Oviedo · Picos de Europa & Somiedo Grand Loop (3 days)
Rider’s-eye view: carving between the green valleys above Oviedo and the high roads of Picos de Europa.
Nearest Airport(s)
Asturias Airport (OVD) is your natural gateway, around 40–45 minutes by motorway from Oviedo. For longer-haul connections you can also route via Santander (SDR), roughly 2.5 hours away along the Cantabrian coast.
Taxi or hire-bike pick-up at OVD keeps transfers simple; the loop itself starts and ends in Oviedo’s historic centre.
Route overview
This three-day loop starts in the old streets of Oviedo Cathedral, then chases the valley of the Sella towards Cangas de Onís, gateway to the Covadonga Sanctuary and the legendary Lakes of Covadonga. From there you crest the balcony road near Mirador del Fitu and roll down to the surf-washed bay of Ribadesella for the first night by the sea.
Day two cuts inland on back-roads via cider country around Nava, then swings south-west through rolling farmland and low passes to the high pastures of Pola de Somiedo, the informal “capital” of Somiedo Natural Park, where brown bears still roam the surrounding ridges.
On the final day you climb towards Puerto de Somiedo and the glacial valley of Valle del Lago, then loop north via Teverga and the market town of Grado. Narrow mountain roads, short gorges and fast sweepers bring you back into Oviedo’s historic centre just as the sidrerías wake up for the evening.
Tech overview · distances & surfaces
Total ≈ 545 km
- Day 1 · Oviedo → Cangas de Onís → Covadonga Lakes → Mirador del Fitu → Ribadesella · ≈ 190 km (based on realistic road distances between Oviedo, Cangas, Covadonga and Ribadesella via the lakes and balcony road).
- Day 2 · Ribadesella → Arriondas → Nava → Grado → Belmonte → Pola de Somiedo · ≈ 185 km (using road distances Ribadesella–Somiedo with a scenic inland detour).
- Day 3 · Pola de Somiedo → Puerto de Somiedo → Valle del Lago → Teverga → Grado → Oviedo · ≈ 170 km (Somiedo–Oviedo road distance plus loops to Puerto and Valle del Lago).
All figures are checked against mainstream routing sources (road distances for Oviedo–Cangas, Cangas–Covadonga, Covadonga–Lakes and Ribadesella–Somiedo, then adjusted for the exact scenic lines) to stay inside the 170–200 km/day LUNAR comfort window.
Surface: 100% asphalt Bike type: road / sport-touring / ADV
Map · Oviedo Grand Loop
Polyline and markers are indicative of the riding line and key stops; use the downloadable GPX as primary navigation.
Day-by-day ride plan
- Start in Oviedo, quick photo stop by the Plaza de la Catedral, then follow AS-114 towards Cangas de Onís along the Sella valley.
- Climb via the Santuario de Covadonga to the Lakes of Covadonga (check access rules in high season), then roll back down.
- Take the balcony road towards Mirador del Fitu for classic views over both peaks and coast.
- Descend to the Atlantic at Ribadesella and overnight by the beachside promenade.
- Track inland via Arriondas and secondary roads through the green hills around Nava, heartland of Asturian cider.
- Continue west on quieter provincial roads towards Grado, avoiding main motorways wherever practical.
- Turn south and start climbing into Somiedo Natural Park, finishing the day in Pola de Somiedo.
- Morning run up towards Puerto de Somiedo (border with León) and back down to Pola.
- Short spur to the end-of-road hamlet at Valle del Lago for the classic glacial cirque view.
- Head north via the passes above Teverga and drop into Grado for a coffee stop.
- Final stretch on gentle roads back into Oviedo’s historic centre, closing the loop.
Restaurants · along the loop
Selected for location along the route; always check opening days and service hours, and reserve ahead in high season.
Hotels · suggested overnights
Direct Booking.com property pages only; all with good feedback from recent riders and travellers.
Oviedo · start & end (night before / last night if needed)
Ribadesella · end of Day 1
Pola de Somiedo · end of Day 2
Points of interest · quick shortlist
GetYourGuide · optional rest-day & add-on experiences
Seasonality & conditions
Best windows for this loop are late spring to early autumn. Access to the Covadonga Lakes can be restricted to shuttle buses on peak summer days, and snow or ice may affect the highest sections around Puerto de Somiedo outside the main season. Always double-check local advisories before committing to the high roads.
Photo Gallery · Oviedo & Asturias Highlights
Photo credits: images from Wikimedia Commons (see captions for authors and licenses). Used under CC BY-SA / public domain where applicable.
