Yes. Its short distance from Oviedo, Gijón, and the coast makes it easy to pair with a beach stop or a second city in the same outing. With a private transfer, you can build a custom route with multiple stops, so a day built around Avilés doesn't have to end there.
A private transfer from Oviedo or Gijón takes roughly 25-35 minutes covering about 25 km (16 miles), traffic depending, with door-to-door pickup so you skip station transfers and timetables. Trains and buses connect from both cities too, though journey times and frequency vary by schedule and season.
Half a day is generally enough to wander the old town and visit the Centro Niemeyer grounds at a relaxed pace. Many travelers extend the day by adding a stop at nearby Asturian beaches or combining the visit with Oviedo or Gijón, both roughly 25 km (16 miles) away.
Look for the soportales, the arcaded walkways lining Calle Galiana, one of the best-preserved medieval streets in the region. Plaza de España anchors the historic center, surrounded by colorful noble palaces and the town hall. The Church of San Nicolás de Bari and the Renaissance-era Palacio de Valdecarzana are also worth a stop.
The Centro Niemeyer is a cultural complex designed by architect Oscar Niemeyer, built on Avilés' former industrial waterfront. Its sweeping white forms and open plaza feel deliberately at odds with the medieval streets nearby, and that contrast is part of the appeal. The site regularly hosts exhibitions and cultural events, and its grounds are open to explore even outside scheduled programming.
Avilés pairs a beautifully preserved medieval old town with the strikingly modern Centro Niemeyer, giving you two contrasting experiences in one compact city. Arcaded streets, historic palaces, and quiet squares sit just minutes from a bold contemporary arts complex on the old shipyard grounds. It's a port city with real character, without the crowds of bigger Spanish destinations.
