Avilés Holidays: Palaces, Niemeyer Centre and Asturian Coast
Province of Asturias · Asturias · Spain · 78,715 residents · on the coast
Oscar Niemeyer International Cultural Centre
Palacio Valdés Theatre
Castillo de Gauzón.jpg/500px-Playa_de_Xago_(Asturias).jpg)
Cabo Peñas
Llano Ponte PalaceAvilés is a coastal town of around 78,700 people on the Asturian shore of northern Spain, sitting just 26 metres above sea level. Its centre gathers an unusual cluster of historic palaces into a few streets. Balsera, Maqua, Valdecarzana, Llano Ponte and the baroque Camposagrado all lie within about a quarter of a mile of one another, alongside the Palacio Valdés Theatre. A short walk away stands the Oscar Niemeyer International Cultural Centre. Beaches such as Playa de Arañón and the shore at Cabo Peñas are within four miles. Summers are mild rather than scorching, with highs of 23 to 24°C. Asturias Airport has direct flights from the UK and is only eight minutes' drive away.
Why go
- The Oscar Niemeyer International Cultural Centre is less than half a mile from the town centre.
- Six historic palaces, including baroque Camposagrado, sit within a quarter-mile stroll of each other.
- Asturias Airport has direct UK flights and is just eight minutes' drive from town.
Top sights in Avilés
Palaces, Culture and Nearby Beaches
The most celebrated address in Avilés is the Oscar Niemeyer International Cultural Centre, about 0.4 miles from the centre. Closer still, the Palacio Valdés Theatre and the Museum of Avilés Urban History each sit roughly a quarter of a mile away, so a single morning covers all three. The old streets hold a remarkable set of palaces. The baroque Camposagrado Palace stands about a quarter of a mile out, while Llano Ponte Palace, Maqua Palace, the Palacio de Valdecarzana and Balsera Palace are all within 0.2 miles.
A little further out, the ruined Castillo de Gauzón lies about 1.7 miles away in neighbouring Castrillón. The Centro de Interpretación del Cementerio de La Carriona, an interpretation centre around 1.1 miles from the centre, rounds out the cultural side. For the coast, Cabo Peñas is about 3.5 miles away. Beach of San Balandrán is roughly 2.9 miles out, Playa de El Embayo about 2.7 miles and Playa de Arañón around 2.4 miles.
Tours and tickets for Avilés and the surrounding area can be booked directly on this page.
- 1Oscar Niemeyer International Cultural Centre
- 2Palacio Valdés Theatre
- 3Castillo de Gauzón
- 4Cabo Peñas
- 5Llano Ponte Palace
- 6Maqua Palace
- 7Museum of Avilés Urban History
- 8Balsera Palace
- 9Camposagrado Palace
- 10Beach of San Balandrán
- 11Palacio de Valdecarzana, Avilés
- 12Centro de Interpretación del Cementerio de La Carriona
1museumOscar Niemeyer International Cultural Centre
In the centre · Photo
international cultural centre in Asturias, Spain
- 2palace
- 3castle
- 4beach
Cabo Peñas
4 miles from the centre · Photo
- 5palace
Llano Ponte Palace
In the centre · Photo
6palace
7museum
8palace
9palace
11palacePalacio de Valdecarzana, Avilés
In the centre · Photo
12museumCentro de Interpretación del Cementerio de La Carriona
1 mile from the centre · Photo
Beach of San Balandrán
beach · 3 miles from the centre
Tours & tickets in Avilés
Guided tours, day trips and tickets in and around Avilés can be booked in advance, priced in GBP.
See tours & tickets (opens GetYourGuide in a new tab)Where to stay in Avilés
Old Town Streets or the Coast
Staying in the centre puts you within a few minutes' walk of almost everything that defines Avilés. The palaces, the Palacio Valdés Theatre, the urban history museum and the Niemeyer centre are all well under half a mile apart. It suits travellers who want to explore on foot and spend evenings in town.
If beaches matter more, the sand at Playa de Arañón, Playa de El Embayo, San Balandrán and Cabo Peñas lies between roughly 2.4 and 3.5 miles out. Staying towards the coast trades the historic streets for the shoreline. Live hotel prices for Avilés are shown on this page.
Hire a car
The easiest way to reach Avilés and the villages around it is a hire car from Asturias (OVD), about 8 min away.
Best time to visit Avilés
When to Visit Avilés
- 13°CJan180 mm
- 14°CFeb105 mm
- 16°CMar100 mm
- 17°CApr72 mm
- 18°CMay89 mm
- 21°CJun76 mm
- 23°CJul39 mm
- 24°CAug53 mm
- 22°CSept105 mm
- 21°COct164 mm
- 17°CNov125 mm
- 14°CDec93 mm
Highlighted months are the sweet spot for warm, dry weather.
July and August are the warmest and driest months. Highs reach 23°C in July and 24°C in August, and July sees the least rain of the year at around 39mm. June and September are also mild, with highs of 21 to 22°C, and suit sightseeing well. Summer is pleasantly warm rather than hot, so walking between the palaces stays comfortable in high season.
