ES · Asturias · 43.20°N 4.80°W

picos de europa

Limestone peaks, deep gorges and stone villages serving strong mountain cheese.

Best time
June–September is best for hiking, though snow can linger high up into June. Spring and autumn are quieter and changeable; December–February brings snow that closes the high trails.
How long
3–4 days
Getting there
Fly with one stop to Bilbao, usually via Istanbul (about 18–20 hours all in), then drive about 2.5 hours to Potes or Cangas de Onís. From Madrid, it's a 1-hour flight to Asturias and about an hour's drive to Cangas de Onís. Spain is 6 hours behind KL in summer and 7 in winter.
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ES · Asturiaspicos de europa43.20°N 4.80°Wgowherelah.com
Dear group chat,Limestone peaks, deep gorges and stone villages serving strong mountain cheese.— gowherelahTo: whoever’s drivingPicos de EuropaES, Asturias
KLpicos de europa
≈ 11,090 km from KL, as the crow flies
Naranjo de Bulnes -also known as Picu Uriellu- seen from Pozo de la Oración, Cabrales, Asturias.

Photo: Evölah · CC BY-SA 3.0

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Photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each.

The Picos de Europa are limestone peaks rising straight up behind Spain's green northern coast, with gorges, high lakes and stone villages that smell of woodsmoke and cheese. Come to walk, eat well and slow down.

Makan

  1. Cabrales cheeseA strong blue cheese ripened in limestone caves.Map ↗
  2. Fabada asturianaAsturias's famous bean stew, made with chorizo, black pudding and pork belly.Map ↗
  3. Arroz con lecheCreamy rice pudding with a caramelised top, an Asturian favourite.Map ↗

Things to do

  1. Cares GorgeA path cut into the cliffs along a deep gorge between Poncebos and Caín, about 12 km each way.Map ↗
  2. Fuente DéA cable car climbs about 750 metres up a sheer rock wall to high limestone country.Map ↗
  3. Covadonga LakesTwo glacial lakes high above the cave shrine of Covadonga, with cows grazing along the shores.Map ↗
  4. PotesA stone town of bridges and towers, the base on the Cantabrian side.Map ↗

Good to know

  • The Cares walk takes a full day there and back; most people walk part of it and turn around.
  • On busy days in summer, at Easter and on holidays, cars can't drive up to the Covadonga Lakes, so park in Cangas de Onís and take the bus.
  • Halal meat isn't available in the villages. Trout, cheese, eggs and rice pudding are easy, and Bilbao is the place for a halal meal.

Last checked October 2026. Things change, so check opening times, fees and transport before you go.