How to get to know the city in a different way? You can spend a day full of fun on the city tour bus with a luxury chauffeur who, via an audio-guide, will tell you about the city’s history and its most interesting features.

You can take the bus at any of the stops on the city tour and then get on and off whenever you want, depending on the type of ticket you have purchased (for one or two days). We are going to get on at the first stop, El Fomentín, first thing in the morning to make the most of the day.

After boarding the bus again, enjoy Gijón’s architecture on the ride along the buildings on each side of Marqués de San Esteban and Marqués de Casa Valdés streets. Friezes, which often go unnoticed as you pass by in the street, become a new discovery from the tour bus. One of the most interesting buildings  is the Mutual Society Building designed by Manuel del Busto.

Returning to the city centre, there is a stop near the Luis Adaro Show Grounds, which host gastronomic events like the Tapas Contest and classic events in the city such as the Annual International Show. The Pueblu d’Asturies Folk Museum is also to be found at the same stop. Here you can stroll among raised granaries or visit the Bagpipe Museum, among many other things.

Further information: Bus turístico Gijón , Gijón city tour, Bus touristique Gijón

This museum, opened in 1971, constitutes a veritable treasure trove that no visitor to the city should miss. Apart from the two rooms devoted to the life and work of Gijón’s most famous son, it also houses superb collections of 19th- and 20th-century art “made in Asturias” as well as an interesting collection of mainly Flemish and Dutch 17th- and 18th-century works.

The “Jovellanos rooms”, on the first floor, give you an insight into the life, work and times of this major figure of the Age of Enlightenment in Spain, and are decorated with personal objects, part of the mansion’s original furniture and painting’s from his collection, including a number of paintings by Goya.

The same floor also houses one of the most striking collections of sculpture to be found in all of Spain, that of the Gijón artist Jose María Navascués. Navascués created truly unique surrealistic wooden sculptures employing the tools and tricks of metalworking. You will not have seen anything like this, unless you’ve visited the Museum of Abstract Art in Cuenca, where other pieces by this ill-fated artist can also be found.

The collections of paintings by Asturian artists provides a great introduction to art “made in Asturias”, including works by Evaristo Valle, Nicanor Piñole, Joaquín Vaquero, Orlando Pelayo, Antonio Suárez and Alejandro Mieres, among others.

But whatever you do, don’t leave without climbing up into the attic to see the wonderful “Sea Tableaux” by Sebastián Miranda. This work, a representation of the local fish market in bygone days, is bursting with real-life characters from the fishermen’s quarter and faithfully reflects the hustle and bustle and atmosphere of this typically Asturian centre of social life and trade. You won’t regret the climb!

Further information:

Museums

Shall we have dinner? Fancy a beer? Most of us would not hesitate to say yes to these invitations to have a good time with family and friends. However, it constitutes a problem for one out of 100 individuals in Europe, who are forced to say no for health reasons, because they have to control not only the ingredients, but also the preparation of food and drinks.

Would you like that not to be the case?  Gluten-free Gijón is an initiative aimed at people with food intolerance so that they can enjoy their stay in Gijon with the utmost peace of mind. To give you an idea:

You can book a room indicating that you are signing up “to the gluten-free Gijón thing” and your breakfast there will include muffins, biscuits with or without chocolate and various types of bread suitable for coeliacs.

You can also enjoy a beer or a fine wine before lunch accompanied by an aperitif in the city’s gluten-free pubs and wine bars.

Finally, you won’t need to cook your own lunch or dinner, as you can choose between savouring a special menu at the hotel or enjoying Gijón's excellent restaurants. What do you fancy? A burger, grilled meats and vegetables, cannelloni, pasta, fish, seafood and, of course, the typical dishes of Asturias cuisine. Fancy something more exotic? Venison with hazelnut puree, cardoon with almonds, clams with artichokes, rancher-style frijoles… to name just a few. From the most traditional to the most contemporary dishes. And, of course, dessert is still to come: ice cream, pasties, pastries, special yogurts like, for example, raspberry with lacositos (Spanish Smarties), polvorones (small, crumbly almond cakes), marzipan treats... and more!

A great menu, but what about cross contamination? Don’t worry, all the Gluten-free Gijón establishments have received the necessary training in this respect. They have also received accreditation from the Principality of Asturias Coeliacs Association (ACEPA) and are identifiable via a sticker issued by the City Council so you can confidently enjoy Gijón with peace of mind.

