Why Asturias looks so good on screen

Asturias has long worked as a natural film set: in one region you get dramatic cliffs, beaches, fishing villages, industrial scenery, old urban quarters, and green mountain landscapes. It is no coincidence that the region’s official tourism blog openly calls the Asturian coast an excellent filming location, while fresh articles on screen locations keep returning to Llanes, Gijón, Oviedo, Avilés, Cudillero, and many other places.
And this is not just a story of the past. According to 2025–2026 publications, the new installment of the Hunger Games franchise was also filmed in Asturian landscapes – above all in Somiedo and Teverga – confirming once again that the region remains highly attractive for filmmakers.

Asturias’ main film locations: a short table for planning

Llanes – the main stop for those who want “a lot of cinema” at once

If you had to choose just one obvious film stop in Asturias, it would be Llanes. The official Llanes de cine route includes up to 25 places where more than 42 scenes from 18 feature films, 3 TV series, and 1 short film were shot. For a traveler, this is almost the ideal format: not one random point, but a whole film map within one municipality.

What to look for in Llanes

Palacio de Partarríu – probably the most recognizable filming location. This mansion is primarily associated with El Orfanato (The Orphanage). On the official Llanes tourism page it is marked as a filming site, and in Turismo Asturias materials it appears as one of the key spots for genre fans.

Torimbia Beach, the cliffs of Puertas, Toro Beach, Niembru cemetery, and Posada station – this is the route in the footsteps of El Abuelo (The Grandfather). If you want to combine cinema and the sea, this branch is one of the most beautiful.

Llanes is also appealing because its cinematic quality does not end with one palace or one viewpoint. It is a destination for a full day – with its historic center, port, and coastline, where it is easy to see why directors so often chose this corner of Asturias.

Lastres – a TV route in the footsteps of Doctor Mateo

If Llanes is a territory of cinema in general, Lastres is a place with a very clear association: the TV series Doctor Mateo. The official Turismo Asturias website states directly that more than one production was filmed in Lastres, but it was this series that brought the village special fame – so much so that there is now a dedicated tourist route through its most recognizable filming spots.

What to see in Lastres

Playa de Lastres / Playa L’Estilleru – the official site calls it one of Asturias’ most “televisual” beach locations because many scenes from Doctor Mateo were filmed here.

Faro de Lastres – another key point. In the official “Ruta de los faros,” this lighthouse is listed as one of the most recognizable settings from the series.

Mirador de San Roque and the old center – even if you have never seen the series, it is worth climbing up here for the panorama. But if you have watched it, Lastres is especially enjoyable precisely because you can “recognize the frames” while walking around.

Gijón – when cinema loves grand architecture

Gijón’s main film landmark is Universidad Laboral. In Fuga de cerebros (Brain Drain), this building was turned into an on-screen “Oxford.” For travelers, it is a very convenient stop – visually impressive, urban, and easy to combine with a regular walk around Gijón.

This location has an added bonus: the region’s official tourism blog notes that Universidad Laboral was also used for a scene in Mortadelo and Filemon.

Oviedo and Avilés – urban Asturias in the footsteps of Vicky Cristina Barcelona

For those who prefer an urban format to long drives through villages and beaches, there is the Oviedo – Avilés combination. Among the Asturian locations of Vicky Cristina Barcelona are Monte Naranco, Faro de San Juan, and Parque Ferrera. It is a good option for a short trip if you want to combine cinema and city walks.

Oviedo also has a symbolic cinematic detail: the Woody Allen statue on Milicias Nacionales street. So the route works on two levels – through specific filming locations and through the broader “director’s trace” in the city.

The “Volver a empezar” route – a classic worth following from one stop to the next

If you are looking not for a single location but for a road route, a very interesting option is to follow the trail of Volver a empezar. The filming locations include Gijón, Cudillero, Covadonga, Lake Enol, Cangas de Onís, and San Esteban, as well as Pola de Lena and El Molinón.

This is no longer a one-hour stroll, but a full journey through different faces of Asturias: from the sea and the port to sanctuaries and mountain panoramas. That is why this route works so well for a first trip to the region – it shows Asturias not in one style, but in several at once.

Tapia de Casariego – the western branch of the route for those who want a less touristy location

Western Asturias appears less often on the first lists of film tourism, but that is exactly why it is so interesting. According to Laboral Cinemateca and Film Commission materials, scenes for Fire Will Come (O que arde) were shot in Tapia de Casariego, and director Óliver Laxe specifically highlighted the local “eucalipton” as an important screen image.

For travelers, this is a good reason not to limit themselves to the east and center of the region. Tapia itself is also highly photogenic: we recommend a walk along Paseo de la Guardia, the Os Cañois viewpoint, the old fishing quarter, the port, and the island lighthouse. Even if you are not coming here for one specific film but for the atmosphere, the western branch of the route is very rewarding.

More locations if you want to expand the route

Mining Asturias: Mieres, Moreda, Bustiello, Rioturbio

La torre de Suso was filmed in locations such as Aller, Castrillón, Boo, Mieres, and Plaza del Campo de Moreda, while Pídele cuentas al rey was shot in Mieres, Pozo Tres Amigos, Rioturbio, Bustiello, and Figaredo. This is a completely different Asturias – industrial and working-class.

Natural Asturias: Teverga and the Camino Real de la Mesa

Some episodes of the comedy Para qué sirve un oso? were filmed in the forests of Teverga and the Camino Real de la Mesa area. This is a route for those who want less of cities and villas and more greenery and mountain scenery.

TV series

If you want to dig deeper specifically into the series side of the story, the category of TV series associated with Asturias includes Doctor Mateo, Los jinetes del alba, Segunda enseñanza, La Señora, and Vientos de agua. This is not a ready-made tourist route in itself, but it is a good list for further exploration of screen Asturias.

How to build a film route through Asturias

1. Choose the format. If you only have 1 day, do not try to see the whole region – choose either Llanes + Lastres or Gijón + Oviedo + Avilés.
2. Build the core. For a first trip, the best combination is 3–4 points: Llanes, Lastres, Gijón, and Oviedo.
3. Add one “rare” location. This could be Tapia de Casariego in the west or the mining areas around Mieres.
4. Plan extra time. Asturias looks compact on the map, but there will be more photo stops and short walks than you expect.
5. Leave room for regular travel time. One of the main advantages of this route is that even without the film angle, it still works as a strong travel plan through the coast and cities of the region.

Conclusion

The main strength of Asturias as a film route is that it never feels like “just one set for the sake of a photo.” That is why this guide works both for film lovers and for ordinary travelers: even if you do not know all the films, Asturias still looks like a place where the frame has already been composed for you.

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