The 10 most interesting things to do as a family in Asturias

There’s no doubt whatsoever that Asturias is a place for sharing experiences, and you’ll see that for yourself the moment you set foot here. And of course, when it comes to sharing, what could be better than doing so as a family! And if there are little ones in the family, Paraíso Natural is the best… Because Asturias has everything to delight a child’s mind, which is so prone to imagination. And in Asturias, you can experience almost anything you can think of.

Here we suggest 10 of the best family-friendly activities to do this summer in Asturias. They’re all different but complement each other perfectly! Give them a go and see for yourself!

Can you imagine being in Asturias and, at the same time, in other worlds? Here, it’s possible. There are places where you’ll feel so at home with your family that you’ll never tire of coming back.

If you want to experience prehistory as a family, two of the best places to do so are in Asturias: the Jurassic Museum, better known as MUJA, in Colunga, and the Prehistory Park in Teverga.

Both MUJA and the Prehistory Park are set in natural surroundings that will completely captivate the whole family, allowing you to let yourselves be carried away and enjoy yourselves to the full. Everything else – workshops, guided tours, etc. – will simply add to the unforgettable moments you’ll experience.

The MUJA building has a unique structure shaped like a tridactyl (dinosaur footprint) and enjoys a prime location right on the coastal plain, with exceptional views of the sea and the mountains. All this is complemented by 39 life-size replicas of different types of dinosaurs, which take you back a few million years in time.

Also well worth a visit is the outdoor area with games and workshops – a real paradise for children.

Meanwhile, the Prehistory Park, also situated in a spectacular setting surrounded by mountain scenery, is the perfect place to learn all about prehistory and put that knowledge into practice – something you’ll be able to do in its educational workshops on Palaeolithic painting or the one where you can make a lamp just like the ones our ancestors used.

If you want to share moments of adventure and wonder with your loved ones, the many caves in Asturias are the ideal place. Among them are some particularly notable ones, such as the Tito Bustillo Cave in Ribadesella/Ribeseya, which was discovered half a century ago and is one of the great masterpieces of European rock art. What’s more, to round off your family caving adventure, there’s the Tito Bustillo Cave Art Centre right next to this cave, as well as another cave adjoining it – the Cuevona – featuring striking geological formations and a large natural amphitheatre. The Tito Bustillo Rock Art Centre offers a wide range of workshops that introduce prehistory to young children in a very engaging and entertaining way.

With all this and a whole host of activities, boredom is a thing of the past!

And if the family is thinking of taking a trip back to the Middle Ages, Asturian history offers some fascinating insights into this period, during which one of the most notable artistic movements is Pre-Romanesque art. For this reason, through a combination of tours and workshops at the Asturian Pre-Romanesque Reception and Interpretation Centre, situated on the very slopes of the legendary Mount Naranco, you’ll delve into all the secrets uncovered to date about the Asturian monarchy.

Naturally, one of the workshops that really puts you in the shoes of a medieval inhabitant is the one on medieval construction – it’s both highly educational and practical.

It’ll be like a sort of medieval epic!

If you want to discover and enjoy the very latest in music, exhibitions, fun children’s workshops, shows and much more, as well as taking in the stunning and unique architecture and setting, you’ll find it all at Laboral Ciudad de la Cultura.

Just a stone’s throw from the centre of Gijón/Xixón, and with ample car parking and green spaces – so that your family’s leisure time is both enjoyable and comfortable!

The Gijón Aquarium is a truly fascinating option for lovers of marine life and the future of the oceans. Set in a very pleasant location, right next to Gijón’s Poniente Beach, and boasting superb facilities, you’ll be taken on a visually stunning journey through all the world’s seas and their species. So the Aquarium offers an excellent opportunity to feel right at home! And the children will love it even more!

Mining in Asturias, as part of the traditional way of life, is now a thing of the past, yet it offers truly fascinating insights and settings, particularly if you’re looking to explore, as a family, an entire culture where you can see how the miners worked and learn about their living conditions.

That is why, amongst Asturias’s rich industrial heritage, one of the most evocative sites is the Samuño Mining Ecomuseum, in Langreo, which boasts well-maintained facilities and offers the chance to travel on a mining train – a rare experience that usually captures the attention of older visitors and delights children.

Furthermore, nearby you’ll find the Mining Museum (MUMI) and the Sotón Shaft, where guided tours are available.
Without a doubt, this trio will give you the chance to enjoy the very best in industrial tourism!

Parque de la Vida is currently closed to the public and no reopening date has been announced. We recommend checking the latest information before planning a visit.

Parque de la Vida features 750 m² of indoor exhibitions dedicated to various fields of science and nature. Its attractions include ‘Stardust’, Path to Life, the fossil collections, the laboratory, Whale Hunt, Evolution of Cetaceans, Abysses and Giant Squids, Astronautics and the Planetarium, as well as areas dedicated to reptiles, amphibians, fossils and dinosaurs.

One of its most notable exhibits is a 3,000 m² exhibition dedicated to fossils and other geological features dating from the late Carboniferous period. The exhibition includes a recreation of a mine support structure, three glass tanks, a laboratory and a workshop designed to contextualise and explain the exhibition content in an educational manner. Part of the fossil collection is also on display in the outdoor areas.

Parque de la Vida also features an intertidal zone recreating a rocky shore typical of the Cantabrian Sea. This space offers an insight into the unique characteristics of a tidal ecosystem, home to more than 50 species, including barnacles, mussels, periwinkles, crustaceans and cephalopods, alongside algae and other aquatic organisms.

