Gijón Holidays: Beaches, Museums and Getting There
Province of Asturias · Asturias · Spain · 271,780 residents · on the coast
plaza de toros de El Bibio.jpg/500px-Universidad_Laboral_gijon_(cropped).jpg)
Universidad Laboral de Gijón
San Lorenzo Beach
Playa de Poniente, Gijón
Revillagigedo PalaceGijón is a working Asturian city of nearly 272,000 people on Spain's green northern coast, and it rewards travellers who like their beaches with a side of museums. San Lorenzo Beach lies about half a mile from the centre, Playa de Poniente a little further, and within roughly a mile you will find the Revillagigedo Palace, the Roman thermae in Campo Valdés and the Asturias Railway Museum. Summers are mild rather than scorching, with highs in the low 20s Celsius, and Asturias Airport is under half an hour's drive away. It also makes a practical base for Oviedo, Cudillero and the Picos-side towns of Cangas de Onís and Ribadesella.
Why go
- San Lorenzo Beach and Playa de Poniente are both within a mile of the town centre.
- Asturias Airport has direct flights from the UK and sits about 27 minutes' drive away.
- Summer highs of 22 to 23°C in July and August suit those who dislike intense heat.
Top sights in Gijón
Beaches, Palaces and City Museums
The plaza de toros de El Bibio, about 0.8 miles from the centre, is Gijón's best-known landmark, a listed cultural property. Further out, around 2.5 miles away, the Universidad Laboral de Gijón is a former technical college now treated as a cultural monument and worth the trip for its sheer scale. Closer in, the Revillagigedo Palace and the Roman thermae in Campo Valdés both sit around 0.7 miles from the centre, alongside the Asturias Railway Museum.
For beaches, San Lorenzo Beach is the closest at roughly half a mile, with Playa de Poniente at 0.7 miles, Playa de El Rinconín at 1.1 miles, Playa del Arbeyal at 1.7 miles and the Beach of La Ñora about 3.7 miles out. On rainy days, the Juan Barjola Museum of Painting (0.6 miles), the Aquarium of Gijón (0.9 miles), the International Bagpipe Museum and the Museum of the Asturian People (both around 1.4 miles) fill an afternoon well.
Tours and tickets for Gijón and the surrounding area can be booked directly on this page through the booking cards below.
1amphitheatre- 2museum
Universidad Laboral de Gijón
3 miles from the centre · Photo
former technical college and today's cultural monument
- 3beach
San Lorenzo Beach
In the centre · Photo
- 4beach
Playa de Poniente, Gijón
1 mile from the centre · Photo
- 5palace
6museum
7beachBeach of La Ñora
4 miles from the centre · Photo
8museumAquarium of Gijón
1 mile from the centre · Photo
9museum
10museum
11beachPlaya del Arbeyal, Gijón
2 miles from the centre · Photo
Playa de El Rinconín
beach · 1 mile from the centre
Tours & tickets in Gijón
Guided tours, day trips and tickets in and around Gijón can be booked in advance, priced in GBP.
See tours & tickets (opens GetYourGuide in a new tab)Where to stay in Gijón
Choosing Your Base in Gijón
Gijón is a sizeable city rather than a resort village, so your choice is mainly about which part of the waterfront suits you. Staying near San Lorenzo Beach puts you on the sand within minutes and close to the palace, the Roman baths and the art museum, all clustered within about a mile of the centre.
The Playa de Poniente side, near the aquarium and the railway museum, is handy for families who want a beach and an indoor option close together. Those after a quieter stay with more space might look further out towards Playa del Arbeyal or La Ñora. Live hotel prices for Gijón are shown on this page.
Hire a car
The easiest way to reach Gijón and the villages around it is a hire car from Asturias (OVD), about 27 min away.
Best time to visit Gijón
When the Weather Is Kindest
- 13°CJan146 mm
- 13°CFeb117 mm
- 14°CMar105 mm
- 16°CApr90 mm
- 18°CMay78 mm
- 20°CJun96 mm
- 22°CJul45 mm
- 23°CAug61 mm
- 21°CSept82 mm
- 20°COct110 mm
- 16°CNov145 mm
- 14°CDec122 mm
Highlighted months are the sweet spot for warm, dry weather.
Gijón has a mild Atlantic climate, and July and August are the most settled months: highs of 22 to 23°C, lows around 17°C, and the lowest rainfall of the year, with about 45mm in July and 11 rain days in each of those months. September stays pleasant at around 21°C.