Let’s repeat the invitation: Shall we have dinner? Fancy a beer? … in Gluten-free Gijón

Every other weekend of the month, Gijón is host to an Eco and Crafts Fair that no visitor to the city should miss. The fair is held in the town square, right between the marina and the old fishermen’s quarter of Cimavilla, an ideal starting point for taking a stroll along the seafront after a good morning’s shopping or for a wander around the narrow streets of the “high part of the town”, followed by a lunch at one of the numerous traditional restaurants to be found in the area.

The organic produce on offer at the fair includes preserves, cured meats, cheeses, honey, bread, pies, cakes and the like, as well flowers, plants and soaps. Fair trade produce can also be bought, together with artisan ice cream, yoghurt and liqueurs.

The variety of handcrafts is even wider, ranging from pottery, mini-sculpture, aerography, dried flowers and paintings to leather goods, handmade stationary, fabrics, puppets and objects made from deer antlers, stone and wood. Handmade jewellery, including Asturian jet pieces, also plays a leading role at the fair, alongside artisan cosmetics.

The association of artisans that runs the fair also organises different activities, exhibitions and workshops, often with the youngest members of the family in mind, so they don’t get bored while Mum or Dad is shopping.

So the next time you are in Gijón, don’t miss out on a crafty, green experience for the 5 senses!

With your ears wide open, you are really going to dig the music programmed for June and July. Pack your bags and don’t forget… tickets are going to sell like hotcakes.

And the Atlantic Botanic Gardens are no exception! What’s more, the gardens are celebrating their 10th anniversary with open days between 17th and 19th May.

On Saturday 17th, children will have the chance to sing “Happy Birthday” to the Botanic Gardens alongside some children’s choirs, blow out the candles of an enormous fruitcake… and then tuck into it!

What’s more, to mark the occasion, a new programme of guided visits will be presented to the public. In addition to the current general visit, there will be four new visits. Each of which will focus on one of the four major areas into which the Atlantic Botanic Gardens are divided: the Bay of Biscay Environment, the Plant Factory, the La Isla Historic Garden and the Atlantic Route).

The aim is to make the permanent collections and exhibits of the “museum of plant life” better known to the public at large, allowing visitors to discover “the many gardens these Botanic Gardens enclose”.

On the Saturday and Sunday, the visit to the La Isla Garden will include entry to the private part of the estate, where an actor will play the part of the original owner, Florencio Valdés, and show the house to visitors.

On 18th and 19th, a multidisciplinary play will be staged in the private gardens of the house providing an insight into Gijón in the early 1900s.

Art will also have a part to play in the open-day events, as an exhibition of sculptures by Gijón artist Vicente Vázquez Canónico, holder of a silver medal from the city of Gijón, will open on 17th.

Gijón invites you to experience spring during the month of May. Few cities can boast such a spectacular natural setting, combining sea and mountains. You can choose to follow routes such as the Peñafrancia Path or the Ñora Path, on foot or by bike. Or set sail on a catamaran to get up close to fishing boats and meet up with fishermen who are fishing near the coast. Gijón Tourism offers you the chance to do so on Saturday 11th of this month. You’ll discover the secrets of fishing, as well as being able to savour typical sea produce on-board.

Meanwhile, music can be heard in the background. The “Gijón Sound” Festival will fill the city’s streets, bars and establishments through concerts, workshops, screenings, film cycles and more... All with music taking front stage! And to top off the festival, there will be two concerts on 17th and 18th May: one devoted to the 80s and another that will revisit the music scene from the 90s up until the present day.

If music is definitely your thing, but you are more into electronic music, don’t miss the Visual Electronics Laboratory (its Spanish acronym, LEV), which, together with Sonar, is one of the essential events in this musical genre as well as in the most avant-garde visual arts. The 7th edition of this festival will be take place on 3rd and 4th May at the LABoral Centre for Art and Industrial Creation. You’ll also have the chance, a week later, to see Steve Aoki, one of the most renowned DJs on the international scene in recent times, live on stage. That’ll be on 10th May.

Besides music, you’ll also be able to discover theatre, dance and other artistic genres in Gijón throughout the month. Masterpieces like Calderón de la Barca’s “Life is a Dream”, performances by the National Ballet of Cuba, concerts by the Principality of Asturias Symphony Orchestra and monologues filled with heaps of words to make you laugh or cry figure on the Jovellanos Theatre’s programme for this month. In addition, the “Captains of Industry” exhibition and the spectacular photographic exhibition by Jitka Hanzlová complete the cultural and museum events calendar in the city.

Don’t let May go by without visiting Gijón; what more can you want for this month?

