Welcome to the wonderful town of Llanes! This place really hit the jackpot when it comes to landscapes—think jaw-dropping beaches with deep blue waters, lush meadows, and the dramatic Picos de Europa in the background. This translates into tons of things to do in Llanes, but if you’re more into city life, culture, and hustle, you might want to head to Gijón or Oviedo instead.
Honestly, it feels a bit unfair that nature’s been so kind to them, but hey, they didn’t ask for it, did they?
Where is Llanes?
Llanes sits on the far eastern edge of Asturias, far from the big cities and pretty peaceful in winter. But come spring, it gets busy (and fully booked) as the town boasts over 30 incredible beaches and charming coastal villages. Plus, just a short drive inland takes you to the Sierra del Cuera and the Picos de Europa National Park.
Things to Do in Llanes | Map
This super handy map shows all the things to do in Llanes, featuring the must-see spots and activities from this post. You can easily open it on your phone, and when you click on each point, you’ll get a quick explanation in case you need a refresher on all the things to check out.
Things to Do in Llanes
These are the best things to do in Llanes without leaving the town:
Visit Llanes’ Old Town
The area’s been inhabited since the Paleolithic era, but Llanes as we know it today dates back to the Middle Ages. The town still has a mix of medieval buildings, along with some later elegant constructions, making it a picturesque spot.
Here are the must-see buildings in Llanes:
Llanes city walls
Llanes has a medieval vibe with parts of its 13th-century city walls still standing strong. These walls are some of the best-preserved in Northern Spain.
Llanes Great Tower or “Torreón”
Also from the 13th century, this tower was originally built for defense, and later served as a jail. Don’t miss the 13th-century Gothic Basilica, built by the locals, which is still owned by the town rather than the Church. It is located at the highest point of the walled area, surrounded by palaces, most of which were built in later periods.
Calle Mayor
Calle Mayor literally means “main street” and it is the heart of the town, packed with bars, restaurants, cafés, and a lively vibe at any time of day. In fact, any “calle mayor” in Spain is pretty much like this.
Keep an eye out for Juan Pariente’s house, the oldest in Llanes. This is where Charles V, the most powerful emperor of his time, stayed in 1517 when he took the Spanish crown.
Llanes Palaces
Llanes has several medieval and Renaissance palaces in its old town, including the Palacio de los Gastañaga (the only medieval palace still standing), the Casa del Cercau, and the palace of the Dukes of Estrada.
Plaza de Santa Ana
In this medieval square, you’ll find the Casa de la Ballena or Whale House. The name isn’t random—this was where whales were butchered and auctioned off, a major source of livelihood for the town’s fishermen.
Street Poetry
It’s never a bad time to read some poetry, right? While strolling through Llanes’ old town, don’t forget to look down at your feet. You’ll spot verses by Celso Amieva, an Asturian poet who wrote Poemas de Llanes while in exile in Mexico after the Spanish Civil War.
Llanes Port
Llanes is a town facing the sea, with which it has always had a close relationship. Since the 15th century the village had a fishing ground where species like sardines, hake, and whales could be found. Later on, Llanes became an important commercial port, and today it is a beautiful marina.
On the breakwater at the port, Basque artist Agustín Ibarrola created Los Cubos de la Memoria. While it has become an iconic landmark of the town, many people are still unsure about its exact meaning. According to Ibarrola, the installation reflects “the memory of the artist, of art, and of the land.”
💡Don’t forget to visit the old lonja de pescado, a traditional fish market where fishermen once auctioned their daily catch. It is located in the port that divides the fishing village in two, has been fully renovated, and now houses Llanes’ tourist office.
San Pedro Coastal Walk
The San Pedro coastal walk offers sweeping views of Llanes, the port, the Sablón beach, and the coastline. This is a 1 km easy and rewarding walk, perfect for a first day in Llanes or for those who don’t enjoy long trails.
Beaches in Llanes
Llanes boasts three incredible beaches right in town: El Sablón, Puertu Chicu, and Toró.
El Sablón Beach
Located right in the heart of Llanes, just below the San Pedro Promenade and near the port. It’s a half-moon-shaped beach with soft white sand, sheltered from the waves. When the tide is low, El Sablón Beach becomes a natural swimming pool with stunning views—perfect for families.
Puertu Chicu Beach
Llanes’ hidden gem, mostly visited by locals. This small crescent-shaped cove lies on the town’s eastern side. It’s best to visit at low tide, as it nearly disappears when the tide is high. You can also drop by on your way to Toró Beach.