Rain is part of the picture all year. November and January are the wettest months, each with around 145mm, and November averages 16 rain days. Winters are never cold, with highs of 13 to 14°C, which makes spring and autumn reasonable for city and museum breaks if you pack a waterproof.
Full monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 13°C | 6°C | 146 mm | 6 h |
| Feb | 13°C | 6°C | 117 mm | 7 h |
| Mar | 14°C | 7°C | 105 mm | 9 h |
| Apr | 16°C | 9°C | 90 mm | 10 h |
| May | 18°C | 11°C | 78 mm | 11 h |
| Jun | 20°C | 14°C | 96 mm | 11 h |
| Jul | 22°C | 17°C | 45 mm | 11 h |
| Aug | 23°C | 17°C | 61 mm | 10 h |
| Sept | 21°C | 15°C | 82 mm | 10 h |
| Oct | 20°C | 13°C | 110 mm | 8 h |
| Nov | 16°C | 9°C | 145 mm | 6 h |
| Dec | 14°C | 7°C | 122 mm | 6 h |
Averages 2015–2024. Highlighted months are the sweet spot for warm, dry weather.
Getting there from the UK
Flights, Ferries and the Drive
Asturias Airport (OVD) is the obvious choice, with direct flights from the UK and a drive of around 19 miles, roughly 27 minutes, to Gijón. Santander Airport (SDR) also has direct UK flights and sits about 93 miles away, a drive of a little over two hours. Bilbao Airport (BIO), again with direct UK services, is around 139 miles and just over three hours by car.
If you would rather bring your own car, Brittany Ferries sails to Santander from Plymouth in about 20 hours and from Portsmouth in roughly 24 to 32 hours; Santander's port is around 93 miles from Gijón. Driving all the way from Calais takes about 14 and a half hours.
By air
- Asturias (OVD)19 miles, about 27 min by roaddirect flights from the UK
- Santander (SDR)93 miles, about 2 h 12 min by roaddirect flights from the UK
- Bilbao (BIO)139 miles, about 3 h 17 min by roaddirect flights from the UK
By car and ferry
Driving from Calais takes roughly 14 h 27 min without stops. Nearest ferry ports: Santander (93 miles).
Gijón is good for
Around Gijón
Day Trips Along the Asturian Coast
Avilés is the nearest town of size, about 13 miles away, and Oviedo, the Asturian capital with around 220,000 residents, is roughly 16 miles inland. Colunga lies about 20 miles east, and Grado about 23 miles to the south-west.
The small fishing town of Cudillero is around 24 miles west, while Cangas de Onís and Ribadesella are both about 30 miles to the east. Amieva, a tiny municipality of under 900 people, is roughly 36 miles away and the furthest on this list.
Tips from Robin
Practical Points Before You Go
Pack for rain even in high summer: July and August still average 11 rain days each, so a light waterproof belongs in every suitcase. The many indoor museums close to the centre are your best fallback on wet days.
Gijón is a city of over 270,000 people rather than a seasonal resort, so it keeps going year round. With Asturias Airport under half an hour away, car hire is easy to pick up on arrival and useful for reaching Cudillero, Cangas de Onís and the other towns along the coast.
Questions people ask
Which airport is closest to Gijón?
Asturias Airport (OVD) is the nearest, about 19 miles away, or roughly 27 minutes by car. It has direct flights from the UK. Santander and Bilbao airports also have direct UK flights, but they are around two and three hours' drive away respectively.
Is Gijón warm enough for a beach holiday?
Summers are mild rather than hot. July and August see highs of 22 to 23°C and are the driest months, which suits beach days at San Lorenzo or Poniente. Expect some rain even then, with around 11 rain days in each month.
Can I get to Gijón by ferry from the UK?
Yes. Brittany Ferries sails to Santander from Plymouth in about 20 hours and from Portsmouth in roughly 24 to 32 hours. From Santander's port, Gijón is about 93 miles by road.
Is Gijón good for families?
Yes, it has several town beaches within a couple of miles, including San Lorenzo and Playa de Poniente, plus the Aquarium of Gijón, the Asturias Railway Museum and the Museum of the Asturian People for days when the weather turns.
What are the best day trips from Gijón?
Oviedo is about 16 miles away and Avilés around 13 miles. For smaller coastal and inland towns, Cudillero is roughly 24 miles west, while Ribadesella and Cangas de Onís are both about 30 miles to the east.
How long does it take to drive to Gijón from Calais?
Driving from Calais takes around 14 and a half hours without stops. Many British travellers break the journey or take the ferry to Santander instead, which leaves only about 93 miles to drive.