10 TIPS. Avoid to do this in Asturias

🐄 10 Beginner Mistakes You Should Avoid When Visiting Asturias

You and I both know it: Asturias is the nearby paradise. And in summer you’re dying to come. But watch out: there are certain things you’d better not say or do if you don’t want an Asturian to look at you like, “Where on earth did you come from?” or to end up in an awkward situation. Here’s a list of 10 classic blunders… so they don’t happen to you.

☔ 1. “It’s always raining here, huh?” “Well yeah, that’s why it’s so green”

👉 Classic mistake: arriving on a cloudy day and blurting this out as if you’ve made some big discovery.
💡 Reality: yes, it rains… but that’s why you get those postcard-perfect green landscapes and rivers full of life. In Asturias, you can experience all four seasons in a single day. Real example: a tourist from Madrid packed swimwear and flip-flops in June… and ended up buying an umbrella in Cangas de Onís. Also, that second phrase about the rain? So overused, buddy…

🍏 2. Drinking cider like it’s beer or wine

👉 Classic mistake: leaving cider sitting in your glass and sipping it slowly, as if it were beer.
💡 Reality: in Asturias, cider isn’t just poured like any other drink. It’s “escanciada” (poured from a height) to “open it up,” and there’s a whole technique behind it. The special pour gives it a fresher, more nuanced flavor. Oh, and did you know that as of this year, the culture of Asturian cider is part of the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage?

🐙 3. “I just love the little sidriña”

👉 Classic mistake: trying to be folksy by using Galician-style diminutives.
💡 Reality: Galicia and Asturias are two different regions, each with its own culture, accent, and identity. If you don’t know how to use diminutives correctly (in Asturian they usually end in -ín, -ina, -inos, and -ines), stick to standard Spanish. The word “sidriña” is pretty much grounds for immediate deportation.

🐄 4. Making cow jokes or snapping photos of the first cow you see

👉 Classic mistake: stopping the car in front of a field and saying, “Wow! There are more cows than people here!”
💡 Reality: yes, there are plenty of cows… but they’re part of the landscape and the local economy. Taking a selfie with the first cow you spot is the quickest way to mark yourself as a tourist from the city.

🍽️ 5. “Thinking cachopo is traditional Asturian cuisine”

👉 Classic mistake: believing cachopo is an age-old Asturian dish.
💡 Reality: it’s hard to call a dish made with beef fillets and ham “traditional” in a region where people historically lived in near-subsistence farming conditions for centuries. Some say cachopo was invented by the upper class in the early 20th century, but it didn’t appear on restaurant menus until the 1960s—and didn’t become truly “popular” until the 2000s.

🏞️ 6. Littering in nature

👉 Classic mistake: leaving cigarette butts, wrappers, fruit peels, or organic waste behind because “it’s biodegradable.”
💡 Reality: Asturian landscapes stay this clean because locals take care of them. If you go hiking or to the beach, whatever you bring in, take it out with you. Even organic waste takes too long to decompose and can turn nature into a dumping ground.

(We’ve got a whole article about “trash in nature” that explains this in more detail.)

🗣️ 7. “Asturian is just a weird accent, right?”

👉 Classic mistake: calling Asturian (bable) “bad Spanish” or a mere dialect.
💡 Reality: it’s a language with centuries of history. Learn words like prestoso (beautiful) or fartuco (full) and you’ll sound like a local. It may not currently have official status, but that doesn’t diminish its linguistic importance or the respect it deserves.

🏖️ 8. Jumping into the Cantabrian Sea like it’s the Mediterranean

👉 Classic mistake: diving in confidently and coming out shivering like a Smurf.
💡 Reality: the water’s brisk—even in August. And watch out for strong currents and waves; in many Asturian beaches, the sea doesn’t play around. Plus, tides can rise dramatically, so if you’re not paying attention, high tide might trap you.

🛣️ 9. Ignoring rural traffic signs

👉 Classic mistake: speeding down country roads because “there’s no one around.”
💡 Reality: Asturian roads are narrow, and you might encounter a tractor, a herd of cows… or even a religious procession. Remember: tractors, animals, and livestock have the right of way. This is their living and working space.

🥱 10. Talking about wolves

👉 Classic mistake: loudly asking controversial questions or openly criticizing.
💡 Reality: wolf management in Asturias is a very thorny issue, full of nuances and complexities. Locals are deeply divided on the subject, so it’s not worth wading into a debate that could spark heated arguments.

🏔️ Final tip:

Asturias isn’t just a holiday destination; it’s a place with soul. Respect its people, its traditions, and its landscapes, and you’ll have an unforgettable experience. As the locals might say: “Come to enjoy… but don’t come to stir up trouble.”