Must-see attractions in Gijón

  • Museo del Ferrocarril de Asturias

    Gijón

    Trains have played a big part in Asturias' story and Gijón’s excellent railway museum, housed in a 19th-century former station, has a fascinating…

  • Elogio del Horizonte

    Gijón

    The 1990 Elogio del Horizonte ('In Praise of the Horizon') is a bold, sea-facing concrete sculpture by Basque artist Eduardo Chillida that has become a…

  • Laboral Ciudad de la Cultura

    Gijón

    Constructed as a Jesuit-run universidad laboral (vocational training centre), the austerely grand 1940s-vintage ‘Laboral,’ 5km southeast of the centre, is…

  • Plaza de Jovellanos

    Gijón

    An enticing web of narrow lanes and small squares wraps itself around the landward side of Cimadevilla, though the area was significantly damaged during…

  • Jardín Botánico Atlántico

    Gijón

    This verdant botanical garden – featuring 2000 different species – offers a lovely break from the chaotic city centre and is an excellent introduction to…

  • Parque del Cerro Santa Catalina

    Gijón

    It's well worth wandering up through Cimavilla to this grassy, breezy, cliff-top park with great views. It's home to Eduardo Chillida's 1990 sculpture…

  • Playa de Poniente

    Gijón

    Playa de Poniente, to the west of Cimadevilla, has imported sand and is much broader than the east-side Playa de San Lorenzo. During Gijón’s famous late…

  • Villa Romana de Veranes

    Gijón

    About 12km southwest of Gijón lie the excavated remains of this 4th-century Roman villa. The main building was transformed into a church in the Middle…

  • Muséu del Pueblu d’Asturies

    Gijón

    This museum, 2.5km east of the Plaza Mayor, is devoted to traditional Asturian culture, with exhibits on bagpipes, cooking, carriages and even 19th…

  • Museo Casa Natal de Jovellanos

    Gijón

    Dominating the Plaza de Jovellanos, the home of 18th century Enlightenment politician Gaspar Melchor de Jovellanos now houses the Museo Casa Natal de…

  • Acuario

    Gijón

    About 1.5km west from the Cimadevilla area, Gijón’s singular aquarium houses around 4000 specimens, from otters and penguins to sharks and starfish, in 12…

  • Termas Romanas

    Gijón

    On the southeast edge of Cimadevilla (underneath the Campo Valdés) are the town’s Roman baths, built around AD 100. The underground museum’s detailed info…

  • Roman Walls

    Gijón

    Head west from Plaza de Jovellanos towards Calle Recoletas to find a reconstructed 850m-long remnant of Gijón’s Roman walls and towers, built between the…

  • Playa de San Lorenzo

    Gijón

    Spreading east from Cimadevilla, Gijón’s main city beach is a surprisingly good, clean 1.5km strip with a bit of surf, but it virtually disappears when…

  • Torre del Reloj

    Gijón

    Built in 1572 atop the ruins of Gijón’s Roman walls, this striking, reddish-hued tower has a long and varied history, including stints as the city’s jail…

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