Llanes

Tucked between the rugged cliffs of the Cantabrian Sea and the lush foothills of the Picos de Europa, Llanes is the kind of town that feels like a secret whispered by the wind. I arrived expecting a sleepy fishing village, but what i found was a lively village surrounded by natural beauty. 

​The medieval walls and the Torreón—a 13th-century tower—stand as proud reminders of the town’s past. Locals chatted in shaded plazas, and the scent of grilled seafood drifted from tucked-away taverns. On this particular day, i was on day three of my cycling journey from Santander to Porto, tracing the northern coast of Spain.

I didn’t plan to linger. My legs were tired, the sun was climbing, and Porto still felt far away. But Llanes had other ideas. The town pulled me in with its stone walls, colourful facades, and the scent of salt and grilled sardines drifting from the harbour.
I coasted through the old town, past the Basilica of Santa María, and paused at the Paseo de San Pedro, where the cliffs meet the sky.

One of my favourite moments was walking the Paseo de San Pedro, a grassy path atop cliffs that stretch endlessly along the coast. Below, waves crashed against jagged rocks, and in the distance, golden beaches shimmered. I paused often—partly to catch my breath, mostly to soak in the view. and watch the seagulls glide effortless in the wind.

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With over 30 beaches dotting its coastline, Llanes offers a kaleidoscope of sandy escapes. Each beach feels like a secret—some tucked between cliffs, others sprawling with golden sand. The turquoise waters are so vivid they seem unreal, like someone turned up the saturation on nature’s palette. Whether it’s the dramatic rock formations of Playa de Toró, the serene crescent of Torimbia, or the surreal inland beach of Gulpiyuri, Llanes invites you to pause, breathe, and dive in.

Just inland, the landscape shifts. The Picos de Europa rise like a fortress of stone and mist, offering a stark contrast to the sea’s softness. These mountains are a haven for hikers, nature lovers, and anyone seeking solitude among peaks and valleys.