If you love the outdoors, Asturias is great for 2 things: epic hikes in the mountains, and incredible beaches.

In this guide, we’ll see the 19 best beaches in Asturias.

Whether you’re looking for a beach to relax, epic views, a good place to surf or even shallow water for your kids, you’ll find a beach for you in this list.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Holy sh*t, 19 beaches?!

Well I started with my top 10, but I kept remembering more epic beaches that I definitely had to include in the list. I decided to not cross 20 but hey, the Asturias coast, or Costa Verde as it’s called, is filled with incredible beaches to discover and to share on your socials (with a cool beach quote of course).

If you need even more suggestions than the 19 listed here, simply leave a comment at the end and I’ll reply asap.

Ok, here are the 19 beaches that made the cut:

Playa de Santa Marina

Playa del Silencio

Playa de la Cueva

Playa de Torimbia

Ballota Beach

Playa de Cuevas del Mar

Playa de Gulpiyuri

Playa de Rodiles

Playa de la Griega

Playa de la Atalaya

Playa del Sablón

Playa de Toró

Playa de San Antolín

Playon de Bayas

Playa de Guadamía

Playa de la Franca

Playa de Cadavedo

Playa de Poo

Xago Beach

Alright, now let’s see each of these beaches in more details! Keep reading below for more info on the beaches including photos, location, and what kind of amenities you can expect to find.

We’re starting this list strong with the Playa de Santa Marina, a real gem of a beach located in the coastal city Ribadesella.

It’s a golden sand beach right in town, which makes it very easy to reach. The beach stretches for a while, and there’s plenty of space to find a good spot to relax. You’ll find all necessary amenities, and it’s also a great place to surf.

Right behind the beach, the promenade is bordered by some good-looking villas, and you can see the Picos de Europa mountains in the background.

Amenities: showers, toilets, lifeguards, surf rental, food & drinks

Location: Playa de Santa Marina, Ribadesella

Where to Stay: Ribadesella

The second beach on the list is often named “best beach in Spain”, so it’s no surprise to find it here.

Playa del Silencio is a rugged beach with a dramatic landscape, and getting to enjoy this view was an absolute treat.

Don’t expect to find any amenities on this beach though: it’s wild, and that what makes it beautiful. You’ll need to walk down the cliff to reach it, and the short walk is enough to deter the crowds. Read my full guide on Playa del Silencio for more details.

Amenities: /

Location: Playa del Silencio, Cudillero

Where to Stay: Cudillero

The Playa de la Cueva is another rugged beach, that looks absolutely fantastic. It’s not close to any main city in Asturias, which makes it usually pretty quiet.

The best part about this beach (besides its beauty & quiet) is that it’s surrounded by a lot of equally as stunning beaches and views. It’s part of Cabo Vidio, a cape with a lighthouse, plenty epic viewpoints and a lot of beaches to discover.

Check out my full guide about Cabo Vidio

Amenities: /

Location: Playa de la Cueva, Oviñana

Where to Stay: Oviñana

The Torimbia beach is famous for 2 reasons.

First, it looks like a tropical beach, and I’m pretty sure you want to go jump in that water just by looking at that picture below.

Jaime E. Osorio / CC BY-SA

And second, Playa de Torimbia has been an iconic nudist beach since the 1960s. Don’t worry though, it’s not an official nudist beach, so you can go there with your clothes on without any problem. Just be aware that you will probably run into nudists, especially in the high season.

Amenities: showers, lifeguards, beach bar in high season

Location: Playa de Torimbia

Where to Stay: Celorio

Next up on the list is another nudist beach, the Playa de Ballota (but still open to everyone).

This nice sand beach is in a cove, and thus has very calm waters. The small waves are perfect for a chill day in the water.

José Luis / CC BY-NC-ND

The beach is best enjoyed at low-tide; during high-tide, the sea covers most of the sandy beach. However high-tide is when the massive geysers come to life!

Right next to the beach is the Playa de Andrín, and you can get a sweeping view over the 2 beaches at the Mirador de Andrin, right up the hill.

Amenities: toilets, showers, lifeguards, food & drinks

Location: Playa de Ballota, Llanes

Where to Stay: Llanes

The Playa de Cuevas del Mar will probably appeal more to photographers than others; it’s a narrow beach, with not a lot of space, which doesn’t stop the crowds.

The beach is surrounded by beautiful rock formations like the one on the photo above. The multiple holes in the cliffs create a network of caves and tunnels that are fun to explore by walking, or swimming.

