What a beautiful weekend we had in the north of Spain in Asturias! This area has been on the top of my list since we moved to Spain to see with so many people loving the look and feel of Asturias. It was a great chance to experience the area while Griffin’s Madrid futbol team had a tournament so off to Asturias we went during the beginning of Semana Santa week.

It was about a 4.5 hour drive from Madrid, but it was one of the most beautiful drives we’ve been on. The rolling hills and mountain views took it from one pueblo to the next, with views of bulls and sheep in every angle. It was quite different than the big city of Madrid! We also got to stop into some cute pueblos for rest stops and even spent an afternoon in Cantabria on the way back home.

Here were some of our favorite things about Asturias, Spain:

A Cozy Country Home Stay

We were so glad that we chose a country home instead of a hotel in Llanes. We stayed in Pancar, located about 10 minute drive outside of Llanes and it was a great simple find. These country homes were comfortable, had full kitchens and were shared with several families visiting the area. It was a great authentic way to the see the area.

The Best Michelin Star Meal in a Pueblo

We had one of the best meals in Spain (and maybe our lives!) in Pancar, Asturias near where the country house was located. Tucked in between country houses was this pop-up Michelin Star restaurant with a bistro inside for more casual dining. While Griffin was at futbol, Logan, Landon and I had a special meal there at El Bistro. We had steak and pulled pork tacos and a chicken dish that were all to die for! We had a slow meal enjoying each other’s company and made special memories at El Bistro.

Llanes and its Beaches

Llanes is a beautiful city and the northern part of Spain has so much beauty! We loved the local beaches like Playa de Sablón and the beautiful hues of the blue water. We also saw some great sunsets overlooking the mountains and beach – a sight to see for sure!

There are so many shoppes and restaurants in Llanes and we personally really enjoyed our gambas al ajillo at Restaurante al Campanula. The only place we wouldn’t recommend again was choosing pizza in Llanes – save pizza for somewhere else in Spain 😉

What an experience Griffin had at a futbol tournament in Spain! We were so proud of him as he rode the bus with his team and spent the weekend immersed with his Spanish-speaking teammates. Vamos, Valdebebas!