Piedrasblancas Voyage Tips and guide

Piedrasblancas is a town in Asturias near the north coast of Spain. With a population of 9200 in 2024, it was historically a mining district but is now mostly a commuter town for nearby cities. It's the main town of the municipality of Castrillón - there's no separate settlement of that name. You might stop over here on El Camino pilgrimage route to Santiago. .

43°33′54″N 5°58′30″W

Map of Piedrasblancas

43.5636-6.03471 Asturias Airport (OVD ^IATA) is 6 km west of town. Take the hourly ALSA bus towards Avilés, which stops in Piedrasblancas (10 min) and Salinas beach strip.

From Avilés to Piedrasblancas use the same bus, likewise only 10 min.

43.5564-5.97562 Piedrasblancas station is on Cercanías line C4. Hourly trains from Gijón run via Avilés and Salinas, and continue to Soto del Barco, Muros de Nalón and Cudillero.

The town can be easily explored on foot.

There's a taxi rank on Plaza Europa.

• Town centre is bland modern low-rise. This includes the parish church of Santa María Madre on Plaza Europa, built in 1966. The oldest building is the former town hall on Av Eysines, built in 1898 but now disused.

• 43.570531-5.9710331 San Martín de Laspra (or Samartín de L'Aspra) is a village 2 km northeast, where the main sight is the church of San Martín. It's mostly from 1750 in neo-classical style, but one window is a survivor of its predecessors from 9th century. The church is next to the pilgrim hostel on C Rafael Alberti.
• 43.5772-5.98382 Museo de la Mina de Arnao, La Mina, Arnao, ☏ +34 985 507799. Jun-Sept Tu-Su, Oct-May Tu 11:00-14:00, 16:00-18:30. Coal mine on the coast with tunnels reaching under the sea, it closed in 1915 and is now a museum. Hours and booking system are shambolic. Adult €5.  (updated Feb 2026)
• Salinas beach resort for practical purposes is on the outskirts of Avilés, though it's within the town limits of Piedrasblancas.
• 43.5801-5.96743 Philippe Cousteau Anchor Museum on the headland west of Salinas beach is simply an outdoor display of old anchors.

• Valey Centro Cultural on Plaza Europa hosts various events.
• Piscina Municipal is at Rey Pelayo 11, open daily.
• Salinas beach is exposed to the Atlantic and is better for surfing than kiddy-bathing. It's almost covered at high tide.
• El Camino del Norte is one of the plexus of pilgrimage trails converging on Santiago de Compostella. The local section is 29 km from Avilés to Cudillero, but you could break it up with a stop at Piedrasblancas or San Martin. The trail continues west to Luarca, Navia, Ribadeo and into Galicia.

Al Campo on Plaza Constitución is the biggest supermarket, open M-Sa 09:00-21:30.

• Asador Pollo Riko is at Gijón 19, open Tu-Su 11:00-16:00, 19:00-23:00.
• Parrilla El Otro Pablo is at Gijón 5, open daily 11:00-00:00.
• Hamburguesería Classic 50s is at Av Principal 20, open M 11:30-15:30, W-Su 11:30-15:30, 18:00-23:00.
• Baires Pizza is at Rey Pelago 1, open W-F 19:00-00:00, Sa Su 13:00-16:00, 19:00-00:00.
• La Chata is at Pablo Iglesias 3, open W Th Su 12:00-16:00, F Sa 12:00-16:00, 19:30-23:30.
• Mesón Rosario is at Ramiro I 13, open Tu-Su 10:30-16:00.
• Casa Topete is at Plaza Constitución 8, open Tu-Sa 08:30-23:30, Su 10:00-17:30.
• Taberna Gallega is at Libertad 21, open M Tu Th 19:00-01:00, F Sa 13:00-01:00, Su 13:00-17:00.

Bars include Xareu Bar Nacional, El Escondite, Navia, Cervecería Gilton, Casa Arturo, Cervecería Number One, Disco Bar El Cadaval, La Galerna, Bar Ventolín, La Arcea, and Valentin.

Cider is the main drink in Asturias, though the region also produces some wine.

• 43.5584-5.98171 Hotel Piedras, Av Galicia 24, ☏ +34 985 508310. Clean simple hotel on main street. B&B double €90.  (updated Feb 2026)
• Albergue de Peregrinos, Cementario 39, San Martin de Laspra, ☏ +34 611 570284. Comfy welcoming pilgrim hostel in San Martin, open April-Sep. (updated Feb 2026)
• Salinas is the beach strip for Avilés, 4 km northeast of Piedrasblancas. Lots of accommodation and other facilities here.

As of Feb 2026, Piedrasblancas and its approach roads have 4G from Vodafone, and 5G from MasMovil, Movistar and Orange.

• Avilés is a post-industrial town, where the big draw is the Oscar Niemeyer Cultural Centre on the former steelworks site.
• Gijón has a historic centre on its peninsula.
• Oviedo is a bustling city, start of Camino Primitivo pilgrimage trail.