Day trips from Llanes
The Lakes, Covadonga, Cangas, fishing villages, wild coastline, family activities and useful alternatives when the weather changes during your stay.
From Llanes Home, you can use Llanes as a convenient base for alternating half-day outings, coastal routes and mountain trips without turning the holiday into a race.
First decide what kind of day you want
The Lakes of Covadonga, the Sanctuary of Covadonga and Cangas de Onís are different experiences. They can be combined, but understanding what each stop offers will help you avoid overloading the day.
Resumen útil
A quick reference to help you choose without overloading the day. Journey times are approximate from Llanes Home and may vary with traffic, season and the exact parking location.
| Day trip | Better for | How to plan it | Quick tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lakes of Covadonga | mountains, scenery open and day trip potente | Full day or main outing · approximately 1 hr 15–1 hr 30 to the access area | If the day is despejado, prioriza Lagos. The meteorología cambia mucho the experiencia. |
| Sanctuary of Covadonga | History, a classic visit and a peaceful stop | half a day larga or combinado with Lagos · 1 h – 1 h 15 min in car approx. | Do not treat it as a quick stop: it is much more enjoyable when you allow extra time. |
| Cangas of Onís | Town walk, lunch and the final stop on an inland route | Route stop or relaxed half-day · approximately 55–65 minutes by car | Use it as a stop for lunch or a walk after Covadonga, without turning the day into a race. |
| Ribadesella | Coast, relaxed walk and a seaside town | half a day or afternoon complete · 25–30 min in car approx. | It works very well for half a day, especially when you do not want to drive far. |
| Pría blowholes | Cliffs, sea bravo and photos | Short stop or combined half-day · approximately 20–25 minutes by car | No te acerques to the borde ni a grietas. The better recuerdo is back with buenas photos, no asumir riesgos. |
| MUJA · Jurassic Museum of Asturias | Families, children and day nublado | Medio day · 40–45 min in car approx. | If the weather is grey, this is one of the best options to keep in reserve. |
| Sella River canoe descent | Couples, amigos and families activas | half a day larga · 35–45 min in car approx. to the area of check-out | Do not improvise in August: book ahead, confirm the meeting point and bring suitable clothing. |
| The Soplao Caves | Rainy-day option, an unusual visit and underground scenery | half a day larga · 55–70 min in car approx. | Check opening times before setting off; the visit is much easier with advance booking. |
| Comillas | Architecture, a town walk and a change of atmosphere | half a day larga or combinado with San Vicente · 55–65 min in car approx. | Do not rush it: Comillas is best enjoyed on foot. |
| San Vicente of the Barquera | Fishing village, estuary, walk and views | half a day or combinado with Comillas · 40–50 min in car approx. | If time is short, San Vicente works well on its own. With more time, combine it with Comillas. |
| Lastres | Viewpointes, fishing village and photos | half a day larga · 45–55 min in car approx. | Take your time going uphill and look for a viewpoint. Part of Lastres’s charm is seeing the village from different heights. |
Better for: mountains, scenery open and day trip potente
How to plan it: Full day or main outing · approximately 1 hr 15–1 hr 30 to the access area
Tip: If the day is despejado, prioriza Lagos. The meteorología cambia mucho the experiencia.
Better for: History, a classic visit and a peaceful stop
How to plan it: half a day larga or combinado with Lagos · 1 h – 1 h 15 min in car approx.
Tip: Do not treat it as a quick stop: it is much more enjoyable when you allow extra time.
Better for: Town walk, lunch and the final stop on an inland route
How to plan it: Route stop or relaxed half-day · approximately 55–65 minutes by car
Tip: Use it as a stop for lunch or a walk after Covadonga, without turning the day into a race.
Better for: Coast, relaxed walk and a seaside town
How to plan it: half a day or afternoon complete · 25–30 min in car approx.
Tip: It works very well for half a day, especially when you do not want to drive far.
Better for: Cliffs, sea bravo and photos
How to plan it: Short stop or combined half-day · approximately 20–25 minutes by car
Tip: No te acerques to the borde ni a grietas. The better recuerdo is back with buenas photos, no asumir riesgos.
Better for: Families, children and day nublado
How to plan it: Medio day · 40–45 min in car approx.
Tip: If the weather is grey, this is one of the best options to keep in reserve.
Better for: Couples, amigos and families activas
How to plan it: half a day larga · 35–45 min in car approx. to the area of check-out
Tip: Do not improvise in August: book ahead, confirm the meeting point and bring suitable clothing.
Better for: Rainy-day option, an unusual visit and underground scenery
How to plan it: half a day larga · 55–70 min in car approx.
Tip: Check opening times before setting off; the visit is much easier with advance booking.
Better for: Architecture, a town walk and a change of atmosphere
How to plan it: half a day larga or combinado with San Vicente · 55–65 min in car approx.
Tip: Do not rush it: Comillas is best enjoyed on foot.
Better for: Fishing village, estuary, walk and views
How to plan it: half a day or combinado with Comillas · 40–50 min in car approx.
Tip: If time is short, San Vicente works well on its own. With more time, combine it with Comillas.
Better for: Viewpointes, fishing village and photos
How to plan it: half a day larga · 45–55 min in car approx.
