimlessly through its narrow streets, getting lost and discovering hidden squares and picturesque lanes. This is one of the first things to do in Oviedo.
The city has been a visionary in pedestrianising its town centre, so you can wander around and feel like time hasn’t really moved on here.
The heart of the Old Town is Plaza de Alfonso II El Casto, also known as Cathedral Square. No matter what direction you take from here, you will find some little gem.
If you enjoy escape rooms, a fun way to explore Oviedo Old Town (and beyond) is by turning the streets of the city into an interactive game with an Oviedo outdoor escape room game.
Visit Oviedo Cathedral
While you are in Cathedral Square, make sure you visit Oviedo Cathedral. It is an important symbol of Spanish Gothic architecture that took almost 300 years to be built.
Oviedo Cathedral is the starting point of one of the routes of the Camino de Santiago. You may know that Spain has many Caminos, with the most popular one being the Camino Francés (French Way), which goes through cities like Burgos and León.
The Camino that starts in Oviedo is the Camino Primitivo (Primitive Way). When you visit the Cathedral entrance, you will notice that one of the arches on the portico was built at an angle. This was to point pilgrims in the right direction to Santiago.
Inside, don’t miss the Chapel of King Casto, where there is a Royal Pantheon containing the bodies of the monarchs of the Kingdom of Asturias. The Holy Chamber is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
You can climb up to the top of the tower for 360 degree views of the city.
Venture into the Archaeological Museum of Asturias
The Archaeological Museum of Asturias is located within the former Benedictine Monastery of San Vicente, which was built in the 16th century.
The monastery is believed to have originally been founded in the 8th century, and it’s said to be the birthplace of Oviedo.
The museum displays a great prehistoric collection of the Asturian Neolithic, Megalithic, Bronze, and Iron Ages. Entry is free, and it’s worth popping in even if it’s just to see the original 16th century cloister.
Go hunting for sculptures
As you wander around Oviedo you will notice an abundance of statues. There are over 170 scattered all over the city! Every other street, crossroad, and square has a statue offering a tribute to elements of Asturian culture, and to the art of sculpture itself.
A couple that stood out for me were ‘La Lechera’ (The Milkmaid) in Trascorrales Square, which celebrates the milkmaids that used to distribute milk across the city with their donkeys. This practice continued until the 1970s.
I also want to mention the statue of ‘La Regenta’ (The Regent’s Wife), which can be found in Cathedral Square. She is the fictional character of a 19th century Spanish novel. It is a classic that most Spaniards have read at school.
I also loved Culis Monumentalibus, a giant bronze bum by Eduardo Ùrculo that has become the unofficial symbol of the city.
Of all the things to do in Oviedo, going hunting for statues is a must.
Listen to the sound of bagpipes
If you are in Oviedo on a Saturday or Sunday, there is a good chance that you will come across one of the local bandas de gaitas (bagpipe bands) while you are in the vicinity of Cathedral Square.
You may be surprised to see and hear bagpipes, but this wind instrument, often exclusively associated with Scotland, is an important part of music in Celtic cultures such as Asturias, Galicia, and Brittany.
RELATED READING
Things To Do In A Coruña, Spain – The Perfect One Day Itinerary
Discover Oviedo’s UNESCO Pre-Romanesque churches
Asturian Pre-Romanesque architecture is a style typical of the region. It first appears in the 8th century at the beginning of the Kingdom of Asturias. It is closely linked to the first Christian kingdom of the Iberian Peninsula after the Islamic conquest.
Today, there are 6 sites that make up the UNESCO World Heritage Site “Monuments of Oviedo and the Kingdom of the Asturias”. Two of those sites are very close to Oviedo and you can visit them by taking a 20-minute bus.
Santa María del Naranco is the most significant Pre-Romanesque building of the group. It was originally built as a palace for Asturian King Ramiro I and later converted into a church.
It is built on a hilltop, so the views of the city from here are pretty spectacular, which makes this one of the best things to do in Oviedo.
A short walk up the hill is San Miguel de Lillo, a small church dedicated to St Michael the Archangel. Today only a third of the building is original, as the church collapsed and had to be rebuilt in the Middle Ages.
