Llanes is a walled fishing town on the eastern coast of Asturias, between the Sierra del Cuera and the sea, close to the Picos de Europa. Its municipality has about 30 km of coast and some forty sandy beaches, so it makes a practical base: the town beach of El Sablón is a short walk from the old quarter, which keeps a 13th-century wall and tower, and the breakwater is painted as Agustín Ibarrola’s Cubos de la Memoria. Llanes has a railway station and a bus station; most outlying beaches need a car. It suits beach-hoppers and walkers; skip it in August if you dislike crowds.
Quick facts
- Names: Llanes; the municipality is Concejo de Llanes, Conceyu de Llanes in Asturian.
- Where: eastern Asturias, the Oriente district, between the Sierra del Cuera and the Cantabrian Sea.
- Coordinates: 43.4214, -4.7539 (Basilica of Santa María del Concejo, in the old quarter).
- Size: the town has about 4,000 inhabitants, the whole municipality about 13,000 (English Wikipedia).
- Coast: about 30 km long, with forty sandy beaches in the municipality (Spanish Wikipedia).
- Old quarter: a declared Historic-Artistic Site with a 13th-century wall and tower (Turismo Asturias).
- Tourist office: Calle Marqués de Canillejas 1, in the old fish market; 985 400 164.
Getting there and parking
By road: the A-8 motorway (Autovía del Cantábrico) runs east–west through the municipality, close to the coast (Spanish Wikipedia).
By train and bus: OpenStreetMap shows Llanes railway station about 400 m west of the basilica, and the bus station about 500 m south. We could not confirm current timetables; check them before you travel.
Parking: OpenStreetMap shows the El Sablón car park, with 170 spaces, about 170 m north of the basilica beside the town beach. There are also free lanes of parking around the old quarter and more car parks east of the harbour, towards the lighthouse.
What to see in town
The old quarter. Turismo Asturias describes a historic centre bordered by a 13th-century wall, with its tower and many palaces and mansions from the 16th and 17th centuries. OpenStreetMap places the tower (Torreón) next to the tourist office. The Basilica of Santa María del Concejo has a Romanesque doorway and a Gothic interior (Spanish Wikipedia). The town received its charter from Alfonso IX of León in 1206, and a plaque recalls the 65 local sailors who joined the Spanish Armada in 1588.
The harbour and the Cubos de la Memoria. Llanes is still a working fishing port. Its breakwater is lined with concrete blocks painted by the Basque artist Agustín Ibarrola, the Cubos de la Memoria, which Turismo Asturias calls the most artistic port in Spain. A viewpoint over the cubes lies about 550 m east of the basilica, near the Llanes lighthouse.
Paseo de San Pedro. Turismo Asturias recommends this walk along the top of the cliffs; OpenStreetMap marks the San Pedro viewpoint about 250 m north of the basilica.
Indiano houses and the Casino. Turismo Asturias points out the Casino building and the many houses built by emigrants who came back rich from the Americas (“indianos”), in the town and the villages around it. Several of these places appear in films, among them The Orphanage.
Beaches
Spanish Wikipedia lists forty sandy beaches along the Llanes coast. Within the town are El Sablón, beside the old quarter, and Puerto Chico, by the harbour. Further out, the list includes Toró, Ballota (naturist), Andrín, Gulpiyuri, Torimbia (naturist), San Antolín, Cuevas del Mar and Guadamía. The same coast has bufones, blowholes where waves force spray up through the rock; the best known are the Bufones de Pría, de Arenillas and de Santiuste.
The tide here is large: Spanish Wikipedia gives a range of about 4 m at spring tides and 1.5 m at neap tides, and water temperatures from 11 °C in winter to 19 °C in summer. Some beaches nearly disappear at high water, so check the tide before you go.
Practical details
- Tourist office: Calle Marqués de Canillejas 1 (antigua Lonja de Pescado), 33500 Llanes; 985 400 164; turismo@ayuntamientodellanes.com (Turismo Asturias).
- Festivals: the summer fiestas of La Magdalena, San Roque and La Guía are each run by a “bando”, a local tradition Turismo Asturias says is unique to Llanes.
- Toilets: OpenStreetMap marks free public toilets at the railway station and near the bus station.
- Walking: the coastal path runs along the cliffs from the town; see the link below.
Accessibility and safety
The old quarter and the harbour are mostly flat; the cliff-top walks have uneven ground and unfenced edges. OpenStreetMap tags the Fuerte de la Moria viewpoint as wheelchair accessible, but not the San Pedro viewpoint. On the beaches, the large tides can cut off coves and rocks, and the bufones are dangerous in heavy seas: stay well back from the vents.
Best time to visit
July and August bring warm weather, the big summer fiestas and the most visitors. June and September are quieter and still good for the beach. In winter the town is calm, and stormy days are the best time to see the bufones working, from a safe distance.
Nearby alternatives
- Llanes Coastal Path (Senda Costera de Llanes), starting in town: the cliff path along the coast.
- Playa de Gulpiyuri, 11.1 km away: one of the forty beaches of the Llanes coast, west of town.
- Ruta del Cares (Poncebos – Caín), 19.5 km away: the gorge walk in the Picos de Europa.
- Mirador del Fitu, 35.5 km away: a viewpoint in the hills of eastern Asturias.
- Lastres (Colunga), 42.8 km away: a fishing village further west on the Asturian coast.
Distances are in a straight line from the basilica.
FAQ
Is Llanes a good base for the beaches of Asturias?
Yes. The municipality has about forty sandy beaches along 30 km of coast, and the Picos de Europa are close by. El Sablón is in town; the others need a car or a bike.
Is there parking in Llanes?
Yes. The El Sablón car park has 170 spaces beside the town beach, and there are more spaces around the old quarter and east of the harbour. It fills up in August.
Can you get to Llanes by train?
Yes, Llanes has a railway station about 400 m west of the old quarter, as well as a bus station. Check current timetables before you travel.
What are the Cubos de la Memoria?
The concrete blocks protecting the harbour, painted with bright patterns by the Basque artist Agustín Ibarrola. A viewpoint near the lighthouse looks down on them.
Which is the best beach in Llanes town?
El Sablón is the town beach, a short walk from the old quarter, with a car park beside it. Puerto Chico, by the harbour, is the other beach in town.
Sources and freshness
Checked 6 November 2026 · 5 sources Show
Checked 6 November 2026. Official: Turismo Asturias on Llanes (old quarter, Cubos de la Memoria, fiestas, films) and the Llanes tourist office. Background: Spanish Wikipedia on Llanes (beaches, tides, bufones, basilica, charter, A-8) and English Wikipedia on Llanes (population). Location, station, parking, viewpoints, toilets and distances: OpenStreetMap contributors.
How this page is made. CostaMap is written with an AI editorial system run by Ebizapple. This page is based on the sources listed above. Last updated 6 November 2026. Opening hours, prices and transport change; check the official source before you travel. How we work · Partner links and ads