Asturias has officially landed on the Irish travel map as ITTN’s Zoe Walsh travelled to Northern Spain with Aer Lingus on its brand-new direct route from Dublin to Asturias.
The three-day fam trip brought together a group of Irish travel agents to discover everything the region has to offer, from coastlines and mountain scenery to cider houses and incredible local food.
The group included Jenny Rafter from Aer Lingus, with Zoe joined by Andrea Holmes from Sunway, Vanessa Holohan from Club Travel, Debbie Murray from Keith Prowse Travel, Shane Cullen from Cassidy Travel and Lucy Maher from Travel Department.
Aer Lingus is now operating twice weekly flights to Asturias from May until October, making the region more accessible than ever for Irish holidaymakers. With a flight time of just one hour and forty minutes from Dublin, Asturias is set to become a popular choice for travellers looking for an authentic Spanish experience away from the usual tourist hotspots. The trip began on Saturday evening as the group boarded the 18:25 flight from Dublin to Oviedo, arriving at 21:40 before travelling to Gijón where they checked into the ZH Hotel a four-star hotel just a short walk from the famous San Lorenzo Beach.
Sunday morning kicked off with a presentation from the Minister of Infrastructure who spoke on Asturias’ deep connection to nature, sustainability and culture. Agents learned about the Spanish Tourism Board’s newest campaign, “Embrace Respectful Tourism Asturias Awaits” which focuses on preserving the region’s natural beauty as tourism continues to grow especially following the launch of the Aer Lingus route.
The group also discovered the meaning behind the Asturias logo, which represents the mountains sea and sky that define the region’s landscape. Asturias is known as “Natural Paradise” and it was easy to see why. One of the most interesting parts of the morning was learning about Asturias’ Celtic roots and its historic connection to Ireland, something that the agents did not know. Sustainability also plays a huge part in tourism across the Asturias.
Agents heard about La Rectoral Hotel, which helped develop tourism in Asturias almost 40 years ago by creating more sustainable tourism and supporting the local economy. Asturias is also home to the last refuge of the Cantabrian brown bear in Southern Europe. In the 1980s, there were only around 60 bears remaining but with governments conservation approach, the population has now grown to over 400. Agents really got to learn from the minister that Asturiasis is proud of its wildlife and natural heritage, and it is something visitors can experience for themselves. Throughout the day, agents got a real sense of Asturias’ identity and welcoming atmosphere. The region offers experiences that feel completely off the beaten track from mining tours and cheese-making experiences to spotting brown bears in the wild.
Food is another huge part of Asturian culture, and the agents quickly discovered why the region is famous for its gastronomy. Asturias is particularly known for its seafood and cheeses with more than 40 handmade cheeses produced locally. Later in the morning, the group headed on a walking tour of Gijón one of Asturias three main cities. Located along the Cantabrian coast. Gijón blends seaside with culture and history. The cities connection to the sea is everywhere from its marina and long promenade to the beaches along the coastline. The guide Beatrice called theses the seaside towns. Agents explored the historic Cimavilla the old fishing district and now a huge part of the city. It is full of colourful streets cafés and sea views.
The group then visited a traditional cider house where they learned all about Asturias’ famous natural cider, made from 100% apples. Cider is considered one of the most social parts of Asturian culture and was declared UNESCO World Heritage in 2024. Watching locals expertly pour the cider in the traditional way quickly became a highlight of the day. The agents travelled to another one of the fishing village of Lastres for lunch.
Overlooking the beach on a cliff the restaurant being called Resturante Eutimio a mitchlen star restaurant. The group enjoyed a beautiful lunch of seafood paella, fishcakes, beef cheek with mash and ham and cheese jambons topped off with a chocolate mousse cheesecake. The group also stopped at the San Roque viewpoint which had stunning views over the beach and the coastline. The day finished in Ribadesella, another seaside town known for its tight streets, restaurants, shops and the Santa Marina beach.
After a full day exploring Asturias there is so much to explore in the region. Asturias offers something completely different to the typical Spanish holiday destination. Irish agents can already tell that this region is going to be a huge hit with Irish travellers looking to discover somewhere new.
With two more days still to come the group is looking forward to experiencing even more of what Asturias has to offer. Stay tuned for more updates as Zoe and the agents continue exploring Asturias over the next few days.