City · Asturias

Oviedo

A clean, elegant capital with pre-Romanesque churches, cider bars on Calle Gascona, and mountains and beaches both within an hour.

Populationabout 220,000
Cost of living€€€€
EnglishLittle
AirportAsturias (OVD), 40 minutes
TrainsTrains to Madrid in about 3h30 to 4h

Oviedo is calm, tidy and well kept, with a pedestrian old town and statues on every corner. The 9th-century churches on Monte Naranco are some of the oldest in Spain.

It makes a good base for both the Picos de Europa and the coast.

Climate: Mild, cloudy and green; rarely hot.

Visiting Oviedo

How long: 1 to 2 days

Don’t miss

  • Cathedral of San Salvador
  • Santa María del Naranco
  • Calle Gascona cider bars
  • Campo de San Francisco park
  • Day trips to the Picos de Europa

What to eat

  • Fabada
  • Cachopo
  • Cabrales cheese
  • Sidra

Tip: Let the waiter pour the cider; it is poured from a height and drunk in one go.

Plan a visit

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A perfect first day

  1. Morning: the cathedral and the pre-Romanesque churches on Monte Naranco.
  2. Afternoon: the old town’s statues and markets.
  3. Evening: cider poured from a height on Calle Gascona.

Easy day trips

Picos de Europa and Covadongaabout 1h15 by car
Gijónabout 30 minutes by train
Cudilleroabout 50 minutes by car

Where to stay as a visitor

Old town

For walking.

Uría

For the station and shops.

More of Oviedo

Living in Oviedo

Best for: People wanting a quiet, safe city with nature nearby.

Neighbourhoods and areas

Centro

Walkable and central.

Montecerrao

Newer flats and parks.

Pros

  • Safe and clean
  • Nature close by
  • Moderate costs

Cons

  • Grey skies
  • Small job market

Cost tiers compare places within Spain (€ = among the cheapest, €€€€ = among the most expensive). Rents change quickly: check current listings for the exact area before you decide.

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Frequently asked questions

How many days do you need in Oviedo?

1 to 2 days is enough for the main sights: cathedral of san salvador, santa maría del naranco, calle gascona cider bars. Let the waiter pour the cider; it is poured from a height and drunk in one go.

Is Oviedo expensive to live in?

On our scale it is moderate (€€). Costs are around or below the Spanish average.

How do I get to Oviedo?

By air: Asturias (OVD), 40 minutes. By rail: Trains to Madrid in about 3h30 to 4h.

Have you been to Oviedo?

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