Cudillero is the fishing village on every Asturias postcard: pastel houses stacked up a steep hillside around a small harbour, facing the Cantabrian Sea like the seats of an amphitheatre. We visited in July 2021 with our boys, then 8 and 5, from our base in Novellana 15 minutes away.
It’s as pretty as the photos. It’s also small, steep and busy in summer, and the practical side is what decides whether your visit goes well.
The short version
- Where: central-western coast of Asturias, under an hour from Oviedo and about 60 km from Gijón.
- Parking: very limited near the harbour. Park higher up and walk down. The port car park is paid from Easter to October (about €2.50/day in 2025).
- Must-do: climb to the La Garita or El Pico viewpoints for the classic view.
- Time: half a day is enough for the village.
- With kids: lots of stairs. Leave the pushchair in the car.
Short on time? Our top 3 picks on the western Asturias coast
Albergue Andén de Novellana – Novellana, a simple hostel in the old railway station with family rooms and a shared kitchen, minutes from the Playa del Silencio clifftop.
La Casona de Pío – Cudillero, a converted fish-salting factory a short walk from the harbour, with a home-made breakfast.
Hotel El Rosal de Cudillero – Cudillero, a renovated mansion with a garden and free parking, one of the best-rated stays on this coast.
Where to park in Cudillero
This is the part nobody warns you about. The lower village and harbour have very little parking, and in summer it’s full early. The simplest approach is to park in the upper part of the village and walk down to the harbour.
Since 2025 the council charges for its main summer car parks: the port (about €2.50 a day, Easter to 31 October) and the beach car parks at San Pedro de la Ribera and La Concha de Artedo (about €1.50 a day, mid-June to September). Check current prices on arrival.
The Plaza de la Marina and the harbour
Everything in Cudillero leads down to the Plaza de la Marina by the port. From here you see how the village works, with the houses rising on three sides like an amphitheatre around the water. It’s where the cafés and seafood restaurants are, and it’s the flat part of the village, which matters with small legs.
The best viewpoints in Cudillero
You get the real view from above. Stairs and alleys lead up from the plaza to:
- Mirador de La Garita-Atalaya, the classic view over the rooftops and harbour
- Mirador de El Pico, another angle over the whole village
- Cimadevilla, in the upper part of the old quarter
With kids, pick one and make it the goal. It’s a climb, but a short one, and the view is the reward.
Is Cudillero good for kids?
Yes, for a half day. Watching the boats at the harbour and climbing to a viewpoint is enough to keep children happy for a morning. The downsides:
- Stairs everywhere. Pushchairs are hard work above the harbour.
- Crowds in July and August from late morning. Come early or in the evening.
- No beach in the village. For a swim, head to the beaches nearby.
Beaches and places near Cudillero
- Playa del Silencio (≈15 km west): a dramatic stone cove under cliffs. We watched the sunset from the clifftop viewpoint; the beach has no facilities. More in our Novellana post.
- San Pedro de la Ribera and La Concha de Artedo: quieter beaches close to Cudillero.
- Playa de Aguilar: a family beach to the east.
- Cadavedo and Luarca: further west, and they make a good day together.
Where to stay near Cudillero
We stayed at Albergue Andén de Novellana, a simple hostel in Novellana’s old railway station about 15 minutes west. It was quiet and cheap, and it put the whole western coast within reach. If you’d rather walk to dinner at the harbour, stay in Cudillero itself.
The full route: Barcelona to Asturias road trip with kids
Planning a stay? See hotels in Cudillero →
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Cudillero?
Cudillero is a fishing village on the central-western coast of Asturias, northern Spain, under an hour from Oviedo and about 60 km from Gijón.
Where do you park in Cudillero?
Park in the upper part of the village and walk down, because parking by the harbour is very limited. The port car park is paid from Easter to 31 October, about €2.50 a day in 2025.
What is the best viewpoint in Cudillero?
Mirador de La Garita-Atalaya and Mirador de El Pico give the classic view over the colourful houses and harbour. Both are a short climb by stairs from the Plaza de la Marina.
Is Cudillero good for kids?
Yes, for half a day. Children enjoy the harbour and the climb to a viewpoint, but the village is full of stairs, so leave the pushchair in the car.
How long do you need in Cudillero?
Half a day covers the harbour, the plaza and a viewpoint. Add a nearby beach or Playa del Silencio for a full day.
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