Amenities: toilets, showers, lifeguards, food & drinks

Location: Playa de Cuevas del Mar

Where to Stay: Nueva de Llanes

The Gulpiyuri beach is as beautiful as it’s hard to pronounce. Gul – pi – yuri. I write it wrong every time -sigh.

Aitor Granda / CC BY-NC

It’s one of the most unique beaches on this list. The Playa de Gulpiyuri is actually a sinkhole, and you can see the ocean from it. The water comes from under the cliffs, and creates this inland beach.

The beach is very small, and gets crowded fast in summer; plan your visit early in the day if you want to see it empty.

Amenities: /

Location: Playa de Gulpiyuri

Where to Stay: Nueva de Llanes

The Playa de Rodiles is a 1km long sandbank (0.6 miles), particularly loved by surfers. It’s also pretty wide, and even if there are plenty of people it doesn’t feel crowded.

You’ll find plenty of amenities on this beach, and the free parking is a nice touch.

Balasturias / CC BY-SA

Right behind the beach there’s an eucalyptus tree forest, with plenty of picnic tables; perfect to hide from the blazing sun for a bit and grab lunch in the shade.

The other point of interest in the area is a long wooden walkway along the coast, perfect for a sunset stroll.

Amenities: toilets, showers, lifeguards, surf rental, food & drinks

Location: Playa de Rodiles

Where to Stay: Villaviciosa

The Playa de la Griega is one of the best beaches Asturias has to offer, both for its beauty and for the amount of things to do in the area.

Alejandro Slocker / CC BY-SA

On the photo above you can see the coastal town of Lastres in the foreground, which is great to visit. And in the background you can see the Griega beach. The Liberdón river mixes with the seawater on the beach, creating natural pools, perfect for kids or for anyone that likes to cool down in shallow water.

The beach is also famous for its “Icnitas de Dinossaurios”, dinosaurs footprints in the rocks; you can complete your experience by visiting the Jurassic Museum of Asturias right next to the beach.

Amenities: toilets, showers, lifeguards

Location: Playa de La Griega, Lastres

Where to Stay: Colunga

Going back to Ribadesella for our 10th pick: the Playa de la Atalaya. Way less popular than the iconic Playa de Santa Marina, this little beach feels like a private beach.

Guillermo Morales / CC BY-SA

Escape the crowds from the main beach by coming to the Atalaya beach, perfect to enjoy a quiet moment in the bustling Ribadesella.

Amenities: /

Location: Playa de la Atalaya, Ribadesella

Where to Stay: Ribadesella

This list of the best beaches in Asturias couldn’t be complete without a mention of the Playa del Sablón.

It’s located right in the city of Llanes, one of the prettiest towns on the Asturias coast.

Ego Irizar / CC BY-NC

Obviously it does get pretty crowded, but having access to such a stunning beach right from your hotel is pretty cool, right?

Amenities: toilets, showers, lifeguards, food & drinks

Location: Playa del Sablon, Llanes

Where to Stay: Llanes

A great alternative to the Sablón beach if it’s too crowded is the Playa de Toró. It’s a way bigger beach, and it’s only a 15 minutes walk from Llanes city center.

The beach has a unique position, not facing directly the ocean, but facing 90° inland. There’s very little current, and it’s a perfect beach for families with kids.

Amenities: toilets, showers, lifeguards, food & drinks

Location: Playa de Toró, Llanes

Where to Stay: Llanes

The San Antolín beach is one of the biggest beach in the area. It’s located in between the Playa de Gulpiyuri and the Playa de Torimbia, 2 really popular beaches, that often get pretty crowded. A good alternative is thus to come to the Playa de San Antolín, where you’ll have plenty of space.

Guillén Pérez / CC BY-ND

It’s also a great spot for adventure, with surf rental available on the beach (pretty good waves there). You can also rent paddle boards, and sometimes kayaks. Prices are pretty cheap, 20€ for renting a board for a full day.  

Amenities: showers, lifeguards, surf rental, food & drinks

Location: Playa de San Antolin

Where to Stay: Villahormes

You thought the Playa de San Antolin was big? Well, the Playon de Bayas is more than two times bigger!

At 2,800 meters long (1.7 miles), the Bayas beach is the longest beach in Asturias.

Oscar F. Hevia / CC BY-NC-ND

This dark sand beach seems to go on forever, and there’s definitely enough space there to feel at ease, even during summer. Make sure to climb to the Mirador de Bayas for the best view of the beach.

