10 Things to do in Oviedo with Kids

Visiting Oviedo with children is a good option, as in this Spanish city you will find several interesting destinations to visit with the whole family: museums, palaces, zoos, parks, lakes and much more. Many of them have special activities adapted for the youngest members of the family.

You will find several things to do in Oviedo that will allow you to have fun with your family. Such is the case of the Fine Arts Museum and the Children's Palace. You'll also have the option of touring the city to learn about its medieval history or escape the local hustle and bustle with a trip to the Picos de Europa National Park, among other activities.

One of the activities you should include in your itinerary of things to see and do with children is a visit to El Bosque Zoo. There, the little ones will interact with various animal and plant species around them. The tour lasts approximately three hours, so at the end of the visit you will have enough time to take a tour of the city.

Animal species

At El Bosque Zoo you will discover about 70 species of animals:

• Snakes: royal python, corn snake, Mexican king snake and boa constrictor.
• Birds: grey parrot, Harris's eagle, canaries, black swan, peacock owl, peacock, ducks, parrots, nymphs, catatues, etc.
• Primates: marmoset monkey, green monkey, lemurs, Gibraltar macaque, capuchin monkey, squirrel monkey, etc.
• Others: muntjac deer, African porcupine, meerkats, northern lynx, tiger, grey wolf, koi fish, frogs, turtles, iguanas, among others.

Botanical species

As you walk along the 400-metre circuit of this zoo, you will see approximately 250 species of plants from different parts of the world.

For example, you will be able to see the sacred bamboo, the Eastern Ginkgo and the Canary cedar. You will also have the opportunity to see plants such as the banana plantain, dwarf tomato, blackberry, aloe vera, some shrubs and ferns, among other species.

Useful information

• Price: the average entrance fee is €5 per person.
• Opening hours: every day from March to December (11:00 to 20:00) and from December to February (12:00 to 18:00).
• Where: "El Parque" Zoo, Los Molinos 19, Oviedo.

A day trip from Oviedo to the Picos de Europa National Park is a very convenient plan if you don't know what to do in Oviedo with children. You will enjoy beautiful natural landscapes and escape from the hustle and bustle of the city with the little ones.

The adventure starts with the pick-up at the hotel, where you will board a van that will take you to the National Park of the Picos to explore various destinations.

Covadonga Lakes

You will embark on a gentle hiking route, suitable for children and adults. You will see the Roman Bridge, discover the Buferrera mines, Ercina and Enol lakes. You will also visit a shepherd's hut. All this while the guide tells you the history of this natural monument.

Sanctuary of Covadonga

The excursion continues along the Reconquest route to the Sanctuary of Covadonga, a Catholic grotto located on Mount Auseva. You will be amazed by the calm waters of the lagoon below the cave and the architectural beauty of the enclosure framed by rocks.

Useful information

• Price: the average price of this activity is 75€ per person.
• Timetable: every day.
• Where: Picos de Europa National Park from the centre of Oviedo.

During your visit to Oviedo in 2 days or more, you can visit the Children's Palace. This is a place designed for the little ones to have fun while you have a rest, eat or enjoy a cup of coffee.

You should go to the Parque de Invierno and, inside, you will find the Palacio de los Niños. This is a building with a series of rooms with activities for the little ones:

• Baby Library: with books and educational games for children from 0 to 6 years of age.
• Submarine simulator.
• Construction room: with dozens of removable pieces.
• Climbing wall: this is a climbing wall for the more adventurous children.
• Video game console room: where children will find different popular video games and arcade games.

There is also a restaurant and café in the Children's Palace , where you can wait quietly for the little ones. You can also enjoy a view of the park's natural surroundings.

Useful information

• Price: the average price of admission is €12 per person.
• Opening hours: Monday to Sunday.
• Where: Palacios de los Niños, Winter Park in the city of Oviedo.

Another unmissable destination if you are in Oviedo with children is the Museum of Fine Arts of Asturias, as it not only offers an important collection of Spanish paintings and sculptures. There are also special workshops for the little ones at home, with the aim of bringing them closer to the world of art.

This is an ideal visit if you are in Oviedo in winter, as you will not be exposed to the rain and low temperatures that characterise this season.

Art exhibitions

As you walk through the rooms, you will see works of art by Francisco de Goya, El Greco, Salvador Dalí and Joaquín Sorolla. You will also see the work of Asturian artists such as Luis Fernandez, Aureliano Suarez, Dario de Regoyos, among others. In total, the museum has around 1,500 pieces dating from the 14th to the 21st century.

Children's workshops

Children from 4 to 12 years of age will enjoy a children's programme, where they will have the opportunity to learn about the artistic heritage of the city. All this, while they play and have fun, painting on glass, drawing still lifes on paper and creating characters with acrylic paints, among other materials.

Useful information

• Price: free admission.
• Opening hours: Summer (Tuesday to Saturday from 10:30 am to 2:00 pm and 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm, Sundays from 10:30 am to 2:30 pm). Winter (Tuesday to Friday from 10:30am to 2:00pm and 4:30pm to 8:30pm, Saturdays from 11:30am to 2:00pm and 5:00pm to 8:00pm, Sundays from 11:30am to 2:30pm).
• Where: Museum of Fine Arts of Asturias, Calle de Santa Ana in Oviedo.

