Travelling to Llanes by motorhome means arriving in one of the most historic seaside towns in Asturias and having almost everything within walking distance: medieval walls, palaces built by returning emigrants, a harbour turned into an open-air museum and three beaches without leaving the town centre. Behind it all, the Sierra del Cuera mountains frame the landscape. Every year Llanes welcomes thousands of motorhome travellers and has chosen to host them in an orderly way, with clear zones for daytime parking and a camper spot for the night.
In this article you'll discover what to see in the town of Llanes and its immediate surroundings, plus all the practical information on where to park and sleep with your motorhome.
A historic quarter with medieval roots
In the Middle Ages Llanes was already an important town, with a harbour, a local nobility and defensive walls that surrounded it completely. Of that 13th-century wall, the northern stretch still stands, the largest preserved in Asturias, and close by is the Torreón, a defensive tower whose neighbour today, in a curious contrast, is the indiano Casino built in 1910.
The historic quarter is worth exploring slowly. Its great landmark is the Basílica de Santa María, a Gothic church built over three centuries. Around it stand manor houses and palaces, among them the palace of the Duque de Estrada, whose walls have lain in ruins since the Napoleonic invasion. And a detail that often goes unnoticed: set into the paving are verses by Celso Amieva dedicated to Llanes.
The legacy of the indianos
Many people from the area sought their fortune in the Americas, especially in Cuba and Mexico. Those who came back wealthy, known locally as indianos, left their mark in cosmopolitan-style mansions, with gardens where palm trees are never missing, and paid for schools, traditional bowling grounds and fountains in their villages. In the town, the Casino is the most visible example, and almost every village in the municipality has an indiano house.
💡 The Tourist Office is in the old fish market (Lonja del Pescado), next to the harbour. On the Llanes tourism website you can download a leaflet with the municipality's indiano route ↗ (in Spanish).
The harbour and the Cubos de la Memoria
Very close to the historic quarter is the harbour, narrow and tucked in where the Carrocéu river meets the sea. What makes it unmistakable is its breakwater: between 2001 and 2006, the Basque artist Agustín Ibarrola painted more than 200 concrete blocks on both sides of the pier, creating the Cubos de la Memoria (Cubes of Memory).
📍 To see the south face of the Cubes, follow the Paseo de San Antón to the lighthouse.
Paseo de San Pedro: the town's great viewpoint
If you only have time for one walk, make it this one. The Paseo de San Pedro is a grassy promenade on top of the cliff, laid out in 1847, overlooking the whole town: the harbour, El Sablón beach, the coastline and, to the south, the Sierra del Cuera. Centuries ago it served as a lookout to spot passing whales or enemy ships. Today it links up with the coastal path and is one of the stops on the Llanes de Cine film locations route.
Three beaches without leaving town
El Sablón
The town beach par excellence, at the foot of the Paseo de San Pedro. Its shell shape shelters it from the waves, and when the sea is calm swimming here is a real pleasure. From the sand you also get one of the best views of the town wall.
Puertu Chicu
A small cove next to the lighthouse, on the eastern edge of town, much loved by locals.
💡 Its size depends a lot on the tide: at high tide there's hardly any sand left, so check the tide table before you go.
Toró
A little further on is Toró, the most striking of the three thanks to the sharp rocks scattered across the sand. The sea usually comes in gently, and there's a path, a viewpoint and a restaurant. From its eastern end you can see the Cubes again.
The Carrocedo river path
On the other side of the bridge in the town centre starts the Carrocedo river path, a quiet trail alongside the river that leads to the village of Pancar. If you like birds, there's also a 1.5 km birdwatching route along the banks of the Carrocedo.
Where to park and sleep with your motorhome in Llanes
Llanes regulates motorhome parking and overnight stays so that tourism and local life can coexist.
The camper spot
It's the designated place to spend the night with your motorhome and it's right in the town of Llanes. Overnight stays are not allowed outside this space.
🚐 30 pitches with all services, including water and grey and black water disposal
⏱️ Maximum stay of 48 consecutive hours
Book your pitch at the Llanes camper spot directly in the TripStop app and arrive with your place guaranteed.
Daytime parking
If you're only visiting for the day, the town has two zones reserved for motorhomes: calle Francisco Mijares and the unpaved car park between calle Vicente Pedregal Galguera and calle Periódico El Pueblo. You can also park in the adjacent streets. Parking is free from 9:00 to 22:00, and overnight stays are not permitted in these spaces.
You'll find all the details on the Llanes Town Council website ↗ (in Spanish).
When to go: the festivals of the bandos
Llanes has a unique festive tradition based on a friendly rivalry between three bandos (local festive groups), each with its own saint, flower and music. All three are declared Festivals of Tourist Interest:
🌸 La Magdalena, in July
🎉 San Roque, in August
⛪ La Guía, in early September
💡 Nearby, in Cue, La Sacramental is celebrated every year on 24 June.
A little further afield
If you're staying longer, just 4 km away is Porrúa, home to the Museo Etnográfico del Oriente de Asturias (Ethnographic Museum of Eastern Asturias), a traditional farmhouse on an estate donated by an indiano family. And for walking, the coastal path runs for 65 km along the Llanes coastline between Bustio and Guadamía.
Conclusion
Llanes by motorhome is best enjoyed at a relaxed pace and almost always on foot: walls and indiano history in the morning, the Cubos de la Memoria and the Paseo de San Pedro in the afternoon, and a swim at El Sablón or Toró when the tide allows. With a camper spot right in town and clear zones for daytime parking, it's a destination designed to welcome those who travel by motorhome and respect their surroundings. Without doubt, one of the essential stops on your motorhome route through Asturias.
In the TripStop app you can check the availability of the Llanes camper spot in real time, browse tourist information about the area and book your pitch before you arrive. Download TripStop and start planning your trip to Llanes.
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