With three days, Gijón stops being a quick stop and becomes a perfect base for getting to know the city properly and seeing a bit more of Asturias. This plan spends day one on the old town and seafront, day two on the city’s big cultural and leisure sights, and day three on a trip out.
Tip: if one of your days is a Monday, swap the order around. Many municipal museums close that day; check opening times on gijon.es.
Day 1: the centre, Cimavilla and the promenade
Day one is our Gijón in one day itinerary, which we recommend following as it is. In short:
- Morning: Plaza Mayor, a wander through Cimavilla, the Jovellanos Birthplace Museum and the climb up Santa Catalina hill to the Elogio del Horizonte.
- Midday: the Roman baths of Campo Valdés and lunch in a cider house (first-timers should read our cider guide).
- Afternoon: the San Lorenzo promenade to Isabel la Católica park.
- Evening: sunset from the hill or Poniente beach, then dinner in the centre.
Day 2: Laboral, Botanical Garden, aquarium and railway museum
Today you leave the old town behind. The Laboral and the Botanical Garden are next to each other on the eastern edge of the city (the Cabueñes area); the aquarium and railway museum are to the west, by Poniente beach. Do the outlying sights first and head back towards the centre in the afternoon.
Morning: Laboral City of Culture
The Laboral City of Culture is one of Spain’s most astonishing buildings: a vast complex built in the mid-20th century as a “labour university” (a residential technical college), with a huge central courtyard, an elliptical church and a tower with views across much of Gijón. Today it houses cultural, educational and arts centres.
Walking around the courtyard and grounds is free; guided tours take you inside and up the tower. Check times and booking on the Laboral’s official website before you go.
From the centre, take an EMTUSA city bus or a taxi; on foot it is a long walk.
Midday: Atlantic Botanical Garden
Next door is the Atlantic Botanical Garden, devoted to the plants of the lands bordering the Atlantic. It combines native woodland, the historic gardens of an old country estate and plant collections from different regions. Allow at least two hours.
There is an admission charge. Guided tours are included in the ticket but must be booked in advance. Have lunch nearby or head back into town.
Afternoon: aquarium and railway museum
On the west side of the city, the Gijón Aquarium sits on Poniente beach and takes you through freshwater and marine habitats, with a strong focus on the Bay of Biscay. Allow an hour and a half to two hours. There is an admission charge: check prices on its official website.
About 10 minutes’ walk away, the Asturias Railway Museum occupies the old Northern railway station. It has steam locomotives, carriages and a large collection on the role of the railway in industrial Asturias. It is part of the free municipal museum network, and a big hit with children.
Finish with a stroll along Poniente beach and the marina.
Tip: if you prefer a gentler day, save the railway museum for the morning of day one or a rainy afternoon. More ideas in rainy day in Gijón.
Day 3: a day trip from Gijón
Gijón is very well placed for exploring Asturias. All the options are in day trips from Gijón; these are the classics:
- Covadonga and its lakes: a mountain shrine and the glacial lakes of Enol and Ercina in the Picos de Europa. The most spectacular trip, but road access to the lakes is restricted in high season, so plan ahead.
- Cudillero: a fishing village of colourful houses stacked around its harbour. Combine it with a beach or a clifftop viewpoint.
- Villaviciosa and Tazones: the heart of cider country, an estuary and a tiny, photogenic fishing port. Perfect if you enjoyed the cider on day one.
- Oviedo: the regional capital, with its cathedral, old town and pre-Romanesque churches. The easiest trip without a car.
Get back to Gijón in time for dinner and, if you have any energy left, say goodbye to the city with one last walk along the promenade.
Tips for your three days
- Getting around: walk in the centre and use city buses for the Laboral. See getting around Gijón.
- Where to stay: the centre and the promenade area are the most convenient for a trip like this. Ideas in where to stay in Gijón.
- What’s on: check what’s on in case a concert, fair or one of Gijón’s festivals coincides with your visit.
- Save money: many of these sights are free or cheap; see free things to do in Gijón.
Frequently asked questions
Is three days in Gijón too long?
Not at all. Three days let you see the centre without rushing, visit the Laboral, the Botanical Garden, the aquarium and the railway museum, and spend a day discovering another corner of Asturias.
How do I get to the Laboral and the Botanical Garden from the centre?
They sit side by side on the eastern edge of the city. The easiest options are an EMTUSA city bus, a taxi or a car. Check current routes and timetables on emtusagijon.es.
What is the best day trip from Gijón?
The most popular are Covadonga and its lakes, Cudillero, Villaviciosa with Tazones, and Oviedo. Oviedo is the quickest and easiest without a car; the Covadonga lakes need some planning because access is regulated at busy times.
Is the railway museum free?
The Asturias Railway Museum belongs to Gijón's municipal museum network, which the city council lists as free to enter. Check opening times before you go.
Do I need a car for three days in Gijón?
Not for the city itself, which is easy on foot and by bus. For the day trip a car gives you more freedom, although Oviedo and other destinations are reachable by train or coach.
Sources
- Gijón City Council – Asturias Railway Museum — 28 October 2026
- Turismo Asturias – Museo del Ferrocarril de Asturias — 28 October 2026
- Gijón City Council – Atlantic Botanical Garden — 28 October 2026
- Gijón City Council – Guided tours of the Atlantic Botanical Garden — 28 October 2026
- EMTUSA – Gijón city buses — 28 October 2026