10 Things to Do in Oviedo in Winter

Oviedo is a city that is a good tourist alternative all year round for those who want to enjoy the northwest of Spain. In turn, the best things to see and do in Oviedo are usually related to the city's natural surroundings. Asturias has one of the best forest reserves in the whole country, as well as the rest of the autonomous communities in this region.

I invite you to continue reading this publication, as this will give you a more concrete idea of the type of trip you would experience when visiting the city of Oviedo during any of the winter months. Which is also appropriate knowing that you save yourself the logistics of thinking about a lot of things related to your trip and you could also pack and plan your money based on these kinds of ideas.

The Lakes of Covadonga are a series of static bodies of water near this famous inland town in Asturias. On an excursion from Oviedo to Covadonga you will come across a number of different sites such as the Entrelagos viewpoint along with the opportunity to take some hiking trails around Lake Ercina and Lake Enol.

The basilica of Covadonga, which is made from stones taken directly from the nearest mountain, is a truly impressive building that you will also see on an excursion like this one. This type of walk also includes a stop at a typical Asturian restaurant that will allow you to explore the gastronomy of the region.

This is one of the best things to do in and around Oviedo during the winter as there is a good chance that you will come across some snow on the day of your walk and anyway the cold of the season makes the whole thing a wintry experience worthy of an alpine landscape.

Details of interest:

• Price: the price for a tour like this is usually around €40 per person and children aged between 6 and 17 usually get a discount on that standard rate.
• Duration: The usual duration of the excursions is about 10 hours and therefore it can be a plan for the day you have more free time on your visit to Oviedo.

Cider is one of the typical beverages of Asturian gastronomy and specifically during the winter it takes on a very special relevance due to the festivities of Epiphany and New Year's Eve. As well as the need to warm up with alcohol in the cold weather conditions of this Spanish region.

In turn, the important Gascona street is known locally as the Cider Boulevard, because along its length there are a great variety of establishments dedicated exclusively to the sale of this Asturian drink. So it's an excellent idea to take a stroll along this tourist section of the city during your winter visit to Oviedo.

I can't recommend you enough to take advantage of the opportunity to have a bite to eat in one of the establishments along this street. If you would like to recommend any of them , I would say that you should choose the Ferroviario restaurant, the Villaviciosa, the Pumarada or the Terra Astur bar. Bear in mind that Asturian tapas, within the Spanish culinary world, are one of the most distinguished for their gastronomic authenticity.

The Plaza del Fontán is undoubtedly one of the most representative places in Oviedo when it comes to touring the architectural beauty of this unique city. It is very common for tourists at all times of the year and especially in summer or winter to sit in this square to enjoy a good Asturian afternoon admiring the beautiful colours of the buildings that are at the four ends of this public space.

However, this place is also known for the fact that a market has been held here since the middle of the 19th century. During every weekend of the year, the products on offer are adapted according to the harvests that can be obtained from the Asturian countryside and when you visit this market in winter you have the opportunity to find gastronomic elements that are typical of these dates.

Actually, visiting this market is also one of the best things to do in December in Oviedo, as you will find all kinds of Christmas products as well as culinary elements that would be very useful to create an authentic Christmas Eve dinner in Asturian style.

The beauty of Oviedo's surroundings is one of the city's great attractions all year round, and specifically in winter it becomes especially important, as it shows the Asturian identity at its best. For this reason an excursion to these three Asturian towns is an activity to do on one of the days of your winter visit to the capital of this famous Spanish territory.

Keep in mind that these are cities located along the Cantabrian Sea and exactly for this reason during the winter they become a totally special place that you cannot miss if you know how to appreciate the beauty of the places you visit on a tourist excursion. At the same time it is important to keep in mind that this type of excursions usually take place in groups of up to 20 or 25 people and it is most common to choose vehicles that include internal air conditioning to protect you from the characteristic cold of the Asturian winter.

Details of interest:

• Price: the approximate price per person is around €40 and you should bear in mind that meals and drinks are not included.
• Duration: the standard duration for a tour departing from Oviedo and visiting these three towns on the Cantabrian coast is usually around 10 hours. However, despite its length, it is one of the best plans you can make this season if you visit the Asturian capital.

The Picos de Europa are a small section of the Cantabrian mountain range located between the autonomous regions of Asturias, Cantabria and Castilla y León. It is a rather peculiar place, as it is a mountain massif quite close to the sea and within Spain it is the most visited national park after the Teide, located on the island of Tenerife.

During the winter most of its peaks have a permanent snow formation and this makes it a highly recommended tourist destination for those who visit Oviedo during this time of the year. It is a recommended destination for admiring the scenery and for short but entertaining hiking trails.