Thanks to the variety of its indoor and outdoor spaces and its educational approach, the Parque de la Vida has proved to be a particularly interesting option for enjoying science and nature as a family.

The Gold Museum tells the story of gold throughout the world and in Asturias, as well as exploring the scientific and geological aspects of gold.

To round off visitors’ knowledge and experience of this mineral, the museum offers an essential activity to complete the visit, which is available daily: gold panning, with a workshop that introduces ‘beginners’ to this activity.

Gold panning is a deeply-rooted tradition in this village, which has repeatedly hosted national and international championships in this discipline.

Furthermore, Navelgas is the ‘capital’ of the Valle del Oro, meaning that your immersion in this Asturian ‘golden’ region can be rounded off with a tour showcasing the abundance of gold deposits, where extraction methods varied: ranging from gold pans to the exploitation of mines by subsidence, which shaped a unique landscape that remains visible even after many centuries.

Getting in touch with nature and village life is one of the healthiest choices you can make, and it’s also a perfect activity to enjoy as a family. For children, it’s a unique first experience, and for adults, it’s a chance to enjoy shared experiences that will prove both enlightening and unforgettable.

So the idea of being a farmer for a day is by no means an unattainable dream, and it can be a fascinating experience. Feeding a calf with a bottle, stroking a little rabbit, collecting eggs from the henhouse, riding a horse or a pony, petting a cow or feeding some goats…

These are just a few of the activities that will help the whole family connect with authentic village life, and which you can enjoy on guided farm tours in Asturias!

Asturias is a true paradise for outdoor sports and adventure activities. Without a doubt, one of the most appealing and ideal activities to enjoy as a family is canoeing down rivers. And, naturally, given the terrain of this region, there are countless options for canoeing routes, all of which are thoroughly enjoyable and great fun.

Venturing into the Asturian countryside is always a treat for the senses, but doing so whilst exploring its rivers makes the experience truly thrilling. There are therefore numerous watercourses where you can enjoy the thrill of the rapids, the tranquillity of the backwaters and take in the surroundings, with the following being particularly noteworthy: the River Sella, the Cares and the Deva – all in eastern Asturias; the River Nalón – in central Asturias – and the Rivers Navia and Eo – in western Asturias.

These are by no means strenuous experiences, and they also offer the chance to observe the local wildlife, such as cormorants, herons, ducks and trout, and, with a bit of luck, you might even spot an otter. In short, canoeing down the rivers of Asturias is a highly recommended active experience that allows you to connect with nature in its purest form. The perfect combination of sport and adventure.

It’s so easy and fun to set off on a hike in Asturias! There are thousands upon thousands of hiking options, with something to suit every taste and ability. And the truth is, there are some easy routes that are ideal for families.

What’s more, there are also short themed trails where the little ones can have a brilliant time.

Here are a few suggestions, spread across different parts of Asturias, so you can choose which ones to try – or, with a bit of time and patience, simply set out to explore them all.

In central Asturias, you can choose to walk the Fuso Greenway, near Oviedo/Uviéu, or head to the Senda del Oso trail, which starts in Santo Adriano and ends in Quirós or Teverga, depending on which branch you choose to follow, and you can do it on foot or by bike (either way, it’s full of charm). Another great option is the famous Ruta del Alba in Sobrescobio, set amidst idyllic landscapes.

If you prefer the west of Asturias, a very green and peaceful option is the ‘Ruta del Agua’ in Taramundi. You can also combine walking, canoeing and swimming in the river in the Ferreira area, in Santa Eulalia de Oscos – the area featured in our cover photo. And if you opt for the east, the route to Olla San Vicente, following the course of the River Dobra, is sure to delight the whole family.

In the popular imagination, bears are one of the most iconic animals, and in Asturias we are fortunate to have amongst our wildlife a unique species such as the Cantabrian brown bear, whose natural beauty, habitat and behaviour make it a major attraction, and of course an ideal way to teach the youngest members of the family to love and respect the environment.

In Asturias, and particularly in the region of Las Fuentes del Narcea, Degaña and Ibias, you’ll have the chance to book nature guides to follow in the footsteps of the brown bear, and thus experience first-hand the daily habitats of these plantigrades, as well as the best spots for spotting them. These are bespoke interpretative trails where you’ll have the chance to learn more about the area’s flora and fauna, and ultimately about the ecosystem in which the bear lives. You can do this on foot or by vehicle, whichever you prefer and find most comfortable.

Asturias offers hundreds of places where you can enjoy a unique and different swim – and, above all, a peaceful and tranquil experience for the whole family.

Here are three examples, just to give you an idea. One is Playa de Porcía beach, which lies within the municipalities of El Franco and Tapia de Casariego; at high tide, it turns into a veritable saltwater swimming pool, sheltered from the waves, where you can take a relaxing dip with your little ones or enjoy this lovely swing with unbeatable views.

Another option is accommodation offering a swimming pool with views of Asturias’s finest landscapes; you can book here – a truly rewarding choice thanks to the scenery and the tranquillity of the surroundings.

The third is a fun, yet healthy and restorative swim in Tapia’s saltwater pool. The scenic beauty of the surroundings, combined with the warmth of this place, will make your swim in Tapia an experience you’ll want to repeat.

Three brilliant ways to enjoy an unforgettable swim!