Oviedo Cathedral is a must-see during your stay in the city, and even more so if you have travelled with children. You can take advantage of the children's guide to the cathedral, so that the little ones can enjoy and learn as much as you do about this 8th century monument.

The tour will allow you to learn about the architecture, art and history of the cathedral through its different spaces. Some of them are:

• High Altarpiece, with a carving of the life of Jesus.
• The Holy Chamber, where the shroud of Jesus is kept.
• The Holy Ark and the Box of Agates, with a series of relics guarded by the cathedral.

You will also visit the Cloister, the pilgrims' cemetery and the cathedral museum. In the latter, you will see some medieval carvings and other historical objects.

Children can discover the cathedral at their own pace and in a fun way, thanks to the help of Mateo (a cartoon character), whose poster will greet them at the entrance to the cathedral. Then, with the help of an audio guide, a series of clues, games and puzzles, the children will take the tour.

Useful information

• Price: average ticket price €7 per person.
• Opening hours: every day from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm and from 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm.
• Where: Oviedo Cathedral.

If you visit Oviedo in summer, spring or autumn, you should take advantage of the good weather in any of these seasons and take a free tour of its main parks. You will be able to enjoy nature in the middle of the city, while the children run and jump freely.

San Francisco Field

The Campo de San Francisco is a natural space that combines architecture, nature and sculptures. You can have your picture taken with the sculpture of Mafalda, made in homage to Quino, stroll through beautiful gardens, spot squirrels and some birds in the treetops. In addition, children will enjoy special areas with swings, zip lines and other games.

Juan Mata Urban Park

A small green lung in the centre of the city, with picnic areas and a privileged view of Monte Naranco. You will also find a play area for children.

Whether you visit Oviedo in December or any other month of the year, you can enjoy a different experience in the city' s escape rooms. There, both you and the children will put their wits to the test to solve some puzzles and escape from a room in the shortest possible time.

This type of activity usually lasts about an hour and starts once the hosts of the game lock you in one or more rooms. Each of these rooms is perfectly set according to the theme of the escape (Pirate Guard, Colossus with the enigmas of ancient Egypt, among other themes).

You will find in the room a series of clues that you will have to gather and some riddles to solve. Once you have analysed all the information, you will have to find a solution to the riddle, thus managing to get out of the place where you are trapped.

Maybe you and your children are enthusiasts of the king of sports (football), then you should pay a visit to the Carlos Tartiere Stadium in Oviedo. In this way, you will get to know the history of this architectural monument and the national league through the different areas of this sporting venue.

Museum

In the museum area you will learn about the evolution of football in the city. All of this through the exhibits in the rooms:

• More than a hundred trophies obtained in official and friendly tournaments.
• Illustrated images, which will offer you a chronology of more than 90 years of history.
• Books about Real Oviedo.

Private rooms

You will have access to a private area, where the different media will interview the players after each match. You will also be in the room used by the coaches to make statements about the new signings, among other topics.

Changing room and pitch

You will walk from the dressing room through a tunnel to the pitch, experiencing a tour that only the players take before each match.

Useful information

• Price: average price from €10 per person.
• Opening times: every day except the day before the match.
• Where: C. Isidro Lángara, 33013 Oviedo.

Whether you're in Oviedo for 1 or 4 days with children, if you're a real surfing enthusiast, then the city's coastal beaches are a must. You'll enjoy the best waves and the kids will be able to get started in this sport in a safe way.

Just connect with one of the surf schools and join one of their one-day water experiences. This way, you'll travel from Oviedo to the beaches of Celorio, on a route that takes about an hour. You can also visit Los Quebrantos beach, which is only 45 minutes away.

Whichever option you choose, you'll be provided with a wetsuit and a board suited to your needs. In addition, depending on your experience, the guide will teach you everything from the basics of surfing to some professional tricks, so that you can make the most of the waves. The same applies to surf lessons for children.

Useful information

• Price: from 30€ per person.
• Timetable: every day (morning and afternoon).
• Where: Celorio and Los Quebrantos beaches.

If you are planning to spend just 1 day in Oviedo and don't know what to see and do with children, then a walking tour of the old town is a good option. Both you and the little ones will feel like they have travelled back in time, thanks to the predominant medieval architecture of the place.

The approximately two-hour adventure starts with a local guide outside the Cathedral of Oviedo, where you will be amazed by the exterior of this architectural monument from the 8th century. There, you will have time to appreciate every detail of the façade.

To continue, the guide will take you to some squares:

• Plaza de la Catedral, where you will see a sculpture of La Regenta.
• Plaza Porlier, with a statue entitled "El viajero" (The Traveller).
• Plaza de Feijoo, where you will see the statue of Father Fray Benito Feijoo.

You will also stroll around the exterior of other sites of historical and architectural value:

• Valdecarzana Palace, built in the 17th century.
• Casa de los Campomanes, which represents a sample of the Baroque style in the city.
• The Medieval Wall of Oviedo or old fortification of the city.
• The Casa del Deán Payarinos, which combines traditional and modern architecture.
• The Casona de Regla, which is an 18th century industrial building.

Useful information

• Price: from 57€ per person.
• Opening hours: every day of the year (morning, afternoon or evening).
• Where: Old quarter of the city of Oviedo.