Tip: Take your time going uphill and look for a viewpoint. Part of Lastres’s charm is seeing the village from different heights.
Day trips a by a
Each day trip has a different pace. Here you will find context, approximate journey times, the best circumstances for visiting and how to plan it from Llanes Home.
Lakes of CovadongaThe Lakes of Covadonga are one of the most impressive outings from Llanes for mountain landscapes, wide views and the scenery of inland Asturias.
From Llanes Home: From Llanes Home, plan the Lakes as the main trip of the day. Set off early, check access arrangements and avoid adding too many stops.
Sanctuary of CovadongaCovadonga has a different character from the Lakes: it is a more cultural, spiritual and traditional visit, centred on the basilica and its mountain setting.
From Llanes Home: From Llanes Home, it combines well with the Lakes when you set off early, or works as a more relaxed outing if you prefer not to go up to the Lakes.
Cangas of OnísCangas de Onís is a convenient stop for a walk, lunch or the end of an inland route. Its bridge and lively atmosphere make it easy to include in a day trip.
From Llanes Home: From Llanes Home, it makes sense as a complement to Covadonga or the Lakes rather than the only destination when your stay is short.
RibadesellaRibadesella is an easy, rewarding outing with a seafront walk, maritime atmosphere, beach and plenty of places for a drink overlooking the sea.
From Llanes Home: From Llanes Home, it is one of the easiest afternoon outings. It also combines well with the Tito Bustillo caves when opening times are planned in advance.
Pría blowholesThe Pría blowholes are one of the most spectacular sights near Llanes when the sea is rough. This is not a beach, but a cliffside landscape that requires care.
From Llanes Home: From Llanes Home, it is an ideal short outing for seeing a wild coastline without using the whole day. Combine it with Ribadesella or another nearby stop.
MUJAThe MUJA is a opción family-friendly very convenient: dinosaurios, museo, views and a plan easy of organizar cuando the time no acompaña for beach.
From Llanes Home: From Llanes Home, it works very well as a half-day plan, especially for families or when you want to alternate the coast with an indoor activity.
Sella River canoe descentThe Sella River canoe descent is a classic choice when you want to swap the beach for the river. It is active, fun and very popular in high season.
From Llanes Home: From Llanes Home, it works as a special full-day activity during a longer stay. Book ahead in summer.
The Soplao CavesEl Soplao Cave is a striking, sheltered attraction, ideal when you want something different or the weather is unsuitable for the beach.
From Llanes Home: From Llanes Home, it is a slightly longer outing but a useful rainy-day option or a change for returning visitors.
ComillasComillas offers a change of pace with architecture, a town walk and the distinctive Capricho de Gaudí.
From Llanes Home: From Llanes Home, it combines particularly well with San Vicente de la Barquera on a relaxed route along the nearby Cantabrian coast.
San Vicente of the BarqueraSan Vicente of the Barquera is a day trip very agradecida: ría, barcos, historic centre and views hacia mountains if the day is despejado.
From Llanes Home: From Llanes Home, it is within reasonable driving distance and can be an afternoon outing or part of a route with Comillas.
LastresLastres is a coastal town very fotogénica, with casas escalonadas, Viewpointes and a sensación of coast asturiana very auténtica.
From Llanes Home: From Llanes Home, it is a good day trip for visitors who have already explored nearby places and want to travel a little farther without going too far.
Recommended routes
Treating the stops separately helps with planning: the Lakes can be the main event, Covadonga a classic visit and Cangas a convenient place for lunch or a walk.
Set off early, check access arrangements and include Cangas only if time allows.
More relaxed than going up to the Lakes and easier to adapt if the weather changes.
Ideal when you do not want to drive far and prefer an early return to Llanes.
A good plan when the sea is rough and you want to combine cliffs with a coastal town.
Dos alternativas útiles cuando the beach no is the better plan of the day.
A good option for a change of scenery and a complete day trip without improvising.
Practical tips
Small decisions that help you enjoy the trip more and improvise less, especially in high season or changeable weather.
Convenient base
The ventaja of alojarte in Llanes is poder alternar days tranquilos in the villa with salidas of coast, mountains or pueblos cercanos. No necesitas do everything in a day: elige depending on clima, energía and compañía.
Frequently asked questions
The most recommended are Lakes of Covadonga, Sanctuary of Covadonga, Cangas of Onís, Ribadesella, Pría blowholes, MUJA, Sella River canoe descent, The Soplao Caves, Comillas, San Vicente of the Barquera and Lastres.
Yes. The Lakes are the mountain plan, Covadonga is the classic cultural visit, and Cangas de Onís works best as a lunch or walking stop on an inland route.
By car you can comfortably reach Ribadesella, the Pría blowholes, San Vicente, Comillas, Lastres, Cangas de Onís, Covadonga or the Lakes, depending on your available time and preferred plan.
MUJA works very well with children. Ribadesella, Cangas de Onís and the Sella River canoe descent are also good choices when ages and conditions are suitable.
MUJA and El Soplao Cave are good rainy-day choices. You can also plan a relaxed town visit to Comillas, Ribadesella or Cangas de Onís.
They are not nearby, but they are a reasonable full-day trip from Llanes when you set off early and check access arrangements.
Yes, especially for San Vicente de la Barquera and Comillas. They are relatively close and offer an appealing change of scenery.
