How to Visit Covadonga and Enjoy a Cangas De Onis Day Trip
- Maria DiCicco
- 3 days ago
- 5 min read
When I first heard about Covadonga, it was in a YouTube video from one of my favorite Spanish expats - James Blick. His stuff is great, and he was discussing his family trip to Asturias, which included Covadonga.
He showed stunning landscapes, a cool cave sanctuary and noted a bit about the fascinating history. Wanting to know more, I had to see it for myself, but couldn't find a ton of information online about the logistics of visiting Covadonga and what to expect.
In this article I share how to visit Covadonga, including details on what to see and parking info, as well as details on pairing it with a nice day trip to Cangas de Onis nearby.
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Visiting Covadonga
What is the Significance of Covadonga?
Pelayo, the First King of Asturias, is celebrated at this holy place for his successful campaign against the Muslim caliphate in Spain. He is responsible for stopping the Muslim Kingdom from continuing to conquer much of Spain at the Battle of Covadonga.
This is so important because his victory started the Reconquista, which was the Christian reconquest of the Iberian Peninsula from Muslim rule.
A national hero and symbol of the Christian resistence, Pelayo was and is a beloved and notable figure in Spain's History.
Both pilgrims and tourists visit this place now to pay their respects to Pelayo, whose remains are buried in the sanctuary at Santa Cueva onsite.
Why Should I Visit Covadonga?
Other than the very Hogwarts-esque church vibes, visit this incredible place for many reasons, including:
The scenery and setting built within the mountain regions of the Picos de Europa in Asturias
Visit the Santa Cueva - a cave tucked into the mountain, where you can climb steep stairs to get there (or walk through a tunnel for less effort, more on that below)
Pay your respects at the sanctuary and see Pelayo's grave
Visit the cathedral and the crypt
See the statue of Pelayo
Some tips for visiting:
Logistics of Visiting Covadonga
Seeing the Sites
It is important to note that Covadonga is a holy place and it should be respected. That said, I took a lot of photos that admittedly perhaps I should not have (like the gravestone of Pelayo below). But, here you have them nonetheless.
If you have difficulty walking or climbing steep stairs, there are two ways to access the sanctuary cave:
Approach from the lower hill and climb the steps to the sanctuary
Approach from the hotel at the top and walk through a tunnel to the sanctuary
You will see a giant sign that says Santa Cueva, this leads to the tunnel. Inside the tunnel, find rows of lit candles. You're in the right place.
In fact, you can purchase one of these candles to light (or to take home as a souvenir), for only 1,30 euros from a vending machine just outside the cave.
Parking
As you arrive at Covadonga, you will see quite a few parking lots coming up the hill. Assume these are for peak times and buses and continue going as high as you can. It would be a long walk up otherwise.
In fact, you can park at the very top of the hill by the cathedral. The lot is large and close to everything, including some public restrooms (always good to note!).
There are souvenir shops scattered throughout the road sides leading up, and the drive in is very charming - certainly worth a stop at one of the cute cafeterias, restaurants or shops.
Visiting Cangas de Onis
Any day visiting Covadonga should include a stop in Cangas de Onis, about 15 minutes away. This town is known for it's Sunday Market, and based on my research I assumed it was going to be a tiny, quiet town on any day other than Sunday.
In fact, the town of Cangas de Onis was one of my favorites in all of Asturias, and quite happening! Nestled in the valley of the Picos de Europa, it had a very "mountain town" feel, with sidrerias, cheese chops and a river stream.
It felt much larger than I expected.
In my opinion, after visiting, the best way to spend time in Cangas de Onis is to get lunch and do some shopping!
Shopping in Cangas de Onis
Shopping in Cangas de Onis you'll find all sorts of great food items to take home as souvenirs, from fabada mixes (beans and meats), local Asturian cheeses, cider-centric items, and even Celtic jewelry and emblems everywhere.
Little known fact - Celtic heritage is strong in Asturias, and you'll be surprised to find the triskele symbol and other Celtic artifacts in all the shops - like these bagpipes for kids!
Another thing you'll want to look for is the famous Taramundi knives, which are made in Asturias. Because mining is a huge industry for the region, these knives are made with the best metals around.
Dining in Cangas de Onis
Whether you are interested in a sidreria meal or a menu of the day, picking a restaurant is easy - all the menus are plastered outside and they are waiting for tourists.
You'll be fine picking anywhere, but we chose a lovely little place overlooking one of the main squares in town.
Be sure to enjoy local Asturian flavors, like bean stews and cheeses. I tried a clam and white bean stew. Yum!
Logistics for Visiting Cangas de Onis
Lastly, be sure to plug in a parking lot on your Google Maps before arriving in town, or you'll end up missing your turn off and have to drive through the whole town to circle back. There are lots and street parking options a few roads back from town, across the bridges and streams.
Do your best to show up before lunch for the best shopping opportunities, which close up around 130-2pm. After lunch, head to Covadonga to walk off those calories!
Staying in Cangas de Onis or Covadonga
One possibility is to stay at the Parador in Cangas de Onis. Spain's Paradores are reputable and gorgeous hotels across the country, and this one is worth considering if you want to spend more than an afternoon in Cangas de Onis and Covadonga.
Optionally, the hotel I mentioned at the top of Covadonga's hill is the Arcea Gran Hotel Pelayo. For convenience, you can't beat it. However, there are many cute and quirky places down the hill as well. You can browse some of those on Tripadvisor here.
If You Go
Be sure to browse my additional content on places to stay in Northern Spain, towns to visit, things to do and more. I've rounded all of this up at my Northern Spain Road Trip Planning Guide.
Here's some more fun Northern Spain content for you to browse, too!
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