The small Asturian town of Llanes ticks all the boxes for a dream holiday: beaches, cuisine, historical heritage and popular festivals.
Llanes, which lies on the spectacular Cantabrian coastline, is the perfect destination to enjoy rich historical heritage, pristine beaches, mother nature and fun traditional festivals. There’s a reason why people are increasingly skipping the typical Mediterranean destinations to spend their holidays in Llanesand discover the charms of northern Spain.
Take advantage of the Cantabrian winds and try your hand at surfing and windsurfing on the beautiful beaches of Llanes. Among the most popular are Toró beach, with its curious sand formations, and Sablón beach, a favourite among families because of how easy it is to get to. The old town of Llanes is also a treasure trove of pleasant surprises, such as Torre del Castillo, a castle tower that is home to the tourist information centre and forms part of the old Roman wall dating back to the 13th century, Palacio de los Duques de Estrada, a baroque style palace, or Palacio de Gastañaga, another palace built between the 14th and 15th centuries.
If you’re looking for cheap trips to Llanes to get outdoors and enjoy the natural surroundings, start with a walk along the Paseo de San Pedro promenade, just under half a mile long, bordering the high cliffs and offering magnificent panoramic views of the town and the sea. El Camín Encantáu, ‘the enchanted pathway’ in the regional Asturian language, allows you to explore beautiful forests as you dive into the magical world of Asturian legends, featuring mythical creatures such as cuélebres (snakes), trasgos (imps) and xanas (water spirits).
Be sure to try the exquisite Asturian cuisine, where sweets, fish, seafood, fabada stews and cheeses steal the show and are popular with even the most demanding gourmets. The area around the port of Llanes stands out for the abundance of restaurants, bars and taverns where you can tuck into the best regional specialities.
If you book a package holiday to Llanes that includes a flight, you’ll land at the airport in Santander, around fifty five miles from the town. Llanes has excellent road connections to Gijón and Oviedo, both of which make for an excellent day trip.
