Oviedo Holidays: Cathedral, Museums and Asturias Day Trips
Province of Asturias · Asturias · Spain · 220,027 residents
Metropolitan Cathedral Basilica of the Holy Saviour, Oviedo
University of Oviedo
Basilica of St. John the Baptist
Fine Arts Museum of Asturias
Archaeological Museum of AsturiasOviedo is the capital of Asturias, a city of around 220,000 people set inland at 237 metres above sea level in Spain's green north. Its old centre is remarkably compact. The thirteenth-century Metropolitan Cathedral Basilica of the Holy Saviour, the University of Oviedo, the Fine Arts Museum of Asturias and a cluster of palaces all lie within a few hundred metres of one another. The climate is mild rather than hot: summer highs reach about 23°C, and rain falls on 13 to 17 days in every month of the year. Asturias airport, with direct flights from the United Kingdom, is roughly 24 minutes away by car. Gijón, Avilés and the fishing village of Cudillero are all within easy reach for a day out.
Why go
- The thirteenth-century Cathedral of the Holy Saviour anchors an old centre you can cover on foot.
- Asturias airport has direct UK flights and sits only about 24 minutes' drive from the city.
- Summer highs of around 23°C suit travellers who want to explore without the heat of southern Spain.
Top sights in Oviedo
Cathedral, Museums and City Palaces
Begin at the Metropolitan Cathedral Basilica of the Holy Saviour, a thirteenth-century church about 0.2 miles from the centre and the city's best-known monument. The University of Oviedo is roughly 0.1 miles away, and the Basilica of St. John the Baptist lies about 0.4 miles out. The museums sit close together too. The Fine Arts Museum of Asturias is about 0.1 miles away, the Archaeological Museum of Asturias about 0.25 miles, and the Tabularium Artis Asturiensis around 0.3 miles. All three suit families as well as culture-minded adults.
Oviedo's religious and civic buildings fill the same few streets. The Monastery of San Pelayo and San Vicente of Oviedo are both within a quarter of a mile. So are four palaces: Camposagrado, the Palacio de los Condes de Toreno, the Marqués de San Feliz Palace and the Palacio de Velarde. Slightly further out are the aqueduct of Pilares, a listed Cultural Interest Asset about 0.75 miles away, and the Buenavista Bullring, at roughly 1.1 miles.
Around 42 tours and activities in and around Oviedo can be booked ahead, and you will find them in the booking cards on this page.
- 1Metropolitan Cathedral Basilica of the Holy Saviour, Oviedo
- 2University of Oviedo
- 3Basilica of St. John the Baptist
- 4Fine Arts Museum of Asturias
- 5Archaeological Museum of Asturias
- 6San Vicente of Oviedo
- 7Monastery of San Pelayo
- 8Camposagrado Palace
- 9Palacio de los Condes de Toreno
- 10aqueduct of Pilares
- 11Buenavista Bullring
- 12Tabularium Artis Asturiensis
1cathedralMetropolitan Cathedral Basilica of the Holy Saviour, Oviedo
In the centre · Photo
religious church building in Spain, the thirteenth century
- 2museum
- 3basilica
- 4museum
- 5museum
6monastery
7monastery
8palace
9palace
10aqueduct
11amphitheatre
Tabularium Artis Asturiensis
museum · In the centre
Tours & tickets in Oviedo
Guided tours, day trips and tickets in and around Oviedo can be booked in advance, priced in GBP.
See tours & tickets (opens GetYourGuide in a new tab)Where to stay in Oviedo
Staying Central or Further Out
Nearly all of Oviedo's main sights lie within a quarter of a mile of the cathedral. A base in or beside the old centre puts the museums, palaces and monasteries on your doorstep, so you can manage without car hire for the city itself. Expect a busier, more urban feel there, because this is a regional capital of over 220,000 people.
Oviedo is inland, so there is no seafront to stay on. If you would rather wake up by the coast, consider combining a few nights here with a stay in Gijón or Avilés, both within about 16 miles. This page shows live hotel prices for Oviedo, so you can compare locations and dates directly.
Hire a car
The easiest way to reach Oviedo and the villages around it is a hire car from Asturias (OVD), about 24 min away.
Best time to visit Oviedo
When to Visit Oviedo
- 11°CJan137 mm
- 13°CFeb113 mm
- 14°CMar106 mm
- 16°CApr100 mm
- 18°CMay92 mm
- 20°CJun129 mm
- 23°CJul64 mm
- 23°CAug70 mm
- 21°CSept79 mm
- 19°COct118 mm
- 15°CNov141 mm
- 13°CDec115 mm
Highlighted months are the sweet spot for warm, dry weather.
No month stands out as clearly ideal, because Oviedo stays mild and damp all year. July and August are the warmest months, with highs around 23°C and lows near 15°C. They are also the driest, with about 64 mm of rain in July and 70 mm in August. September holds on well, at around 21°C with 79 mm of rain.