Toró Beach
About a 15-minute walk from Llanes, this is a semi-natural beach of great beauty—wild and well-preserved, yet with great facilities. It has toilets and showers, accessible for people with disabilities, as well as an amphibious wheelchair service for access to the water.
In my opinion, it’s the most beautiful beach in town. Sometimes the waves can be moderate, but it’s perfectly safe for swimming.
Although the beaches in Llanes town are great, the surrounding region is home to even wilder and more spectacular beaches—some of the best in Spain, in my opinion. But we’ll save that for the next section.👇🏼
Things to Do around Llanes
With its charming old town, beautiful beaches, and scenic coastal paths, Llanes has more than enough to keep you busy for a couple of days. But if you’ve got more time on your hands, I highly recommend venturing out to explore the surrounding areas. For that, you’ll need a car—or you can join a tour, and I’ll share some options for that too.
Beautiful Beaches near Llanes
Exploring the areas around Llanes is a dream for beach lovers. Picture karst rock formations paired with the soft white sand that’s typical of this region, all contributing to over 30 beaches that are absolute gems.
You’ll find caves, coves that turn into natural swimming pools at low tide, and even some inland beaches. Yes, you heard that right—there are two inland beaches with no access to the sea.
The best part? These beaches are still in their natural state—no high-rise apartments, no overpriced tourist traps, just pristine beauty. Which reminds me: make sure to bring enough water, some snacks, and an icebox cooler during the hot months.
The locals have done a great job at preserving the coast, and because of that, Llanes has a real treasure to share. Let’s hope it stays that way for a long, long time.
Some of my personal favorites are the picture-perfect Torimbia Beach, San Antolín Beach, and Andrín Beach. But there are plenty more to discover, so I’ll be writing a post about Llanes beaches soon. In the meantime, you’ll find at least 10 of these gems on the map provided at the beginning of the post—make sure to save it!
Hiking the Coast
Around Llanes, you’ll find all sorts of trails, ranging in length and difficulty. One of the most famous is the Northern Way to Santiago de Compostela, but unless you have a couple of months to spare, you’ll probably want something shorter. Here’s a suggestion:
The coastal trail between Bustio and Playa de Guadamía is a 40-mile route you can walk or bike. It’s not too steep and climbs up cliffs, weaving around several beaches where you can take a dip.
Recommended Shorter Option
A shorter and easier option is to tackle the stretch between Llanes and Celorio. The Oviedo-Santander train line connects these two towns, which is super convenient if you want to avoid retracing your steps. These trains aren’t very frequent, so I recommend catching the first one in the morning to Celorio (towards Oviedo) and walking the trail back to Llanes. That way, you won’t have to worry about missing the train for the return trip. You can check the schedule on the Regional trains’ official website.
The hike will take you about two hours without stops, but trust me—you’ll want to take breaks and explore the beaches along the way. You’ll enjoy this trail best as a full-day adventure, so take your time to discover the beaches and viewpoints along the route.
The ticket price is under €2, and there are vending machines at the train station. There’s no ticket office, but you can use a video call station where you can get help from a live Railway System official. It’s a pretty cool feature I haven’t seen anywhere else in Spain!
This is the most popular route, but there are plenty of other trails to do around Llanes. The Camino Encantado, the Ruta del Río Purón, or the climb to Pico Turbina are some of them. Someone at your hotel should be able to give you more info, or you can stop by the tourist office for directions. Alternatively, if you’re feeling lazy, just drop a comment on this post and we’ll be happy to help!
Water Sports in Llanes
Llanes’ coastline is packed with beaches, coves, cliffs, islands, caves, and cenotes. This unique karst landscape makes it the perfect spot for snorkeling, diving, sailing, kayaking, and paddleboarding.
The abundance of sheltered coves means you’ll find huge natural pools with calm waters, perfect for exploring by paddleboard.
The Vau cove, nestled between Niembru and Barru, is ideal for getting started with paddleboarding.
See the Bufones in action
As I mentioned, Llanes’ coastline is full of hidden spots. Due to its unique geology, the area is home to the fascinating phenomenon of the bufones—natural water spouts that occur when seawater filters through the coastal rocks at high tide. The result is pretty spectacular, with water shooting up into the air like geysers.
These spouts tend to be taller when the sea is rough, making them a perfect plan for a stormy day when swimming isn’t the best idea.
