7 balconies overlooking the Asturian sea

In Asturias, the coastline has been a battlefield where marine and telluric forces have left in their wake monumental reliefs at the mercy of the Cantabrian Sea. To discover them, we have picked out seven viewpoints from east to west that offer the most stunning landscapes at your feet. Seven unmissable stops overlooking the Cantabrian Sea to discover the most spectacular spots on the Asturian coast from the heights.

San Roque viewpoint (Lastres)

Doctor Mateo may not be the best TV series in the history of television, but no one can argue with the beauty of its exteriors. The culprit is this little fishing village that has become one of the icons of Asturias since its appearance in the series. 

We walk through the steep narrow streets of the village, which, with its white houses, reddish roofs and fishing atmosphere, takes over the hillside that falls vertically down to the Cantabrian Sea. We head off in search of the best views of the council of Colunga. The San Roque viewpoint overlooks the cliff where the chapel of the same name is located, next to a pleasant recreational area, ideal for children or for a barbecue.

From the viewpoint we can see the skyline of Lastres, its charming port and the beach of La Griega in Colunga, surrounded by the meadows of the coastal rasa.

Far off we can see the Picos de Europa in the distance and just in front of us the Cantabrian Sea, which hits its abrupt coastline with force.

The stunning views of Lastres from the viewpoint are mesmerising. Photo: Shutterstock

How to get there

The viewpoint is well located in the recreational area of San Roque, signposted at the entrance to the village and accessible by car. Hikers will be pleased to know that this spot is also the starting and finishing point of several walking paths in the area.

Cabo Peñas (Gozón)

We end with the east and head west, but not before stopping at the point where they divide, the furthest northern point of the Principality: Cape Peñas.

The steep coastline of Asturias, 350 km long, outlines this landmark for sailors of all ages, which stands out in the form of cliffs a hundred metres high against rocky islets over which the waves of the Bay of Biscay beat.

From here we enjoy the best panoramic view of the entire Asturian coastline, in the middle of an environment dominated by the lighthouse, which hosts the visitor reception centre, and structured by several paths to explore this protected landscape of 19 km2.

Cabo de Peñas is the most northern point of the Asturias. Image: Shutterstock

How to get there

Cape Peñas is found in the council of Gozón, between Gijón and Avilés. From Luanco we drive along the GO-1 towards Viodo and then take the AS-328 road that ends at the lighthouse itself.

La Boriza (Llanes)

We have been advised that Llanes is the council of the most famous beaches of Asturias, of the buffoons, the photogenic islands and the film trails. We drive to the village of Cué and climb up to the plain where the golf course “La Cuesta” is located, to find out for sure.

A creek leads us to the point of El Pandón, where we find this viewpoint, La Boriza, which separates two sister beaches in the shape of a crescent moon, creating a tropical landscape. To the west is Ballota beach, with clear waters and fine white sand, and to the east is Andrín beach, with rocks, white sand and surrounded by spectacular cliffs over which the wind blows and the waves break. In this landscape, the Castro islet in the middle of the bay, the views of Llanes to the west and the mountains of the Cordal del Cuera to the south stand out.

Andrin beach at our feet. Image: Shutterstock

How to get there

The viewpoint of La Boriza is located seven kilometres east of Llanes. Drive along the LLN-2 to the golf course of “La Cuesta de Llanes”, between the villages of Andrín and Cué and walk along the signposted path to this vantage point.

Torimbia beach viewpoint (Llanes)

Without straying from the coastline of Llanes, the longest in Asturias with 48 km of a landscape of arches, hills and cliffs carved by the same karstic erosion of the Picos de Europa, we continue with our premium collection of places to pay homage to the Bay of Biscay. The town of Niembro is the starting point to reach the Torimbia beach car park, located on the high ground next to Cape Prieto. To the west we contemplate the most iconic natural beach in Asturias, with its 500 metres of fine sand, perfect shell shape and clear waters that get darker as they go beyond the limit of the capes that protect it and form part of the Protected Landscape of the Eastern Coast.

