Top Choice National Park in Picos de Europa
Parque Nacional de los Picos de Europa
Founded in 1918 as one of Spain's first two national parks, the 646-square-kilometre Parque Nacional de los Picos de Europa encompasses some of Europe's most riveting mountain scenery. The park's many natural wonder…
Top Choice Cable Car in Fuente Dé & Southeastern Picos
Teleférico de Fuente Dé
In less than four minutes, this spine-tingling cable car whisks visitors 753m up to the top of the sheer southern wall of the Picos' central massif (1823m), from where hikers and climbers can venture further in. Cab…
Top Choice Gastronomy in Arriondas
Casa Marcial
Hidden in gorgeous countryside north of Arriondas is this double-Michelin-starred restaurant in Asturian chef Nacho Manzano's childhood home. Even the 'short' menús here are 12-course extravaganzas, showcasing local…
Top Choice Cantabrian in Fuente Dé & Southeastern Picos
Hotel del Oso
One of the region's outstanding restaurants, the flower-fringed Hotel del Oso has been pleasing the public with its fantastic cocido montañés (stewed white beans, cabbage, potato, chorizo, black pudding and sometime…
Top Choice Asturian in Cangas de Onís
El Molín de la Pedrera
This good-value, stone-and-brick-walled family-run eatery wins with both its traditional Asturian dishes – such as fabada (bean, meat and sausage stew), tortos de maíz (maize cakes) and local cheese platters – as we…
Monastery in Potes & the Liébana Valley
Monasterio de Santo Toribio de Liébana
Christian refugees, fleeing from Muslim-occupied Spain to Liébana in the 8th century, brought with them the Lígnum Crucis, purportedly the single biggest chunk of Christ’s cross and featuring the hole made by the na…
Church in Potes & the Liébana Valley
Iglesia de Santa María de Lebeña
Nine kilometres northeast of Potes, the fascinating Iglesia de Santa María de Lebeña dates back to the 9th or 10th century. The horseshoe arches are a telltale sign of its Mozarabic style – rare this far north in Sp…
Asturian in Arriondas
El Corral del Indianu
Putting a gourmet spin on traditional Asturian cooking, this Michelin-starred favourite is Arriondas' most original dining spot. If you don't fancy the highly creative and extensive tasting menús (€60 to €89), go fo…
Cave in Covadonga
Santa Cueva
In this cave, now with a chapel installed, the Virgin supposedly appeared to Pelayo's warriors before their AD 722 victory over the Muslims. Weekends and summers see long queues of the faithful and curious lining up…
Cantabrian in Potes & the Liébana Valley
Asador Llorente
For super-generous helpings of fresh, high-quality local food, head upstairs to this warm, wood-beamed loft-like space with Picos photos and a tiny trickling fountain. Carnivores should try the Liébana speciality co…