Getting to Gijón by plane, train, coach or car

For a city in northern Spain, Gijón is very well connected: an airport less than an hour away, long-distance and commuter trains, coaches from all over Spain and two motorways linking it with central Spain and the whole northern coast. Here’s each option explained, with what you need to know to choose and what to check before you travel.

By plane: Asturias Airport (OVD)

Asturias Airport is at Santiago del Monte, in the municipality of Castrillón, near the coast and about 40 km from Gijón. Although its IATA code is OVD (for Oviedo), it’s actually closer to Avilés and Gijón than to the regional capital. It’s run by Aena, the Spanish airports operator, and has domestic flights plus some international routes that vary by season.

From the airport to Gijón

• Coach. ALSA runs the coaches linking the airport with Gijón, Oviedo and Avilés. Check timetables and fares on alsa.es or the Aena airport website, as they change with the season. According to Aena, coaches leave the airport roughly every hour between 6:00 and midnight, and services to Gijón and Avilés also stop at Piedras Blancas and Salinas; departures may be held up to 15 minutes if a flight is about to land.
• Taxi. There’s a permanent taxi rank at the airport. It’s the most comfortable option if you arrive late or with lots of luggage. Aena publishes maximum intercity fares of €0.71/km by day and €0.85/km at night and on holidays, with a minimum of €4.34 (€5.21), and the taxi is hired as a whole vehicle; confirm the price of your journey before setting off.
• Hire car. From the airport, join the A-8 motorway towards Gijón. The best option if you plan to explore Asturias.

Tip: if your flight lands at night, check the time of the last coach in advance. If you miss it, a taxi is the only direct alternative.

Other airports

If you can’t find a flight to Asturias, Santander and Bilbao (to the east) or Santiago de Compostela and A Coruña (to the west) are possible alternatives, combined with a coach or hire car. Bear in mind they add several hours by road.

By train

The main station is Gijón-Sanz Crespo, west of the city centre, open since 2011. From there you can walk to the centre and Poniente beach or take a city bus anywhere.

Long distance and high speed

In November 2023 the Pajares base tunnel (variante de Pajares) opened beneath the Cantabrian Mountains, plugging Asturias into Spain’s high-speed network. Train journeys from Madrid and central Spain are now much faster than before. Gijón has long-distance services (Alvia and, on some dates, AVE trains) to and from Madrid and other cities. The station is open 5:00 to 0:30 and has a ticket office, ticket machines, a taxi rank and car rental. Check on renfe.com which trains serve Gijón, their timetables and whether it’s better to change in Oviedo.

Cercanías (local commuter trains)

Cercanías line C-1 links Gijón with Oviedo and continues to Mieres and Puente de los Fierros. It’s the easiest way to do a day trip to Oviedo or to reach Gijón if your long-distance train terminates in the capital. You can follow trains in real time on the Renfe Cercanías Asturias website.

Tip: Renfe offers free or discounted passes on Cercanías and some regional services for frequent travellers. If you’re staying a while, check current conditions on renfe.com.

By coach

ALSA is the main long-distance and regional coach company in Asturias. From Gijón coach station, in the city centre, services run to Oviedo, Avilés, the airport, other Asturian towns and many Spanish cities. Buy tickets on alsa.es, in the app or at the ticket office.

• Oviedo–Gijón and Avilés–Gijón: very frequent departures, useful when train times don’t suit you.
• Long distance: there are direct coaches from Madrid and other cities; in high season it’s worth booking ahead.

By car

Gijón sits where two major motorways meet:

• A-8, Autovía del Cantábrico. Runs along the northern coast: east to Santander and Bilbao, west to Avilés and Galicia. It’s the route in from the Basque Country, Cantabria and from France via the Irun border.
• A-66, Autovía Ruta de la Plata. Links Gijón with Oviedo (about 30 km) and continues south towards León. Between León and Asturias, the alternative to the mountain road is the AP-66 Huerna motorway, a toll road. According to the Principality, tunnel modernisation works began on 1 July 2026, with alternating carriageway closures and two-way traffic on some stretches, expected to last until November; check its current status before travelling.
• From Madrid, the usual route is the A-6 to Benavente, the A-66 to León and then the AP-66 or the Pajares mountain pass (N-630). The pass is twistier and more exposed to snow in winter.

Speed limits in Spain are generally 120 km/h on motorways, and you drive on the right. Once you arrive, park up and get around on foot or by bus: the centre has regulated pay-and-display parking and spaces are hard to find in summer. Our guide to parking in Gijón covers all the options.

Tip: in winter, check conditions on the mountain passes and the AP-66 via the Spanish traffic authority (DGT) before crossing the mountains.

On foot or by bike: the Camino de Santiago

Gijón is a stage town on the Camino del Norte (the Northern or Coastal Way). If you’re arriving on foot, read our guide to the Camino de Santiago in Gijón.

Once you’re here

• To get around the city, see getting around Gijón: city buses, bikes, taxis and walking.
• To choose a neighbourhood based on how you arrive, see where to stay in Gijón.