From the car park, to the east, we can see the neighbouring beach of Torana and a series of islands such as Farillón, Ladrona and Llubeces, among bays, coves and capes surrounded by greenery that guide us through the council of Llanes on our way to Cantabria. A spectacular view of this municipality that is embedded between the Cantabrian Sea and the La Borbolla and Cuera mountain ranges, with heights of 1,300 metres.

The village of Niembro is the starting point to get to the viewpoint car park. Image: Shutterstock

How to get there

From Oviedo take exit 303 on the A8 motorway towards Aldea Bricia and continue on the LLN-11 towards Niembro. A track leads from Niembro to the car park which is located 9 km from Llanes.

La Regalina (Valdés)

Let’s get into the situation. A narrow peninsula shaped by cliffs overlooking the Bay of Biscay, where the wind blows strongly and the waves hit the beach of Cadavedo. Above it, a field where two horreos and a small hermitage painted blue are preserved; to the west the cape of Busto and to the east the cape of Vidio, and behind us the forests that take over the hills of the Protected Landscape of the Western Coast of Asturias. The Mirador de la Regalina viewpoint is one of those pictures that will remain etched forever in our collection of postcards of Asturias.

Este es un sitio con un magnetismo especial, donde solo se escucha el silencio y el Cantábrico, y donde se celebra una de las romerías más pintorescas de Asturias el último domingo de Agosto, la de la Regalina.

The two granaries and the hermitage painted blue distinguish Regalina.

How to get there

The A-8 motorway leads us to the west of Asturias, to the village of Cadavedo, in the council of Valdés. At the end of the village you will find the meadow of La Regalina.

La Atalaya de Figueras (Castropol)

You will find it in the last (or the first) town in Asturias, Figueras, on the banks of the Eo estuary.

In the upper area, the Atalaya or Buen Viajero viewpoint offers a wonderful panoramic view of the estuary, which acts as a natural boundary between Asturias and Galicia, the port of Ribadeo and the port of Castropol, which stands on a promontory surrounded by the waters where lateen sailing boats have been sailing for centuries.

To the south, Vegadeo and the gentle hills of the Sierra de la Bobia, and to the north the beach of Arnao, the Isla Pancha lighthouse (Galicia) and the Punta de la Cruz (Asturias) that guide the boats towards this border estuary.

The Eo or Ribadeo estuary joins Asturias and Galicia. Image: Javier Martínez Mansilla

How to get there

The viewpoint can be accessed directly from the A-8 motorway, taking exit 504, just before crossing the Los Santos bridge, which links Asturias and Galicia.

El Chano viewpoint (Luarca)

The Atalaya, from the Mesa de los Mareantes or the Monte de la Funiar… there are many viewpoints from which to contemplate Luarca and its surroundings. However, if we had to choose one, we would cross the bridge of El Beso and go up through the Pescadería neighbourhood to discover one of those places where you can never rush and where you can best feel the magnificence of the Villa Blanca on the Costa Verde. Next to the hermitage of San Roque is this viewpoint that overlooks this fishing village from one of the hills that frame it.

From the Estoupo and Capiecha mountains in the inland brañas, we can see the river Negro which, bends and bends, gradually makes its way through the valley where Luarca is located, ending its journey at the colourful fishing port and the First, Second and Third beaches, guarded by breakwaters.

Opposite, another hermitage, that of La Blanca, known as La Atalaya, stands on the cliffs where the lighthouse and the cemetery are also preserved.

El Chano, the best place to contemplate the White Village of the Costa Verde. Image: Javier Martínez Mansilla

How to get there

The viewpoint is well located in the recreational area of San Roque, signposted at the entrance to the village and accessible by car. Hikers will be pleased to know that this spot is also the starting and finishing point of several trekking routes in the area.

Guía Repsol www.guiarepsol.com