Gijón with kids: the best family days out

Gijón is a very easy city for a family holiday: short distances, long flat walks by the sea, city-centre beaches, big parks and several museums where children can look, touch and ask questions. Here are the outings that work best, with ideas by age and back-up plans for when the weather turns.

The must-dos with kids

Gijón Aquarium

The aquarium, next to Poniente beach, is the star attraction for younger visitors: sharks, rays and brightly coloured fish, plus a journey through Asturian rivers and the Bay of Biscay. Allow an hour and a half to two hours. There is an admission charge; check times and prices on its official website before you go.

Asturias Railway Museum

Housed in the old Northern railway station, the railway museum is full of real steam locomotives, carriages and railway equipment. Children love walking among the giant engines. It is part of the city’s free municipal museum network and only a few minutes’ walk from the aquarium, so you can easily do both in one morning.

City beaches

• Poniente beach: fine sand, a flat promenade and the aquarium next door. Usually the easiest for families.
• San Lorenzo beach: the city’s main beach. Mind the tides: at high tide there is very little sand left.
• Arbeyal beach: small and sheltered, with a local, neighbourhood feel.

Check the sea conditions and flag colour before swimming and stick to lifeguarded areas. More in our beaches guide.

Isabel la Católica park

At the end of the promenade, Isabel la Católica park is Gijón’s great green lung. Children love the ducks, geese and peacocks around its ponds and lawns, and there are play areas too. Perfect for a picnic.

More family ideas

• Atlantic Botanical Garden: woodland, kitchen gardens and plenty of room to run around. Best for children from about five, who cope better with the walk. See Atlantic Botanical Garden.
• Muséu del Pueblu d’Asturies: an open-air museum of traditional Asturian life with hórreos (raised wooden granaries), old houses and a museum of the bagpipe, Asturias’s traditional instrument. Very visual and free. See Museum of the Asturian People.
• Santa Catalina hill and the Elogio del Horizonte: lots of open space and sea views. Children are amazed by the sound of the wind inside Chillida’s sculpture. Keep an eye on them near the edges. See Elogio del Horizonte.
• Roman baths of Campo Valdés: a short underground visit that sparks the curiosity of children aged around seven and up. See Roman baths.
• Bike or scooter rides: Gijón has cycle lanes along much of its seafront; the stretch by Poniente and the marina is especially pleasant.
• Sea activities: for older children and teenagers, surf lessons or kayak trips with specialist companies. See tours and activities.

Ideas by age

Babies and under-3s. Stick to flat walks: the promenade, Poniente and the marina, Isabel la Católica park and the aquarium, which is pushchair-friendly.

Ages 3 to 8. Aquarium and railway museum in the same morning, beach in the afternoon. Another day, Isabel la Católica park and the Muséu del Pueblu d’Asturies.

Ages 9 to 14. All of the above, plus the Elogio del Horizonte, the Roman baths, the Botanical Garden and a surf or kayak session. A guided tour up the tower of the Laboral also tends to go down well.

If it rains

No problem: Gijón has good indoor options. The aquarium and railway museum are your best bets, and municipal museums often run family workshops. More ideas in rainy day in Gijón and on our what’s on page, where we list children’s activities.

Practical tips for families

• Meal times: Spaniards eat late (lunch from about 1.30–2 pm, dinner from 8.30–9 pm). Carry snacks and plan the children’s meals accordingly.
• Cider houses with kids: sidrerías are noisy, family-friendly places where children are welcome, and dishes are usually designed for sharing.
• Tides: check the tide table before planning a beach day at San Lorenzo.
• Festivals: summer is packed with outdoor events. Have a look at Gijón’s festivals and at FETEN, the European performing arts fair for children held in Gijón.

Tip: if you are staying several days, keep an indoor plan “in reserve” without a fixed date. On Spain’s north coast the weather can change within hours.