RELATED READING
The Perfect Itinerary For One Day In Bilbao, Spain
El Fontán Market
Named after a spring that used to occupy the spot where the market was built, El Fontán Market is the place to see every day Oviedo alive.
Although there’s been a market here since the 16th century, the current building dates from 1885. If you are a film buff, you may recognise it as one of the locations in the film Vicky Cristina Barcelona.
Step inside and you will find a food lover’s paradise. From fresh fish directly caught in the Bay of Biscay, to local specialties like homemade chorizo and Asturian Beef, and fresh bread and pastries.
Asturias is Spain’s largest and one of Europe’s most important cheese producing regions, so make sure you sample some Asturian cheeses while you are in the market. This is one of the top things to do in Oviedo (unless you are vegan, of course).
Try the local cuisine of Asturias
Another element that is deep rooted in the Asturian culture is the local cuisine. Known for its seafood and its hearty mountain stews, there are a few dishes that every visitor to Oviedo (or Asturias) should try.
The most famous local dish is fabada, a rich bean and meat stew that will leave you feeling like you’ve just had the warmest of hugs. It is the epitome of comfort food.
Another traditional Asturian dish is cachopo, the Asturian version of cordon bleu. And for dessert, arroz con leche (local rice pudding) is as Asturian as it gets.
A highly recommended place to try any of these dishes is La Corte de Pelayo Restaurant. Their fabada has been a finalist multiple times in the fabada competition, and their cachopo has won the best cachopo award with a recipe from 1947.
RELATED READING
A Taste of Granada – The Granada Food Tour That Goes Beyond Tapas
Sample local sweet treats
One of the famous sweets in Oviedo that everyone must try is moscovitas. They are delicate biscuits made with marcona almond biscuits and covered with chocolate on one side. The chocolate can be dark, milk or white.
The best place to try moscovitas is in Confitería Rialto, where the original recipe was developed.
Another traditional sweet is the carbayones, perhaps the most typical sweet in Oviedo. Carbayones are pastries filled with a creamy almond dough that date back to the beginning of the 20th century.
Try them at Camilo de Blas, a traditional sweet and patisserie shop that has been making carbayones since 1914.
Asturias, land of cheeses
For me, the highlight of the food I tried while in Oviedo was the cheeses.
Asturias is often referred to as the land of cheeses. With over 40 types, it is Spain’s largest cheese producer, and one of the most important in Europe. The variety and quality is astounding!
Don’t leave without trying a local cheese board. Sidrería Tierra Astur El Vasco has more than 40 varieties of cheese on offer, so the biggest problem you’ll have will be choosing which ones to try.
If you like strong and slightly spicy cheeses, try Casín. For blue cheese lovers, I recommend trying the world-famous Cabrales. And for those who prefer mild cheeses, Afuega’l Pitu is a fantastic choice!
Immerse yourself in cider tradition
When it comes to drinks, cider is king in Asturias. In fact, you cannot visit this Northern Spanish region and not go to a sidrería (cider house), where cider is served by an escanciador (cider pourer). It’s one of the most popular things to do in Oviedo.
Cider in Asturias is not fizzy, so the act of escanciar involves pouring it from a height to create bubbles that help enhance the flavour of the cider. Each pour is about two fingers’ worth of drink. More than that and the carbonisation is lost by the time you drink it.
Oviedo nightlife
If you are wondering what to do in Oviedo at night, head to Mon Street, the heart of Oviedo nightlife. With plenty of bars and pubs to choose from, you are guaranteed a good night out. But this is Spain, so make sure you don’t turn up before 11pm!
How to get to Oviedo
The easiest and quickest way to get to Oviedo is by flying into Asturias airport. Vueling is the only international airline that flies directly from London, but you can fly from all over the world via Madrid.
> Check the best deals on flights on Skyscanner here
From Asturias airport, you can get a bus to Oviedo or book a transfer.
If you would like to avoid flying, you could take a ferry from Plymouth to Santander. Then take the train from Santander to Oviedo.
> Check the best deals on train fares on Omio here
Do you have any questions about things to do in Oviedo?
Let me know in the comments!
LIKE THIS POST? PIN AND SAVE FOR LATER
Disclosure: This post has been created as a partnership with Spanish Tourism. As always, all views are my own.