One of Gijón’s major attractions as a tourist centre  is the fact that it is located right in the middle of the region’s coastline, making it a fantastic base camp to explore the diversity of the Principality.  The borders with Galicia, to the west, and Cantabria, to the east, are about an hour’s drive from the city, with scores of sandy beaches and coves dotted all along the route in either direction. Check out the following link to discover just a few of Asturias’ hidden gems: Top Ten Asturias Beaches (from west to east)

The region’s other two main cities, the capital, Oviedo, and Avilés are in turn just a half hour away by car or public transport. A visit to their old quarters transports you back in time, while the needs of the most demanding gourmet or shopper can be satisfied without looking too far!

Heading further inland, you come to the Mining Valleys with their rich industrial heritage, now on public display thanks to centres like the Mining and Industry Museum , in El Entrego, and the Steelworks Museum , in Langreo; again, just a 30-minute drive from Gijón.

Then, of course, there is the region’s natural heritage, including the often unknown areas to many foreign visitors like the Nature Parks of Las Ubiñas-La Mesa, Ponga, and Fuentes del Narcea-Ibias, just a little farther away.  Nature lovers also have to go a bit further to enjoy the UNESCO-listed Biosphere Reserves of Somiedo, Muniellos-Fuentes del Narcea, Redes and Oscos-Eo, not to forget the fabulous Picos de Europa National Park; all with an hour or so’s drive… yet far, far, far from the madding crowd.

And then back to Gijón in the evening for a good night out, wining and dining in one of Spain’s safest cities.

Oh, and what about to the north, you may well ask? Well, that’s material for another blog on Gijón’s nautical offer to visitors and residents alike.

Are you coming to Gijón on Thursday, finally? I’d like to know definitely because we can put together a great plan for Thursday. We can have tea with the Sweet-toothed Gijón vouchers, which work out cheaper thanks to the Zesty Days promo. Although I’m not quite sure what to choose, as there is the choice of 5 or 10 tastings and we know that, as we say in Asturias, all children have a sweet-tooth.

 Then we can head out to the Laboral, City of Culture complex for a guided tour. It's really amazing, with its courtyard, tower, theatre and, of course, the views and gardens. You really can’t come to Gijón and not visit it. Also, the LABoral Art and Industrial Creation Centre is very close by and we can see whatever new show is on there.

 You said you wanted to go shopping on Friday… great! There are loads of parks and playgrounds for the kids to play and where they can wait for us with Adriana, who is not too keen on shopping. To make it up to her, we can visit the Aquarium, as it is cheaper on Monday and Friday with the ‘Zesty Days’ promo. Or if the weather is good, I bet she’ll sign up for a class or two at the Asturian Surf School. She can do that from Monday right through to Sunday.

 On Saturday, how about discovering the Cider Trail? That way, you can see how we make cider, visit some cider mills and try some confectionaries made with apples. There’s also the Whim voucher, which is also cheaper with the ‘Zesty Days’ promo.

 I just can’t wait for you to come!

 Further information:

●     THURSDAY: 30% discount on Sweet-toothed Gijón vouchers.

●     THURSDAY: 25% discount on the Laboral, City of Culture guided tour.

●     THURSDAY: 50% discount on admission to the LABoral Art and Industrial Design Centre.

●     FRIDAY: Tickets + food promo at the Aquarium.

●     SATURDAY: Cider Trail ‘Whim’ voucher promo.

FROM MONDAY THROUGH TO SUNDAY: 2 hours for 10 € or 50% discount on classes at the Asturian Surf School.

Like its sister regions with a Celtic heritage, Asturias has preserved its traditional folk music right into the 21st century. Asturian folk bands abound nowadays thanks to this ages-old tradition that has undergone a revival in recent years. Almost forgotten songs and dances have been saved from oblivion thanks to the passionate efforts of both musicians and academics.

If you didn’t already know, the hallmark Asturian instrument is the bagpipes. And Gijón has a museum devoted entirely to this instrument. Occupying the former 18th-century country house of the Gonzalez de la Vega family, especially relocated and rebuilt for this purpose in the “Pueblu d’Asturies” Ethnogrpahic Museum, the Bagpipe Museum boasts a permanent collection of bagpipes not only from Asturias.

Visitors to the museum can also view pipes from other parts of Europe, such as France, the UK, Ireland, Spain and Portugal, as well as examples from North Africa. To add to the experience, the museum also boasts a light and sound display that guides the visitor through words and music. Asturian bagpipes do, however, have a special display of their own in which their history and the role they played in traditional life is explained in detail. There is also a room showing other traditional Asturian instruments ranging from simple instruments handmade by musicians themselves to more sophisticated 19th-century mechanical devices, such as the hurdy gurdy.