Of these types of excursions you should know that they are usually private tours for a single family group in which you have the option of a personalised pick-up directly from your accommodation in Oviedo. It is also good to bear in mind that they offer complete flexibility when it comes to choosing the restaurant where you will eat before your return to the city.

Details of interest:

• Price: prices for an excursion like this vary depending on the number of participants, although the average rate is usually around €100 per person.
• Duration: The approximate duration of this type of walk is around eight and a half hours, but bear in mind that the Cantabrian mountain range is about 90 km from Oviedo.

The name Parque de Invierno (Winter Park) has to do with the fact that this public space in the city of Oviedo is one of the favourites among the local population when it comes to enjoying some of the frequent snowfalls that usually occur in the capital of Asturias.

In this area you will find some 650 laurel trees that will clearly not have their leaves during your winter visit. Don't worry, though, as you will find a skating rink as well as a perfectly preserved Asturian quinta.

Visiting this site is one of the best things to do in Oviedo with children all year round as it is a safe bet for them to play freely in a completely free place. Besides, you have to take into account that it is one of the favourite places for Oviedo locals to go for a walk during the festive season.

The scenery of the nearby forest reserves is a distinctive attraction of the city during this time of the year. It is therefore a good idea to take part in an activity that involves hiking and relaxing in an authentic 18th century spa on the outskirts of the city.

Basically, this is a plan where you would follow a pre-arranged route with the accompaniment of a guide starting from the winter park in the south of the city along the tracks of an old Railway. Along the walk you will also have the chance to learn about many historical details associated with this Asturian town.

Eventually, after walking about 10 km you will arrive at the famous spa and there you will have the opportunity to enjoy a bath in its warm thermal waters as well as a walk in its saunas. This type of package tour includes the possibility of receiving a message from the specialists of the establishment and the day usually ends with a three-course menu which you can enjoy just before a private car takes you back to the centre of Oviedo.

Details of interest:

• Price: this is not an economical activity, however, it is recommended for those who are thinking of getting exclusive and entertaining activities on their winter visit to Oviedo. The price per person is usually around 115€.
• Duration: the approximate duration of this activity is about five or six hours in total. This is taking into account that the hike takes time and the enjoyment of the spa is usually extended for at least four and a half hours.

Oviedo is a city with a large number of public squares that are worth visiting as well as those with winter markets offering locally produced gastronomic products.

At the same time, this time of year, winter, is an ideal time to visit them because you won't find thousands of tourists that tend to flock to such places at times like the summer holidays.

If I had to highlight any of these squares that are an excellent attraction for a holiday during the winter months in Oviedo I would say that you should visit the Plaza del Ayuntamiento (Town Hall Square) next to the Plaza de San Isidoro. As well as dedicating a part of your days to the colourful and famous Plaza de Trascorrales.

Calle Uría is an important commercial area in this city that stands out at the same time for the beauty of its architectural constructions. You can reach it after an entertaining walk through the San Francisco park, which is probably snowed in during the coldest days of a winter holiday in Oviedo.

Also, walking through this part of the city is a good idea if you are interested in taking advantage of the discounts that are usually given during the winter. In fact, at this time of the year all the clothes that are still left to wear for the summer have significantly big sales.

Actually, walking down this street could also be one of the best things to do in Oviedo in the summer if you go with the intention of shopping in the opposite direction. All the winter clothes will be much cheaper during that time.

Being a city with so much history and with most of the buildings dating back to medieval times , it is logical that there are many urban legends and a lot of mysteries related to the world of paranormal activities.

With that in mind, a tour focusing on the spooky legends of Oviedo can be one of the best things to do during a visit to this city in the winter months. Especially knowing that winter nights tend to have a much more appropriate atmosphere and ambience to scare you with enthusiasm in this kind of experiences.

Details of interest:

• Price: these types of tours can't get any cheaper as on average they cost around €12 per person.
• Duration: The standard duration of a tour like this is about an hour and 30 minutes.

As Oviedo is a city located in the extreme northwest of Spain, it is predictable that winters are a bit more severe in this part of the country than in the rest of the peninsula. The minimum temperature during these months of the year tends to be around minus degrees while the maximum does not usually rise above 12 °C.

Although the number of tourists in Oviedo is lower than in summer, it is still true that it is a favourite tourist destination for winter holidays and therefore you will find a significantly large number of people. At least if you visit the city during the first half of January.

Winter is a much cheaper time to visit Oviedo due to the fact that summer and its high tourist demand makes all Spanish cities increase their prices a bit for commercial convenience.

If you are visiting Oviedo in winter it is essential that you take appropriate footwear in case of snowfall. This is quite likely to happen at least during the coldest weeks of the year.

Quality coats will be a must in your suitcase and I recommend that you don't forget to pack sunscreen, as there is also the possibility of sunburn on your face during the winter.