The wettest months are January, with about 180mm of rain, and October, with around 164mm. Winter highs sit at 13 to 14°C, with lows of 5 to 6°C. Rain falls on at least 11 days in every month of the year, so a waterproof belongs in the case whenever you travel.
Full monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 13°C | 5°C | 180 mm | 6 h |
| Feb | 14°C | 6°C | 105 mm | 7 h |
| Mar | 16°C | 7°C | 100 mm | 8 h |
| Apr | 17°C | 9°C | 72 mm | 10 h |
| May | 18°C | 11°C | 89 mm | 11 h |
| Jun | 21°C | 15°C | 76 mm | 9 h |
| Jul | 23°C | 16°C | 39 mm | 11 h |
| Aug | 24°C | 17°C | 53 mm | 10 h |
| Sept | 22°C | 14°C | 105 mm | 9 h |
| Oct | 21°C | 13°C | 164 mm | 7 h |
| Nov | 17°C | 10°C | 125 mm | 6 h |
| Dec | 14°C | 6°C | 93 mm | 6 h |
Averages 2015–2024. Highlighted months are the sweet spot for warm, dry weather.
Getting there from the UK
Flights and Driving from the UK
Asturias Airport (OVD) is the obvious choice. It has direct flights from the UK and lies about 6 miles from Avilés, roughly an eight-minute drive. Few Spanish holiday towns are this close to their airport.
Two other airports also have direct UK flights. Santander (SDR) is about 106 miles away, around two and a half hours by car. Santiago de Compostela (SCQ) is roughly 134 miles away, a drive of a little over three hours. Both are worth checking if fares or schedules into Asturias do not suit.
Driving all the way from Calais takes around 14 and a half hours of motoring, so most travellers who drive will want to break the journey.
By air
- Asturias (OVD)6 miles, about 8 min by roaddirect flights from the UK
- Santander (SDR)106 miles, about 2 h 30 min by roaddirect flights from the UK
- Santiago de Compostela (SCQ)134 miles, about 3 h 9 min by roaddirect flights from the UK
By car and ferry
Driving from Calais takes roughly 14 h 35 min without stops.
Avilés is good for
Around Avilés
Day Trips Along the Asturian Coast
Cudillero is the nearest of the day trips, about 11 miles away. It is a small town of around 5,000 people. The two largest cities in the region are similar distances away. Gijón, with roughly 272,000 residents, is about 13 miles off, and Oviedo, home to around 220,000, is some 14 miles away. Grado, a town of nearly 10,000, is also about 14 miles away.
For a longer outing, Colunga lies around 33 miles away. Pola de Somiedo, a village of about 1,500 people, is roughly 36 miles from Avilés.
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Tips from Robin
Practical Tips for Your Stay
Pack for rain whatever the season. Even July, the driest month, averages 11 rainy days, and October and January are notably wet. A light waterproof will serve you better than relying on a forecast.
The historic sights are packed into a compact centre, so you can see them on foot. The beaches and Cabo Peñas, by contrast, lie two to four miles out. Car hire from Asturias Airport, only eight minutes away, makes combining town and coast far easier.
With close to 79,000 residents, Avilés is a working town rather than a purpose-built resort. Expect everyday local life alongside the sights.
Questions people ask
What is the nearest airport to Avilés?
Asturias Airport (OVD) is the nearest. It is about 6 miles from Avilés, roughly an eight-minute drive, and has direct flights from the UK. Santander and Santiago de Compostela also have direct UK flights but are around two and a half and three hours' drive away respectively.
Can you fly direct from the UK to Avilés?
Yes, to the airport that serves it. Asturias Airport has direct flights from the UK and sits only about 6 miles from Avilés. Santander and Santiago de Compostela airports also have direct UK services, though both involve a much longer drive to reach the town.
What is the weather like in Avilés in summer?
Summers are mild. Highs reach about 23°C in July and 24°C in August, with night-time lows of 16 to 17°C. July is the driest month of the year at around 39mm of rain. Showers are still possible, with roughly 11 to 13 rainy days a month.
Are there beaches near Avilés?
Yes, several lie within four miles of the centre. Playa de Arañón is about 2.4 miles away and Playa de El Embayo around 2.7 miles. Beach of San Balandrán is roughly 2.9 miles out, and Cabo Peñas about 3.5 miles.
What is there to see in Avilés?
The headline sight is the Oscar Niemeyer International Cultural Centre. The compact centre also holds the Palacio Valdés Theatre, the Museum of Avilés Urban History and a group of historic palaces, including baroque Camposagrado. The ruined Castillo de Gauzón lies about 1.7 miles away.
Is Avilés a good base for visiting Oviedo and Gijón?
It is well placed for both. Gijón is about 13 miles from Avilés and Oviedo around 14 miles. Cudillero, about 11 miles away, and Grado, around 14 miles away, are also within easy reach for a day out.