⭐Don’t miss: The Bufones de Pría are the most famous and can reach up to 20 meters high.
Interesting villages around Llanes
Tired of kayaking, swimming, lounging on the beach, and gazing at the horizon with a cold beer in hand? Well, if the rain decides to make an appearance, here are some charming towns near Llanes that are totally worth a visit:
⭐Don’t miss: Colombres: A Town of “Indian Houses”
About 15 minutes east by car from Llanes, you’ll find this charming village, known for its impressive collection of over 10 beautifully preserved Casas de Indianos. These grand and meticulously built “Indian Houses” offer a glimpse into the lives of those who returned after making their fortune in the Americas.
💡What are “Casas de indianos”?
The term “Indianos” refers to emigrants who left for the Americas—mainly Cuba, Argentina, Mexico, and Venezuela—in search of a better life and returned after striking it rich. These waves of migration occurred between the 16th and early 20th centuries, with many coming from Asturias.
Once they came back to their homeland, these newly wealthy folks competed to see who had made it big. And what better way to show off than by building the biggest, most extravagant—sometimes even tacky—mansion in town? These modernist-style palaces were inspired by the ones they saw in America, so they stand out like sore thumbs compared to the typical Spanish architecture you’ll find elsewhere. One fun detail is that their gardens often featured exotic plants brought from the Americas—though nowadays, they’re mostly home to towering palm trees.
Indian houses are almost exclusively found in Northern Spain, and especially in Asturias. Emigration was particularly strong in this region, thanks to its important port cities. Asturians, with their deep-rooted sense of identity and connection to their land, were among the ones who returned the most.
The “Indianos” turned the small rural village of Colombres into a modern villa with this newfound wealth from the Americas. The main mansions and buildings built with this fortune are clustered around its elliptical square.
I highly recommend a visit to the impressive Quinta de Guadalupe, a perfectly preserved mansion that offers a glimpse into the life of the “Indianos.” It now houses the fascinating Museum of Emigration, which tells the story of the American adventure through the lives of some of its most remarkable characters.
Tickets are €8, with a reduced price of €4.50 for kids, and you can buy them directly on-site. The hours are available here.
Ribadesella
Just a 25-minute drive from Llanes, Ribadesella is a fantastic day trip. Wander through its charming streets filled with “Indiano” mansions, enjoy a leisurely walk along the picturesque promenade, or unwind at one of its lovely beaches. Don’t miss the Hermita de la Guía, where you’ll get spectacular views of the Sella River estuary, with its pristine white sands and crystal-clear waters.
Porrúa Local Market
If you’re visiting Llanes in the last weeks of August, don’t miss the Medieval Market in Porrúa. This charming village, just 4 km from Llanes, hosts a traditional market on August 23rd and 24th. It is a major event in the area.
It’s one of the region’s major events, offering a unique chance to immerse yourself in local culture. Plus, you can sample some delicious artisanal food or do some souvenir shopping that’ll be far better than the usual fridge magnet.
Savor Llanes: Best Places to Eat & Drink
As you might already know, Northern Spain is famous for its incredible food. What you might not have heard yet is that Asturias is where you’ll find the biggest portions in the country. Want to see for yourself? Here are a couple of spots to check out:
- Sidrería Bar Matute
No-frills, all-flavor. Classic tavern vibes, solid seafood, and fair prices. - Mirador de Toró Restaurant
As the name suggests, this place comes with front-row seats to Toró Beach. Perfect for a post-beach meal. It’s pricier than your average Spanish spot, but the food is top-notch, and the views totally worth it. - Taberna de Javi
You can’t go wrong here, no matter what you order. Well, actually, you can—if you skip the cheesecake. Don’t do that to yourself. - El Retiro
If you’re after a top-notch dining experience and don’t mind splurging a little, this Michelin-starred restaurant is your spot. For €140, you get a 10-course tasting menu that’s worth every penny. Chef Ricardo González serves up mouthwatering dishes using the best ingredients, all with an impressive price-to-quality ratio. - El Casino
This bar-restaurant, set in a former casino, serves great international food at fair prices. The stunning building and the cozy terrace alone make it worth a visit—grabbing a drink here is always a good idea.
With all these things to do in Llanes and the surrounding area, you’ll have more than enough to keep you busy for a while. And don’t forget to check out the 10 best things to do in Northern Spain to keep the adventure going!