Start your day with a stroll through Avilés’s compact medieval Old Town: wander cobbled Calle Galiana, admire the Plaza de España and peek inside the late-Gothic Church of San Nicolás. Pause for a coffee and a dulce at Café La Villa or La Maravilla while watching locals set up shop, then visit the Palacio de Valdecarzana to soak up the town’s aristocratic past before crossing the medieval bridge toward the estuary.
Cross over to the striking Oscar Niemeyer International Cultural Centre for contemporary exhibitions and panoramic views of the estuary — allow time for the architecture itself and a temporary show in the main hall. After the centre, return along the riverside to explore the revitalised docks area and the Museo de Avilés for local history, stopping for a light lunch of fabada or fresh seafood at Sidrería El Ferroviario or La Casa de la Música.
As evening falls, join the locals on a tapas crawl along the waterfront and through Plaza de España: try croquetas, calamares and a glass of local cider at Casa Lin or Casa Amparo. Finish with a riverside walk beneath the illuminated Niemeyer towers and, if you’d like, settle in at Restaurante El Zarracu for a leisurely dinner of Asturian specialties while enjoying views of the estuary — a perfect close to your first day before tomorrow’s coastal adventures.
Leave the town centre and follow the estuary tidal marshes toward Salinas, starting with a brisk walk along the Ría de Avilés promenade to spot waders and the industrial silhouette framed by Niemeyer’s towers in the distance; pause for breakfast at Café La Rula in Salinas for freshly baked bollos preñaos and strong café con leche. From there, stroll the broad sweep of Playa de Salinas or rent bikes to ride the coastal path west to the fishing hamlet of Arnao, where you can admire the 19th-century mining village architecture and the historic Arnao pier.
For lunch, sample seafood at Restaurante El Náutico or La Solana in Salinas — try grilled sargo or a mariscada while watching local fishermen bring in their catch; afterwards drive or take a short bus ride to El Franco and the postcard village of Cudillero to wander its stepped streets and colourful houses clinging to the cliffs. Explore the small harbour, visit the Museo del Pescador if open, and sip sidra at a terrace bar while taking in the dramatic coastal views before returning toward Avilés along scenic coastal roads.
Back in Avilés, relax with a sunset stroll along the Paseo del Muro and the revitalised docks, then dine at Restaurante La Balconada or Casa Lin for an intimate final meal featuring cachopo or arroz con bogavante and a bottle of local Albariño; finish your day with a peaceful riverside walk beneath the illuminated Niemeyer complex, reflecting on the contrast between the town’s industrial past and the tranquil coastal scenery you enjoyed today.