Asturias gluten-free: a 5-day route

If you are planning to travel to our land, Asturias, this summer and need gluten-free options, you are in luck! Here’s an itinerary that combines the best of our beautiful region with the peace of mind of knowing that you’ll be able to enjoy its gastronomy safely.

Day 1 – Oviedo and Gijón: Start your adventure in the capital, Oviedo, where you can enjoy its historic architecture, do some shopping in the commercial street par excellence, Uría street and take a stroll through the Fontán square and enjoy the market it hosts daily. Very close to this square is the town hall, the church of San Isidoro and the Cathedral of San Salvador, an obligatory stop for everyone who comes to this city.

If you like museums you can visit the Museum of Fine Arts of Asturias, located in the same square of the Cathedral, where you can see paintings by El Greco, Ribera, Zurbarán, Murillo, Goya, Sorolla, Picasso, Dalí, Barceló and countless artists of Spanish art. Oviedo also houses the Archaeological Museum or the most complete memory of the history of Asturias and humanity.

And to finish the visit to Oviedo, it is time to enjoy a cider in Gascona street, full of cider bars and enjoy its gastronomy. Here are a few gluten-free restaurants:

• El Fartuquín

• Meraki

• El Bucanero

• Tiffany and cake

• La Amasería

• El gato negro

• Tierra Astur

• Gloria

In the afternoon, go to Gijón, the second most important city of Asturias and stroll along its promenade until you reach the historic center of the city and Cimadevilla neighborhood. This is an old fishing district, where you can not miss the facade of the Palace of Revillagigedo, the Statue of Don Pelayo and the Plaza Mayor. On the outskirts of Gijón is the Laboral Ciudad de la Cultura building. It will surprise you because it is always lively, and if you also have the opportunity to attend a scheduled event or show, the pleasure will be total…

Watching the sunset from the Cerro de Santa Catalina, will be the perfect plan to end the day (if weather permitting, of course).

And where to dine gluten-free in Gijón? Here are our suggestions:

• Sidrería Nava

• Pizzería Gepetto

• Sidrería Río Astur

• Tierra Astur

• Gloria

Day 2 – Cangas de Narcea: in paradise there is a paradise for celiacs. Cangas de Narcea is the first certified gluten-free destination in our country, since 3% of its inhabitants are celiacs, three times more than the national average. Here you can find a lot of certified gluten-free establishments, besides being able to enjoy its natural landscapes (Integral Natural Reserve of the Biosphere of Muniellos, Fuentes del Narcea, Degaña, Ibias), the emblematic Monastery of Corias, nowadays converted into accommodation of the Parador Network, and discover that instead of orchards there are vineyards and you can taste its PDO wine, accompanied by gluten-free dishes in these establishments:

• Bar Blanco

• Sidrería Suiss

• Restaurante Fordaliz

• Isacel

On July 16 of every year in this town the festivity of the Virgen del Carmen is celebrated. When evening falls, the sky of Cangas is transformed into a huge spot of gunpowder thanks to the massive release of flyers in honor of the Virgin that are uninterruptedly launched into the sky for seven or eight minutes. It is a unique festival in Spain and if it coincides with the passion with which the people of Cangas live these days and that floods every corner of the town.

Day 3 – West Coast: Explore the western coast of Asturias, known for its stunning beaches and cliffs. Visit the beach of Gueirúa and Playa del Silencio to enjoy unique natural landscapes.

A few kilometers away is the fishing village of Cudillero, a town of colorful houses that starts from a small port and climbs up the mountainside. A good way to get to know Cudillero is through its viewpoints, which offer the best views of the town (viewpoint of Pico, viewpoint of Baluarte, viewpoint of La Garita, viewpoint of La Atalaya, viewpoint of Cimadevilla).

