CityAsturias347 km to Santiago de Compostela

Gijón / Xixón

The largest city in Asturias, a vibrant port city with the beach of San Lorenzo, a Roman past, excellent cider culture, and the Laboral Ciudad de la Cultura arts complex.

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About Gijón / Xixón

Gijon is the largest city in Asturias, a vibrant port city combining industrial heritage with beaches, culture, and gastronomy. The sweeping Playa de San Lorenzo, the old fishing quarter of Cimadevilla on its headland, and the Roman baths are the main attractions.

Pilgrims will find every service, from albergues and hotels to supermarkets, pharmacies, and a hospital. The Laboral Ciudad de la Cultura, a massive arts and cultural complex, and the Ocean Aquarium are worth visiting. The cider houses (sidrerias) serve excellent Asturian food.

Gijon has bus connections across Asturias and beyond. The FEVE train connects to other coastal towns. A rest day allows exploration of the city's diverse neighbourhoods.

Where to stay

Beds in Gijón / Xixón, night by night

Every kind of bed in one place: online booking, direct-contact albergues, walk-ins and donativos. Live prices for your night.

October 14 to October 27Each night shows how many places you can book online and the lowest price. Select a night to see the detail.From

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Wednesday, October 14Albergue dorms and private rooms both count. Walk-in and donativo albergues never sell out online: arrive early in the day instead.

Prices come live from our booking partners and change with demand. Walk-in and donativo albergues are not counted here: they are in the full list at the bottom of the page.

Explore

Explore Gijón / Xixón

The Camino through town, with prices where the beds are. Amber is the route; each pin is a place to stay.

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Things to do

Things to do in Gijón / Xixón

5 things

SightClimb to the Elogio del HorizonteEduardo Chillida's monumental concrete sculpture sits at the top of the Cerro de Santa Catalina, the hill above the old quarter of Cimadevilla. The sculpture is an open frame that draws your eye to the horizon, the sky, and the sea. Stand inside it and look through to the Cantabrian Sea stretching to the horizon. The simplicity of the concept and the power of the location make it one of the most memorable public artworks on any Camino route. The walk up from the harbour…

RelaxationWalk the Playa de San LorenzoThe city beach is a 1.5 km crescent of golden sand in the heart of Gijon. The promenade runs the full length and is lined with cafes, bars, and benches. On a warm day, swim. On any day, walk the full length and back. The beach is urban but beautiful, and the sound of the waves against the sand is a constant reminder that you are on the northern coast of Spain.

SightExplore CimadevillaThe old fishermen's quarter occupies the headland between the harbour and the beach. The narrow streets, stone houses, and traditional cider bars have a weathered, authentic character. The Termas Romanas (Roman baths) in the old quarter reveal that Gijon was a settlement of importance even in Roman times. The Palacio de Revillagigedo, a Baroque palace on the harbour, now serves as an art centre. Cimadevilla is compact and walkable, and the views from the headland are…

FoodDrink Cider on the Cuesta del CholoThe Cuesta del Cholo is a sloping street in the old quarter lined with traditional cider bars. If you want to experience the Asturian cider culture at its most concentrated and authentic, this is the street. The bars are small, loud, and lively. The cider is poured from height, drunk in a gulp, and the glass is refilled. The food served alongside (cheese, chorizo, tortilla) is simple and good. This is Gijon at its most local.

Camino MomentTake a Rest DayGijon is a good rest day candidate, particularly because the stage ahead to Aviles (25 km) involves significant industrial walking that is widely considered the least enjoyable section of the Camino del Norte. A day of rest in Gijon, with the beach, the cider bars, and the Chillida sculpture, prepares you mentally for the gritty stage ahead. After Aviles, the coast becomes beautiful again. Gijon is the last big city before the route heads into western Asturias and then…

Getting here

Getting to Gijón / Xixón

How to reach your starting point from major cities and airports.

By train

By Train

Renfe (Alvia) trains run from Madrid (4.5 hours). FEVE narrow-gauge trains connect from Santander (4.5 hours) and Bilbao (6 hours) along the coast. Cercanias trains connect Gijon and Oviedo every 30 minutes (30 minutes). The Sanz Crespo station is central.

By trainBy Train

By airBy Air

Asturias Airport (Ranon) is midway between Gijon and Oviedo, approximately 40 km from each city. The ALSA airport bus runs to Gijon (45 minutes) and Oviedo (45 minutes). Flights from Madrid, Barcelona, London, and other European cities.

By busBy Bus

Alsa buses from Madrid (5.5 hours), Santander (3 hours), Bilbao (5 hours), and Oviedo (30 minutes). The bus station is central.

By taxi or transferBy Taxi

Taxis from Asturias Airport to Gijon cost around 40 to 50 euros. Shared shuttles are also available.

Arrival day

What to do on arrival

Your checklist for arrival day in Gijón / Xixón.

Visit the Church of San Pedro or the Tourist Office on the waterfront. The Gijon pilgrim community can also direct you to local credential points.

All accommodation

Places to stay in Gijón / Xixón

Our Koala Picks first, then donativos, albergues and hostels, hotels, and everything else. Within each group the best-reviewed places lead.

Prices for the night of

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Practical info

Practical information

Everything you need to know for your time in Gijón / Xixón.

Pilgrim Office / Credential

Church of San Pedro or Tourist Office on the waterfront.

Additional Information

Gijon is Asturias' largest city and beach town. Cider culture is central, as are fabada and cachopo. Consider whether to detour to Oviedo for the Primitivo.