Hello everyone. Last month I visited the city of Gijón and stopped by a café called La Casa del Café to have a coffee. It’s very close to the bus station. I highly recommend it to everyone. After coffee I went for a walk in Gijón on a winter day. Gijón is a coastal city located in the Asturias region in northern Spain and it’s one of my favorite places. With its beaches and cultural spots, it offers visitors an unforgettable experience. The day I arrived, it was a pleasant February morning. I can say we experienced quite a cool month. For example, nighttime temperatures were around -2 degrees Celsius, while daytime temperatures hovered around +12 degrees. Sunny spots could feel warmer, but overall, the weather was cold. As I walked, the sun had just risen and slowly began illuminating the entire coastal city. Negative temperatures are never experienced here, especially near the ocean—neither during the day nor at night. Therefore the fountains here run all year round. In contrast, in some central regions of Spain, they shut off the fountains during winter.
I moved along the seaside, passed the marina. The winter sun started shining brightly and the view of the blue sky of northern Spain and the opposite peninsula was breathtaking. And of course, palm trees. Spain wouldn’t be Spain without them. A bottle tree made from empty hard soda bottles also caught my attention. Then I headed towards San Lorenzo Beach via Plaza Mayor. This beach is beautiful in every season and, in my opinion, in any weather. We arrived at Plaza Mayor, a square that is always bustling with seagulls and serves as Gijón’s main square. New Year celebrations are held here. By the sea, there’s an old church and houses around it. This area wasn’t filled with high-rise buildings in the past. On the other hand, San Lorenzo is a district with tall structures, but this part of the city has retained its original texture.
Later I reached San Lorenzo Beach. There was a tide and the atmosphere wasn’t too crowded; there were people walking their dogs. However, in the summer this beach fills up completely with people. Some just sunbathe, while others surf. The water temperature here never drops below 13 degrees Celsius. Especially along Gijón’s coastline, the temperature never goes below zero. Of course, the situation is different in the mountainous regions of Asturias. Particularly in ski resorts like Pajares, temperatures can get quite low.
The building that used to be the old fish market now serves as a place where various municipal services are provided, such as registering for residency or obtaining ID cards. Also, San Pedro Cathedral is located here. The weather was excellent, not sunny and cold, but perfect. There’s a magnificent ocean view and this region, also known as the Bay of Biscay or the Cantabrian Sea, is truly enchanting. At one point they started constructing high-rise buildings here and these beautiful houses ended up side by side with less aesthetic but more functional buildings. Today the San Lorenzo coastal strip looks like this, but in my opinion, it doesn’t stop people from swimming here in the summer.
Actually when we first came to Gijón, this city gained a special meaning for me. In a way it felt like a city at the end of the world. During high tide, the waves can cover the entire beach and during storms, the waves splash up to this point. It’s a mesmerizing sight. Overall, I absolutely recommend it to those who haven’t been here yet. Many people have moved here and are currently living happily.
In addition to San Lorenzo Beach, other beaches are also worth visiting. Today I bid farewell to this beach, but I believe it will still be a beautiful city in 2025. My best wishes to you all.