Amenities: showers, lifeguards, surf rental

Location: Playon de Bayas

Where to Stay: Aviles

The Guadamía beach offers 2 really different experiences. At low tide, the narrow beach starts deep inland, and makes its way between the cliffs all the way to the sea. When the tides comes in, it floods the entire area, and the beach disappears; this creates a natural pool with an epic background, perfect for a swim!

Andres / CC BY-NC

When you visit the beach, make sure to check out the nearby Bufones de Pria. Massive geysers, and definitely a must-see in Asturias.

Read more: Bufones de Pria and the Playa de Guadamia

Amenities: /

Location: Playa de Guadamia, Llanes

Where to Stay: Ribadesella

The Playa de la Franca is a sand beach, with an odd triangular shape. It’s the typical beach to come lay under an umbrella and chill with friends & family. Locals love this beach, but it rarely gets too crowded.

Elena Merino / CC BY-SA

There are also 3 secret beaches right next to Franca beach: the Playa del Oso, Playa el Vivero, and Playa de la Acacia. When the tides goes away, you can walk to them; but make sure to not get trapped by the rising tide.

Amenities: toilets, showers, lifeguards, food & drinks

Location: Playa de la Franca, la Franca

Where to Stay: La Franca

The Playa de Cadavedo, also known as La Ribeirona, is a crescent-shaped beach in a cove. There’s usually plenty of wind on the beach, which makes it a great beach to escape the hot summer days; it’s nice to feel the fresh air when lying in the blazing sun.

Tuscasasrurales / CC BY-ND

After enjoying the beach for the afternoon, get back to your car and drive to the Ermita de la Regalina, up the cliff. The road takes you all the way to the edge, where you’ll find a small sanctuary. It’s also an absolutely epic view, and watching the sunset there is highly recommended.

Amenities: toilets, sshowers, lifeguards, food & drinks

Location: Playa de Cadavedo, Cadavedo

Where to Stay: Cudillero

Unlike what the name might make you think, the Playa de Poo is an incredible beach, and probably the best beach in Asturias for families.

Javier Habladorcito / CC BY-ND

The beach has a unique form, and it’s protected from the sea by a cove. At low-tide, the beach has a very gentle slope towards the sea, making it safe for kids. When the tide comes in, it fills the beach and creates a natural shallow pool, also perfect for kids! 

Amenities: showers, lifeguards, food & drinks

Location: Playa de Poo, Llanes

Where to Stay: Llanes

And finally, the last of our 19 best beaches in Asturias, Spain!

Unlike the previous beach, the Xago beach is not really meant for families. This long open sand beach has heavy winds, and a heavy swell. Be cautious when swimming there.

Nuberu_na / CC BY-ND

Heavy swell means perfect for surfing! You can get some surf classes at the local surf school on the beach, or rent a board in Aviles and bring it here.

And if you simply want to enjoy the view, make your way to the Mirador Playa de Xago (you can easily drive there)! 

Amenities: toilets, showers, lifeguards, surf rental, food & drinks

Location: Playa de Xagó

Where to Stay: Aviles

As you’ve seen in this guide of the best beaches in Asturias, the tide plays an important role in how your experience will be. For some beaches, the beach completely disappears at high tide. For others, low tide opens up an access to secret beaches.

Use this link to check the tide and plan your visit to the beaches

And in some cases, bathing is not recommended when the tide is very high and the swell gets heavy.

For these reasons, I recommend that you check the tide before visiting the beaches.

Ready for your trip to the Asturias Costa Verde?

You can use my own private map of the best beaches to easily have them all in your Google Maps.

Simply click on the image below to open in Google Maps, and then hit the “star” icon to save it to your own maps.

Click on the image to open the map

Planning a trip to Asturias and Spain? You can find below several other articles about this wonderful part of the world to help you plan your trip.

Asturias Guides:

Asturias has beautiful beaches, but also incredible mountains! Here are some great hikes in Asturias:

Hike to Sotres, the highest village in Picos de Europa

Hike from Poncebos to Bulnes

Ruta del Cares, the Complete Hiking Guide

You can also check out some of the alpines lakes in the area:

Lagos de Covadonga

Lagos de Saliencia

Ready for a big hiking trip? Check out the COMPLETE Picos de Europa hiking guide

And finally, if you need more inspiration, see all my Spain travel guides

I hope you enjoy your trip to Asturias and to Spain; if you have any questions, let me know in the comments below, I always reply.

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