Once we have flown over the fishing village, it is time to recharge our batteries in any of these restaurants that offer gluten-free dishes:

• Casa Julio

• Casa Miguel

• La Paloma

• El Remo

On the way back we can stop in Avilés, a city located on both sides of an estuary, which stands out for having one of the best preserved medieval historic centers, which contrasts with the construction of modern buildings such as the Niemeyer Center, where all kinds of cultural and leisure activities take place. You can take a walk through the charming streets of the historic center, such as Galiana, Rivero, La Ferrería, Bances Candamo, La Cámara, La Fruta, San Bernardo or La Estación that will remain engraved in your travel memory, and you will contemplate emblematic places such as the Valdecarzana Palace, the Romanesque church of the Franciscan Fathers, the Market Square, the fountain of the Caños de San Francisco.

Our recommendations of gluten-free establishments to taste the gastronomy in Avilés are:

• El Rinconín

• Isacel

• Tierra Astur

• Migas y más

Day 4 – Covadonga, Covadonga Lakes and Canas de Onís: Covadonga is located in the National Park of the Picos de Europa, just eight kilometers from the town of Cangas de Onís (first capital of the ancient Kingdom of Asturias). Here you can visit the Holy Cave, where the Virgin of Covadonga is located, the well and the Fountain of the Seven Spouts, to which popular literature attributes magical powers, assuring that “the Virgin of Covadonga has a very clear fountain. The girl who drinks from it, within a year gets married.”

And attached to the Cave, is the Renaissance Collegiate Church of San Fernando, built on the original monastery, carved into the limestone of the Picos de Europa.

A few meters away is the Basilica of Covadonga, which offers privileged views.

From this point you can go up to the Covadonga Lakes (check in advance the access because in high season it is restricted to private vehicles and you have to go up by bus) and make a route that will be very rewarding to enjoy nature in this environment passing through the three lakes. For this plan, the ideal is to prepare a sandwich with our sandwich bread and to get strength something sweet like our chocolate palms and eat it in the middle of nature.

If you prefer to finish the route and eat in a restaurant, we leave you some gluten-free options in the surroundings:

• Restaurante El Polesu

• Restaurante La Marivuelta

• El molín de pedrera

• Café Picos

After resting for a while, you can stroll through the streets of Cangas de Onis, and of course you can not leave without seeing the famous Roman Bridge, symbol of the city, on which hangs a representation of the Victoria Cross, emblem of the Principality of Asturias and represented in its flag.

Day 5 – Eastern coast and Llanes: to conclude your Asturias getaway, you can visit the eastern part of Asturias, a land of contrasts, where the grandeur of the mountains meets the Cantabrian Sea. Take the opportunity to travel back in time by visiting the Cave of Tito Bustillo in Ribadesella, which has been declared a World Heritage Site. Ribadesella is a place not to be missed, located at the mouth of the river Sella and on the shores of the Cantabrian Sea, is characterized by narrow streets of its old town, its beach and its viewpoints. You can visit the Ermita de la Virgen de la Guía, located at the top of Monte Corberu and enjoy the views of the place.

Next, head to Llanes, stopping at the beaches of Cuevas de Mar, Torimbia and Poo, all recognized among the best beaches in Asturias. Llanes, located on the shores of the Cantabrian Sea and near the Picos de Europa, has an old town declared a Historic-Artistic Site, get lost in its streets.

Llanes offers a variety of restaurants where you can eat gluten-free without worries:

• Hoyín de la Villa
• Sidrería El Salero
•  Sidrería El Puerto
• Casa Poli
• Restaurante La Veguca
• Heladería Revuelta

Do not forget to visit the viewpoint of San Pedro to capture the best views of Llanes and the Cantabrian Sea and finish your day with a freshly poured cider in one of the local cider houses.
Remember that in Asturias, gastronomy is an essential part of the experience. Be sure to try the fabada, tortos and of course, the cider! And don’t worry about gluten, as there are many celiac-safe options throughout the region. Bon voyage and bon appétit!

Discover more restaurants for celiacs in our post