The wettest stretch runs from late autumn into winter. November brings about 141 mm of rain and January about 137 mm, with daytime highs of 11 to 15°C. June is a surprise: it records the most rainy days of the year, at 17. Spring is cool, at 14 to 18°C. Because the city is inland, sea temperatures do not apply here.
Full monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 11°C | 3°C | 137 mm | 6 h |
| Feb | 13°C | 4°C | 113 mm | 7 h |
| Mar | 14°C | 5°C | 106 mm | 8 h |
| Apr | 16°C | 6°C | 100 mm | 9 h |
| May | 18°C | 9°C | 92 mm | 10 h |
| Jun | 20°C | 13°C | 129 mm | 10 h |
| Jul | 23°C | 15°C | 64 mm | 10 h |
| Aug | 23°C | 15°C | 70 mm | 9 h |
| Sept | 21°C | 13°C | 79 mm | 9 h |
| Oct | 19°C | 10°C | 118 mm | 8 h |
| Nov | 15°C | 7°C | 141 mm | 6 h |
| Dec | 13°C | 5°C | 115 mm | 6 h |
Averages 2015–2024. Highlighted months are the sweet spot for warm, dry weather.
Getting there from the UK
Flights and Drives from the UK
Asturias airport (OVD) is the obvious choice. It has direct flights from the United Kingdom and lies about 17 miles away, roughly 24 minutes by car. Santander (SDR) also has direct UK flights and is about 102 miles away, around two hours 25 minutes by road. Santiago de Compostela (SCQ), another airport with direct UK services, is about 134 miles away, a drive of around three hours 10 minutes.
If you are driving your own car, allow roughly 14 hours 50 minutes of driving from Calais. In practice that means planning an overnight stop on the way through France.
By air
- Asturias (OVD)17 miles, about 24 min by roaddirect flights from the UK
- Santander (SDR)102 miles, about 2 h 24 min by roaddirect flights from the UK
- Santiago de Compostela (SCQ)134 miles, about 3 h 10 min by roaddirect flights from the UK
By car and ferry
Driving from Calais takes roughly 14 h 48 min without stops.
Oviedo is good for
Around Oviedo
Day Trips Across Asturias
Oviedo's central position makes it a good base. Grado is closest, at about 12 miles. Avilés, at about 14 miles, and Gijón, the region's largest town with around 272,000 residents, at about 16 miles, both bring you to the coast quickly. The small fishing village of Cudillero is around 21 miles away.
For a longer day out, Pola de Somiedo is about 28 miles away and Colunga about 30 miles. Cangas de Onís is roughly 36 miles from Oviedo. With car hire, any of these can be reached and enjoyed comfortably between breakfast and dinner.
.JPG/500px-2009Somiedo_(7).JPG)
Tips from Robin
Practical Tips for Oviedo
Pack a waterproof whatever the season. Even in July and August, rain falls on around 13 or 14 days of the month, and the wettest months top 130 mm.
Oviedo is inland at 237 metres, so if a beach day matters to you, plan it around Gijón, Avilés or Cudillero rather than the city itself. Evenings are cool for much of the year, with lows of 3 to 10°C outside summer, so a warm layer is worth bringing.
Questions people ask
How far is Oviedo from Asturias airport?
Asturias airport (OVD) is about 17 miles from Oviedo, roughly a 24-minute drive. It has direct flights from the United Kingdom, which makes it the most convenient way to arrive for a short break or a longer holiday.
Is Oviedo on the coast?
No. Oviedo is inland, at 237 metres above sea level. The coast is close, though: Avilés is about 14 miles away, Gijón about 16 miles, and the fishing village of Cudillero roughly 21 miles, so a seaside day out is easy to arrange.
What is the weather like in Oviedo in summer?
Summers are mild. July and August reach highs of around 23°C, with lows near 15°C. They are the driest months of the year, yet still see rain on about 13 or 14 days, so a light waterproof is sensible.
What are the main sights in Oviedo?
The thirteenth-century Cathedral of the Holy Saviour is the headline sight. Close by are the University of Oviedo, the Fine Arts Museum of Asturias, the Archaeological Museum, the Monastery of San Pelayo and several palaces, all within about a quarter of a mile.
Can you drive to Oviedo from the UK?
Yes. The drive from Calais takes roughly 14 hours 50 minutes behind the wheel, so most people break the journey overnight in France. Flying is far quicker, with direct UK flights into Asturias, Santander and Santiago de Compostela.
Is Oviedo good for a family holiday?
It suits families who enjoy culture. The Fine Arts Museum of Asturias, the Archaeological Museum of Asturias and the Tabularium Artis Asturiensis are all family-friendly and within walking distance of the centre. Beaches near Gijón and Avilés are a short drive away.